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

Should you visit Saaremaa or Bressanone?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Saaremaa or Bressanone, 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, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include food and beaches.

Bressanone

Bressanone is a idyllic, charming, and quaint town. With plenty of activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the museums, food, and hiking.

Saaremaa and Bressanone: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Saaremaa or Bressanone?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Bressanone. Although Saaremaa and Bressanone are popular destinations, Bressanone has more sights and attractions for tourists. Bressanone is very popular for its museums, nightlife, historical sights, hiking, and shopping, while Saaremaa attracts visitors for its beaches and small town charm. Bressanone is more touristy than Saaremaa and is popular for its charming old town and its idyllic setting. It is also well known for The Bressanone/Brixen Cathedral. Saaremaa is famous for its untouched, undiscovered rural setting.

How is Saaremaa different from Bressanone?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Bressanone 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 Bressanone?

Bressanone is a nice place to visit for its historical sights. However, Saaremaa does not have museums and landmarks.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Bressanone. Most visitors simply enjoy soaking up the town's atmosphere, but sights around town include The Royal Palace, the cathedral, and Franzenfeste Fortress.

Saaremaa does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Saaremaa and Bressanone can be difficult as they are each high quality in their own way.

Saaremaa has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. 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.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Bressanone makes for a great culinary experience. Despite its small size, there are many family run restaurants that make use of ingredients from local farms. The town also hosts a few culinary festivals throughout the year.

Is Saaremaa or Bressanone Better for Nightlife?

Bressanone is adequate for its evening party scene. However, Saaremaa is not a good destination for nightlife.

Bressanone doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. It's a small town with some quaint bars and pubs where you can enjoy a beer and chat with other visitors.

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 Bressanone Better for Beaches?

Saaremaa is a island with good options for the beach. However, Bressanone 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.

Bressanone is not a beach destination.

Is Saaremaa or Bressanone Better for its Old Town?

Bressanone is great for its historic old town charm. However, Saaremaa does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to Bressanone to see the historical old town. The cathedral and beautiful old buildings make this a charming place to explore.

Saaremaa does not have a historic old town.

Is Saaremaa or Bressanone Better for Hiking?

Bressanone is great for hiking. However, Saaremaa is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors go to Bressanone for the hiking trails. There's a huge variety of hikes in the surrounding countryside. You can walk alongside the river, head into the foothills, or explore the nearby vineyards.

Saaremaa is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Saaremaa or Bressanone?

Bressanone is a nice place to visit for its shopping areas. However, Saaremaa is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Bressanone has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. The medieval streets are lined with family-owned shops, boutique clothing stores, and other unique local shopping opportunities.

Saaremaa is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Saaremaa or Bressanone Better for Families?

Saaremaa is a island with good options for its family-friendly activities. However, Bressanone is a town with minimal options for its kid-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Saaremaa. 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.

For families, Bressanone is not always the best place to visit. It's a great town to take a lunch break. The kids will enjoy wandering the alley-like streets. There's a river through town and great views of the Alps.

Is Saaremaa or Bressanone Better for Couples?

Saaremaa and Bressanone are both high quality to visit as a couple.

Saaremaa is a great island if you're traveling as a couple. 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.

Bressanone is a very popular place to visit for couples. This charming town is seeped in romance. The quaint streets and surrounding mountain setting make this an idyllic place to take a romantic trip.

Is Saaremaa or Bressanone Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Saaremaa and Bressanone are nice places to visit.

It's common for backpackers to visit Saaremaa. 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.

Bressanone is a good island to visit for backpackers. There's a couple of hostels and cheaper guesthouses in town, so backpackers can enjoy a few days in this picturesque alpine town.

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

Bressanone is a nice place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Saaremaa is not a good destination for its public transit.

While Bressanone offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are trains and buses throughout the region.

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 Bressanone a more walkable city?

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

Bressanone is a very walkable destination. The town is compact and small enough to explore on foot.

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 Bressanone Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Bressanone or Saaremaa?

How long in Saaremaa or Bressanone?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Saaremaa or Bressanone to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Saaremaa than Bressanone because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Saaremaa, and 1-2 days is enough time in Bressanone.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Bressanone 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 Bressanone.

One day in Saaremaa or Bressanone?

Saaremaa might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. Anyone can find something fun to do here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

The beautiful town of Bressanone offers food and shopping. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Saaremaa or Bressanone?

Even though Saaremaa is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this island.

Bressanone is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this town makes for a great vacation. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Bressanone, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Saaremaa or Bressanone?

Saaremaa, a popular island, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Bressanone is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Saaremaa or Bressanone?

Saaremaa is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Bressanone is a great place to explore. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This town 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 Bicycle Tours in Italy, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Italy.

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

Which is Bigger, Saaremaa or Bressanone?

Bressanone has a larger population, and is about 23% larger than the population of Saaremaa. When comparing the sizes of Saaremaa and Bressanone, 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.