A Travel Price Comparison for France Saint-Etienne vs. Beaune for Food, Couples, Attractions, and Nightlife

Should you visit Saint-Etienne or Beaune?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Saint-Etienne and Beaune. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Saint-Etienne

Saint-Etienne is a authentic, historic, and park-filled city. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the hiking, museums, and nightlife.

Beaune

Beaune is a culinary, quaint, and vineyard-filled town. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Saint-Etienne and Beaune: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Saint-Etienne or Beaune?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Beaune than Saint-Etienne, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Beaune is better known for its museums, food, historical sights, shopping, and small town charm, while Saint-Etienne is more popular for its hiking and impressive beauty. Beaune is more touristy than Saint-Etienne and is popular for its surrounding vineyards and world-renowned wines. Also, Beaune is famous for The Surrounding Vineyards. Saint-Etienne is well known for its industrial and manufacturing past.

How is Saint-Etienne different from Beaune?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Saint-Etienne or Beaune?

Beaune is great for its historical sights. Also, Saint-Etienne is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its sights and museums.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Beaune. Top sights and museums around town include Hôtel-Dieu (a former hospital), Château de Savigny, and Château de la Rochepot.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Saint-Etienne. There are several great museums in town including the Musée d'Art et d'Industrie, Musée de la Mine, Musée des Verts, and the planetarium.

Is the Food Better in Saint-Etienne or Beaune? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Beaune is an amazing town to visit for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Saint-Etienne is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Eat your way through Beaune, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. The restaurant scene is made up of small, narrow, local bistros that serve local dishes with regional ingredients. Many of the menus are focused on wine with the dishes designed specifically to compliment the wines. This is a tourist town, and you'll find many visitors come specifically to enjoy the French cuisine.

Saint-Etienne may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. Try the many local cheeses which are a defining part of the cuisine in the area. You'll find some local restaurants around town where you can sample local flavors.

Is Saint-Etienne or Beaune Better for Nightlife?

The vibe at night is notable in both Saint-Etienne and Beaune.

If you're looking for night time activities Saint-Etienne has a few options to choose from. The nightlife is centered around sipping wine or visiting one of the clubs in town.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Beaune. You'll find bars and pubs as well as many places to sip French wine and enjoy the evening.

Is Saint-Etienne or Beaune Better for its Old Town?

Beaune is an amazing town to visit for its old town. However, Saint-Etienne does not have a historic old town.

Beaune offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. The old town is walled and compact. It is centered around the medieval hospital complex and it is filled with cobblestone streets and shops.

Saint-Etienne does not have a historic old town.

Is Saint-Etienne or Beaune Better for Hiking?

Saint-Etienne is a good destination for its hiking experiences. However, Beaune is not a hiking destination.

Saint-Etienne offers some nice hiking trails. You'll find several great hikes just outside of town. It's a great way to experience the surrounding countryside.

Beaune is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Saint-Etienne or Beaune?

Beaune is a good destination for its shopping opportunities. However, Saint-Etienne is not a good destination for its shopping areas.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Beaune. Boutiques, wine shops, and independent vendors are fun to explore in town.

Saint-Etienne has some good spots for those that want to go shopping. Shopping malls and several boutique shopping areas make up the city's shopping scene.

Is Saint-Etienne or Beaune Better for Families?

Both Saint-Etienne and Beaune are notable family-friendly destinations.

Saint-Etienne offers lots of family activities. There are several kid-friendly museums as well as plenty of natural settings just outside of town. Your kids can run around and stretch their legs nearby at Crest of the Partridge or on a rainy day, the planetarium is a fun place to visit.

Beaune is a family-friendly place to visit. The town has museums like Hospices de Beaune, Hotel-Dieu (a formal hospital), as well as vineyards that you can hike through. Many people enjoy taking a hot air balloon ride while they're in the region.

Is Saint-Etienne or Beaune Better for Couples?

Beaune is an amazing town to visit for its romantic activities. However, Saint-Etienne is not a good destination for couples.

Beaune is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. Couples will enjoy exploring vineyards, sipping French wine, and wandering through the charming old town. There are breathtaking hot air balloon rides and wonderful French restaurants that make for a romantic trip.

