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

Should you visit Saint Petersburg or Kaunas?

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

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Kaunas? 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 Kaunas?

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.

Kaunas

Kaunas is the second biggest city in Lithuania, located at the country's center. It is a city of medieval history as well as modern entertainment with castle ruins, churches, and cathedrals, as well as galleries, museums, theatres, and outdoor recreation.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Lithuania, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Vilnius.

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

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 Kaunas Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Saint Petersburg or Kaunas?

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

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 Kaunas in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Saint Petersburg as well as Kaunas. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Kaunas because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Saint Petersburg is around the same temperature as Kaunas. Typically, the summer temperatures in Saint Petersburg in July average around 18°C (64°F), and Kaunas averages at about 18°C (64°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kaunas. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint Petersburg this time of the year. In the summer, Saint Petersburg often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Kaunas. Saint Petersburg gets 267 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kaunas receives 256 hours of full sun.

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

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Kaunas in the Autumn?

Both Kaunas and Saint Petersburg are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Kaunas this time of year.

In October, Saint Petersburg is generally cooler than Kaunas. Daily temperatures in Saint Petersburg average around 6°C (42°F), and Kaunas fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

Saint Petersburg usually receives less sunshine than Kaunas during autumn. Saint Petersburg gets 70 hours of sunny skies, while Kaunas receives 99 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Saint Petersburg usually receives more rain than Kaunas. Saint Petersburg gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Kaunas receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Kaunas in the Winter?

Both Kaunas and Saint Petersburg during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many travelers come to Kaunas for the shopping scene and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Kaunas. It's quite cold in Saint Petersburg in the winter. Saint Petersburg is much colder than Kaunas in the winter. The daily temperature in Saint Petersburg averages around -8°C (18°F) in January, and Kaunas fluctuates around -5°C (23°F).

In the winter, Saint Petersburg often gets less sunshine than Kaunas. Saint Petersburg gets 22 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kaunas receives 40 hours of full sun.

Saint Petersburg usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Kaunas. Saint Petersburg gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Kaunas receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Kaunas in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Petersburg and Kaunas. Furthermore, many visitors come to Kaunas in the spring for the activities around the city.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Saint Petersburg. In the spring, Saint Petersburg is much colder than Kaunas. Typically, the spring temperatures in Saint Petersburg in April average around 4°C (40°F), and Kaunas averages at about 7°C (44°F).

Saint Petersburg usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Kaunas during spring. Saint Petersburg gets 180 hours of sunny skies, while Kaunas receives 175 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Saint Petersburg usually receives less rain than Kaunas. Saint Petersburg gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Kaunas receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Kaunas and Saint Petersburg