A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Carcassonne vs. Playa de las Americas for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Carcassonne or Playa de las Americas?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Carcassonne and Playa de las Americas. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Carcassonne or Playa de las Americas?

Carcassonne

Carcassonne is a hilltop town in southern France. Inhabited since the Neolithic period, Carcassonne is located in the Aude plain between historic trade routes, linking the Atlantic to the Mediterranean sea and the Massif Central to the Pyrenees. The Romans recognized its strategic importance and occupied its hilltop until the demise of the Western Roman Empire and was later taken over in the fifth century by the Visigoths who founded the city. Its desirable location led successive rulers to expand its fortifications until the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659. It is famous for its medieval citadel, La Cite, which has numerous watchtowers and double-walled fortifications. The first walls were built in Gallo-Roman times, with major additions made in the 13th and 14th centuries. With its position on a rocky hilltop, zigzag battlements, stout walls and spiky turrets, the fortified city of Carcassonne looks like something out of a children's storybook when it's seen from afar. A Unesco World Heritage Site since 1997, it's most people's idea of the perfect medieval castle. It attracts over four million visitors every year, peaking in high summer. Time your visit for late in the day (or even better in spring or fall) to truly appreciate the old town's medieval charm.

Playa de las Americas

If you are looking to escape your life - to relax on a modern day pleasure island, then you need to book a trip to the Playa de las Americas resort town. Located on the south coast of Tenerife, this party, beach, and vacation capital never goes to sleep. Packed with nightclubs, bars, live music, shops and restaurants, Playa de las Americas is the stuff Hollywood movies are made of.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in France, The Best Historical Tours in France, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Barcelona, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Madrid.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Carcassonne and Playa de las Americas, we can see that Playa de las Americas is more expensive. And not only is Carcassonne much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Carcassonne would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Carcassonne 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 Playa de las Americas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Playa de las Americas than you might in Carcassonne.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Carcassonne Expensive? and Is Playa de las Americas Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Carcassonne or Playa de las Americas?

Carcassonne has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Playa de las Americas. When comparing the sizes of Carcassonne and Playa de las Americas, 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 Carcassonne or Playa de las Americas?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Carcassonne or Playa de las Americas in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Carcassonne and Playa de las Americas. Many travelers come to Carcassonne for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Carcassonne is around the same temperature as Playa de las Americas. Typically, the summer temperatures in Carcassonne in July average around 24°C (75°F), and Playa de las Americas averages at about 24°C (75°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Playa de las Americas this time of the year. In Carcassonne, it's very sunny this time of the year. Carcassonne usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Playa de las Americas during summer. Carcassonne gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Playa de las Americas receives 268 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Carcassonne usually receives more rain than Playa de las Americas. Carcassonne gets 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Carcassonne or Playa de las Americas in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Carcassonne as well as Playa de las Americas. Many visitors come to Carcassonne in the autumn for the small town atmosphere and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Carcassonne is generally cooler than Playa de las Americas. Daily temperatures in Carcassonne average around 17°C (62°F), and Playa de las Americas fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa de las Americas. In the autumn, Carcassonne often gets less sunshine than Playa de las Americas. Carcassonne gets 161 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa de las Americas receives 200 hours of full sun.

Carcassonne usually gets more rain in October than Playa de las Americas. Carcassonne gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Carcassonne or Playa de las Americas in the Winter?

Both Playa de las Americas and Carcassonne are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Carcassonne for the museums and the cuisine during these months.

Carcassonne is much colder than Playa de las Americas in the winter. The daily temperature in Carcassonne averages around 8°C (47°F) in January, and Playa de las Americas fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

Carcassonne usually receives less sunshine than Playa de las Americas during winter. Carcassonne gets 88 hours of sunny skies, while Playa de las Americas receives 191 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Carcassonne usually receives more rain than Playa de las Americas. Carcassonne gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Carcassonne or Playa de las Americas in the Spring?

Both Playa de las Americas and Carcassonne during the spring are popular places to visit. The spring months attract visitors to Carcassonne because of the small town charm and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Carcassonne is cooler than Playa de las Americas. Typically, the spring temperatures in Carcassonne in April average around 14°C (56°F), and Playa de las Americas averages at about 20°C (68°F).

In Playa de las Americas, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Carcassonne often gets less sunshine than Playa de las Americas. Carcassonne gets 178 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa de las Americas receives 205 hours of full sun.

Carcassonne usually gets more rain in April than Playa de las Americas. Carcassonne gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Playa de las Americas and Carcassonne