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

Should you visit Saint Andrews or Nantes?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Saint Andrews or Nantes, 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. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Nantes

Nantes is a friendly, historical, and beautiful city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping.

Saint Andrews and Nantes: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Saint Andrews or Nantes?

Both Nantes and Saint Andrews have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. Saint Andrews is more popular for its beaches, hiking, and small town charm, while Nantes is known for its museums, food, nightlife, and historical sights. Saint Andrews is popular for its reputation as the birthplace of golf. Nantes is popular for its castles and historical landmarks, local wine, and beautiful parks and gardens.

How is Saint Andrews different from Nantes?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Nantes 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 Nantes can be an interesting and educational experience. The city is filled with historical monuments, particularly in the Bouffay District. Highlights include Cathédrale Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul, Château des Ducs de Bretagne, and the Musée d'Arts de Nantes.

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 Nantes? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Nantes is terrific for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Saint Andrews is not as famous, but is still a good university town to visit for its restaurants.

Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Nantes is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. The region lends itself to unique flavors with a great mix of seafood from the Atlantic, freshwater fish from the Loire, and dairy from the surrounding countryside. The region is also famous for its wine. Local dishes that you should try include Filet de Sandre au Beurre Blanc (fresh fish in butter sauce), Crepes Bretonnes (breakfast crepes), and Le Canard Nantais (duck with Muscadet wine).

Saint Andrews has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. 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.

Is Saint Andrews or Nantes Better for Nightlife?

Nantes 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.

Nantes offers plenty to do in the evening. The large student population heavily influences the nightlife scene. You'll find a young vibe with a lot of bars and clubs to choose from, particularly around Île de Nantes.

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 Nantes Better for Beaches?

Saint Andrews is a nice place to visit for the beach. However, Nantes is not a beach destination.

Saint Andrews has a beach worth visiting. 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.

Nantes is not a beach destination.

Is Saint Andrews or Nantes Better for its Old Town?

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

Many people head to Nantes to see the old town. The city's old town is in the Bouffay District and it is filled with half-timbered houses and a maze of streets and shops.

Saint Andrews does not have a historic old town.

Is Saint Andrews or Nantes Better for Hiking?

Saint Andrews is a nice place to visit for its hiking trails. However, Nantes is not a hiking destination.

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

Nantes is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Saint Andrews or Nantes?

Both Saint Andrews and Nantes are superb shopping destinations.

Saint Andrews is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. The town is filled with boutique shops and local markets where you can buy unique items like artisan food, handmade crafts, or local art.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Nantes. There are impressive shopping streets, boutique stores, and grand shopping malls. Make sure you check out Rue Crébillon, Passage Pommeraye, and the shops around the Bouffay District. Talensac Market is also a historical covered market that you can explore.

Is Saint Andrews or Nantes Better for Families?

Nantes is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Saint Andrews is not as famous, but is still a good university town to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Nantes is a very kid-friendly city. It's filled with gardens, museums, and theme parks, making it a great combination of fascinating activities for adults and kids alike. Some of the top kid-friendly activities include a visit to Machine of the Isle of Nantes (both a theme park and a museum), seeing a show at Le Lieu Unique, or experiencing Naudières Park (a smaller theme park). Kids will also enjoy seeing Goulaine Castle or wandering around Jardin Extraordinaire or the Botanical Gardens.

Saint Andrews is a family-friendly university town. 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.

Is Saint Andrews or Nantes Better for Couples?

Saint Andrews and Nantes are both superb 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.

Nantes makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There is a mix of both natural and historical beauty. Couples can enjoy a nice meal, stroll through one of the many parks and gardens, or even spend the day at the spa.

Is Saint Andrews or Nantes Better for Students?

Saint Andrews is an unbeatable place for its student-friendly activities. Also, Nantes is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for students.

Saint Andrews is a great destination 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.

Nantes is popular with students. There's a decent sized student population and the city has a welcoming atmosphere. It's also easy to get around with public transportation.

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

Nantes 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 Nantes can get you around easily. There are both trams and buses throughout the city that are operated by TAN (Transport de l'Agglomeration Nantaise).

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

Is Saint Andrews or Nantes a more walkable city?

Nantes 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.

Nantes is a very walkable city. The city is very walkable. Both locals and tourists alike choose to walk in Nantes.

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 Nantes Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Nantes or Saint Andrews?

How long in Saint Andrews or Nantes?

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

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

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

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

One day in Saint Andrews or Nantes?

Saint Andrews might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the vibrant destination of Nantes. Don't miss the food, as that's what most people do. Your budget might influence how long you stay. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

A weekend in Saint Andrews or Nantes?

Saint Andrews is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Nantes. Don't miss the food, as that's what most people do. 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 Nantes?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Saint Andrews. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the vibrant destination of Nantes. This city 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 Nantes?

Saint Andrews is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. This university town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

You'll find food and shopping around the beautiful city of Nantes. 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 10-Day Tours in France, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France.

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

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 Nantes Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Saint Andrews or Nantes?

Nantes has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Saint Andrews. When comparing the sizes of Saint Andrews and Nantes, 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 Nantes?

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 Nantes in the Summer?

Both Nantes and Saint Andrews during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Saint Andrews because of the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Nantes this time of year.

In the summer, Saint Andrews is cooler than Nantes. Typically, the summer temperatures in Saint Andrews in July average around 14°C (58°F), and Nantes averages at about 19°C (67°F).

In Nantes, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Saint Andrews often gets less sunshine than Nantes. Saint Andrews gets 184 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nantes receives 267 hours of full sun.

Saint Andrews usually gets more rain in July than Nantes. Saint Andrews gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Nantes receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Andrews or Nantes in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Andrews and Nantes. The hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Saint Andrews this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Nantes for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Saint Andrews is generally cooler than Nantes. Daily temperatures in Saint Andrews average around 10°C (49°F), and Nantes fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

Saint Andrews usually receives less sunshine than Nantes during autumn. Saint Andrews gets 100 hours of sunny skies, while Nantes receives 141 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Saint Andrews usually receives less rain than Nantes. Saint Andrews gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Nantes receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Saint Andrews or Nantes in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Saint Andrews as well as Nantes. Many travelers come to Saint Andrews for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Nantes in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Saint Andrews. Saint Andrews is much colder than Nantes in the winter. The daily temperature in Saint Andrews averages around 3°C (38°F) in January, and Nantes fluctuates around 6°C (42°F).

In the winter, Saint Andrews often gets less sunshine than Nantes. Saint Andrews gets 58 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nantes receives 72 hours of full sun.

Saint Andrews usually gets less rain in January than Nantes. Saint Andrews gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Nantes receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Andrews or Nantes in the Spring?

Both Nantes and Saint Andrews are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Saint Andrews in the spring for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty. Also, most visitors come to Nantes for the natural beauty during these months.

In the spring, Saint Andrews is much colder than Nantes. Typically, the spring temperatures in Saint Andrews in April average around 7°C (45°F), and Nantes averages at about 11°C (51°F).

Saint Andrews usually receives less sunshine than Nantes during spring. Saint Andrews gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while Nantes receives 187 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Saint Andrews usually receives less rain than Nantes. Saint Andrews gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Nantes receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Nantes and Saint Andrews