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

Should you visit Saint Andrews or Pompeii?

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

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

Pompeii

Pompeii is a ancient, famous, and iconic archeological site. And you can't forget about the museums.

Saint Andrews and Pompeii: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Saint Andrews or Pompeii?

Both Pompeii 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 food, nightlife, beaches, hiking, shopping, small town charm, and impressive beauty, while Pompeii is known for its museums. Pompeii is more touristy than Saint Andrews and is popular for its well preserved archaeological ruins that are still intact following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Saint Andrews is popular for its reputation as the birthplace of golf.

How is Saint Andrews different from Pompeii?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Pompeii is terrific 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.

The museums, monuments, and landmarks in Pompeii are among the most recognizable in the world. Pompeii is a city frozen in time and it is truly a one-of-a-kind destination. The streets remain as they once stood, lined with shops and homes. Highlights of a visit include the Forum, the Antiquarium, the Temple of Isis, and the Teatro Grande.

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 Pompeii? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Saint Andrews is an excellent place to visit for its restaurants. However, Pompeii is lacking in options for its restaurant scene.

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.

While Pompeii is not famous for its food, you'll find what you need there. While there is a café near the Forum, the quality of the food isn't great and it can get crowded. You'd do best to bring your own food as the site is large and you'll want to eat on your own schedule.

Is Saint Andrews or Pompeii Better for Nightlife?

Saint Andrews is very good for its evening party scene. However, Pompeii is lacking in options for 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.

Things get quiet in the evenings in Pompeii. As a popular tourist destination, you'll find some bars nearby, but most people visit as a day trip and head out of town before the evening hours.

Is Saint Andrews or Pompeii Better for Beaches?

Saint Andrews is very good for the beach. However, Pompeii is not a beach destination.

Many people head to Saint Andrews to enjoy the beach. 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.

Pompeii is not a beach destination.

Is Saint Andrews or Pompeii Better for Hiking?

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

Many people include a hike when visiting 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.

Pompeii is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Saint Andrews or Pompeii?

Saint Andrews is an excellent place to visit for its shopping areas. However, Pompeii is lacking in options 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.

Pompeii has some shopping areas for those that seek them out. There are some souvenir stands outside of the site where you can buy trinkets to remember your visit.

Is Saint Andrews or Pompeii Better for Families?

Pompeii 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.

Pompeii is a very kid-friendly archeological site. Its a city frozen in time, and even kids will get lost in the history and story behind Pompeii. The trick is to find a kid-friendly tour and understand the layout before you arrive. Because it's so big, you want to know which places to visit and which you might want to skip with kids who have short attention spans.

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 Pompeii Better for Couples?

Saint Andrews is an excellent place to visit for couples. Also, Pompeii is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for romance.

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.

Pompeii is a nice destination for couples. It's an iconic destination in Italy, and should be added to any Italian trip itinerary. It's not exactly a romantic destination, but it's something that every visitor should see.

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

Pompeii is a nice place to visit for backpackers. However, Saint Andrews is not a good university town for backpackers and budget travelers.

It's common for backpackers to visit Pompeii. It's touristy and crowded, but also world renowned and not-to-be-missed. Whether you're a backpacker or a luxury traveler, Pompeii is on most itineraries.

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 Pompeii Better for Students?

Saint Andrews is renowned for its student-friendly activities. Also, Pompeii is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for students.

Students come from all over the world to visit 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.

Pompeii is popular with students. It's history and educational significance make it a great study abroad destination, whether you visit alone, with friends, or as part of a tour group.

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

Both Saint Andrews and Pompeii offer good public transit options.

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

Pompeii has some public transit options. Many visitors from Sorrento and Naples arrive via the the Circumvesuviana train. There are also buses from many different locations.

Is Saint Andrews or Pompeii a more walkable city?

Pompeii 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 Pompeii on foot. You can walk around the entire site in about 4 hours, but you'll really want to allow a full day if you want to see everything in depth.

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 Pompeii Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Pompeii or Saint Andrews?

How long in Saint Andrews or Pompeii?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Saint Andrews or Pompeii 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 Pompeii. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

One day in Saint Andrews or Pompeii?

Saint Andrews is a small town with plenty to do. This university town offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Many travelers enjoy the museums when visiting the iconic destination of Pompeii. Don't miss the museums, as that's what most people do. 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 Pompeii?

Saint Andrews might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Saint Andrews has to offer.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Pompeii. Don't miss the museums, 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 Pompeii?

Saint Andrews is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Travelers enjoy the museums when visiting the iconic destination of Pompeii. This archeological site 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 Pompeii?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Saint Andrews. Since Saint Andrews is a small town, it's easily explored when your time is limited. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

You'll find museums around the archeological site of Pompeii. 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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Italy, and The Best Walking Tours in Italy.

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

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 Pompeii Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Saint Andrews or Pompeii?

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 Pompeii in the Summer?

Both Pompeii and Saint Andrews during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Saint Andrews for the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Pompeii because of the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Saint Andrews is much colder than Pompeii. Typically, the summer temperatures in Saint Andrews in July average around 14°C (58°F), and Pompeii averages at about 23°C (74°F).

In Pompeii, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Saint Andrews often gets less sunshine than Pompeii. Saint Andrews gets 184 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pompeii receives 313 hours of full sun.

Saint Andrews usually gets more rain in July than Pompeii. Saint Andrews gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Andrews or Pompeii in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Andrews and Pompeii. The autumn months attract visitors to Saint Andrews because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Saint Andrews is generally much colder than Pompeii. Daily temperatures in Saint Andrews average around 10°C (49°F), and Pompeii fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

Saint Andrews usually receives less sunshine than Pompeii during autumn. Saint Andrews gets 100 hours of sunny skies, while Pompeii receives 189 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Pompeii receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Saint Andrews usually receives less rain than Pompeii. Saint Andrews gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 132 mm (5.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Saint Andrews or Pompeii in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Saint Andrews as well as Pompeii. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Saint Andrews this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Pompeii for the museums.

It's quite cold in Saint Andrews in the winter. Saint Andrews is much colder than Pompeii in the winter. The daily temperature in Saint Andrews averages around 3°C (38°F) in January, and Pompeii fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).

In the winter, Saint Andrews often gets less sunshine than Pompeii. Saint Andrews gets 58 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pompeii receives 115 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Pompeii. Saint Andrews usually gets less rain in January than Pompeii. Saint Andrews gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Andrews or Pompeii in the Spring?

Both Pompeii and Saint Andrews are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Saint Andrews for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Saint Andrews is much colder than Pompeii. Typically, the spring temperatures in Saint Andrews in April average around 7°C (45°F), and Pompeii averages at about 13°C (55°F).

Saint Andrews usually receives less sunshine than Pompeii during spring. Saint Andrews gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while Pompeii receives 189 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Saint Andrews usually receives less rain than Pompeii. Saint Andrews gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Pompeii and Saint Andrews