A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Turku vs. Utrecht for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Turku or Utrecht?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Turku or Utrecht, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Turku or Utrecht?

Turku

Turku, a city on the southwest coast of Finland, straddles the Aura River. Dating from the 13th century, it's known for Turku Castle, a medieval fortress with a history museum, perched at the river mouth. Restaurants line the cobbled riverside streets. On the eastern bank lies the Old Great Square, a former trade hub, surrounded by grand buildings. The nearby Turku Cathedral houses a royal tomb and a museum. The historic castle and cathedral point to the city's rich cultural history when it was the Finnish capital, and contemporary Turku is full of experimental art and vibrant festivals, thanks in part to its spirited university population (the country's second largest), who make Turku's nightlife young and fun. As the first city many visitors encounter arriving by ferry from Sweden and Aland, it's a splendid introduction to the Finnish mainland.

Utrecht

Utrecht is both a province and a city in the Netherlands. The city is a unique university city with a lively atmosphere. Imagine Amsterdam but smaller, and with fewer tourists. Utrecht has the same underlying historical/magical feel as Amsterdam, but is full of locals rather than crowds of tourists. It has a population of about 300,000 making it the fourth largest city in the Netherlands.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Finland, The Best Budget Tours to Finland, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Netherlands, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Netherlands.


Which place is cheaper, Utrecht or Turku?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Turku is €159, while the average daily cost in Utrecht is €231. 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 Turku and Utrecht in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Turku 76
    Utrecht 106
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Turku 152
    Utrecht 212
Compare Hotels in Turku and Utrecht

Looking for a hotel in Turku or Utrecht? 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 Turku


Hotels in Utrecht


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: Turku Hotel Prices and Utrecht Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Turku 44
    Utrecht 23

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Turku

Also for Turku, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Turku Private Transfer from Turku (TKU) Airport to City centre: $80
  • Turku Private Transfer from Turku city centre to Turku airport: $80

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Utrecht

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Utrecht:

  • Private transfer from Utrecht to AMS Schiphol Airport: $131
  • Private taxi transfer from Utrecht to Amsterdam: $111
  • Train Transfer Utrecht from/to Rotterdam: $17

Is it cheaper to fly into Turku or Utrecht?

Prices for flights to both Utrecht and Turku 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
    Turku 56
    Utrecht 100

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Utrecht

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

  • Utrecht Food Tour on a Bicycle with local guide: $81
  • Utrecht Food Tour with local guide: $83

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Turku 22
    Utrecht 44

Tours and Activities in Turku

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Turku.

  • Experience Turku with a local guide: $287

Tours and Activities in Utrecht

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

  • A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Utrecht's Charming City Centre: $5.99
  • Castles, Canals and Good Folk: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Utrecht: $8.99
  • Cultural and Historical Audio Guided Walking Tour of Utrecht: $16
  • Discover Utrecht with a self-guided Outside Escape city game tour: $30
  • Discover Utrecht's Highlights: Your Self-Guided GPS Tour: $8.29
  • Discover Utrecht’s Zocherpark in this Outside Escape game tour!: $30
  • Escape Tours Utrecht; find the secret exit and win! : $24
  • Escape the City Game and City Walking Tour of Utrecht : $36
  • Historical Private Tour with Local Guide: $297
  • Our Utrecht City Tour (Limited group size & optional Lunch): $33
  • Pop Up Jazz Club Experience with City Stories & Jazz: $25
  • Private Utrecht Food Walking Tour with 8 Tastings: $197

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Turku 12
    Utrecht 24


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Turku and Utrecht, we can see that Utrecht is more expensive. And not only is Turku much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Turku would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Turku 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 Utrecht would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Utrecht than you might in Turku.

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


Which is Bigger, Turku or Utrecht?

Utrecht has a larger population, and is about 65% larger than the population of Turku. When comparing the sizes of Turku and Utrecht, 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.


When is the best time to visit Turku or Utrecht?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Turku or Utrecht in the Summer?

Both Utrecht and Turku during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, most visitors come to Utrecht for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Turku is generally around the same temperature as Utrecht. Daily temperatures in Turku average around 16°C (61°F), and Utrecht fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).

It's quite sunny in Turku. In the summer, Turku often gets more sunshine than Utrecht. Turku gets 262 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Utrecht receives 194 hours of full sun.

Turku usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Utrecht. Turku gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Utrecht receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Turku 16°C (61°F) 
    Utrecht 17°C (62°F)

Should I visit Turku or Utrecht in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Turku and Utrecht. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Utrecht because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

Turku is much colder than Utrecht in the autumn. The daily temperature in Turku averages around 6°C (43°F) in October, and Utrecht fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

Turku usually receives less sunshine than Utrecht during autumn. Turku gets 90 hours of sunny skies, while Utrecht receives 100 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Turku usually receives around the same amount of rain as Utrecht. Turku gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Utrecht receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Turku 6°C (43°F) 
    Utrecht 11°C (51°F)

Should I visit Turku or Utrecht in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Turku as well as Utrecht. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Utrecht this time of year.

It's quite cold in Utrecht in the winter. The weather in Turku can be very cold. In the winter, Turku is much colder than Utrecht. Typically, the winter temperatures in Turku in January average around -6°C (20°F), and Utrecht averages at about 2°C (36°F).

In the winter, Turku often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Utrecht. Turku gets 39 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Utrecht receives 38 hours of full sun.

Turku usually gets less rain in January than Utrecht. Turku gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Utrecht receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Turku -6°C (20°F) 
    Utrecht 2°C (36°F)

Should I visit Turku or Utrecht in the Spring?

Both Utrecht and Turku are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Utrecht for the natural beauty.

It's quite cold in Turku in the spring. In April, Turku is generally much colder than Utrecht. Daily temperatures in Turku average around 3°C (37°F), and Utrecht fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

Turku usually receives more sunshine than Utrecht during spring. Turku gets 182 hours of sunny skies, while Utrecht receives 156 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Turku usually receives less rain than Utrecht. Turku gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Utrecht receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Turku 3°C (37°F) 
    Utrecht 8°C (46°F)

Typical Weather for Utrecht and Turku

Turku Utrecht
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan -6°C (20°F) 46 mm (1.8 in) 2°C (36°F) 66 mm (2.6 in)
Feb -7°C (20°F) 31 mm (1.2 in) 3°C (37°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Mar -3°C (27°F) 33 mm (1.3 in) 5°C (41°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)
Apr 3°C (37°F) 38 mm (1.5 in) 8°C (46°F) 52 mm (2 in)
May 9°C (49°F) 33 mm (1.3 in) 12°C (54°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Jun 14°C (58°F) 38 mm (1.5 in) 15°C (59°F) 68 mm (2.7 in)
Jul 16°C (61°F) 74 mm (2.9 in) 17°C (62°F) 75 mm (3 in)
Aug 15°C (59°F) 83 mm (3.2 in) 17°C (62°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Sep 10°C (51°F) 65 mm (2.6 in) 14°C (57°F) 67 mm (2.6 in)
Oct 6°C (43°F) 69 mm (2.7 in) 11°C (51°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)
Nov 1°C (33°F) 67 mm (2.6 in) 6°C (43°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Dec -4°C (25°F) 57 mm (2.3 in) 3°C (38°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)