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

Should you visit Saint Petersburg or Novi Sad?

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

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Novi Sad? 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 Novi Sad?

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.

Novi Sad

Novi Sad is the capital city of Vojvodina, the northern Autonomous Province of Serbia. Novi Sad has a population of about 400,000 people and is located on the Danube River near Budapest and Belgrade.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Serbia, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Belgrade.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint Petersburg and Novi Sad, we can see that Saint Petersburg is more expensive. And not only is Novi Sad much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Novi Sad would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Novi Sad 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 Novi Sad.

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 Novi Sad Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Saint Petersburg or Novi Sad?

Saint Petersburg has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Novi Sad. When comparing the sizes of Saint Petersburg and Novi Sad, 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 Novi Sad?

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 Novi Sad in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Saint Petersburg as well as Novi Sad.

In the summer, Saint Petersburg is cooler than Novi Sad. Typically, the summer temperatures in Saint Petersburg in July average around 18°C (64°F), and Novi Sad averages at about 22°C (71°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Novi Sad. 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 Novi Sad. Saint Petersburg gets 267 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Novi Sad receives 285 hours of full sun.

Saint Petersburg usually gets more rain in July than Novi Sad. Saint Petersburg gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Novi Sad receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Novi Sad in the Autumn?

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

In October, Saint Petersburg is generally much colder than Novi Sad. Daily temperatures in Saint Petersburg average around 6°C (42°F), and Novi Sad fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

Saint Petersburg usually receives less sunshine than Novi Sad during autumn. Saint Petersburg gets 70 hours of sunny skies, while Novi Sad receives 168 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Saint Petersburg usually receives more rain than Novi Sad. Saint Petersburg gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Novi Sad receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Novi Sad in the Winter?

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

It's quite cold in Novi Sad in the winter. The weather in Saint Petersburg can be very cold. Saint Petersburg is much colder than Novi Sad in the winter. The daily temperature in Saint Petersburg averages around -8°C (18°F) in January, and Novi Sad fluctuates around -0°C (31°F).

In the winter, Saint Petersburg often gets less sunshine than Novi Sad. Saint Petersburg gets 22 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Novi Sad receives 71 hours of full sun.

Saint Petersburg usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Novi Sad. Saint Petersburg gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Novi Sad receives 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Novi Sad in the Spring?

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

It's quite cold in Saint Petersburg in the spring. In the spring, Saint Petersburg is much colder than Novi Sad. Typically, the spring temperatures in Saint Petersburg in April average around 4°C (40°F), and Novi Sad averages at about 12°C (54°F).

Saint Petersburg usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Novi Sad during spring. Saint Petersburg gets 180 hours of sunny skies, while Novi Sad receives 178 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Saint Petersburg usually receives less rain than Novi Sad. Saint Petersburg gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Novi Sad receives 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Novi Sad and Saint Petersburg