A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Saint Andrews vs. Heidelberg for Food, Nightlife, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit Saint Andrews or Heidelberg?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Saint Andrews or Heidelberg, 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 historic, charming, and quaint university 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, nightlife, and food.

Heidelberg

Heidelberg is a quaint, energetic, and lively town. You'll find world class beauty here as well. This is an attractive and quaint destination worth visiting as well. And you can't forget about the food, shopping, and nightlife.

Saint Andrews and Heidelberg: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Saint Andrews or Heidelberg?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Saint Andrews. Although Saint Andrews and Heidelberg are both popular with visitors, Saint Andrews has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Saint Andrews is more popular for its museums, beaches, hiking, shopping, and small town charm, while Heidelberg is known for its nightlife, historical sights, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere. Heidelberg is more touristy than Saint Andrews and is popular for its picturesque beauty, romantic atmosphere, and its classic old town. Saint Andrews is popular for its reputation as the birthplace of golf. It is also home to The Old Course.

The Old Course

How is Saint Andrews different from Heidelberg?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Saint Andrews is a good destination for its historical sights. However, Heidelberg 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 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.

Heidelberg does not have museums and landmarks.

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

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

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.

Heidelberg has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The old town is filled with local restaurants that offer an assortment of traditional dishes. The restaurants offer a mix of outdoor and indoor seating and classic dishes include saumagen, lewwerkneedl, and dampfnudeln.

Is Saint Andrews or Heidelberg Better for Nightlife?

Heidelberg is a well-known place for nightlife and partying. Also, Saint Andrews is not as famous, but is still a good university town to visit for its evening party scene.

Heidelberg offers plenty to do in the evening. As a university town, you'll find a very young population and many bars, pubs, and nightclubs where you can hang out.

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.

Is Saint Andrews or Heidelberg Better for Beaches?

Saint Andrews is a good destination for the beach. However, Heidelberg 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.

Heidelberg is not a beach destination.

Is Saint Andrews or Heidelberg Better for its Old Town?

Heidelberg is terrific for its old town. However, Saint Andrews does not have a historic old town.

Heidelberg has a unique history which comes to life in its historic area. The charming old town, or Altstadt, is lined with cafes that spill out onto the street and churches with bells that chime hourly. The area is filled with activity and there are many shops, ice cream vendors, and restaurants to choose from.

Saint Andrews does not have a historic old town.

Is Saint Andrews or Heidelberg Better for Hiking?

Saint Andrews is a good destination for hiking. However, Heidelberg 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.

Heidelberg is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Saint Andrews or Heidelberg?

Saint Andrews is a great university town for its shopping areas. Also, Heidelberg is not as popular, but is still a nice town for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in 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.

Heidelberg is a great destination for shopping. The pedestrian area is the best place to pass your time shopping. There are name brand stores mixed in with local independent shops which you'll mostly find on the side streets. Popular items to buy include wooden toys, Christmas decorations, and candy.

Is Saint Andrews or Heidelberg Better for Families?

Saint Andrews and Heidelberg are both good 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.

Heidelberg is a family-friendly university town. With its many ice cream shops, playgrounds, and impressive castle, this city makes a nice stop for families with kids. The restaurants usually have a kid's menu and there are a number of kid-friendly museums and activities.

Is Saint Andrews or Heidelberg Better for Couples?

Saint Andrews and Heidelberg are both great to visit as a couple.

Saint Andrews is a very popular place to visit for couples. 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.

Heidelberg makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. This beautiful city offers an impressive backdrop for a couple's getaway. The view from the castle looks out beautifully over the city and the old town has many excellent restaurants and activities that are great for couples.

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

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

Heidelberg is a great town to visit for backpackers. Prices are reasonable and there are a handful of hostels around town. As a university town, you can be assured there are plenty of fun activities and cheap places to eat.

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 Heidelberg Better for Students?

Saint Andrews is an amazing university town to visit for its student-friendly activities. Also, Heidelberg is not as popular, but is still a nice town for 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.

Heidelberg is a good university town to visit for students. It is a beautiful student town with a lot of activities for young visitors. This is not the most popular study abroad destination, but it does have a lot to offer for those who visit.

