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

Should you visit Saaremaa or Potsdam?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Saaremaa or Potsdam, 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 quiet, calm, and peaceful island. It also offers plenty of small town charm and also has plenty of sights and activities. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the food and beaches.

Potsdam

Potsdam is a park-filled, historic, and accessible city. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Saaremaa and Potsdam: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Saaremaa or Potsdam?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Potsdam. Although Saaremaa and Potsdam are both popular with visitors, Potsdam has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Potsdam is more popular for its museums, nightlife, and shopping, while Saaremaa is known for its beaches, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Potsdam is more touristy than Saaremaa and is popular for its beautiful palaces, scenic town center, and accessibility to Berlin. It is also home to The Sanssouci Palace. Saaremaa is popular for its untouched, undiscovered rural setting.

How is Saaremaa different from Potsdam?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Potsdam is great for its historical sights. However, Saaremaa does not have museums and landmarks.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Potsdam can be an interesting and educational experience. People visit this city for its high concentration of historic sights. The Renaissance Orangery Palace is a highlight of the visit for many travelers.

Saaremaa does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Saaremaa and Potsdam can be difficult as they are each excellent 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, Potsdam makes for a great culinary experience. You'll find a diverse restaurant scene, although the city is quite small. There are international restaurants as well as local venues where you can try regional specialties.

Is Saaremaa or Potsdam Better for Nightlife?

Potsdam is a nice place to visit for its evening party scene. However, Saaremaa is not a good destination for nightlife.

If you're looking for night time activities Potsdam has a few options to choose from. The city is not far from Berlin, so head in to Germany's nightlife capital for the most famous clubs and venues. In the town of Potsdam there are cocktail bars and breweries that make for a mellow and relaxed evening.

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 Potsdam Better for Beaches?

Saaremaa is very good for the beache. However, Potsdam is not a beach destination.

Many people head to Saaremaa to enjoy the beach. 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.

Potsdam is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Saaremaa or Potsdam?

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

Potsdam has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There are plazas and shopping streets that have the standard chain stores as well as antique shops and other boutiques.

Saaremaa is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Saaremaa or Potsdam Better for Families?

Saaremaa and Potsdam are both good 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.

Potsdam is a family-friendly place to visit. There are a number of playgrounds around town as well as several beaches by lakes that are fun for kids. Another highlight for families is a visit to Babelsberg Film Studios.

Is Saaremaa or Potsdam Better for Couples?

Saaremaa is well known for its romantic activities. Also, Potsdam is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

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.

Potsdam is a good island for couples to visit. Exploring the city and soaking up the sights is the best way for couples to enjoy their time. There are some nice hotels and restaurants in the area that make for a great date night.

Is Saaremaa or Potsdam Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Saaremaa and Potsdam are good 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.

Potsdam is a good island to visit for backpackers. There are a handful of hostels to choose from in town.

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

Potsdam 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 Potsdam can get you to most places easily. The city is well connected to Berlin by S-Bahn and bus.

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 Potsdam a more walkable city?

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

Potsdam is a very walkable destination. It's a smaller, compact city that can mostly be explored 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 Potsdam Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Potsdam or Saaremaa?

How long in Saaremaa or Potsdam?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Saaremaa or Potsdam to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Saaremaa than Potsdam 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 Potsdam.

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

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

One day in Saaremaa or Potsdam?

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.

The city of Potsdam offers food and shopping. 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 Potsdam?

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.

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

Five days in Saaremaa or Potsdam?

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.

Potsdam 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 Potsdam?

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.

Potsdam is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. 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 Coach Bus Tours in Germany, and The Best Adventure Tours to Germany.

When comparing the travel costs between Saaremaa and Potsdam, we can see that Potsdam 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 Potsdam Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Saaremaa or Potsdam?

Potsdam has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Saaremaa. When comparing the sizes of Saaremaa and Potsdam, 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 Potsdam?

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 Potsdam in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Saaremaa as well as Potsdam. Most visitors come to Saaremaa for the beaches, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Additionally, the summer months attract visitors to Potsdam because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Saaremaa is generally cooler than Potsdam. Daily temperatures in Saaremaa average around 17°C (62°F), and Potsdam fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Potsdam. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saaremaa this time of the year. In the summer, Saaremaa often gets more sunshine than Potsdam. Saaremaa gets 302 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Potsdam receives 232 hours of full sun.

Saaremaa usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Potsdam. Saaremaa gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Potsdam receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saaremaa or Potsdam in the Autumn?

Both Potsdam and Saaremaa are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Saaremaa because of the small town atmosphere and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Potsdam this time of year.

Saaremaa is cooler than Potsdam in the autumn. The daily temperature in Saaremaa averages around 8°C (47°F) in October, and Potsdam fluctuates around 10°C (51°F).

Saaremaa usually receives less sunshine than Potsdam during autumn. Saaremaa gets 101 hours of sunny skies, while Potsdam receives 114 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Saaremaa usually receives more rain than Potsdam. Saaremaa gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Potsdam receives 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Saaremaa or Potsdam in the Winter?

Both Potsdam and Saaremaa during the winter are popular places to visit. The cuisine are the main draw to Saaremaa this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Potsdam for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Potsdam. It's quite cold in Saaremaa in the winter. In the winter, Saaremaa is much colder than Potsdam. Typically, the winter temperatures in Saaremaa in January average around -3°C (27°F), and Potsdam averages at about -0°C (31°F).

In the winter, Saaremaa often gets less sunshine than Potsdam. Saaremaa gets 33 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Potsdam receives 47 hours of full sun.

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

Should I visit Saaremaa or Potsdam in the Spring?

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

Be prepared for some very cold days in Saaremaa. In April, Saaremaa is generally much colder than Potsdam. Daily temperatures in Saaremaa average around 4°C (38°F), and Potsdam fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

Saaremaa usually receives more sunshine than Potsdam during spring. Saaremaa gets 196 hours of sunny skies, while Potsdam receives 168 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Saaremaa usually receives less rain than Potsdam. Saaremaa gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Potsdam receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Potsdam and Saaremaa