A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers La Rochelle vs. Santillana for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit La Rochelle or Santillana?

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

Should I visit La Rochelle or Santillana? 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: La Rochelle or Santillana?

La Rochelle

La Rochelle is a lovely French city in the province of Charente-Maritime. It's located in western France and is a seaport on the Bay of Biscay. Most people who visit the city enjoy exploring the "Vieux Port" or Old Harbour area. This area is the heart of the city and it is a beautiful neighborhood that has many seafood restaurants and nice architecture. It's particularly enjoyable to walk around during the evening hours. Ile de Re is connected to the city by a bridge and is also a nice place to visit. If you head out of town, the surrounding countryside is very rural. North of the city is Venise Verte, which is very marshy and has many small canals. It's a popular area for inland boating.

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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Paris, The Best 10-Day Tours from Paris, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Spain, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Spain.

When comparing the travel costs between La Rochelle and Santillana, we can see that La Rochelle 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 La Rochelle Expensive? and Is Santillana Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, La Rochelle or Santillana?

La Rochelle has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Santillana. When comparing the sizes of La Rochelle 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 La Rochelle 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 La Rochelle or Santillana in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to La Rochelle as well as Santillana. The summer months attract visitors to La Rochelle because of the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

La Rochelle is around the same temperature as Santillana in the summer. The daily temperature in La Rochelle averages around 20°C (67°F) in July, and Santillana fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Santillana. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in La Rochelle this time of the year. In the summer, La Rochelle often gets more sunshine than Santillana. La Rochelle gets 267 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santillana receives 213 hours of full sun.

La Rochelle usually gets less rain in July than Santillana. La Rochelle gets 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Santillana receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit La Rochelle or Santillana in the Autumn?

Both Santillana and La Rochelle are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the small town atmosphere are the main draw to La Rochelle this time of year.

In the autumn, La Rochelle is around the same temperature as Santillana. Typically, the autumn temperatures in La Rochelle in October average around 15°C (59°F), and Santillana averages at about 16°C (60°F).

La Rochelle usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Santillana during autumn. La Rochelle gets 141 hours of sunny skies, while Santillana receives 133 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Santillana. In October, La Rochelle usually receives less rain than Santillana. La Rochelle gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Santillana receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit La Rochelle or Santillana in the Winter?

Both Santillana and La Rochelle during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to La Rochelle for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In January, La Rochelle is generally cooler than Santillana. Daily temperatures in La Rochelle average around 7°C (44°F), and Santillana fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).

In the winter, La Rochelle often gets less sunshine than Santillana. La Rochelle gets 72 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santillana receives 91 hours of full sun.

Santillana gets a good bit of rain this time of year. La Rochelle usually gets less rain in January than Santillana. La Rochelle gets 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain, while Santillana receives 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit La Rochelle or Santillana in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both La Rochelle and Santillana. Many visitors come to La Rochelle in the spring for the beaches and the small town charm.

La Rochelle is around the same temperature as Santillana in the spring. The daily temperature in La Rochelle averages around 11°C (52°F) in April, and Santillana fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).

La Rochelle usually receives more sunshine than Santillana during spring. La Rochelle gets 187 hours of sunny skies, while Santillana receives 148 hours of full sun in the spring.

Santillana receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, La Rochelle usually receives less rain than Santillana. La Rochelle gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Santillana receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Santillana and La Rochelle