Which place is cheaper, Santander or Funchal?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Funchal or Santander?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Funchal or Santander? 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: Funchal or Santander?
Funchal
Funchal is the capital city of the autonomous region of Madeira on the island of Madeira. The city is located to the south between the cities of Santa Cruz and Camara de Lobos. It is actually named for the fennel plant which grows liberally on the island. The city was most significant as a shipping center between the 15th and 17th centuries. Today it has a population of over 100,000 people and is, arguably, one of the most picturesque cities in Portugal. It's appeal as a tourist destination has made it the leading Portuguese port for cruise line dockings.
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 Tours for Seniors to Portugal, The Best G Adventures Tours to Portugal, 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 dayFunchal €93Santander €108
The average daily cost (per person) in Funchal is €93, 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 Funchal and Santander in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFunchal €52Santander €51
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFunchal €104Santander €102
Compare Hotels in Funchal and Santander
Looking for a hotel in Funchal 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: Funchal Hotel Prices and Santander Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Funchal €9.94Santander €24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Funchal
Also for Funchal, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Funchal Airport(FNC) to Funchal hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $26
- Funchal Airport(FNC) to Madeira Island - Arrival Private Transfer: $51
- Funchal Private Transfers Service to Madeira Airport: $29
- Madeira Airport (FNC) Arrival Transfer (Airport to Funchal Hotels or Address): $54
- Madeira Airport (FNC) Departure Transfer (Funchal Hotels to Madeira Airport): $54
- Madeira Airport Private Transfers Service To Funchal: $33
- Madeira Airport Round Trip Shuttle Transfers Service: $49
- Madeira Airport Shuttle Transfer one way: $9.81
- Madeira Airport Transfers Round Trip (FNC): $65
- Madeira Island Transfers: $53
- Madeira airport transfer for up to 8 people: $49
- Minibus Transfer: Funchal - Madeira Airport: $38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santander
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santander:
- Private Transfer from Santander city to Bilbao Airport: $252
- Private Transfer from Santander Port to Bilbao Airport: $252
- Private Transfer from Santander city to Bilbao: $252
- Santander Private Transfer from the city centre to Santander Airport: $44
- Santander Private Transfer from Santander Airport to City centre: $44
- One-way Private Transfer From/To Santander Airport: $41
- Santander Private Departure Transfer: $35
- Santander Private Arrival Transfer: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Funchal or Santander?
Prices for flights to both Santander and Funchal 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 dayFunchal €31Santander €41
Typical Food Prices in Funchal
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Funchal:
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Coffee€1.40
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Funchal
For Funchal, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Private Walking Food Tour Around Funchal: $31
- Madeira Nights Tour - Dinner and Show: $41
- Sunset Tour to Pico do Arieiro with Dinner and Drinks included: $76
- Gourmet Wine & Food Tour: $112
- Gourmet Wine & Food Tour: $112
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Funchal €15Santander €18
Tours and Activities in Funchal
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Funchal.
- Portugal eSIM Tourist Data Plan: $4.81
- Sacred Art Museum of Funchal Entry Ticket: $11
- Old Funchal Walking Tour: $15
- Scenic Route - Nuns Valley Tour: $25
- Funchal Hop-On Hop-Off Tour 3 in 1: $27
- Christmas Lights in Funchal Tuk Tuk Tour: $27
- São Vicente Caves and Volcano Center Half-Day Tour: $27
- Majestic West Tour : $31
- Amazing East Tour : $31
- Magnificent East Tour: $33
- Exorbitant West Tour: $33
- Santana / Typical Houses Tour: $33
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 dayFunchal €16Santander €14
Sample the Local Flavors in Funchal
Also in Funchal, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Skywalk and 4x4 Adventure with Amazing Views and Wine Tasting: $49
- Half day jeep Wine tour and tasting, & sea cliff adventure: $53
- Bestselling Wine Tour, Tasting Experience & Skywalk 4x4 Adventure: $53
- Wine tasting and Jeep Adventure in Madeira's Majestic Countryside: $56
- Pub Crawl: $59
- Shore Excursion: Private Madeira Tour & Wine Tasting: $86
- Amazing Skywalk, Wine Tasting & 4x4 Adventure + Dolphin Watching: $97
- Guided Toboggan Ride and Madeira Wine Tasting Tour: $98
- Tuk Tuk Wine Tour - Madeira Island: $102
- Weekends Madeira Wine Tasting São Vicente: $109
- Wine Tour by Overland Madeira: $150
- Visiting local Vineyard With Wine Tasting & Lunch included: $158
When comparing the travel costs between Funchal 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 Funchal Expensive? and Is Santander Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Funchal or Santander?
Santander has a larger population, and is about 82% larger than the population of Funchal. When comparing the sizes of Funchal 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 Funchal 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 Funchal or Santander in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Funchal as well as Santander.
In the summer, Funchal is a little warmer than Santander. Typically, the summer temperatures in Funchal in July average around 22°C (72°F), and Santander averages at about 19°C (66°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Santander. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Funchal this time of the year. In the summer, Funchal often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Santander. Funchal gets 227 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santander receives 213 hours of full sun.
Funchal usually gets less rain in July than Santander. Funchal gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Santander receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyFunchal 22°C (72°F)Santander 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Funchal or Santander in the Autumn?
Both Santander and Funchal are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
In October, Funchal is generally a little warmer than Santander. Daily temperatures in Funchal average around 21°C (70°F), and Santander fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
Funchal usually receives more sunshine than Santander during autumn. Funchal gets 183 hours of sunny skies, while Santander receives 133 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Santander. It's quite rainy in Funchal. In October, Funchal usually receives less rain than Santander. Funchal gets 100 mm (3.9 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 OctoberFunchal 21°C (70°F)Santander 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Funchal or Santander in the Winter?
Both Santander and Funchal during the winter are popular places to visit.
Funchal is much warmer than Santander in the winter. The daily temperature in Funchal averages around 16°C (61°F) in January, and Santander fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).
In the winter, Funchal often gets more sunshine than Santander. Funchal gets 141 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santander receives 91 hours of full sun.
Santander gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Funchal. Funchal usually gets less rain in January than Santander. Funchal gets 110 mm (4.3 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 JanuaryFunchal 16°C (61°F)Santander 9°C (49°F)
Should I visit Funchal or Santander in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Funchal and Santander.
In the spring, Funchal is a little warmer than Santander. Typically, the spring temperatures in Funchal in April average around 17°C (63°F), and Santander averages at about 12°C (53°F).
Funchal usually receives more sunshine than Santander during spring. Funchal gets 182 hours of sunny skies, while Santander receives 148 hours of full sun in the spring.
Santander receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Funchal usually receives less rain than Santander. Funchal gets 70 mm (2.8 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 AprilFunchal 17°C (63°F)Santander 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Santander and Funchal
| Funchal | Santander | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 16°C (61°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) |
| Feb | 16°C (61°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Mar | 16°C (61°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 119 mm (4.7 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (63°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| May | 19°C (66°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (73°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 88 mm (3.4 in) |
| Oct | 21°C (70°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
| Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) |
| Dec | 18°C (64°F) | 90 mm (3.5 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.