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

Should you visit Saaremaa or Savonlinna?

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

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

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.

Savonlinna

Savonlinna is a town and a municipality of 35,504 inhabitants in the southeast of Finland, in the heart of the Saimaa lake region. The Finnish name of the town means "Castle of Savonia" and the Swedish name means "New Castle". The city was founded in 1639, based on Olavinlinna castle. Savonlinna is a historical borderland where the cultures and traditions of East and West meet. As the oldest town in Eastern Finland, Savonlinna is famous for its world class opera festival in the medieval castle surrounded by blue waters of Lake Saimaa. With its 100 year old steamships and unparalleled selection of experiences and activities, Savonlinna is a the real gem of Lakeland Finland.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Tallinn, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Estonia, The Best Budget Tours to Finland, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Finland.

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

Which is Bigger, Saaremaa or Savonlinna?

Savonlinna has a larger population, and is about 83% larger than the population of Saaremaa. When comparing the sizes of Saaremaa and Savonlinna, 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 Savonlinna?

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 Savonlinna in the Summer?

Both Savonlinna and Saaremaa during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Saaremaa in the summer for the beaches, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

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

In Savonlinna, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Saaremaa. In the summer, Saaremaa often gets more sunshine than Savonlinna. Saaremaa gets 302 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Savonlinna receives 259 hours of full sun.

Saaremaa usually gets less rain in July than Savonlinna. Saaremaa gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Savonlinna receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saaremaa or Savonlinna in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Saaremaa and Savonlinna. Most visitors come to Saaremaa for the small town atmosphere and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

The weather in Savonlinna can be very cold. In the autumn, Saaremaa is much warmer than Savonlinna. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Saaremaa in October average around 8°C (47°F), and Savonlinna averages at about 4°C (40°F).

Saaremaa usually receives more sunshine than Savonlinna during autumn. Saaremaa gets 101 hours of sunny skies, while Savonlinna receives 72 hours of full sun in the autumn.

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

Should I visit Saaremaa or Savonlinna in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Saaremaa as well as Savonlinna. The winter months attract visitors to Saaremaa because of the cuisine.

It's quite cold in Savonlinna in the winter. The weather in Saaremaa can be very cold. In January, Saaremaa is generally much warmer than Savonlinna. Daily temperatures in Saaremaa average around -3°C (27°F), and Savonlinna fluctuates around -11°C (13°F).

In the winter, Saaremaa often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Savonlinna. Saaremaa gets 33 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Savonlinna receives 34 hours of full sun.

Saaremaa usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Savonlinna. Saaremaa gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Savonlinna receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saaremaa or Savonlinna in the Spring?

Both Savonlinna and Saaremaa are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty are the main draw to Saaremaa this time of year.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Savonlinna. It's quite cold in Saaremaa in the spring. Saaremaa is much warmer than Savonlinna in the spring. The daily temperature in Saaremaa averages around 4°C (38°F) in April, and Savonlinna fluctuates around 2°C (36°F).

Saaremaa usually receives more sunshine than Savonlinna during spring. Saaremaa gets 196 hours of sunny skies, while Savonlinna receives 180 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Saaremaa usually receives less rain than Savonlinna. Saaremaa gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Savonlinna receives 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Savonlinna and Saaremaa