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

Should you visit Saint Petersburg or Dijon?

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

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Dijon? 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 Dijon?

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.

Dijon

Dijon is a city in eastern France, capital of the Cote-d'Or department and of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comte region. Archaeological finds in this area date back to the Neolithic period, but Dijon later became a Roman settlement before later becoming home to the Dukes of Burgundy between the 11th and 15th centuries. Dijon was a place of tremendous wealth and power, one of the great European centers of art, learning and science. The city has retained varied architectural styles from many of the main periods of the past millennium, including Capetian, Gothic, and Renaissance. Many still-inhabited town houses in the city's central district date from the 18th century and earlier. Dijon is famous for Dijon mustard which originated in 1856, when Jean Naigeon of Dijon substituted verjuice, the acidic green juice of not-quite-ripe grapes, for vinegar in the traditional mustard recipe. Dijon is one of France's most appealing cities. Filled with elegant medieval and Renaissance buildings, the lively center is wonderful for strolling, especially if you like to mix your cultural enrichment with excellent food, fine wine and shopping.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to France, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in France.

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

Which is Bigger, Saint Petersburg or Dijon?

Saint Petersburg has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Dijon. When comparing the sizes of Saint Petersburg and Dijon, 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 Dijon?

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 Dijon in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Saint Petersburg as well as Dijon. Also, the city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Dijon this time of year.

In July, Saint Petersburg is generally cooler than Dijon. Daily temperatures in Saint Petersburg average around 18°C (64°F), and Dijon fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Dijon. 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 Dijon. Saint Petersburg gets 267 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dijon receives 266 hours of full sun.

Saint Petersburg usually gets more rain in July than Dijon. Saint Petersburg gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Dijon receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Dijon in the Autumn?

Both Dijon and Saint Petersburg are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Dijon for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

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

Saint Petersburg usually receives less sunshine than Dijon during autumn. Saint Petersburg gets 70 hours of sunny skies, while Dijon receives 121 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Saint Petersburg usually receives more rain than Dijon. Saint Petersburg gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Dijon receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Dijon in the Winter?

Both Dijon and Saint Petersburg during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many visitors come to Dijon in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Dijon can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Saint Petersburg. In the winter, Saint Petersburg is much colder than Dijon. Typically, the winter temperatures in Saint Petersburg in January average around -8°C (18°F), and Dijon averages at about 3°C (38°F).

In the winter, Saint Petersburg often gets less sunshine than Dijon. Saint Petersburg gets 22 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dijon receives 53 hours of full sun.

Saint Petersburg usually gets less rain in January than Dijon. Saint Petersburg gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Dijon receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Dijon in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Petersburg and Dijon. Furthermore, most visitors come to Dijon for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.

Saint Petersburg can get quite cold in the spring. In April, Saint Petersburg is generally much colder than Dijon. Daily temperatures in Saint Petersburg average around 4°C (40°F), and Dijon fluctuates around 11°C (53°F).

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

In April, Saint Petersburg usually receives less rain than Dijon. Saint Petersburg gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Dijon receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Dijon and Saint Petersburg