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

Should you visit Lisbon or Santillana?

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

Should I visit Lisbon 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: Lisbon or Santillana?

Lisbon

Portugal's capital city of Lisbon continues to grow in popularity as a travel destination. The cultural scene has come to life in recent years and the city itself is stunningly beautiful. It sits on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and is made up of hills that create a dramatic and scenic layout. The city has many white-bleached limestone buildings, narrow alleyways, and a laidback charm that appeals to visitors.

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 in Portugal, The Best 2-Week Tours in Portugal, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Spain, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Spain.


Which place is cheaper, Santillana or Lisbon?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Lisbon is €131, while the average daily cost in Santillana is €105. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Lisbon and Santillana in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Lisbon 58
    Santillana 60
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Lisbon 116
    Santillana 120
Compare Hotels in Lisbon and Santillana

Looking for a hotel in Lisbon or Santillana? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Lisbon


Hotels in Santillana


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Lisbon Hotel Prices and Santillana Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Lisbon 24
    Santillana 17
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lisbon

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Lisbon:


  • Taxi Ride
    6.50

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lisbon

Also for Lisbon, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Airport Private Transfer to Cascais | Sintra | Estoril: $29
  • Airport Private Transfer to Lisbon: $23
  • Airport Transfer - Lisbon: $60
  • Airport Transfer: Lisbon Airport LIS to Lisbon in Luxury Van: $95
  • Airport Transfer: Lisbon to Lisbon Airport LIS in Business Car: $66
  • Airport Transfer: Lisbon to Lisbon Airport LIS in Luxury Van: $95
  • Arrival Private Transfer from Lisbon airport LIS to Lisbon City by Luxury Van: $48
  • Arrival Transfer: Lisbon Airport LIS to Lisbon in Business Car: $65
  • Cascais transfer: Private Transfer to/from Cascais or Lisbon: $59
  • Costa da Caparica Private Transfer from / to Lisbon: $33
  • Departure Private Transfer from Lisbon City to Lisbon airport LIS by Luxury Van: $48
  • Exclusive Luxury Transfers to/from Lisbon Airport: $16

Is it cheaper to fly into Lisbon or Santillana?

Prices for flights to both Santillana and Lisbon change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Lisbon 42
    Santillana 30
Typical Food Prices in Lisbon

For Lisbon, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Coffee
    2.50

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lisbon

For Lisbon, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Soirée Rivage - Sunset cruise with dinner and Party: $25
  • Hard Rock Cafe Lisbon with Set Lunch or Dinner : $28
  • Tapas Food Tour: $42
  • Fado Show and Portuguese Dinner: $48
  • Lisbon Food Tour: $53
  • Alfama Tour and Live Fado with Traditional Dinner: $53
  • 2-Hour Pastel de Nata Cooking Class: $53
  • Legendary Beer Dinner: $53
  • No Diet Club - Unique food tour in Lisbon with many Tastings: $62
  • Original Morning Food Tour: $63
  • Lisbon Tipsy Food Tour with Drinks and Food inlcuded: $70
  • Tipsy Food Crawl Walking Tour with Dinner: $70

Typical Food Prices in Santillana

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Santillana:


  • Breakfast
    7.00

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Lisbon 24
    Santillana 23

Tours and Activities in Lisbon

For Lisbon, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • See Lisbon Through the Eyes of a Local - Free Walking Tour: $1.07
  • Lisbon Walking Tour - The Perfect Introduction to the City: $1.12
  • Belém Unveiled: A Free Tour Through the Age of Discoveries: $1.28
  • Alfama Walking Tour Lisbon: $3.26
  • Wonders of Lisbon Walking Tour: $3.93
  • 2-Hour Guided Walking Tour in Lisbon: $4.36
  • 2-Hour Walking Tour in the Marvels of Lisbon : $4.80
  • Tower of Saint George’s Castle Church Ticket & Drink: $5.35
  • Lisbon Highlights Self Guided Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $5.35
  • Lisbon Cathedral Entry Ticket: $5.35
  • Lisbon Walking Tour: $5.35
  • A Self-Guided Audio Tour From Príncipe Real to Downtown Lisbon: $5.53

Tours and Activities in Santillana

Here are a few actual costs in Santillana for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Memorable Family Walking Tour in Ancient Santillana del Mar: $428

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Lisbon 18
    Santillana 4.29

Sample the Local Flavors in Lisbon

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Lisbon:

