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

Should you visit Saint Petersburg or Le Mans?

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

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Le Mans? 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 Le Mans?

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.

Le Mans

Le Mans is a city in France, on the Sarthe River. Le Mans is found about 80 kilometers north of Tours, and south of Alencon. To many of course, Le Mans is famous only for a 24 hour racing event once a year. If you are not interested in cars and car racing, it is best to avoid visiting Le Mans in the middle of June. However, Le Mans also has a fantastic old town and is well worth the visit. Known as the Cite Plantagenet, this is where in 1129 Geoffrey Plantagenet married Matilda, daughter of Henry I of England and gave birth to Henry II.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to France, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in France.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint Petersburg and Le Mans, we can see that Le Mans 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 Le Mans would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Le Mans 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 Le Mans Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Saint Petersburg or Le Mans?

Saint Petersburg has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Le Mans. When comparing the sizes of Saint Petersburg and Le Mans, 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 Le Mans?

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 Petersburg or Le Mans in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Petersburg and Le Mans. Also, many travelers come to Le Mans for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Saint Petersburg is generally around the same temperature as Le Mans. Daily temperatures in Saint Petersburg average around 18°C (64°F), and Le Mans fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Le Mans this time of the year. In Saint Petersburg, it's very sunny this time of the year. Saint Petersburg usually receives more sunshine than Le Mans during summer. Saint Petersburg gets 267 hours of sunny skies, while Le Mans receives 231 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Saint Petersburg usually receives more rain than Le Mans. Saint Petersburg gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Le Mans receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Le Mans in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Saint Petersburg as well as Le Mans. Also, many visitors come to Le Mans in the autumn for the small town atmosphere.

Saint Petersburg is much colder than Le Mans in the autumn. The daily temperature in Saint Petersburg averages around 6°C (42°F) in October, and Le Mans fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

In the autumn, Saint Petersburg often gets less sunshine than Le Mans. Saint Petersburg gets 70 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Le Mans receives 117 hours of full sun.

Saint Petersburg usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Le Mans. Saint Petersburg gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Le Mans receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Le Mans in the Winter?

Both Le Mans and Saint Petersburg are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Le Mans for the museums and the cuisine during these months.

Le Mans can be very cold during winter. Saint Petersburg can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Saint Petersburg is much colder than Le Mans. Typically, the winter temperatures in Saint Petersburg in January average around -8°C (18°F), and Le Mans averages at about 5°C (40°F).

Saint Petersburg usually receives less sunshine than Le Mans during winter. Saint Petersburg gets 22 hours of sunny skies, while Le Mans receives 54 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Saint Petersburg usually receives less rain than Le Mans. Saint Petersburg gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Le Mans receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Le Mans in the Spring?

Both Le Mans and Saint Petersburg during the spring are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Le Mans because of the small town charm.

Saint Petersburg can be very cold during spring. In April, Saint Petersburg is generally much colder than Le Mans. Daily temperatures in Saint Petersburg average around 4°C (40°F), and Le Mans fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).

In the spring, Saint Petersburg often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Le Mans. Saint Petersburg gets 180 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Le Mans receives 168 hours of full sun.

Saint Petersburg usually gets less rain in April than Le Mans. Saint Petersburg gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Le Mans receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Le Mans and Saint Petersburg