A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Akureyri vs. Saint-Etienne for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Akureyri or Saint-Etienne?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Akureyri or Saint-Etienne, 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: Akureyri or Saint-Etienne?

Akureyri

Akureyri is the largest town in the northern region of Iceland, and is often considered the unofficial capital of the north. The town is a popular fishing port and is often used as a basecamp for visiting the more rural surrounding area. Akureyri is known for their great art scene, beautiful architecture, and stunning natural scenery.

Saint-Etienne

Saint-Etienne (Saint Stephen), a city southwest of Lyon, is drawing on its Industrial Revolution origins and its history of arms, bicycle, textile and ribbon production, to reinvent itself as design city. And the change is noticeable. After almost 30 years of decline, the city is now looking optimistically towards the future. Its center and suburbs are smartening up at a rapid pace. There are plenty of good surprises, including two great museums and a great eating scene.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Iceland, The Best Northern Lights Tours in Iceland, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Paris, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Paris.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Akureyri or Saint-Etienne?

Saint-Etienne has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Akureyri. When comparing the sizes of Akureyri and Saint-Etienne, 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 Akureyri or Saint-Etienne?

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 Akureyri or Saint-Etienne in the Summer?

Both Saint-Etienne and Akureyri during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, many visitors come to Saint-Etienne in the summer for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Akureyri is much colder than Saint-Etienne. Typically, the summer temperatures in Akureyri in July average around 11°C (52°F), and Saint-Etienne averages at about 22°C (71°F).

In Saint-Etienne, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Akureyri often gets less sunshine than Saint-Etienne. Akureyri gets 158 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint-Etienne receives 285 hours of full sun.

Akureyri usually gets less rain in July than Saint-Etienne. Akureyri gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Saint-Etienne receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Akureyri or Saint-Etienne in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Akureyri and Saint-Etienne. Also, most visitors come to Saint-Etienne for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

Akureyri can get quite cold in the autumn. In October, Akureyri is generally much colder than Saint-Etienne. Daily temperatures in Akureyri average around 3°C (38°F), and Saint-Etienne fluctuates around 14°C (56°F).

Akureyri usually receives less sunshine than Saint-Etienne during autumn. Akureyri gets 52 hours of sunny skies, while Saint-Etienne receives 127 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Akureyri usually receives less rain than Saint-Etienne. Akureyri gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Saint-Etienne receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Akureyri or Saint-Etienne in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Akureyri as well as Saint-Etienne. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Saint-Etienne because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Saint-Etienne can be very cold. Akureyri can be very cold during winter. Akureyri is much colder than Saint-Etienne in the winter. The daily temperature in Akureyri averages around -2°C (28°F) in January, and Saint-Etienne fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).

In the winter, Akureyri often gets less sunshine than Saint-Etienne. Akureyri gets 7 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint-Etienne receives 62 hours of full sun.

Akureyri usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Saint-Etienne. Akureyri gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Saint-Etienne receives 55 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Akureyri or Saint-Etienne in the Spring?

Both Saint-Etienne and Akureyri are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the natural beauty are the main draw to Saint-Etienne this time of year.

The weather in Akureyri can be very cold. In the spring, Akureyri is much colder than Saint-Etienne. Typically, the spring temperatures in Akureyri in April average around 2°C (36°F), and Saint-Etienne averages at about 11°C (53°F).

Akureyri usually receives less sunshine than Saint-Etienne during spring. Akureyri gets 130 hours of sunny skies, while Saint-Etienne receives 174 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Akureyri usually receives less rain than Saint-Etienne. Akureyri gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Saint-Etienne receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Saint-Etienne and Akureyri