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

Should you visit Saint Petersburg or Savonlinna?

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

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Savonlinna? 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 Savonlinna?

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.

Savonlinna

Savonlinna is a town and a municipality of 35,504 inhabitants in the southeast of Finland, in the heart of the Saimaa lake region. The Finnish name of the town means "Castle of Savonia" and the Swedish name means "New Castle". The city was founded in 1639, based on Olavinlinna castle. Savonlinna is a historical borderland where the cultures and traditions of East and West meet. As the oldest town in Eastern Finland, Savonlinna is famous for its world class opera festival in the medieval castle surrounded by blue waters of Lake Saimaa. With its 100 year old steamships and unparalleled selection of experiences and activities, Savonlinna is a the real gem of Lakeland Finland.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Finland, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Finland.

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

Which is Bigger, Saint Petersburg or Savonlinna?

Saint Petersburg has a larger population, and is about 150 times larger than the population of Savonlinna. When comparing the sizes of Saint Petersburg and Savonlinna, 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 Savonlinna?

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 Savonlinna in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Saint Petersburg as well as Savonlinna.

In the summer, Saint Petersburg is around the same temperature as Savonlinna. Typically, the summer temperatures in Saint Petersburg in July average around 18°C (64°F), and Savonlinna averages at about 17°C (62°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Savonlinna. 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 Savonlinna. Saint Petersburg gets 267 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Savonlinna receives 259 hours of full sun.

Saint Petersburg usually gets more rain in July than Savonlinna. Saint Petersburg gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Savonlinna receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Savonlinna in the Autumn?

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

Be prepared for some very cold days in Savonlinna. In October, Saint Petersburg is generally a little warmer than Savonlinna. Daily temperatures in Saint Petersburg average around 6°C (42°F), and Savonlinna fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).

Saint Petersburg usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Savonlinna during autumn. Saint Petersburg gets 70 hours of sunny skies, while Savonlinna receives 72 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Saint Petersburg usually receives around the same amount of rain as Savonlinna. Saint Petersburg gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Savonlinna receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Savonlinna in the Winter?

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

Savonlinna can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Saint Petersburg. Saint Petersburg is a little warmer than Savonlinna in the winter. The daily temperature in Saint Petersburg averages around -8°C (18°F) in January, and Savonlinna fluctuates around -11°C (13°F).

In the winter, Saint Petersburg often gets less sunshine than Savonlinna. Saint Petersburg gets 22 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Savonlinna receives 34 hours of full sun.

Saint Petersburg usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Savonlinna. Saint Petersburg gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Savonlinna receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Savonlinna in the Spring?

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

Savonlinna can be very cold during spring. Saint Petersburg can get quite cold in the spring. In the spring, Saint Petersburg is much warmer than Savonlinna. Typically, the spring temperatures in Saint Petersburg in April average around 4°C (40°F), and Savonlinna averages at about 2°C (36°F).

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

In April, Saint Petersburg usually receives around the same amount of rain as Savonlinna. Saint Petersburg gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Savonlinna receives 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Savonlinna and Saint Petersburg