A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Saint Petersburg vs. Plitvice Lakes National Park for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Saint Petersburg or Plitvice Lakes National Park?

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

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Plitvice Lakes National Park? 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 Plitvice Lakes National Park?

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.

Plitvice Lakes National Park

One of the most beautiful natural sights in Europe, Plitvice Lakes National Park is an area of green forests laced with a system of interconnected turquoise lakes. It was set aside as a national park in 1949, and was later designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Croatia, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Croatia.

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

When is the best time to visit Saint Petersburg or Plitvice Lakes National Park?

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 Plitvice Lakes National Park in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Petersburg and Plitvice Lakes National Park. Also, many travelers come to Plitvice Lakes National Park for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Saint Petersburg is generally cooler than Plitvice Lakes National Park. Daily temperatures in Saint Petersburg average around 18°C (64°F), and Plitvice Lakes National Park fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Plitvice Lakes National Park this time of the year. In Saint Petersburg, it's very sunny this time of the year. Saint Petersburg usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Plitvice Lakes National Park during summer. Saint Petersburg gets 267 hours of sunny skies, while Plitvice Lakes National Park receives 266 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Saint Petersburg usually receives less rain than Plitvice Lakes National Park. Saint Petersburg gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Plitvice Lakes National Park receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Plitvice Lakes National Park in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Saint Petersburg as well as Plitvice Lakes National Park. Also, many visitors come to Plitvice Lakes National Park in the autumn for the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area.

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

In the autumn, Saint Petersburg often gets less sunshine than Plitvice Lakes National Park. Saint Petersburg gets 70 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Plitvice Lakes National Park receives 133 hours of full sun.

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

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Plitvice Lakes National Park in the Winter?

Both Plitvice Lakes National Park and Saint Petersburg are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Plitvice Lakes National Park for the cuisine during these months.

Plitvice Lakes National Park can be very cold during winter. Saint Petersburg can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Saint Petersburg is much colder than Plitvice Lakes National Park. Typically, the winter temperatures in Saint Petersburg in January average around -8°C (18°F), and Plitvice Lakes National Park averages at about 1°C (35°F).

Saint Petersburg usually receives less sunshine than Plitvice Lakes National Park during winter. Saint Petersburg gets 22 hours of sunny skies, while Plitvice Lakes National Park receives 54 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Saint Petersburg usually receives less rain than Plitvice Lakes National Park. Saint Petersburg gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Plitvice Lakes National Park receives 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Plitvice Lakes National Park in the Spring?

Both Plitvice Lakes National Park and Saint Petersburg during the spring are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Plitvice Lakes National Park because of the natural beauty.

Saint Petersburg can be very cold during spring. In April, Saint Petersburg is generally much colder than Plitvice Lakes National Park. Daily temperatures in Saint Petersburg average around 4°C (40°F), and Plitvice Lakes National Park fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

In the spring, Saint Petersburg often gets more sunshine than Plitvice Lakes National Park. Saint Petersburg gets 180 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Plitvice Lakes National Park receives 163 hours of full sun.

Saint Petersburg usually gets less rain in April than Plitvice Lakes National Park. Saint Petersburg gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Plitvice Lakes National Park receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Plitvice Lakes National Park and Saint Petersburg