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

Should you visit Saint Andrews or Pamplona?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Saint Andrews or Pamplona, 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 charming, quaint, and peaceful university town. This is a great small town that is just waiting to be explored. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Pamplona

Pamplona is a historic, elegant, and laid-back city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. And you can't forget about the museums, nightlife, and food.

Saint Andrews and Pamplona: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Saint Andrews or Pamplona?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Pamplona than Saint Andrews, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Pamplona is better known for its nightlife, historical sights, hiking, and big city activities, while Saint Andrews is more popular for its beaches, shopping, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Pamplona is more touristy than Saint Andrews and is known for being the home of the Running of the Bulls Festival. Also, Pamplona is famous for The Running of the Bulls Festival. Saint Andrews is well known for its reputation as the birthplace of golf.

How is Saint Andrews different from Pamplona?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Plenty of people visit the notable sights and museums in both Saint Andrews and Pamplona.

Saint Andrews offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. 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.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Pamplona. Although most people visit in July for the Running of the Bulls, throughout the year there are some interesting museums and sights around town. You can check out the Cathedral of Pamplona, the Museo de Navarra, and the main plaza in town, Plaza del Castillo.

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

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

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.

Pamplona has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. Local cuisine includes lots of fresh vegetables like mushrooms, artichokes, asparagus, and onion. You'll find many unique dishes in the area, and you shouldn't leave without trying the txistorra (sausage), revuelto de setas (eggs and mushrooms), and ajoarriero (cod).

Is Saint Andrews or Pamplona Better for Nightlife?

Pamplona 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.

Pamplona offers plenty to do in the evening. There's a good sized university population that keeps the nightlife active around town. The Old Quarter is likely where you'll find the most going on, particularly around Calle San Nicolás and Calle Estafeta. Earlier in the evening the crowd is pretty young, but as the evening passes you'll find the crowd matures a bit.

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 Pamplona Better for Beaches?

Saint Andrews is a popular place for the beache. However, Pamplona is not a beach destination.

Saint Andrews is a good option for a beach vacation. 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.

Pamplona is not a beach destination.

Is Saint Andrews or Pamplona Better for its Old Town?

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

Many people head to Pamplona to see the old town. You'll find elegant buildings and grand plazas around the Old Quarter.

Saint Andrews does not have a historic old town.

Is Saint Andrews or Pamplona Better for Hiking?

Pamplona is a well-known place for the nearby hiking options. Also, Saint Andrews is not as famous, but is still a good university town to visit for its hiking trails.

Pamplona is a popular spot for hiking. It's a stop off on the famed Camino de Santiago, so if you want to walk part of the route, this is a nice place to explore.

Plenty of visitors go hiking around Saint Andrews. There are some beautiful hikes just outside of town. Check out the views from Chamcook Mountain or wander down the Van Horne Trail.

Is the Shopping Better in Saint Andrews or Pamplona?

Saint Andrews is a well-known place for its shopping opportunities. Also, Pamplona is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its shopping areas.

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.

Pamplona has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. You'll find some good markets around town. It's also fun to shop for local handicrafts or souvenirs to remember your trip by.

Is Saint Andrews or Pamplona Better for Families?

Saint Andrews and Pamplona are both notable 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.

Pamplona is a family-friendly university town. The city is very green, with many parks and gardens where kids can stretch their legs. There's also the Pamplona Planetarium and several museums that relate to environmental education.

Is Saint Andrews or Pamplona Better for Couples?

Saint Andrews is a well-known place for its romantic activities. Also, Pamplona is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for couples.

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.

Pamplona is a good university town for couples to visit. Although it's most known for the Running of the Bulls in July, the city also has some interesting sights at other times of the year. Couples can walk around the city walls, or explore the many parks in town. There are also some interesting museums.

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

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

Pamplona is a great city to visit for backpackers. Backpackers are drawn to this city during July for the Running of the Bulls festival. It's also a stop along the Camino de Santiago, which brings in a young, budget-oriented crowd.

