A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Saint Andrews vs. Carcassonne for Attractions, Food, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit Saint Andrews or Carcassonne?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Saint Andrews or Carcassonne, 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.

Saint Andrews

Saint Andrews is a quaint, peaceful, and historic university town. It offers plenty of small town charm along with sights and activities, too. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include hiking, shopping, and museums.

Carcassonne

Carcassonne is a historical, fairytale, and medieval town. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the food and museums.

Saint Andrews and Carcassonne: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Saint Andrews or Carcassonne?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Saint Andrews. Although Saint Andrews and Carcassonne are popular destinations, Saint Andrews has more sights and attractions for tourists. Saint Andrews is very popular for its nightlife, beaches, hiking, shopping, small town charm, and impressive beauty, while Carcassonne attracts visitors for its museums and historical sights. Carcassonne is more touristy than Saint Andrews and is popular for its medieval history, walled fortifications, and well-known castle. Saint Andrews is famous for its reputation as the birthplace of golf. It is also well known for The Old Course.

The Old Course

How is Saint Andrews different from Carcassonne?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Saint Andrews or Carcassonne?

Carcassonne is a well-known place for its sights and museums. Also, Saint Andrews is not as famous, but is still a good university town to visit for its museums and history.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Carcassonne can be an interesting and educational experience. The town is filled with medieval sights including the Château Comtal, the Basilica of Saints Nazarius and Celsus, and the Carcassonne Cathedral.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Saint Andrews. For many, a highlight of their trip is to play a round of golf at St. Andrews Links Golf Courses. Golf enthusiasts will also appreciate a visit to the British Golf Museum. Other interesting sights in the area include a visit to the ruins of the Cathedral of St. Andrew, visiting the St. Andrews University Museums, or stopping by St. Andrews Castle.

Is the Food Better in Saint Andrews or Carcassonne? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Local dishes at restaurants are fun to try in both Saint Andrews and Carcassonne.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Saint Andrews. The town holds on to its history and heritage, and that stands out with the restaurant selection. There are a range of of independent cafes and pubs and surprisingly few major chain restaurants and fast food joints.

Carcassonne has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. There are a number of local restaurants that serve regional specialties such as cassoulet. You can spend a few hours exploring the castle and then grab a delicious bite to eat.

Is Saint Andrews or Carcassonne Better for Nightlife?

Saint Andrews is a good destination for nightlife. However, Carcassonne is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Saint Andrews. There are a large number of pubs and bars throughout the town, and you'll find students hanging out and keeping things lively.

Carcassonne is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Saint Andrews or Carcassonne Better for Beaches?

Saint Andrews is a good destination for its beaches. However, Carcassonne is not a beach destination.

Saint Andrews offers a nice beach destination. Adding to the natural beauty is the beautiful coastline around St. Andrews. Some of the best beaches include West Sands Beach, Kingsbarns Beach, Castle Sands, and Saint Andrews Beach.

Carcassonne is not a beach destination.

Is Saint Andrews or Carcassonne Better for its Old Town?

Carcassonne is a nice place to visit for its old town. However, Saint Andrews does not have a historic old town.

Many people head to Carcassonne to see the old town. The medieval walled city is seeped in history and filled with atmosphere. Cars are not allowed in town.

Saint Andrews does not have a historic old town.

Is Saint Andrews or Carcassonne Better for Hiking?

Saint Andrews is a good destination for its hiking trails. However, Carcassonne is not a hiking destination.

Saint Andrews offers some nice hiking trails. There are some beautiful hikes just outside of town. Check out the views from Chamcook Mountain or wander down the Van Horne Trail.

Carcassonne is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Saint Andrews or Carcassonne?

Saint Andrews is a very popular place for shopping. However, Carcassonne is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Saint Andrews. The town is filled with boutique shops and local markets where you can buy unique items like artisan food, handmade crafts, or local art.

Carcassonne is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Saint Andrews or Carcassonne Better for Families?

Saint Andrews and Carcassonne are both nice destinations for the whole family.

Saint Andrews is a family-friendly place to visit. There are some great playgrounds, parks, and gardens that kids will enjoy. Check out Kingbrae Gardens, Ministers Island, and Katy’s Cove. For museums, head to Ross Memorial Museum and Huntsman Fundy Discovery Aquarium.

Carcassonne is a family-friendly university town. Kids who love castles will enjoy wandering the maze of rooms and getting lost in the medieval atmosphere.

Is Saint Andrews or Carcassonne Better for Couples?

Saint Andrews is a very popular place for romance. Also, Carcassonne is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its romantic activities.

Saint Andrews makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The scenic landscapes, stunning views, and quaint charm make this a perfect place for couples to escape to. You can enjoy boat rides, seafood restaurants, golfing, and spas all while you soak up the natural beauty.

Carcassonne makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It's a medieval city with an impressive castle and walled fortifications. It's a uniquely European sight that is great for couples who enjoy history.

Is Saint Andrews or Carcassonne Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Carcassonne is a well-known place for backpackers. However, Saint Andrews is not a good university town for backpackers and budget travelers.

Carcassonne is a great town to visit for backpackers. There are interesting hostels in the area including a converted 17th century convent.

