Which place is cheaper, Santander or Heraklion?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Heraklion or Santander?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Heraklion and Santander can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Heraklion or Santander?
Heraklion
The largest city on the island of Crete, Heraklion on first glance is almost completely modern - a frenzy of traffic, concrete, and dust. Do not expect pristine beaches and glittering waves (those can be found on other parts of Crete). Heraklion is first and foremost a city. Once you get past its grittiness, you will find that there are some attractive features beneath first impressions. The antiquity of the place lies embedded in the modern and is presented in one of the best museums in Greece, the food is excellent, and the people are friendly and welcoming. And though the sea is not great for swimming, its presence along the Venetian port will take you to another time if you need a break from Heraklion's bustling center.
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 10-Day Tours in Greece, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Greece, 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 dayHeraklion €158Santander €108
The average daily cost (per person) in Heraklion is €158, 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 Heraklion and Santander in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHeraklion €81Santander €51
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHeraklion €162Santander €102
Compare Hotels in Heraklion and Santander
Looking for a hotel in Heraklion 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: Heraklion Hotel Prices and Santander Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Heraklion €31Santander €24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Heraklion
Also for Heraklion, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Acqua Plus Water Park Admission with Optional Transfer: $32
- Crete Private Taxi Transfer from Heraklion Airport to Bali: $95
- Crete Private Taxi and Transfer from Heraklion Airport to Malia: $81
- Crete Private Taxi and Transfer from Heraklion Airport to Panormo: $103
- Crete Private Taxi and Transfer from Heraklion to Agios Nikolaos: $122
- Crete Private Transfer from Heraklion to Hersonissos: $51
- Day Cruise from Heraklion with Catamaran & Transfer service: $123
- From Airport to Elounda Private Transfer: $107
- From Private Helicopter Transfer to Greek Islands: $4,021
- Heraklion Airport (HER): Private Transfer to Heraklion Port: $105
- Heraklion Cruise Port: Private Transfer to Heraklion city: $137
- Heraklion Int Airport (HER): Transfer to Heraklion hotels: $137
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 Heraklion or Santander?
Prices for flights to both Santander and Heraklion 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 dayHeraklion €52Santander €41
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Heraklion
For Heraklion, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Troy Dinner-Show: $33
- Spectacular Dinner-Show: $44
- From Village Cretan Night, Live Dancers & dinner: $48
- Cretan Night with Dinner & Live Show: $49
- Crete: Olive Oil Festival, Farm Dinner, Live Show & Pickup: $59
- Cretan Farm with scenic view: Olive Mill Festival & dinner: $64
- Amazing Sunset Safari Route with Dinner: $84
- Cook with Locals | Cretan cooking Class at Archanes (transfer - lunch included): $86
- Crete: Land Rover Safari with Sunset Viewing, Dinner, & Wine: $90
- Full-Day Jeep Safari Tour with Cooking Lesson: $97
- Food tour tasting walking tour: $123
- E-bike Food Tour Tasting in Heraklion : $125
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Heraklion €38Santander €18
Tours and Activities in Heraklion
For Heraklion, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Heraklion Area: CRETAquarium Admission Ticket: $8.56
- CRETAquarium Entrance Ticket in Crete: $8.73
- Mobile Self-Guided Audio Sightseeing Tour: $11
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Crete: Palace of Knossos E-Ticket and Optional Audio Guide: $11
- Herakleion: City Self-Guided Game & Tour: $12
- Heraklion Market & CretAquarium *Skip the line: $16
- Heraklion City Tour - Aquarium: $17
- Knossos Palace: E-ticket with Audio and Heraklion City Tour: $18
- Party Bike 1 hour Experience in Malia : $19
- Knossos Self-Guided Treasure Hunt & Tour KIDS: $21
- Minoan Day Experience: $22
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 dayHeraklion €26Santander €14
Sample the Local Flavors in Heraklion
Also in Heraklion, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Wine Tasting E-Bike Tour: $95
- Ecobike Wine Tasting Tour in Heraklion: $115
- Ecobike Tour with Wine Tasting: $118
- Luxury Private Wine Tasting Experience in Haralabakis Winery: $119
- Half Day Small Group Wine Tour with wine Tastings: $125
- Half Day Semi Private Wine Tour with Tastings: $134
- Semi Private Heraklion Valley Wine Tour with Lunch: $159
- The Gourmet Wine Tour of Heraklion area: $180
- Private SUV Wine Tour with Lunch: $183
- Full Day Private Crete Wine Tour Experience from Heraklion : $190
- Full day Knossos Palace, Local Distillery, Lunch @ Archanes: $192
- Knossos, Olive Mill, Winery - Distillery with Tastings & Lunch : $196
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Heraklion and Santander, we can see that Heraklion is more expensive. And not only is Santander much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Santander would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santander 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 Heraklion would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Heraklion than you might in Santander.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Heraklion Expensive? and Is Santander Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Heraklion or Santander?
Santander has a larger population, and is about 34% larger than the population of Heraklion. When comparing the sizes of Heraklion 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 Heraklion 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 Heraklion or Santander in the Summer?
Both Santander and Heraklion during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Heraklion in the summer for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Heraklion is a little warmer than Santander. Typically, the summer temperatures in Heraklion in July average around 25°C (78°F), and Santander averages at about 19°C (66°F).
In Santander, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Heraklion. In the summer, Heraklion often gets more sunshine than Santander. Heraklion gets 366 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santander receives 213 hours of full sun.
Heraklion usually gets less rain in July than Santander. Heraklion gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Santander receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHeraklion 25°C (78°F)Santander 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Heraklion or Santander in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Heraklion and Santander. Most visitors come to Heraklion for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months.
In October, Heraklion is generally a little warmer than Santander. Daily temperatures in Heraklion average around 20°C (68°F), and Santander fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
Heraklion usually receives more sunshine than Santander during autumn. Heraklion gets 199 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, Heraklion usually receives less rain than Santander. Heraklion gets 69 mm (2.7 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 OctoberHeraklion 20°C (68°F)Santander 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Heraklion or Santander in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Heraklion as well as Santander. The winter months attract visitors to Heraklion because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Heraklion is a little warmer than Santander in the winter. The daily temperature in Heraklion averages around 12°C (54°F) in January, and Santander fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).
In the winter, Heraklion often gets more sunshine than Santander. Heraklion gets 121 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santander receives 91 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Santander. Heraklion usually gets less rain in January than Santander. Heraklion gets 92 mm (3.6 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 JanuaryHeraklion 12°C (54°F)Santander 9°C (49°F)
Should I visit Heraklion or Santander in the Spring?
Both Santander and Heraklion are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The beaches and the activities around the city are the main draw to Heraklion this time of year.
In the spring, Heraklion is a little warmer than Santander. Typically, the spring temperatures in Heraklion in April average around 16°C (61°F), and Santander averages at about 12°C (53°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Heraklion. Heraklion usually receives more sunshine than Santander during spring. Heraklion gets 224 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, Heraklion usually receives less rain than Santander. Heraklion gets 30 mm (1.2 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 AprilHeraklion 16°C (61°F)Santander 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Santander and Heraklion
| Heraklion | Santander | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 12°C (54°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) |
| Feb | 12°C (54°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Mar | 14°C (56°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 119 mm (4.7 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (61°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| May | 19°C (67°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (74°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (78°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (77°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (73°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 88 mm (3.4 in) |
| Oct | 20°C (68°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
| Nov | 17°C (63°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) |
| Dec | 14°C (58°F) | 77 mm (3 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.