Should you visit Pamplona or Cantabria?
Should I visit Pamplona or Cantabria? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Pamplona
Pamplona is a city in northern Spain located on the snow-capped foothills of the Pyrenees Range. With the backdrop of mountains, the city is surrounded by a setting ideal for skiing, mountaineering, hiking, wildlife and breathtaking scenery. Yet Pamplona itself is a place full of lively culture and stunning architecture. With a long history, the place is embedded in tradition and perhaps most famous for its annual "running of the bulls" celebrated in July, also known as the San Fermin festival.
Cantabria
Occupying Spain's northern coast, the region of Cantabria is known for its mountains, cave paintings, and the capital city of Santander. Its diverse landscape allows for locals and visitors alike to hit the beach in the summer and go on mountain adventures in the winter. While these natural features alone are breathtaking, there is also much to say for Cantabria's quaint seaside towns, fresh cuisine, and rich history.
Which city is cheaper, Cantabria or Pamplona?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Pamplona is €105, while the average daily cost in Cantabria is €85. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Pamplona and Cantabria in more detail.
Accommodation
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around €54. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Pamplona the cost is €108 on average.
Cantabria's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is €86. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is €43.
Food
Food in Pamplona costs travelers about €33 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
The price of a meal in Cantabria can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is €30 per person, and a typical meal will cost around €12 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
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Food
Meals for one day
Pamplona €33
Cantabria €30
Typical Food prices in Pamplona
Some typical examples of dining costs in Pamplona are as follows:
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Lunch for 2
€10
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Ice Cream
€4.50
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Coffee
€1.30
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Pamplona is €20 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
The average price of local transportation around Cantabria is €17 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pamplona
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pamplona:
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Private Transfer from Pamplona city to Bilbao:
$287
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Private Transfer from Pamplona city to Bilbao Airport:
$287
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Private Transfer from Pamplona city to Logroño:
$205
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Private Transfer from Pamplona city to Logroño Airport:
$205
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Private Transfer from Pamplona city to San Sebastian:
$205
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Private Transfer from Pamplona city to San Sebastian Airport:
$205
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Private Transfer from Pamplona city to Santander:
$452
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Private Transfer from Pamplona city to Santander Airport:
$452
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Private Transfer from Pamplona city to Vitoria:
$205
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Private Transfer from Pamplona city to Vitoria Airport:
$205
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Private Transfer from Pamplona to Biarritz city:
$239
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Private Transfer from Pamplona to Bilbao Cruise Port:
$287
Is it cheaper to fly into Pamplona or Cantabria?
Prices for flights to both Cantabria and Pamplona 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.
Entertainment
Pamplona's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around €27 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Cantabria's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around €16 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Tours and Activities in Pamplona
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Pamplona are as follows:
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Pamplona historical&cultural walking small group tour:
$40
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Pamplona Tour during Running of the Bulls Festival:
$62
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Private City Tour Pamplona:
$81
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Pamplona pintxo tasting paired with Spanish wines small group tour:
$82
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PRIVATE Pintxo Tour Premium: The best pintxos of Pamplona:
$112
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Visit Olite Royal Palace and Ujue medieval village in small group tour:
$139
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Navarra Wineries Tour:
$140
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Bilbao and Guggenheim Museum small group tour:
$233
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Vitoria and Añana salt valley small group tour lunch included:
$246
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San Sebastian and Basque Coast villages in small group tour, lunch included:
$252
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Olive oil and Navarre winery visit with tastings and lunch in small group tour:
$252
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La Rioja winery visit with tasting and traditional lunch in small group tour:
$284
Alcohol
The average person spends about €25 on alcoholic beverages in Pamplona per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Cantabria may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €9.42 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Pamplona
Also in Pamplona, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Rioja Wine Tour:
$195
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La Rioja two wineries visit with wine tasting and pintxos in small group tour:
$246
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pamplona and Cantabria, we can see that Pamplona is more expensive. And not only is Cantabria much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cantabria would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cantabria 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 Pamplona would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pamplona than you might in Cantabria.
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