Saint-Etienne is not always the best place to visit for a couple. There are museums, parks, gardens, and beautiful architecture that make this a wonderful place for couples.

Is Saint-Etienne or Beaune Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Saint-Etienne and Beaune both offer notable public transit to get you around.

While Saint-Etienne offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are tram and bus options available in town.

Beaune has a few public transit options. While you can walk around the historic center, it's possible to take a bus if you're traveling further.

Is Saint-Etienne or Beaune a more walkable city?

Beaune is an amazing town to visit for its high level of walkability. Also, Saint-Etienne is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its ease of walking around.

Beaune is a very easy town to get around on foot. It's a walkable town that's perfect for taking a stroll.

Saint-Etienne is a somewhat walkable city. There are several walkable areas in the city.

For even more information, also check out Is Saint-Etienne Worth Visiting? and Is Beaune Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Beaune or Saint-Etienne?

How long in Saint-Etienne or Beaune?

It's fun to spend time in either Saint-Etienne or Beaune. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Beaune due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Saint-Etienne, and 2-4 days is enough time in Beaune.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Beaune than Saint-Etienne 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 Beaune.

One day in Saint-Etienne or Beaune?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Saint-Etienne. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the culinary destination of Beaune. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. 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-Etienne or Beaune?

Saint-Etienne 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 Beaune. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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-Etienne or Beaune?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Saint-Etienne. 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 culinary destination of Beaune. 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-Etienne or Beaune?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and museums when visiting the industrial destination of Saint-Etienne. This city 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 town of Beaune. 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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Paris, The Best 10-Day Tours from Paris, The Best 2-Week Tours from Paris, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to France.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Saint-Etienne or Beaune?

Saint-Etienne has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Beaune. When comparing the sizes of Saint-Etienne and Beaune, 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-Etienne or Beaune?

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-Etienne or Beaune in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Saint-Etienne as well as Beaune. The summer months attract visitors to Saint-Etienne because of the hiking and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Beaune this time of year.

Saint-Etienne is around the same temperature as Beaune in the summer. The daily temperature in Saint-Etienne averages around 22°C (71°F) in July, and Beaune fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Beaune. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint-Etienne this time of the year. In the summer, Saint-Etienne often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Beaune. Saint-Etienne gets 285 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Beaune receives 266 hours of full sun.

Saint-Etienne usually gets more rain in July than Beaune. Saint-Etienne gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Beaune receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint-Etienne or Beaune in the Autumn?

Both Beaune and Saint-Etienne are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Saint-Etienne this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Beaune for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere.

In the autumn, Saint-Etienne is around the same temperature as Beaune. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Saint-Etienne in October average around 14°C (56°F), and Beaune averages at about 13°C (55°F).

Saint-Etienne usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Beaune during autumn. Saint-Etienne gets 127 hours of sunny skies, while Beaune receives 121 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Saint-Etienne usually receives more rain than Beaune. Saint-Etienne gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Beaune receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Saint-Etienne or Beaune in the Winter?

Both Beaune and Saint-Etienne during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Saint-Etienne for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Beaune in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Beaune can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Saint-Etienne. In January, Saint-Etienne is generally a little warmer than Beaune. Daily temperatures in Saint-Etienne average around 4°C (39°F), and Beaune fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).

In the winter, Saint-Etienne often gets more sunshine than Beaune. Saint-Etienne gets 62 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Beaune receives 53 hours of full sun.

Saint-Etienne usually gets less rain in January than Beaune. Saint-Etienne gets 55 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Beaune receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint-Etienne or Beaune in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint-Etienne and Beaune. Many visitors come to Saint-Etienne in the spring for the natural beauty. Furthermore, most visitors come to Beaune for the small town charm during these months.

Saint-Etienne is around the same temperature as Beaune in the spring. The daily temperature in Saint-Etienne averages around 11°C (53°F) in April, and Beaune fluctuates around 11°C (53°F).

Saint-Etienne usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Beaune during spring. Saint-Etienne gets 174 hours of sunny skies, while Beaune receives 178 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Saint-Etienne usually receives more rain than Beaune. Saint-Etienne gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Beaune receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Beaune and Saint-Etienne