A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Ayutthaya vs. Akureyri for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Ayutthaya or Akureyri?

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

Should I visit Ayutthaya or Akureyri? 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: Ayutthaya or Akureyri?

Ayutthaya

Once the largest city in the world, Ayutthaya, is the example of an ancient capital within a modern city. Located in the central plains of Thailand, this spot is ideally located between China, India and the Malay Archipelago creating the perfect place for trade in Asia. Eighteenth century maps from Holland and France show golden palaces, large ceremony spots and trading vessels from all over the world. Suddenly, in 1767, Ayutthaya experienced a tragic fall from grace with a Burmese invasion burning much of the city to the ground.

Akureyri

Akureyri is the largest town in the northern region of Iceland, and is often considered the unofficial capital of the north. The town is a popular fishing port and is often used as a basecamp for visiting the more rural surrounding area. Akureyri is known for their great art scene, beautiful architecture, and stunning natural scenery.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Thailand, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Thailand, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Iceland, and The Best Northern Lights Tours in Iceland.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ayutthaya and Akureyri, we can see that Akureyri is more expensive. And not only is Ayutthaya much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ayutthaya is in Asia and Akureyri is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Ayutthaya would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ayutthaya 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 Akureyri would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Akureyri than you might in Ayutthaya.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ayutthaya Expensive? and Is Akureyri Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Ayutthaya or Akureyri?

Ayutthaya has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Akureyri. When comparing the sizes of Ayutthaya and Akureyri, 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 Ayutthaya or Akureyri?

Akureyri has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Ayutthaya experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Ayutthaya or Akureyri in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Ayutthaya and Akureyri. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ayutthaya year-round.

Ayutthaya is much warmer than Akureyri in the summer. The daily temperature in Ayutthaya averages around 29°C (84°F) in July, and Akureyri fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

Ayutthaya usually receives more sunshine than Akureyri during summer. Ayutthaya gets 176 hours of sunny skies, while Akureyri receives 158 hours of full sun in the summer.

Ayutthaya gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Ayutthaya usually receives more rain than Akureyri. Ayutthaya gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Akureyri receives 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Ayutthaya or Akureyri in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Ayutthaya as well as Akureyri. Ayutthaya attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Akureyri can be very cold during autumn. In the autumn, Ayutthaya is much warmer than Akureyri. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Ayutthaya in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Akureyri averages at about 3°C (38°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ayutthaya this time of the year. In the autumn, Ayutthaya often gets more sunshine than Akureyri. Ayutthaya gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Akureyri receives 52 hours of full sun.

Ayutthaya receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Ayutthaya usually gets more rain in October than Akureyri. Ayutthaya gets 180 mm (7.1 in) of rain, while Akureyri receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, October to April in Ayutthaya is the dry season. May to October in Ayutthaya is the rainy season.

Should I visit Ayutthaya or Akureyri in the Winter?

Both Akureyri and Ayutthaya are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ayutthaya throughout the year.

The weather in Akureyri can be very cold. In January, Ayutthaya is generally much warmer than Akureyri. Daily temperatures in Ayutthaya average around 25°C (78°F), and Akureyri fluctuates around -2°C (28°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ayutthaya. Ayutthaya usually receives more sunshine than Akureyri during winter. Ayutthaya gets 276 hours of sunny skies, while Akureyri receives 7 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Ayutthaya usually receives less rain than Akureyri. Ayutthaya gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Akureyri receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Ayutthaya or Akureyri in the Spring?

Both Akureyri and Ayutthaya during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Ayutthaya because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

It's quite cold in Akureyri in the spring. It's very hot in Ayutthaya this time of the year. Ayutthaya is much warmer than Akureyri in the spring. The daily temperature in Ayutthaya averages around 31°C (88°F) in April, and Akureyri fluctuates around 2°C (36°F).

It's quite sunny in Ayutthaya. In the spring, Ayutthaya often gets more sunshine than Akureyri. Ayutthaya gets 262 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Akureyri receives 130 hours of full sun.

Ayutthaya usually gets more rain in April than Akureyri. Ayutthaya gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Akureyri receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year. October to April is the dry season in Ayutthaya. May to October is the rainy season in Ayutthaya.

Typical Weather for Akureyri and Ayutthaya