Saint Andrews is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not really a backpacker's destination, but there are some guesthouses and apartments that are more affordable.

Is Saint Andrews or Carcassonne Better for Students?

Saint Andrews is very popular for its student-friendly activities. However, Carcassonne is not popular with students.

Saint Andrews is a very popular place to visit for students. At its heart, this is a university town with a long standing history in teaching. You'll find the town's population doubles when students are in town.

Carcassonne is not popular with students.

Is Saint Andrews or Carcassonne Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Saint Andrews and Carcassonne offer nice public transit options.

Saint Andrews has a few public transit options. There are buses through St. Andrews.

Carcassonne has some public transit options. You can reach the town by train from Dijon, Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, or Bordeaux and many people visit the town as a day trip.

Is Saint Andrews or Carcassonne a more walkable city?

Carcassonne is terrific for its high level of walkability. Also, Saint Andrews is not as famous, but is still a good university town to visit for its ease of walking around.

It is easy to get around Carcassonne on foot. Cars aren't allowed in the medieval city so it's best to explore on foot.

Saint Andrews is a somewhat walkable university town. Parts of the town are compact enough to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Saint Andrews Worth Visiting? and Is Carcassonne Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Carcassonne or Saint Andrews?

How long in Saint Andrews or Carcassonne?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Saint Andrews or Carcassonne to fill your time. In our opinion, Saint Andrews has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Saint Andrews than Carcassonne. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Carcassonne than Saint Andrews 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 Carcassonne.

One day in Saint Andrews or Carcassonne?

Saint Andrews is a small town with plenty to do. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this university town has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Many travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the historical destination of Carcassonne. Your budget might influence how long you stay. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then one day is just the right amount of time to spend here.

A weekend in Saint Andrews or Carcassonne?

Saint Andrews might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. This university town offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Carcassonne. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Five days in Saint Andrews or Carcassonne?

Because Saint Andrews is a small town, it's easy to explore in a short amount of time. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

Travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the medieval destination of Carcassonne. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. 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.

A week in Saint Andrews or Carcassonne?

Since Saint Andrews is a small town, it's easily explored when your time is limited. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

You'll find museums and food around the town of Carcassonne. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to United Kingdom, The Best Sightseeing Tours in United Kingdom, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in France, and The Best Historical Tours in France.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint Andrews and Carcassonne, we can see that Saint Andrews is more expensive. And not only is Carcassonne much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Carcassonne would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Carcassonne 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 Saint Andrews would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint Andrews than you might in Carcassonne.

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

Which is Bigger, Saint Andrews or Carcassonne?

Carcassonne has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Saint Andrews. When comparing the sizes of Saint Andrews and Carcassonne, 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 Saint Andrews or Carcassonne?

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 Saint Andrews or Carcassonne in the Summer?

Both Carcassonne and Saint Andrews during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Saint Andrews for the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Carcassonne in the summer for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Saint Andrews is generally much colder than Carcassonne. Daily temperatures in Saint Andrews average around 14°C (58°F), and Carcassonne fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

In Carcassonne, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Saint Andrews often gets less sunshine than Carcassonne. Saint Andrews gets 184 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Carcassonne receives 275 hours of full sun.

Saint Andrews usually gets more rain in July than Carcassonne. Saint Andrews gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Carcassonne receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Andrews or Carcassonne in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Andrews and Carcassonne. Many visitors come to Saint Andrews in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, most visitors come to Carcassonne for the small town atmosphere and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

Saint Andrews is much colder than Carcassonne in the autumn. The daily temperature in Saint Andrews averages around 10°C (49°F) in October, and Carcassonne fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).

Saint Andrews usually receives less sunshine than Carcassonne during autumn. Saint Andrews gets 100 hours of sunny skies, while Carcassonne receives 161 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Saint Andrews usually receives less rain than Carcassonne. Saint Andrews gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Carcassonne receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Saint Andrews or Carcassonne in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Saint Andrews as well as Carcassonne. Most visitors come to Saint Andrews for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Carcassonne because of the museums and the cuisine.

Saint Andrews can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Saint Andrews is much colder than Carcassonne. Typically, the winter temperatures in Saint Andrews in January average around 3°C (38°F), and Carcassonne averages at about 8°C (47°F).

In the winter, Saint Andrews often gets less sunshine than Carcassonne. Saint Andrews gets 58 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Carcassonne receives 88 hours of full sun.

Saint Andrews usually gets more rain in January than Carcassonne. Saint Andrews gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Carcassonne receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Andrews or Carcassonne in the Spring?

Both Carcassonne and Saint Andrews are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Saint Andrews because of the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty. Also, the small town charm and the natural beauty are the main draw to Carcassonne this time of year.

In April, Saint Andrews is generally much colder than Carcassonne. Daily temperatures in Saint Andrews average around 7°C (45°F), and Carcassonne fluctuates around 14°C (56°F).

Saint Andrews usually receives less sunshine than Carcassonne during spring. Saint Andrews gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while Carcassonne receives 178 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Saint Andrews usually receives less rain than Carcassonne. Saint Andrews gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Carcassonne receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Carcassonne and Saint Andrews