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

Should you visit Saaremaa or Akureyri?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Saaremaa or Akureyri, 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: Saaremaa or Akureyri?

Saaremaa

Saaremaa is the largest island in Estonia and it has a unique and rural atmosphere that makes it an interesting place to visit. Saaremaa has remained rural and frozen in time due to its isolated location, particularly during Soviet occupation when it was used as a military base. The island still has working windmills, hand placed stone walls, and old stone churches that feel like you've stepped back in time.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Tallinn, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Estonia, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Iceland, and The Best Northern Lights Tours in Iceland.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saaremaa and Akureyri, we can see that Akureyri is more expensive. And not only is Saaremaa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Saaremaa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Saaremaa 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 Saaremaa.

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

Which is Bigger, Saaremaa or Akureyri?

Akureyri has a larger population, and is about 11% larger than the population of Saaremaa. When comparing the sizes of Saaremaa and Akureyri, 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 Saaremaa or Akureyri?

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 Saaremaa or Akureyri in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Saaremaa as well as Akureyri. The summer months attract visitors to Saaremaa because of the beaches, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Saaremaa is a little warmer than Akureyri. Typically, the summer temperatures in Saaremaa in July average around 17°C (62°F), and Akureyri averages at about 11°C (52°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saaremaa this time of the year. In the summer, Saaremaa often gets more sunshine than Akureyri. Saaremaa gets 302 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Akureyri receives 158 hours of full sun.

Saaremaa usually gets more rain in July than Akureyri. Saaremaa gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Akureyri receives 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saaremaa or Akureyri in the Autumn?

Both Akureyri and Saaremaa are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The small town atmosphere and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Saaremaa this time of year.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Akureyri. In October, Saaremaa is generally much warmer than Akureyri. Daily temperatures in Saaremaa average around 8°C (47°F), and Akureyri fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).

Saaremaa usually receives more sunshine than Akureyri during autumn. Saaremaa gets 101 hours of sunny skies, while Akureyri receives 52 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Saaremaa usually receives more rain than Akureyri. Saaremaa gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Akureyri receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Saaremaa or Akureyri in the Winter?

Both Akureyri and Saaremaa during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Saaremaa for the cuisine.

Akureyri can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Saaremaa. Saaremaa is cooler than Akureyri in the winter. The daily temperature in Saaremaa averages around -3°C (27°F) in January, and Akureyri fluctuates around -2°C (28°F).

In the winter, Saaremaa often gets more sunshine than Akureyri. Saaremaa gets 33 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Akureyri receives 7 hours of full sun.

Saaremaa usually gets less rain in January than Akureyri. Saaremaa gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Akureyri receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saaremaa or Akureyri in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Saaremaa and Akureyri. Many visitors come to Saaremaa in the spring for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.

Akureyri can be very cold during spring. Saaremaa can get quite cold in the spring. In the spring, Saaremaa is much warmer than Akureyri. Typically, the spring temperatures in Saaremaa in April average around 4°C (38°F), and Akureyri averages at about 2°C (36°F).

Saaremaa usually receives more sunshine than Akureyri during spring. Saaremaa gets 196 hours of sunny skies, while Akureyri receives 130 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Saaremaa usually receives around the same amount of rain as Akureyri. Saaremaa gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Akureyri receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Akureyri and Saaremaa