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

Should you visit Saint Petersburg or Saint Andrews?

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

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Saint Andrews? 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 Saint Andrews?

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.

Saint Andrews

Saint Andrews is a small town on the east coast of Scotland, facing the North Sea. It is best known as the home of golf and host to the oldest university in Scotland, University of Saint Andrews.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Saint Petersburg or Saint Andrews?

Saint Petersburg has a larger population, and is about 260 times larger than the population of Saint Andrews. When comparing the sizes of Saint Petersburg and Saint Andrews, 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 Saint Andrews?

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 Saint Andrews in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Saint Petersburg as well as Saint Andrews. Additionally, many visitors come to Saint Andrews in the summer for the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

Saint Petersburg is a little warmer than Saint Andrews in the summer. The daily temperature in Saint Petersburg averages around 18°C (64°F) in July, and Saint Andrews fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).

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 Saint Andrews. Saint Petersburg gets 267 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint Andrews receives 184 hours of full sun.

Saint Petersburg usually gets more rain in July than Saint Andrews. Saint Petersburg gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Saint Andrews receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Saint Andrews in the Autumn?

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

In the autumn, Saint Petersburg is much colder than Saint Andrews. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Saint Petersburg in October average around 6°C (42°F), and Saint Andrews averages at about 10°C (49°F).

Saint Petersburg usually receives less sunshine than Saint Andrews during autumn. Saint Petersburg gets 70 hours of sunny skies, while Saint Andrews receives 100 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Saint Petersburg usually receives around the same amount of rain as Saint Andrews. Saint Petersburg gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Saint Andrews receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Saint Andrews in the Winter?

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

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

In the winter, Saint Petersburg often gets less sunshine than Saint Andrews. Saint Petersburg gets 22 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint Andrews receives 58 hours of full sun.

Saint Petersburg usually gets less rain in January than Saint Andrews. Saint Petersburg gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Saint Andrews receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Saint Andrews in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Petersburg and Saint Andrews. Also, the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty are the main draw to Saint Andrews this time of year.

The weather in Saint Petersburg can be very cold. Saint Petersburg is much colder than Saint Andrews in the spring. The daily temperature in Saint Petersburg averages around 4°C (40°F) in April, and Saint Andrews fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).

Saint Petersburg usually receives more sunshine than Saint Andrews during spring. Saint Petersburg gets 180 hours of sunny skies, while Saint Andrews receives 155 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Saint Petersburg usually receives less rain than Saint Andrews. Saint Petersburg gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Saint Andrews receives 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Saint Andrews and Saint Petersburg