  • Pub Crawl with Unlimited Drinks and VIP Club Entry: $18
  • 1-Hour Portuguese Wine Tasting Session: $20
  • Lisbon Pub Crawl: $21
  • Pub Crawl with Open Bar and VIP Club Entry: $21
  • Pub Crawl with Open Bar, Shots, & VIP Club Entry: $21
  • Lisbon Wild Pub Crawl : $22
  • Private Bar Crawl in Lisbon: $22
  • Beer Tasting in a Classic Brewery: $27
  • Pub Crawl Lisbon: $27
  • Wine Tasting at Quinta das Murgas: $38
  • Tipsy Tour Fun Bar Crawl with a Local Guide: $42
  • Tipsy Tour Fun Bar Crawl in Lisbon with Local Guide: $43

Sample the Local Flavors in Santillana

Also in Santillana, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Santillana Uncorked: A Wine Tasting Adventure: $1,022


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


Which is Bigger, Lisbon or Santillana?

Lisbon has a larger population, and is about 130 times larger than the population of Santillana. When comparing the sizes of Lisbon 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 Lisbon 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 Lisbon or Santillana in the Summer?

Both Santillana and Lisbon during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Lisbon because of the beaches, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Lisbon is generally a little warmer than Santillana. Daily temperatures in Lisbon average around 23°C (73°F), and Santillana fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

In Santillana, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Lisbon. In the summer, Lisbon often gets more sunshine than Santillana. Lisbon gets 352 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santillana receives 213 hours of full sun.

Lisbon usually gets less rain in July than Santillana. Lisbon gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Santillana receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Lisbon 23°C (73°F) 
    Santillana 19°C (66°F)

Should I visit Lisbon or Santillana in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Lisbon and Santillana. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Lisbon this time of year.

Lisbon is a little warmer than Santillana in the autumn. The daily temperature in Lisbon averages around 19°C (66°F) in October, and Santillana fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

In Lisbon, it's very sunny this time of the year. Lisbon usually receives more sunshine than Santillana during autumn. Lisbon gets 213 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, Lisbon usually receives less rain than Santillana. Lisbon gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Santillana receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Lisbon 19°C (66°F) 
    Santillana 16°C (60°F)

Should I visit Lisbon or Santillana in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Lisbon as well as Santillana. Many travelers come to Lisbon for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, Lisbon is a little warmer than Santillana. Typically, the winter temperatures in Lisbon in January average around 12°C (53°F), and Santillana averages at about 9°C (49°F).

In the winter, Lisbon often gets more sunshine than Santillana. Lisbon gets 144 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santillana receives 91 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Santillana. Lisbon receives a lot of rain in the winter. Lisbon usually gets less rain in January than Santillana. Lisbon gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Santillana receives 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Lisbon 12°C (53°F) 
    Santillana 9°C (49°F)

Should I visit Lisbon or Santillana in the Spring?

Both Santillana and Lisbon are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Lisbon in the spring for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.

In April, Lisbon is generally a little warmer than Santillana. Daily temperatures in Lisbon average around 16°C (60°F), and Santillana fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Lisbon. Lisbon usually receives more sunshine than Santillana during spring. Lisbon gets 235 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, Lisbon usually receives less rain than Santillana. Lisbon gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Santillana receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Lisbon 16°C (60°F) 
    Santillana 12°C (53°F)

Typical Weather for Santillana and Lisbon

Lisbon Santillana
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 12°C (53°F) 110 mm (4.3 in) 9°C (49°F) 149 mm (5.9 in)
Feb 13°C (55°F) 111 mm (4.4 in) 10°C (50°F) 116 mm (4.6 in)
Mar 14°C (58°F) 69 mm (2.7 in) 10°C (51°F) 119 mm (4.7 in)
Apr 16°C (60°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 12°C (53°F) 135 mm (5.3 in)
May 18°C (64°F) 39 mm (1.5 in) 14°C (58°F) 94 mm (3.7 in)
Jun 21°C (69°F) 21 mm (0.8 in) 17°C (62°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)
Jul 23°C (73°F) 5 mm (0.2 in) 19°C (66°F) 50 mm (2 in)
Aug 23°C (74°F) 6 mm (0.2 in) 19°C (67°F) 89 mm (3.5 in)
Sep 22°C (72°F) 26 mm (1 in) 18°C (64°F) 88 mm (3.4 in)
Oct 19°C (66°F) 80 mm (3.1 in) 16°C (60°F) 138 mm (5.4 in)
Nov 15°C (59°F) 114 mm (4.5 in) 12°C (53°F) 181 mm (7.1 in)
Dec 12°C (54°F) 108 mm (4.3 in) 10°C (50°F) 157 mm (6.2 in)