A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Kalampaka (Meteora) vs. Santillana for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Kalampaka (Meteora) or Santillana?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Kalampaka (Meteora) and Santillana. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Kalampaka (Meteora) or Santillana?

Kalampaka (Meteora)

Looking over the town of Kalampaka are some of the largest and most important Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Greece. They sit at the tops of gigantic natural sandstone pillars of rock, jutting of the landscape like meteors from the sky. This place is called Meteora. While the tall mounds of earth are impressive themselves, it is a wonder how man had the ability centuries ago to create the structures that remain on the cliffs today.

Santillana

A quaint town outside of Santander in northern Spain, Santillana de Mar is renowned for its medieval architecture. One of Spain's prettiest villages, Santillana del Mar and its cobbled streets are lined with palaces, churches, and balconies full of flowers. There are plenty of traditional shops selling local specialties, and it is nearby the UNESCO world heritage site of the Altamira Caves for something a little different.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Greece, The Best Honeymoon Tours in Greece, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Spain, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Spain.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kalampaka (Meteora) and Santillana, we can see that Kalampaka (Meteora) is more expensive. And not only is Santillana much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Santillana would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santillana 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 Kalampaka (Meteora) would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kalampaka (Meteora) than you might in Santillana.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kalampaka (Meteora) Expensive? and Is Santillana Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Kalampaka (Meteora) or Santillana?

Kalampaka (Meteora) has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Santillana. When comparing the sizes of Kalampaka (Meteora) and Santillana, 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 Kalampaka (Meteora) or Santillana?

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 Kalampaka (Meteora) or Santillana in the Summer?

Both Santillana and Kalampaka (Meteora) during the summer are popular places to visit. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Kalampaka (Meteora) this time of year.

Kalampaka (Meteora) is a little warmer than Santillana in the summer. The daily temperature in Kalampaka (Meteora) averages around 26°C (78°F) in July, and Santillana fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

In Santillana, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Kalampaka (Meteora). In the summer, Kalampaka (Meteora) often gets more sunshine than Santillana. Kalampaka (Meteora) gets 330 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santillana receives 213 hours of full sun.

Kalampaka (Meteora) usually gets less rain in July than Santillana. Kalampaka (Meteora) gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Santillana receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kalampaka (Meteora) or Santillana in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kalampaka (Meteora) and Santillana. Many travelers come to Kalampaka (Meteora) for the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Kalampaka (Meteora) is around the same temperature as Santillana. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kalampaka (Meteora) in October average around 17°C (62°F), and Santillana averages at about 16°C (60°F).

Kalampaka (Meteora) usually receives more sunshine than Santillana during autumn. Kalampaka (Meteora) gets 165 hours of sunny skies, while Santillana receives 133 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Santillana receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Kalampaka (Meteora) usually receives less rain than Santillana. Kalampaka (Meteora) gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Santillana receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Kalampaka (Meteora) or Santillana in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Kalampaka (Meteora) as well as Santillana. Many visitors come to Kalampaka (Meteora) in the winter for the museums and the cuisine.

In January, Kalampaka (Meteora) is generally much colder than Santillana. Daily temperatures in Kalampaka (Meteora) average around 6°C (42°F), and Santillana fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).

In the winter, Kalampaka (Meteora) often gets more sunshine than Santillana. Kalampaka (Meteora) gets 112 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santillana receives 91 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Santillana. Kalampaka (Meteora) usually gets less rain in January than Santillana. Kalampaka (Meteora) gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Santillana receives 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kalampaka (Meteora) or Santillana in the Spring?

Both Santillana and Kalampaka (Meteora) are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Kalampaka (Meteora) for the natural beauty during these months.

Kalampaka (Meteora) is a little warmer than Santillana in the spring. The daily temperature in Kalampaka (Meteora) averages around 14°C (56°F) in April, and Santillana fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kalampaka (Meteora). Kalampaka (Meteora) usually receives more sunshine than Santillana during spring. Kalampaka (Meteora) gets 209 hours of sunny skies, while Santillana receives 148 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Santillana. In April, Kalampaka (Meteora) usually receives less rain than Santillana. Kalampaka (Meteora) gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Santillana receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Santillana and Kalampaka (Meteora)