Which place is cheaper, Santander or Carcassonne?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Carcassonne or Santander?
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 Santander. 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 Santander?
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.
Santander
Santander is the capital of the Cantabria Region which runs along the northern coast of Spain. Located right on the bay, it is a place of many historic churches and a handful of interesting museums that range from archaeological discoveries of the region, to maritime history, and cultural features like bullfighting. There is also a large selection of beaches for those looking for a more relaxing getaway in the sun and sand.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in France, The Best Historical Tours in France, The Best 10-Day Tours from Madrid, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Barcelona.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCarcassonne €106Santander €108
The average daily cost (per person) in Carcassonne is €106, while the average daily cost in Santander is €108. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Carcassonne and Santander in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCarcassonne €61Santander €51
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCarcassonne €122Santander €102
Compare Hotels in Carcassonne and Santander
Looking for a hotel in Carcassonne or Santander? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Carcassonne Hotel Prices and Santander Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Carcassonne €7.14Santander €24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santander
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santander:
- Santander Private Transfer from the city centre to Santander Airport: $44
- Santander Private Transfer from Santander Airport to City centre: $44
- Santander Private Departure Transfer: $35
- Santander Private Arrival Transfer: $35
- Private Transfer from Santander city to Bilbao Airport: $252
- Private Transfer from Santander city to Bilbao: $252
- Private Transfer from Santander Port to Bilbao Airport: $252
- One-way Private Transfer From/To Santander Airport: $41
Is it cheaper to fly into Carcassonne or Santander?
Prices for flights to both Santander and Carcassonne change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayCarcassonne €39Santander €41
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Carcassonne €14Santander €18
Tours and Activities in Carcassonne
For Carcassonne, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.42
- Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $6.42
- Castle and Ramparts Entry Ticket: $12
- A Self-Guided Tour of Carcassonne’s Ancient Basilica: $20
- Medieval Walls Self-Guided Smartphone App Tour: $20
- Carcassonne 's Medieval Walls: A Self-Guided Tour: $20
- Languedoc: Tour and Tasting at Domaine de Baronarques: $21
- Unusual guided tour of Carcassonne at the time of the Builders: $22
- Unusual Guided Tour of the Medieval City of Carcassonne: $22
- Small group tour of the Cité de Carcassonne: $49
- Complete Private Tour City and Castle of Carcassonne: $109
- Cité de Private Guided Tour: $160
Tours and Activities in Santander
Here are a few actual costs in Santander for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- City Sightseeing Santander Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $23
- From Cantabria Private Tour: $492
- From Gastronomic Tour: $128
- From Potes, Santillana and Altamira Day Tour: $42
- From Santillana del Mar & Altamira Museum Tour: $64
- Full Day Self Guided Tour in Santillana del Mar and Comillas: $55
- Full Day Tour Lakes of Covadonga and Santillana from Santander: $46
- Gastronomy tour: $120
- Obregón: Parque de la Naturaleza de Cabárceno Entry Ticket: $26
- Picos de Europa and Potes Guided Tour from Santander : $84
- Private Puente Viesgo Caves Full-Day Tour from Santander: $213
- 1-Hour City Cruise Around the Bay: $14
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCarcassonne €13Santander €14
Sample the Local Flavors in Carcassonne
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Carcassonne:
- Wine tour Cathar country: $471
When comparing the travel costs between Carcassonne and Santander, we can see that Santander is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Carcassonne Expensive? and Is Santander Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Carcassonne or Santander?
Santander has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Carcassonne. When comparing the sizes of Carcassonne and Santander, 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 Santander?
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 Carcassonne or Santander in the Summer?
Both Santander and Carcassonne during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Carcassonne for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Carcassonne is generally a little warmer than Santander. Daily temperatures in Carcassonne average around 24°C (75°F), and Santander fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
In Santander, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Carcassonne. In the summer, Carcassonne often gets more sunshine than Santander. Carcassonne gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santander receives 213 hours of full sun.
Carcassonne usually gets less rain in July than Santander. Carcassonne gets 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Santander receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyCarcassonne 24°C (75°F)Santander 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Carcassonne or Santander in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Carcassonne and Santander. Many visitors come to Carcassonne in the autumn for the small town atmosphere and the natural beauty of the area.
Carcassonne is around the same temperature as Santander in the autumn. The daily temperature in Carcassonne averages around 17°C (62°F) in October, and Santander fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
Carcassonne usually receives more sunshine than Santander during autumn. Carcassonne gets 161 hours of sunny skies, while Santander receives 133 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Santander receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Carcassonne usually receives less rain than Santander. Carcassonne gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Santander receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCarcassonne 17°C (62°F)Santander 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Carcassonne or Santander in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Carcassonne as well as Santander. Most visitors come to Carcassonne for the museums and the cuisine during these months.
In the winter, Carcassonne is around the same temperature as Santander. Typically, the winter temperatures in Carcassonne in January average around 8°C (47°F), and Santander averages at about 9°C (49°F).
In the winter, Carcassonne often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Santander. Carcassonne gets 88 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santander receives 91 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Santander. Carcassonne usually gets less rain in January than Santander. Carcassonne gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Santander receives 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCarcassonne 8°C (47°F)Santander 9°C (49°F)
Should I visit Carcassonne or Santander in the Spring?
Both Santander and Carcassonne are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Carcassonne because of the small town charm and the natural beauty.
In April, Carcassonne is generally a little warmer than Santander. Daily temperatures in Carcassonne average around 14°C (56°F), and Santander fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
Carcassonne usually receives more sunshine than Santander during spring. Carcassonne gets 178 hours of sunny skies, while Santander receives 148 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Santander. In April, Carcassonne usually receives less rain than Santander. Carcassonne gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Santander receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilCarcassonne 14°C (56°F)Santander 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Santander and Carcassonne
| Carcassonne | Santander | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 8°C (47°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) |
| Feb | 9°C (49°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Mar | 11°C (52°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 119 mm (4.7 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (56°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (75°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (74°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) |
| Sep | 21°C (69°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 88 mm (3.4 in) |
| Oct | 17°C (62°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (53°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) |
| Dec | 9°C (49°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 157 mm (6.2 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.