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

Should you visit Ericeira or Playa de las Americas?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Ericeira and Playa de las Americas can help you decide which place is right for you.

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

Ericeira

Beneath an indigo sky, a city perches at the edge of sandstone cliffs that overlook the vast expanse of the Atlantic. A seaside resort and fishing community, Ericeira is located in western Portugal within the municipality of Mafra. A picturesque village, Ericeira is quaint, quiet, and absolutely breathtaking with a population of no more than 10,260. Because of its blue waters and pristine coastlines, it has been named the Surfing Mecca of Europe. The town was a famous summer retreat for the families of Lisbon during the 1940s and 1950s and still remains so today for families beyond Lisbon's borders. Ericeira also has a World Surfing Reserve, the first in Europe and second in the world. Besides the many beaches on Ericeira, including Ribeira d'Ilhas, Pescadores, and Mataduoro, the town also has a park called Parque de Santa Maria as well as an old town center that has a collection of cafes, shops, restaurants, and bars. There are also some important landmarks that can be explored as no more than a brief visit, such as Forte Mil Regos and Casa De Cultura Jaime Lobo E. Silvs. Whether you are a surfer, fisher, or simply a lover of the beach, Ericeira is the perfect place for those who wish to experience the Atlantic like never before.

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 G Adventures Tours to Portugal, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lisbon, 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 Ericeira and Playa de las Americas, we can see that Playa de las Americas is more expensive. And not only is Ericeira much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ericeira would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ericeira 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 Ericeira.

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

Which is Bigger, Ericeira or Playa de las Americas?

Ericeira has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Playa de las Americas. When comparing the sizes of Ericeira 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 Ericeira 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 Ericeira or Playa de las Americas in the Summer?

Both Playa de las Americas and Ericeira are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities.

In July, Ericeira is generally around the same temperature as Playa de las Americas. Daily temperatures in Ericeira average around 23°C (73°F), and Playa de las Americas fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

It's quite sunny in Playa de las Americas. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ericeira. Ericeira usually receives more sunshine than Playa de las Americas during summer. Ericeira gets 352 hours of sunny skies, while Playa de las Americas receives 268 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Ericeira usually receives more rain than Playa de las Americas. Ericeira gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.

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

Both Playa de las Americas and Ericeira during the autumn are popular places to visit.

Ericeira is cooler than Playa de las Americas in the autumn. The daily temperature in Ericeira averages around 19°C (66°F) in October, and Playa de las Americas fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

In Playa de las Americas, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Ericeira. In the autumn, Ericeira often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Playa de las Americas. Ericeira gets 213 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa de las Americas receives 200 hours of full sun.

Ericeira usually gets more rain in October than Playa de las Americas. Ericeira gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Ericeira and Playa de las Americas.

In the winter, Ericeira is much colder than Playa de las Americas. Typically, the winter temperatures in Ericeira in January average around 12°C (53°F), and Playa de las Americas averages at about 19°C (66°F).

Ericeira usually receives less sunshine than Playa de las Americas during winter. Ericeira gets 144 hours of sunny skies, while Playa de las Americas receives 191 hours of full sun in the winter.

Ericeira gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Ericeira usually receives more rain than Playa de las Americas. Ericeira gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.

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

The spring brings many poeple to Ericeira as well as Playa de las Americas.

In April, Ericeira is generally cooler than Playa de las Americas. Daily temperatures in Ericeira average around 16°C (60°F), and Playa de las Americas fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa de las Americas. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ericeira this time of the year. In the spring, Ericeira often gets more sunshine than Playa de las Americas. Ericeira gets 235 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa de las Americas receives 205 hours of full sun.

Ericeira usually gets more rain in April than Playa de las Americas. Ericeira gets 64 mm (2.5 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 Ericeira