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

Should you visit Saaremaa or Lulea?

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

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

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.

Lulea

Lulea is in northern Sweden, in Norrbotten. It's a mid sized city with about 70,000 residents. It also has a technical university, the Lulea University of Technology, which was created in 1971. The city of Lulea is located at the mouth of Lule River on the Gulf of Bothnia. The city's economy is focused on research, education, trade and services. The university's educational programs appeal to new businesses that range from local companies to multinational corporations. There is also a prominant IT sector in the city.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Tallinn, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Estonia, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Sweden, and The Best Adventure Tours to Sweden.

When comparing the travel costs between Saaremaa and Lulea, we can see that Saaremaa is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Saaremaa or Lulea?

Lulea has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Saaremaa. When comparing the sizes of Saaremaa and Lulea, 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 Lulea?

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 Lulea in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Saaremaa as well as Lulea. The beaches, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Saaremaa this time of year.

Saaremaa is around the same temperature as Lulea in the summer. The daily temperature in Saaremaa averages around 17°C (62°F) in July, and Lulea fluctuates around 15°C (60°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Lulea. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saaremaa this time of the year. In the summer, Saaremaa often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Lulea. Saaremaa gets 302 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lulea receives 304 hours of full sun.

Saaremaa usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Lulea. Saaremaa gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Lulea receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saaremaa or Lulea in the Autumn?

Both Lulea 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.

Lulea can get quite cold in the autumn. In the autumn, Saaremaa is much warmer than Lulea. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Saaremaa in October average around 8°C (47°F), and Lulea averages at about 2°C (36°F).

Saaremaa usually receives more sunshine than Lulea during autumn. Saaremaa gets 101 hours of sunny skies, while Lulea receives 82 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Saaremaa usually receives around the same amount of rain as Lulea. Saaremaa gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Lulea receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Saaremaa or Lulea in the Winter?

Both Lulea and Saaremaa during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Saaremaa in the winter for the cuisine.

Lulea can be very cold during winter. Saaremaa can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Saaremaa is generally much warmer than Lulea. Daily temperatures in Saaremaa average around -3°C (27°F), and Lulea fluctuates around -12°C (10°F).

In the winter, Saaremaa often gets more sunshine than Lulea. Saaremaa gets 33 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lulea receives 19 hours of full sun.

Saaremaa usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Lulea. Saaremaa gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Lulea receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saaremaa or Lulea in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Saaremaa and Lulea. Most visitors come to Saaremaa for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty during these months.

The weather in Lulea can be very cold. Saaremaa can be very cold during spring. Saaremaa is much warmer than Lulea in the spring. The daily temperature in Saaremaa averages around 4°C (38°F) in April, and Lulea fluctuates around -1°C (31°F).

Saaremaa usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Lulea during spring. Saaremaa gets 196 hours of sunny skies, while Lulea receives 194 hours of full sun in the spring.

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

Typical Weather for Lulea and Saaremaa