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

Should you visit Saaremaa or Aveiro?

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

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

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.

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.

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

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saaremaa and Aveiro, we can see that Saaremaa 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 Saaremaa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saaremaa 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 Saaremaa Expensive? and Is Aveiro Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Saaremaa or Aveiro?

Aveiro has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Saaremaa. When comparing the sizes of Saaremaa and Aveiro, 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 Aveiro?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Saaremaa or Aveiro in the Summer?

Both Aveiro and Saaremaa are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Saaremaa for the beaches, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

Saaremaa is cooler than Aveiro in the summer. The daily temperature in Saaremaa averages around 17°C (62°F) in July, and Aveiro fluctuates around 21°C (69°F).

It's quite sunny in Aveiro. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saaremaa. Saaremaa usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Aveiro during summer. Saaremaa gets 302 hours of sunny skies, while Aveiro receives 308 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Saaremaa usually receives more rain than Aveiro. Saaremaa gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Aveiro receives 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Saaremaa or Aveiro in the Autumn?

Both Aveiro and Saaremaa during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Saaremaa in the autumn for the small town atmosphere and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Saaremaa is much colder than Aveiro. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Saaremaa in October average around 8°C (47°F), and Aveiro averages at about 17°C (62°F).

In the autumn, Saaremaa often gets less sunshine than Aveiro. Saaremaa gets 101 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Aveiro receives 184 hours of full sun.

Aveiro gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Saaremaa usually gets less rain in October than Aveiro. Saaremaa gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Aveiro receives 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saaremaa or Aveiro in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Saaremaa and Aveiro. Most visitors come to Saaremaa for the cuisine during these months.

Saaremaa can be very cold during winter. In January, Saaremaa is generally much colder than Aveiro. Daily temperatures in Saaremaa average around -3°C (27°F), and Aveiro fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).

Saaremaa usually receives less sunshine than Aveiro during winter. Saaremaa gets 33 hours of sunny skies, while Aveiro receives 124 hours of full sun in the winter.

Aveiro receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Saaremaa usually receives less rain than Aveiro. Saaremaa gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Aveiro receives 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Saaremaa or Aveiro in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Saaremaa as well as Aveiro. The spring months attract visitors to Saaremaa because of the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.

The weather in Saaremaa can be very cold. Saaremaa is much colder than Aveiro in the spring. The daily temperature in Saaremaa averages around 4°C (38°F) in April, and Aveiro fluctuates around 14°C (56°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Aveiro. In the spring, Saaremaa often gets less sunshine than Aveiro. Saaremaa gets 196 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Aveiro receives 217 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Aveiro. Saaremaa usually gets less rain in April than Aveiro. Saaremaa gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Aveiro receives 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Aveiro and Saaremaa