A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Aveiro vs. Mont-Saint-Michel for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Aveiro or Mont-Saint-Michel?

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 Aveiro and Mont-Saint-Michel. 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: Aveiro or Mont-Saint-Michel?

Aveiro

Aveiro has great canals that are lined by houses. Because of this ambiance, the town has earned its nickname the "Portuguese Venice." While it's similar, don't put too much into the name. The town is also known for it's colorful boats, referred to as moliceiros, that ride along the canals and under the bridges.

While the canals are lovely, most visitors actually come for the beaches. Aveiro's beaches are known for their clean and pristine sand. The shore is referred to as the Silver Coast, and has comfortably warm water, which is another major draw to the area.

Aveiro is comfortable year around because it's winters are mild and warm and its summer is somewhat cool. The winter months get the most rain and the summer is usually the driest. If you're there during the fall and winter, the winds will be strong making it the best time for surfing, sailing, and other water sports.

Mont-Saint-Michel

Mont Saint-Michel is an island community in Normandy, France. It is located about a half of a mile (or one kilometer) off of the country's northwest coast, at the mouth of the Couesnon River near Avranches. The population of the island, at last count, was just under 50 people. The island has been a strategic fortifications since ancient times and since the 8th century AD has been the seat of the monastery from which it was named. The structural composition of the town exemplifies the feudal society that constructed it: on top, God, the abbey and monastery; below, the great halls; then stores and housing; and at the bottom, outside the walls, houses for fishermen and farmers. One of France's most recognizable landmarks, visited by more than 3 million people each year, Mont Saint-Michel and its bay are on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. Over 60 buildings within the commune are protected in France as historical monuments.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Portugal, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Portugal, The Best River Cruises in France, and The Best Bicycle Tours in France.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Aveiro or Mont-Saint-Michel?

Aveiro has a larger population, and is about 680 times larger than the population of Mont-Saint-Michel. When comparing the sizes of Aveiro and Mont-Saint-Michel, 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 Aveiro or Mont-Saint-Michel?

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 Aveiro or Mont-Saint-Michel in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Aveiro as well as Mont-Saint-Michel. Also, many visitors come to Mont-Saint-Michel in the summer for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Aveiro is generally a little warmer than Mont-Saint-Michel. Daily temperatures in Aveiro average around 21°C (69°F), and Mont-Saint-Michel fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mont-Saint-Michel. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Aveiro this time of the year. In the summer, Aveiro often gets more sunshine than Mont-Saint-Michel. Aveiro gets 308 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mont-Saint-Michel receives 246 hours of full sun.

Aveiro usually gets less rain in July than Mont-Saint-Michel. Aveiro gets 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Mont-Saint-Michel receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Aveiro or Mont-Saint-Michel in the Autumn?

Both Mont-Saint-Michel and Aveiro are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Mont-Saint-Michel for the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

Aveiro is a little warmer than Mont-Saint-Michel in the autumn. The daily temperature in Aveiro averages around 17°C (62°F) in October, and Mont-Saint-Michel fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

Aveiro usually receives more sunshine than Mont-Saint-Michel during autumn. Aveiro gets 184 hours of sunny skies, while Mont-Saint-Michel receives 134 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Aveiro. In October, Aveiro usually receives more rain than Mont-Saint-Michel. Aveiro gets 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Mont-Saint-Michel receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Aveiro or Mont-Saint-Michel in the Winter?

Both Mont-Saint-Michel and Aveiro during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Mont-Saint-Michel because of the museums and the cuisine.

In the winter, Aveiro is much warmer than Mont-Saint-Michel. Typically, the winter temperatures in Aveiro in January average around 10°C (50°F), and Mont-Saint-Michel averages at about 5°C (41°F).

In the winter, Aveiro often gets more sunshine than Mont-Saint-Michel. Aveiro gets 124 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mont-Saint-Michel receives 70 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Aveiro. Aveiro usually gets more rain in January than Mont-Saint-Michel. Aveiro gets 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Mont-Saint-Michel receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Aveiro or Mont-Saint-Michel in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Aveiro and Mont-Saint-Michel. Furthermore, the natural beauty are the main draw to Mont-Saint-Michel this time of year.

In April, Aveiro is generally a little warmer than Mont-Saint-Michel. Daily temperatures in Aveiro average around 14°C (56°F), and Mont-Saint-Michel fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).

In Aveiro, it's very sunny this time of the year. Aveiro usually receives more sunshine than Mont-Saint-Michel during spring. Aveiro gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while Mont-Saint-Michel receives 180 hours of full sun in the spring.

Aveiro gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Aveiro usually receives more rain than Mont-Saint-Michel. Aveiro gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Mont-Saint-Michel receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Mont-Saint-Michel and Aveiro