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 Pamplona Better for Students?

Saint Andrews is terrific for students. Also, Pamplona is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its student-friendly activities.

Many students frequent Saint Andrews. 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.

Plenty of students visit Pamplona. This is a quiet city, which appeals to some students. The laid back atmosphere makes it a nice place to relax and learn.

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

Both Saint Andrews and Pamplona offer notable public transit options.

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

Pamplona has some public transit options. There's a comprehensive bus system around town.

Is Saint Andrews or Pamplona a more walkable city?

Pamplona 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.

Pamplona is a very walkable city. It's a stop off on the Camino de Santiago, so many people arrive on foot. It's also an easy city 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 Pamplona Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Pamplona or Saint Andrews?

How long in Saint Andrews or Pamplona?

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

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

Couples should spend more time in Saint Andrews than Pamplona. 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 Pamplona 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 Pamplona.

One day in Saint Andrews or Pamplona?

Saint Andrews is a small town where visitors enjoy the 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.

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the laid-back destination of Pamplona. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. 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 Pamplona?

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

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Pamplona. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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 Pamplona?

Saint Andrews 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.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the elegant destination of Pamplona. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. 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 Pamplona?

Saint Andrews 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 university town offers something for everyone.

You'll find food and shopping around the city of Pamplona. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. 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 3-Week Tours in Spain, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Spain.

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

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 Pamplona Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Saint Andrews or Pamplona?

Pamplona has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Saint Andrews. When comparing the sizes of Saint Andrews and Pamplona, 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 Pamplona?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Saint Andrews or Pamplona in the Summer?

Both Pamplona and Saint Andrews are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Saint Andrews in the summer for the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Pamplona for the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Saint Andrews is cooler than Pamplona in the summer. The daily temperature in Saint Andrews averages around 14°C (58°F) in July, and Pamplona fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

It's quite sunny in Pamplona. Saint Andrews usually receives less sunshine than Pamplona during summer. Saint Andrews gets 184 hours of sunny skies, while Pamplona receives 209 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Saint Andrews usually receives less rain than Pamplona. Saint Andrews gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Pamplona receives 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Saint Andrews or Pamplona in the Autumn?

Both Pamplona and Saint Andrews during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Saint Andrews for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Pamplona because of the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Saint Andrews is much colder than Pamplona. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Saint Andrews in October average around 10°C (49°F), and Pamplona averages at about 16°C (60°F).

In the autumn, Saint Andrews often gets less sunshine than Pamplona. Saint Andrews gets 100 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pamplona receives 144 hours of full sun.

Pamplona gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Saint Andrews usually gets less rain in October than Pamplona. Saint Andrews gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Pamplona receives 155 mm (6.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Andrews or Pamplona in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Andrews and Pamplona. The winter months attract visitors to Saint Andrews because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Pamplona this time of year.

The weather in Saint Andrews can be very cold. In January, Saint Andrews is generally much colder than Pamplona. Daily temperatures in Saint Andrews average around 3°C (38°F), and Pamplona fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).

Saint Andrews usually receives less sunshine than Pamplona during winter. Saint Andrews gets 58 hours of sunny skies, while Pamplona receives 85 hours of full sun in the winter.

Pamplona receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Saint Andrews usually receives less rain than Pamplona. Saint Andrews gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Pamplona receives 183 mm (7.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Saint Andrews or Pamplona in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Saint Andrews as well as Pamplona. The beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty are the main draw to Saint Andrews this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Pamplona for the activities around the city.

Saint Andrews is much colder than Pamplona in the spring. The daily temperature in Saint Andrews averages around 7°C (45°F) in April, and Pamplona fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

In the spring, Saint Andrews often gets more sunshine than Pamplona. Saint Andrews gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pamplona receives 141 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Pamplona. Saint Andrews usually gets less rain in April than Pamplona. Saint Andrews gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Pamplona receives 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Pamplona and Saint Andrews