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

Heidelberg is a well-known place for its public transit. Also, Saint Andrews is not as famous, but is still a good university town to visit for times when you don't have a car.

The public transit in Heidelberg can get you around easily. There are trams and buses that connect the old town to the train station.

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

Is Saint Andrews or Heidelberg a more walkable city?

Heidelberg is a well-known place 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.

Heidelberg is a very walkable town. The old town is particularly walkable.

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 Heidelberg Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Heidelberg or Saint Andrews?

How long in Saint Andrews or Heidelberg?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Saint Andrews and Heidelberg. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Heidelberg than in Saint Andrews. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Saint Andrews, and 1-3 days is enough time in Heidelberg.

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

One day in Saint Andrews or Heidelberg?

Saint Andrews might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. Anyone can find something fun to do here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Saint Andrews, one day is sufficent for most.

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the scenic destination of Heidelberg. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. 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 Heidelberg?

Even though Saint Andrews 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 university town.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Heidelberg. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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 Heidelberg?

Saint Andrews, a popular university town, 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.

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the lively destination of Heidelberg. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. 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 Heidelberg?

Saint Andrews 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.

You'll find shopping and nightlife around the beautiful town of Heidelberg. Visiting the old town is also a must. 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 Vineyard & Wine Tours in Germany, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Germany.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint Andrews and Heidelberg, we can see that Saint Andrews is more expensive. And not only is Heidelberg much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Heidelberg would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Heidelberg 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 Heidelberg.

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 Heidelberg Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Saint Andrews or Heidelberg?

Heidelberg has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Saint Andrews. When comparing the sizes of Saint Andrews and Heidelberg, 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 Heidelberg?

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 Heidelberg in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Saint Andrews as well as Heidelberg. Many travelers come to Saint Andrews for the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, many visitors come to Heidelberg in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Saint Andrews is cooler than Heidelberg. Typically, the summer temperatures in Saint Andrews in July average around 14°C (58°F), and Heidelberg averages at about 21°C (69°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Heidelberg. In the summer, Saint Andrews often gets less sunshine than Heidelberg. Saint Andrews gets 184 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Heidelberg receives 224 hours of full sun.

Saint Andrews usually gets less rain in July than Heidelberg. Saint Andrews gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Heidelberg receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Andrews or Heidelberg in the Autumn?

Both Heidelberg and Saint Andrews are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. 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 Heidelberg for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In October, Saint Andrews is generally cooler than Heidelberg. Daily temperatures in Saint Andrews average around 10°C (49°F), and Heidelberg fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

Saint Andrews usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Heidelberg during autumn. Saint Andrews gets 100 hours of sunny skies, while Heidelberg receives 102 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Saint Andrews usually receives more rain than Heidelberg. Saint Andrews gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Heidelberg receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Saint Andrews or Heidelberg in the Winter?

Both Heidelberg and Saint Andrews during the winter are popular places to visit. 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 Heidelberg because of the shopping scene and the cuisine.

The weather in Heidelberg can be very cold. Saint Andrews can be very cold during winter. Saint Andrews is a little warmer than Heidelberg in the winter. The daily temperature in Saint Andrews averages around 3°C (38°F) in January, and Heidelberg fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).

In the winter, Saint Andrews often gets more sunshine than Heidelberg. Saint Andrews gets 58 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Heidelberg receives 38 hours of full sun.

Saint Andrews usually gets more rain in January than Heidelberg. Saint Andrews gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Heidelberg receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Andrews or Heidelberg in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Andrews and Heidelberg. The spring months attract visitors to Saint Andrews because of the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty. Also, the natural beauty are the main draw to Heidelberg this time of year.

In the spring, Saint Andrews is much colder than Heidelberg. Typically, the spring temperatures in Saint Andrews in April average around 7°C (45°F), and Heidelberg averages at about 11°C (52°F).

Saint Andrews usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Heidelberg during spring. Saint Andrews gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while Heidelberg receives 155 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Saint Andrews usually receives less rain than Heidelberg. Saint Andrews gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Heidelberg receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Heidelberg and Saint Andrews