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

Should you visit Saint Petersburg or Lille?

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

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Lille? 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 Lille?

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.

Lille

Lille is a city in northern France on the Deule River near France's border with Belgium. It has the fourth largest urban area in France behind Paris, Lyon, and Marseille. Lille (Rijsel in Flemish) may be France's most underrated major city. In recent decades this once-grimy industrial metropolis, with its economy based on declining industries, has transformed itself into a glittering and self-confident cultural and commercial hub. Highlights for the visitor include an attractive old town with a strong Flemish accent, three renowned art museums, stylish shopping, some excellent dining options and a cutting-edge, student-driven nightlife scene. The Lillois have a well-deserved reputation for friendliness – and they're so proud of being friendly that they often mention it.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Paris, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Paris.

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

Which is Bigger, Saint Petersburg or Lille?

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

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 Lille in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Saint Petersburg as well as Lille. Also, many visitors come to Lille in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

Saint Petersburg is around the same temperature as Lille in the summer. The daily temperature in Saint Petersburg averages around 18°C (64°F) in July, and Lille fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Lille. 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 Lille. Saint Petersburg gets 267 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lille receives 202 hours of full sun.

Saint Petersburg usually gets more rain in July than Lille. Saint Petersburg gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Lille receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Lille in the Autumn?

Both Lille and Saint Petersburg are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Lille for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Saint Petersburg is much colder than Lille. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Saint Petersburg in October average around 6°C (42°F), and Lille averages at about 12°C (54°F).

Saint Petersburg usually receives less sunshine than Lille during autumn. Saint Petersburg gets 70 hours of sunny skies, while Lille receives 105 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Saint Petersburg usually receives less rain than Lille. Saint Petersburg gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Lille receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Lille in the Winter?

Both Lille and Saint Petersburg during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Lille because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Lille can be very cold. Saint Petersburg can be very cold during winter. In January, Saint Petersburg is generally much colder than Lille. Daily temperatures in Saint Petersburg average around -8°C (18°F), and Lille fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).

In the winter, Saint Petersburg often gets less sunshine than Lille. Saint Petersburg gets 22 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lille receives 47 hours of full sun.

Saint Petersburg usually gets less rain in January than Lille. Saint Petersburg gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Lille receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Lille in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Petersburg and Lille. Furthermore, the natural beauty are the main draw to Lille this time of year.

The weather in Saint Petersburg can be very cold. Saint Petersburg is much colder than Lille in the spring. The daily temperature in Saint Petersburg averages around 4°C (40°F) in April, and Lille fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).

Saint Petersburg usually receives more sunshine than Lille during spring. Saint Petersburg gets 180 hours of sunny skies, while Lille receives 158 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Saint Petersburg usually receives less rain than Lille. Saint Petersburg gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Lille receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Lille and Saint Petersburg