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

Should you visit Saint Petersburg or Siofok?

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

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Siofok? 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 Siofok?

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.

Siofok

Siofok is a charming lakefront town located on the southern coast of Lake Balaton in Hungary. It is one of the most popular holiday resorts in the nation, drawing at least two hundred thousand visitors each summer for its peaceful beaches and thriving nightlife. While lakefront beaches and the accompanying resorts are the main attractions, Siofok also has a host of other opportunities for sight-seeing, dining, shopping, and entertainment.

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

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

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 Siofok Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Saint Petersburg or Siofok?

Saint Petersburg has a larger population, and is about 180 times larger than the population of Siofok. When comparing the sizes of Saint Petersburg and Siofok, 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 Siofok?

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 Siofok in the Summer?

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

In the summer, Saint Petersburg is cooler than Siofok. Typically, the summer temperatures in Saint Petersburg in July average around 18°C (64°F), and Siofok averages at about 21°C (70°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Siofok. 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 Siofok. Saint Petersburg gets 267 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Siofok receives 278 hours of full sun.

Saint Petersburg usually gets more rain in July than Siofok. Saint Petersburg gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Siofok receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Siofok in the Autumn?

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

In October, Saint Petersburg is generally much colder than Siofok. Daily temperatures in Saint Petersburg average around 6°C (42°F), and Siofok fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).

Saint Petersburg usually receives less sunshine than Siofok during autumn. Saint Petersburg gets 70 hours of sunny skies, while Siofok receives 152 hours of full sun in the autumn.

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

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Siofok in the Winter?

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

Siofok can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Saint Petersburg. Saint Petersburg is much colder than Siofok in the winter. The daily temperature in Saint Petersburg averages around -8°C (18°F) in January, and Siofok fluctuates around -1°C (31°F).

In the winter, Saint Petersburg often gets less sunshine than Siofok. Saint Petersburg gets 22 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Siofok receives 61 hours of full sun.

Saint Petersburg usually gets less rain in January than Siofok. Saint Petersburg gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Siofok receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Siofok in the Spring?

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

Saint Petersburg can get quite cold in the spring. In the spring, Saint Petersburg is much colder than Siofok. Typically, the spring temperatures in Saint Petersburg in April average around 4°C (40°F), and Siofok averages at about 12°C (53°F).

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

In April, Saint Petersburg usually receives less rain than Siofok. Saint Petersburg gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Siofok receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Siofok and Saint Petersburg