A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Saint Petersburg vs. Katowice for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Saint Petersburg or Katowice?

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

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Katowice? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Saint Petersburg or Katowice?

Saint Petersburg

Saint Petersburg is a beautiful city that sits on the eastern edge of the Baltic Sea. Its historical city center is threaded with canals and architecturally impressive buildings, leaving little doubt as to why this city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the second largest city in Russia, but perhaps a favorite among travelers. The metropolitan area has a population of over 5 million as well as an impressive culture with fascinating museums, restaurants, and architecture. The city has no shortage of sights and attractions, and many days can be passed while you wander its intricate streets.

Katowice

Katowice is a city east of Krakow, in the Silesian province of southern Poland. A large dome crowns the Cathedral of Christ the King, built between 1927 and 1955. The adjacent Archdiocesan Museum exhibits Silesian sacred art. The ultramodern Silesian Museum features several glass structures on the site of a former coal mine. It exhibits Polish art and chronicles the history of Upper Silesia. Historically, Katowice is a product of the 19th-century industrial boom, but it only became a city in the interwar period. After WWII, at the height of the Stalinist cult craze, the city was renamed Stalinogrod, but reverted to its old name soon after Comrade Joe died in 1953. Katowice has few significant historical monuments, but it's a major commercial and cultural center and holds sufficient attractions to make it worth a stop.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Krakow, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Warsaw.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Saint Petersburg or Katowice?

Saint Petersburg has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Katowice. When comparing the sizes of Saint Petersburg and Katowice, 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 Petersburg or Katowice?

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 Petersburg or Katowice in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Saint Petersburg as well as Katowice.

Saint Petersburg is around the same temperature as Katowice in the summer. The daily temperature in Saint Petersburg averages around 18°C (64°F) in July, and Katowice fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Katowice. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint Petersburg this time of the year. In the summer, Saint Petersburg often gets more sunshine than Katowice. Saint Petersburg gets 267 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Katowice receives 219 hours of full sun.

Saint Petersburg usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Katowice. Saint Petersburg gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Katowice receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Katowice in the Autumn?

Both Katowice and Saint Petersburg are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.

In the autumn, Saint Petersburg is much colder than Katowice. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Saint Petersburg in October average around 6°C (42°F), and Katowice averages at about 10°C (50°F).

Saint Petersburg usually receives less sunshine than Katowice during autumn. Saint Petersburg gets 70 hours of sunny skies, while Katowice receives 128 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Saint Petersburg usually receives more rain than Katowice. Saint Petersburg gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Katowice receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Katowice in the Winter?

Both Katowice and Saint Petersburg during the winter are popular places to visit.

Katowice can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Saint Petersburg. In January, Saint Petersburg is generally much colder than Katowice. Daily temperatures in Saint Petersburg average around -8°C (18°F), and Katowice fluctuates around -2°C (28°F).

In the winter, Saint Petersburg often gets less sunshine than Katowice. Saint Petersburg gets 22 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Katowice receives 51 hours of full sun.

Saint Petersburg usually gets less rain in January than Katowice. Saint Petersburg gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Katowice receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Katowice in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Petersburg and Katowice.

Saint Petersburg can get quite cold in the spring. Saint Petersburg is much colder than Katowice in the spring. The daily temperature in Saint Petersburg averages around 4°C (40°F) in April, and Katowice fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

Saint Petersburg usually receives more sunshine than Katowice during spring. Saint Petersburg gets 180 hours of sunny skies, while Katowice receives 152 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Saint Petersburg usually receives less rain than Katowice. Saint Petersburg gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Katowice receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Katowice and Saint Petersburg