A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Hydra vs. Playa del Ingles for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Hydra or Playa del Ingles?

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

Should I visit Hydra or Playa del Ingles? 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 del Ingles?

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 del Ingles

Translating to "Englishman's Beach," Playa del Ingles is a sea resort located on the south coast of the Gran Canaria island of Spain's Canary Islands. Since the 1960s it has been built up to accommodate tourists from around the world, especially from Europe. Some of the most popular attractions include an abundance of bars and clubs as well as beachside activities like swimming, surfing, scuba, and snorkeling.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Greece, The Best 10-Day Tours in Greece, The Best Contiki Tours to Spain, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Spain.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hydra and Playa del Ingles, we can see that Playa del Ingles 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 del Ingles would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Playa del Ingles 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 del Ingles Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Hydra or Playa del Ingles?

Playa del Ingles has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Hydra. When comparing the sizes of Hydra and Playa del Ingles, 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 del Ingles?

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 del Ingles in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Hydra as well as Playa del Ingles. Many travelers come to Hydra for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

Hydra is a little warmer than Playa del Ingles in the summer. The daily temperature in Hydra averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Playa del Ingles fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa del Ingles. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Hydra this time of the year. In the summer, Hydra often gets more sunshine than Playa del Ingles. Hydra gets 357 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa del Ingles receives 293 hours of full sun.

Hydra usually gets more rain in July than Playa del Ingles. Hydra gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 0 mm (0 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Hydra or Playa del Ingles in the Autumn?

Both Playa del Ingles and Hydra are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Hydra in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Hydra is cooler than Playa del Ingles. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Hydra in October average around 19°C (67°F), and Playa del Ingles averages at about 23°C (73°F).

It's quite sunny in Playa del Ingles. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Hydra. Hydra usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Playa del Ingles during autumn. Hydra gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Playa del Ingles receives 213 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Hydra usually receives more rain than Playa del Ingles. Hydra gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Hydra or Playa del Ingles in the Winter?

Both Playa del Ingles and Hydra during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Hydra for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

In January, Hydra is generally much colder than Playa del Ingles. Daily temperatures in Hydra average around 10°C (51°F), and Playa del Ingles fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

In the winter, Hydra often gets less sunshine than Playa del Ingles. Hydra gets 143 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa del Ingles receives 187 hours of full sun.

Hydra usually gets more rain in January than Playa del Ingles. Hydra gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Hydra or Playa del Ingles in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Hydra and Playa del Ingles. The spring months attract visitors to Hydra because of the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.

Hydra is cooler than Playa del Ingles in the spring. The daily temperature in Hydra averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Playa del Ingles fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Playa del Ingles 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 del Ingles during spring. Hydra gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Playa del Ingles receives 225 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Hydra usually receives more rain than Playa del Ingles. Hydra gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Playa del Ingles and Hydra