A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Saaremaa vs. Beijing for Food, Couples, Backpackers, and Families

Should you visit Saaremaa or Beijing?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Saaremaa or Beijing, 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.

Saaremaa

Saaremaa is a peaceful, relaxed, and traditional island. Because it offers so much small town charm with a variety of activities, it attracts plenty of visitors for a good reason. With stunning beauty, Saaremaa attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include food and beaches. See Saaremaa travel costs.

Beijing

Beijing is a fascinating, historic, and massive city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. Beijing offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food. See Beijing travel costs.

Saaremaa and Beijing: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Saaremaa or Beijing?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Beijing. Although Saaremaa and Beijing are popular destinations, Beijing has more sights and attractions for tourists. Beijing is very popular for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Saaremaa attracts visitors for its beaches, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Beijing is more touristy than Saaremaa and is popular for its rich culture, many historical landmarks, its long running history, and its world class cuisine. It is also well known for The Forbidden City. Saaremaa is famous for its untouched, undiscovered rural setting.

How is Saaremaa different from Beijing?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Beijing and Saaremaa. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Saaremaa or Beijing?

Beijing is an amazing city to visit for its historical sights. However, Saaremaa does not have museums and landmarks.

With plenty of landmarks, attractions, and museums, Beijing has many famous sights for visitors. The city is filled with iconic landmarks including the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and The Temple of Heaven. It's also essential that you plan a trip outside of town to the world renowned Great Wall of China. The trip takes about an hour and you can organize a tour through almost any hotel or tour company.

Saaremaa does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Saaremaa or Beijing? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Beijing is an amazing city to visit for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Saaremaa is not as popular, but is still a nice island for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Beijing is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. The city has a number of iconic dishes that have put it on the culinary map. The most notable dish is Peking Duck, which is a delectable crispy roast duck that is usually served with cucumber, scallions, sweet bean sauce and pancakes or other steamed buns. Hot pots are another must-try experience in the city, and, of course, you have to experience the dumplings. A huge part of a visit to Beijing is experiencing its long running culinary history.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Saaremaa makes for a great culinary experience. Like most things on the island, traditional local food is still the norm here. The island is known for its smoked fish, homemade bread, and locally brewed beers. Popular fishes include garfish, herring, and flatfish, which you can enjoy at a local restaurant or one of the pop-up cafes that are popular during the summer months. You'll find the highest concentration of restaurants in Kuressaare, but there are still many options further out. It's also fun to visit during September during the Saaremaa Food Festival.

Is Saaremaa or Beijing Better for Nightlife?

Beijing is great for its evening party scene. However, Saaremaa is not a good destination for nightlife.

Many people head to Beijing for the nightlife scene. Live performances are popular in the city, and range from concerts to magic shows and acrobatics. There is also an active bar scene around town. Some of the most popular nightlife areas include Sanlitun and Houhai.

People don't go to Saaremaa for the nightlife. The island is known for it's quiet, laid-back atmosphere, so you'll be hard pressed to find a party or active club, even during the more popular summer months.

Is Saaremaa or Beijing Better for Beaches?

Saaremaa is a island with good options for the beach. However, Beijing is not a beach destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Saaremaa. The beaches are quiet and relaxed, even during the summer months. In town, the best beach is Kuressaare Beach. Outside of town you'll find other nice beaches such as the sandy beaches between Mändjala and Järve. The beaches in Tuhkana and Jõiste villages are also well known. For swimming, most people prefer to visit Lake Karujärv.

Beijing is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Saaremaa or Beijing?

Beijing is great for its shopping areas. However, Saaremaa is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Beijing. There are many unique handicrafts that you can purchase around town. Popular souvenirs include silk, pearls, and snuff bottles with pictures inside. The city has many shopping streets as well as markets and shopping malls that are worth visiting.

Saaremaa is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Saaremaa or Beijing More Beautiful?

Saaremaa is a great destination for its scenery and beauty. Also, Beijing is still popular, but not quite as popular for its scenery and beauty.

With stunning beauty, Saaremaa attracts visitors from all around. The island has a classic beauty that feels frozen in time.

Beijing is a gorgeous place to visit. The parks, gardens, palaces, and temples all offer a glimpse into the past, while also letting you enjoy the city and culture that exists today.

Is Saaremaa or Beijing Better for Families?

Saaremaa and Beijing are both nice destinations for the whole family.

Saaremaa offers lots of family activities. While the island is known for its slow pace, there are still a number of fun activities where the kids can run and jump. There are several outdoor adventure parks and playgrounds that are great for young legs. Check out the playgrounds in Kuressaare or head out of town for more outdoor activities. When the weather's nice you can head to Kuressaare Beach or check out the ostrich farm in Muhu.

Beijing is a family-friendly place to visit. The city offers a unique cultural immersion that kids and adults can enjoy. Wander through the Forbidden City or watch your kids be mesmerized by a Chinese acrobatics show. It's also fun to get lost in the Hutongs or test their culinary palates by visiting a snack street.

Is Saaremaa or Beijing Better for Couples?

Saaremaa is a great destination for couples. Also, Beijing is still popular, but not quite as popular for romance.

Couples visit Saaremaa frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. The peace and quiet of the island make for a relaxing couple's getaway. You can enjoy the outdoors and feel like you've stepped back in time as you explore the laid back island in the Baltics.

Beijing is a nice destination for couples. The culture, history, and food all make this a stunning place to visit. While romance doesn't immediately spring to mind when you think of Beijing, there are shows and fine dining restaurants that couples will enjoy. There are also many luxury hotels with spas and other amenities.

