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

Should you visit Hydra or Playa de las Americas?

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

Should I visit Hydra or Playa de las Americas? 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: Hydra or Playa de las Americas?

Hydra

The island of Hydra is located in the Aegean Sea between the Saronic and Argolic Gulfs. Named for its natural springs, the island now has most of its freshwater imported from the mainland. The real gem of the place is the absence of motorized vehicles. Car and scooters are nowhere to be seen by the narrow marble-cobbled lanes, rocks, and sea. Such vehicles have been outlawed and so the way to navigate the island is by donkey, water taxi, or on foot.

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 Historical Tours in Greece, The Best 10-Day Tours in Greece, 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 Hydra and Playa de las Americas, we can see that Playa de las Americas is more expensive. And not only is Hydra much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hydra would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hydra 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 Hydra.

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

Which is Bigger, Hydra or Playa de las Americas?

Playa de las Americas has a larger population, and is about 32% larger than the population of Hydra. When comparing the sizes of Hydra 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 Hydra or Playa de las Americas?

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 Hydra or Playa de las Americas in the Summer?

Both Playa de las Americas and Hydra during the summer are popular places to visit. The beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Hydra this time of year.

In the summer, Hydra is a little warmer than Playa de las Americas. Typically, the summer temperatures in Hydra in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Playa de las Americas averages at about 24°C (75°F).

In Playa de las Americas, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Hydra. In the summer, Hydra often gets more sunshine than Playa de las Americas. Hydra gets 357 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa de las Americas receives 268 hours of full sun.

Hydra usually gets more rain in July than Playa de las Americas. Hydra gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Hydra and Playa de las Americas. Many travelers come to Hydra for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Hydra is generally cooler than Playa de las Americas. Daily temperatures in Hydra average around 19°C (67°F), and Playa de las Americas fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Playa de las Americas this time of the year. In Hydra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Hydra usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Playa de las Americas during autumn. Hydra gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Playa de las Americas receives 200 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Hydra usually receives more rain than Playa de las Americas. Hydra gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

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

The winter brings many poeple to Hydra as well as Playa de las Americas. Many visitors come to Hydra in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Hydra is much colder than Playa de las Americas in the winter. The daily temperature in Hydra averages around 10°C (51°F) in January, and Playa de las Americas fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

In the winter, Hydra often gets less sunshine than Playa de las Americas. Hydra gets 143 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa de las Americas receives 191 hours of full sun.

Hydra usually gets more rain in January than Playa de las Americas. Hydra gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

Both Playa de las Americas and Hydra are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Hydra for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty during these months.

In the spring, Hydra is cooler than Playa de las Americas. Typically, the spring temperatures in Hydra in April average around 16°C (60°F), and Playa de las Americas averages at about 20°C (68°F).

It's quite sunny in Playa de las Americas. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Hydra. Hydra usually receives more sunshine than Playa de las Americas during spring. Hydra gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Playa de las Americas receives 205 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Hydra usually receives more rain than Playa de las Americas. Hydra gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Playa de las Americas and Hydra