A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Rovaniemi vs. Bad Gastein for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Rovaniemi or Bad Gastein?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Rovaniemi and Bad Gastein. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Rovaniemi or Bad Gastein?

Rovaniemi

Rovaniemi is the capital of Lapland, in northern Finland. Almost totally destroyed during World War II, today it's a modern city known for being the "official" home town of Santa Claus, and for viewing the Northern Lights. It's home to Arktikum, a museum and science center exploring the Arctic region and the history of Finnish Lapland. The Science Centre Pilke features interactive exhibits on northern forests.

Bad Gastein

Located in the High Tauern Mountains south of Salzburg, Bad Gastein is a spa and ski town known for hotels and villas built into steep and forested slopes. While the town is most visited in the winter for skiing purposes, it is also a home base for many hiking opportunities throughout the summer.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Finland, The Best Tours for Seniors to Finland, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Austria, and The Best Christmas Market Tours in Austria.


Which place is cheaper, Bad Gastein or Rovaniemi?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Rovaniemi Prices
    Finland Prices
    Bad Gastein Prices
    Austria Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Rovaniemi 208
    Bad Gastein 147

The average daily cost (per person) in Rovaniemi is €208, while the average daily cost in Bad Gastein is €147. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Rovaniemi and Bad Gastein in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Rovaniemi 93
    Bad Gastein 62
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Rovaniemi 186
    Bad Gastein 124
Compare Hotels in Rovaniemi and Bad Gastein

Looking for a hotel in Rovaniemi or Bad Gastein? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Rovaniemi


Hotels in Bad Gastein


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Rovaniemi Hotel Prices and Bad Gastein Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Rovaniemi 31
    Bad Gastein 40

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rovaniemi

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rovaniemi:

  • Private Arrival Transfer from Rovaniemi Airport or Train Station: $71
  • Private Departure Transfer from Rovaniemi: $71
  • Private Transfer Between Rovaniemi Airport and City Centre: $102
  • Private Transfer Rovaniemi - Levi: $117
  • Private Transfer from Rovaniemi Airport RVN to Rovaniemi: $77
  • Ranua Arctic Zoo Transfer in Lapland: $79
  • Rovaniemi Northern Light Hunt with Campfire and BBQ with Transfer: $106
  • Rovaniemi Private Transfer from Rovaniemi (RVN) Airport to City centre: $95
  • Rovaniemi Private Transfer from Rovaniemi city centre to Rovaniemi airport: $95
  • VIP Private Transfer in Rovaniemi : $256

Is it cheaper to fly into Rovaniemi or Bad Gastein?

Prices for flights to both Bad Gastein and Rovaniemi change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Rovaniemi 82
    Bad Gastein 60

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rovaniemi

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rovaniemi.

  • Traditional Northern Light Dinner in the Lappish Hut: $105
  • Insider Guided Food Tour With 5 Tastings: $142
  • Lappish Cooking Master Class: $161
  • Traditional Lappish evening in the wilderness with dinner: $184
  • Dinner with Northern Light hunt in Rovaniemi : $226
  • Sauna, Jacuzzi, and 3 Course Dinner at Kota Restaurant Autumn: $231
  • Ice Sculpting and Dinner at Kota Restaurant : $246
  • Lapland Cooking Workshop: $262

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Rovaniemi 48
    Bad Gastein 21

Tours and Activities in Rovaniemi

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Rovaniemi are as follows:

  • Autumn Aurora Tour in Rovaniemi with Local Guides: $90
  • Arctic Lakeside Fishing Experience - Rovaniemi: $94
  • Insider Summer Bird Watching Experience: $94
  • Insider Summer Berry and Mushroom picking experience: $94
  • Northern lights hunting photo tour with bbq; small groups: $101
  • Regular Bus Tour with Northern Lights hunt in Lapland: $105
  • Experience Finnish Flea Market Mystery Tour: $106
  • Vaattunkiköngäs Nature Trail Hiking Tour: $106
  • Ice Fishing Tour: $106
  • Wild Forest Berries and Mushrooms Picking Tour: $107
  • Arctic Wildlife Adventure Ranua Wildlife Park Trip: $113
  • Traditional Ice fishing experience in Lapland: $115

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Rovaniemi 21
    Bad Gastein 7.86


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rovaniemi and Bad Gastein, we can see that Rovaniemi is more expensive. And not only is Bad Gastein much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bad Gastein would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bad Gastein and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Rovaniemi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rovaniemi than you might in Bad Gastein.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Rovaniemi Expensive? and Is Bad Gastein Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Rovaniemi or Bad Gastein?

Rovaniemi has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Bad Gastein. When comparing the sizes of Rovaniemi and Bad Gastein, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.