A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Le Mans vs. Santander for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Le Mans or Santander?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Le Mans and Santander can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Le Mans or Santander?

Le Mans

Le Mans is a city in France, on the Sarthe River. Le Mans is found about 80 kilometers north of Tours, and south of Alencon. To many of course, Le Mans is famous only for a 24 hour racing event once a year. If you are not interested in cars and car racing, it is best to avoid visiting Le Mans in the middle of June. However, Le Mans also has a fantastic old town and is well worth the visit. Known as the Cite Plantagenet, this is where in 1129 Geoffrey Plantagenet married Matilda, daughter of Henry I of England and gave birth to Henry II.

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 Adventure Tours to France, The Best Sightseeing Tours in France, The Best 10-Day Tours from Madrid, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Barcelona.

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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Le Mans Expensive? and Is Santander Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Le Mans or Santander?

Santander has a larger population, and is about 27% larger than the population of Le Mans. When comparing the sizes of Le Mans 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 Le Mans 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 Le Mans or Santander in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Le Mans as well as Santander. The summer months attract visitors to Le Mans because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Le Mans is generally around the same temperature as Santander. Daily temperatures in Le Mans average around 19°C (66°F), and Santander fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Santander. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Le Mans this time of the year. In the summer, Le Mans often gets more sunshine than Santander. Le Mans gets 231 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santander receives 213 hours of full sun.

Le Mans usually gets less rain in July than Santander. Le Mans gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Santander receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Le Mans or Santander in the Autumn?

Both Santander and Le Mans are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The small town atmosphere are the main draw to Le Mans this time of year.

Le Mans is cooler than Santander in the autumn. The daily temperature in Le Mans averages around 13°C (55°F) in October, and Santander fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

Le Mans usually receives less sunshine than Santander during autumn. Le Mans gets 117 hours of sunny skies, while Santander receives 133 hours of full sun in the autumn.

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

Should I visit Le Mans or Santander in the Winter?

Both Santander and Le Mans during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Le Mans for the museums and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Le Mans. In the winter, Le Mans is much colder than Santander. Typically, the winter temperatures in Le Mans in January average around 5°C (40°F), and Santander averages at about 9°C (49°F).

In the winter, Le Mans often gets less sunshine than Santander. Le Mans gets 54 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santander receives 91 hours of full sun.

Santander gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Le Mans usually gets less rain in January than Santander. Le Mans gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Santander receives 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Le Mans or Santander in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Le Mans and Santander. Many visitors come to Le Mans in the spring for the small town charm.

In April, Le Mans is generally cooler than Santander. Daily temperatures in Le Mans average around 10°C (50°F), and Santander fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).

Le Mans usually receives more sunshine than Santander during spring. Le Mans gets 168 hours of sunny skies, while Santander receives 148 hours of full sun in the spring.

Santander receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Le Mans usually receives less rain than Santander. Le Mans gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Santander receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Santander and Le Mans