A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Carcassonne vs. Playa del Ingles for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Carcassonne or Playa del Ingles?

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 del Ingles. 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 del Ingles?

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 del Ingles

Translating to "Englishman's Beach," Playa del Ingles is a sea resort located on the south coast of the Gran Canaria island of Spain's Canary Islands. Since the 1960s it has been built up to accommodate tourists from around the world, especially from Europe. Some of the most popular attractions include an abundance of bars and clubs as well as beachside activities like swimming, surfing, scuba, and snorkeling.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in France, The Best Historical Tours in France, The Best Contiki Tours to Spain, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Spain.

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

Which is Bigger, Carcassonne or Playa del Ingles?

Carcassonne has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Playa del Ingles. When comparing the sizes of Carcassonne and Playa del Ingles, 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 del Ingles?

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 del Ingles in the Summer?

Both Playa del Ingles and Carcassonne are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Carcassonne in the summer for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

Carcassonne is around the same temperature as Playa del Ingles in the summer. The daily temperature in Carcassonne averages around 24°C (75°F) in July, and Playa del Ingles fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).

It's quite sunny in Playa del Ingles. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Carcassonne. Carcassonne usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Playa del Ingles during summer. Carcassonne gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Playa del Ingles receives 293 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Carcassonne usually receives more rain than Playa del Ingles. Carcassonne gets 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 0 mm (0 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Carcassonne or Playa del Ingles in the Autumn?

Both Playa del Ingles and Carcassonne during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Carcassonne for the small town atmosphere and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Carcassonne is cooler than Playa del Ingles. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Carcassonne in October average around 17°C (62°F), and Playa del Ingles averages at about 23°C (73°F).

In Playa del Ingles, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Carcassonne often gets less sunshine than Playa del Ingles. Carcassonne gets 161 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa del Ingles receives 213 hours of full sun.

Carcassonne usually gets more rain in October than Playa del Ingles. Carcassonne gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Carcassonne or Playa del Ingles in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Carcassonne and Playa del Ingles. The winter months attract visitors to Carcassonne because of the museums and the cuisine.

In January, Carcassonne is generally much colder than Playa del Ingles. Daily temperatures in Carcassonne average around 8°C (47°F), and Playa del Ingles fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

Carcassonne usually receives less sunshine than Playa del Ingles during winter. Carcassonne gets 88 hours of sunny skies, while Playa del Ingles receives 187 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Carcassonne usually receives more rain than Playa del Ingles. Carcassonne gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Carcassonne or Playa del Ingles in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Carcassonne as well as Playa del Ingles. The small town charm and the natural beauty are the main draw to Carcassonne this time of year.

Carcassonne is cooler than Playa del Ingles in the spring. The daily temperature in Carcassonne averages around 14°C (56°F) in April, and Playa del Ingles fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa del Ingles. In the spring, Carcassonne often gets less sunshine than Playa del Ingles. Carcassonne gets 178 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa del Ingles receives 225 hours of full sun.

Carcassonne usually gets more rain in April than Playa del Ingles. Carcassonne gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Playa del Ingles and Carcassonne