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

Should you visit Le Mans or Santillana?

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 Santillana can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Le Mans or Santillana?

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.

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 Adventure Tours to France, The Best Sightseeing Tours in France, 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 Le Mans and Santillana, we can see that Santillana 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 Santillana would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santillana 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 Santillana Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Le Mans or Santillana?

Le Mans has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Santillana. When comparing the sizes of Le Mans 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 Le Mans 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 Le Mans or Santillana in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Le Mans as well as Santillana. Most visitors come to Le Mans for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Le Mans is around the same temperature as Santillana. Typically, the summer temperatures in Le Mans in July average around 19°C (66°F), and Santillana averages at about 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 Le Mans this time of the year. In the summer, Le Mans often gets more sunshine than Santillana. Le Mans gets 231 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santillana receives 213 hours of full sun.

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

Should I visit Le Mans or Santillana in the Autumn?

Both Santillana and Le Mans are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Le Mans because of the small town atmosphere.

In October, Le Mans is generally cooler than Santillana. Daily temperatures in Le Mans average around 13°C (55°F), and Santillana fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

Le Mans usually receives less sunshine than Santillana during autumn. Le Mans gets 117 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, Le Mans usually receives less rain than Santillana. Le Mans 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 Le Mans or Santillana in the Winter?

Both Santillana and Le Mans during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums and the cuisine are the main draw to Le Mans this time of year.

It's quite cold in Le Mans in the winter. Le Mans is much colder than Santillana in the winter. The daily temperature in Le Mans averages around 5°C (40°F) in January, and Santillana fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).

In the winter, Le Mans often gets less sunshine than Santillana. Le Mans gets 54 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. Le Mans usually gets less rain in January than Santillana. Le Mans gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Santillana receives 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Le Mans or Santillana in the Spring?

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

In the spring, Le Mans is cooler than Santillana. Typically, the spring temperatures in Le Mans in April average around 10°C (50°F), and Santillana averages at about 12°C (53°F).

Le Mans usually receives more sunshine than Santillana during spring. Le Mans gets 168 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, Le Mans usually receives less rain than Santillana. Le Mans gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Santillana receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Santillana and Le Mans