Is Saaremaa or Beijing Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Beijing is great for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Saaremaa is not as popular, but is still a nice island for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Beijing. The city has many hostels and budget-friendly options. There isn't the backpacker community vibe that you may get in other Asian cities, but if you organize an excursion through your hostel, you're sure to make a few friends along the way.

Saaremaa is a good island to visit for backpackers. While prices are cheap, transportation isn't great so you'll likely want to rent a car if you want to really explore the island. There are a number of rooms available for rent at an affordable price, particularly in the shoulder season, but you'll you'll only find a handful of hostels on the island.

Is Saaremaa or Beijing Better for Students?

Beijing is great for its student-friendly activities. However, Saaremaa is not popular with students.

Beijing is a great city to visit as a student. Students will enjoy the culture, food, and academic opportunities that the universities offer. There is also a decent nightlife scene and affordable places where students can live.

Saaremaa is not popular with students.

Is Saaremaa or Beijing Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Beijing is great for times when you don't have a car. However, Saaremaa is not a good destination for its public transit.

The public transit in Beijing can get you to most places easily. The system can be crowded and confusing at first, but it's one of the most convenient and affordable ways to get around town. There's a subway system as well as buses, trolleybuses, and suburban rail.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Saaremaa. Most people arrive on the island by ferry. There are buses on the island but they cater mostly to locals. To really explore, you'll want to have access to a car.

Is Saaremaa or Beijing a more walkable city?

Beijing is adequate for its ease of walking around. However, Saaremaa is not a good destination for its walkability.

Beijing is generally not a very walkable city. While parts of the city are fun to explore on foot, the city itself is very large with long blocks that aren't pedestrian-friendly.

Saaremaa is not a walkable island. While their are some walking trails, you really need a car to explore the island in depth.

For even more information, also check out Is Saaremaa Worth Visiting? and Is Beijing Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Beijing or Saaremaa?

How long in Saaremaa or Beijing?

Both Saaremaa and Beijing have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Beijing than in Saaremaa. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Saaremaa, and 3-7 days is enough time in Beijing.

Families should spend more time in Beijing than Saaremaa. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Beijing, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Beijing than Saaremaa. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Beijing that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Beijing than Saaremaa if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Beijing.

One day in Saaremaa or Beijing?

Saaremaa is a small town with plenty to do. This island offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

Beijing is a big city with plenty to do. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Saaremaa or Beijing?

Saaremaa might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Saaremaa has to offer.

Beijing is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Saaremaa or Beijing?

Saaremaa is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Beijing is a popular choice for travelers. Five days here is typical. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Beijing, five days is sufficent for most. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Saaremaa or Beijing?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Saaremaa. Since Saaremaa is a small town, it's easily explored when your time is limited. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Beijing is a great place to explore. It is common to spend one week here. One week is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Beijing has to offer. This city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Tallinn, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Estonia, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saaremaa and Beijing, we can see that Saaremaa is more expensive. And not only is Beijing much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saaremaa is in Europe and Beijing is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Beijing would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Beijing 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 Beijing.

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

Which is Bigger, Saaremaa or Beijing?

Beijing has a larger population, and is about 500 times larger than the population of Saaremaa. When comparing the sizes of Saaremaa and Beijing, 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 Beijing?

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 Beijing in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Saaremaa as well as Beijing. The beaches, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Saaremaa this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Beijing for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

Saaremaa is much colder than Beijing in the summer. The daily temperature in Saaremaa averages around 17°C (62°F) in July, and Beijing fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Beijing. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saaremaa this time of the year. In the summer, Saaremaa often gets more sunshine than Beijing. Saaremaa gets 302 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Beijing receives 224 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Beijing. Saaremaa usually gets less rain in July than Beijing. Saaremaa gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 176 mm (6.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saaremaa or Beijing in the Autumn?

Both Beijing and Saaremaa are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Saaremaa for the small town atmosphere and the natural beauty of the area. Also, many visitors come to Beijing in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Saaremaa is much colder than Beijing. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Saaremaa in October average around 8°C (47°F), and Beijing averages at about 14°C (56°F).

It's quite sunny in Beijing. Saaremaa usually receives less sunshine than Beijing during autumn. Saaremaa gets 101 hours of sunny skies, while Beijing receives 227 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Saaremaa usually receives more rain than Beijing. Saaremaa gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Saaremaa or Beijing in the Winter?

Both Beijing and Saaremaa during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Saaremaa in the winter for the cuisine. Furthermore, most visitors come to Beijing for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Beijing can be very cold during winter. Saaremaa can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Saaremaa is generally a little warmer than Beijing. Daily temperatures in Saaremaa average around -3°C (27°F), and Beijing fluctuates around -4°C (26°F).

In Beijing, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Saaremaa often gets less sunshine than Beijing. Saaremaa gets 33 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Beijing receives 201 hours of full sun.

Saaremaa usually gets more rain in January than Beijing. Saaremaa gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saaremaa or Beijing in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Saaremaa and Beijing. Most visitors come to Saaremaa for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty during these months. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Beijing because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty.

Saaremaa can be very cold during spring. Saaremaa is much colder than Beijing in the spring. The daily temperature in Saaremaa averages around 4°C (38°F) in April, and Beijing fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Beijing this time of the year. Saaremaa usually receives less sunshine than Beijing during spring. Saaremaa gets 196 hours of sunny skies, while Beijing receives 247 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Saaremaa usually receives more rain than Beijing. Saaremaa gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Beijing receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Beijing and Saaremaa