A Travel Price Comparison for Spain Pamplona vs. Playa de las Americas for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Pamplona or Playa de las Americas?

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

Should I visit Pamplona or Playa de las Americas? 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: Pamplona or Playa de las Americas?

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.

Playa de las Americas

If you are looking to escape your life - to relax on a modern day pleasure island, then you need to book a trip to the Playa de las Americas resort town. Located on the south coast of Tenerife, this party, beach, and vacation capital never goes to sleep. Packed with nightclubs, bars, live music, shops and restaurants, Playa de las Americas is the stuff Hollywood movies are made of.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Week Tours in Spain, The Best Bicycle Tours in Spain, The Best Adventure Tours to Spain, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Spain.

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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pamplona Expensive? and Is Playa de las Americas Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Pamplona or Playa de las Americas?

Pamplona has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Playa de las Americas. When comparing the sizes of Pamplona and Playa de las Americas, 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 Pamplona or Playa de las Americas?

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 Pamplona or Playa de las Americas in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Pamplona as well as Playa de las Americas. The hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Pamplona this time of year.

Pamplona is cooler than Playa de las Americas in the summer. The daily temperature in Pamplona averages around 20°C (68°F) in July, and Playa de las Americas fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa de las Americas. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Pamplona this time of the year. In the summer, Pamplona often gets less sunshine than Playa de las Americas. Pamplona gets 209 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa de las Americas receives 268 hours of full sun.

Pamplona usually gets more rain in July than Playa de las Americas. Pamplona gets 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Pamplona or Playa de las Americas in the Autumn?

Both Playa de las Americas and Pamplona are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Pamplona for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Pamplona is much colder than Playa de las Americas. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Pamplona in October average around 16°C (60°F), and Playa de las Americas averages at about 24°C (75°F).

It's quite sunny in Playa de las Americas. Pamplona usually receives less sunshine than Playa de las Americas during autumn. Pamplona gets 144 hours of sunny skies, while Playa de las Americas receives 200 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Pamplona. In October, Pamplona usually receives more rain than Playa de las Americas. Pamplona gets 155 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Pamplona or Playa de las Americas in the Winter?

Both Playa de las Americas and Pamplona during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Pamplona in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In January, Pamplona is generally much colder than Playa de las Americas. Daily temperatures in Pamplona average around 8°C (47°F), and Playa de las Americas fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

In the winter, Pamplona often gets less sunshine than Playa de las Americas. Pamplona gets 85 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa de las Americas receives 191 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Pamplona. Pamplona usually gets more rain in January than Playa de las Americas. Pamplona gets 183 mm (7.2 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Pamplona or Playa de las Americas in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Pamplona and Playa de las Americas. Most visitors come to Pamplona for the activities around the city during these months.

Pamplona is much colder than Playa de las Americas in the spring. The daily temperature in Pamplona averages around 12°C (54°F) in April, and Playa de las Americas fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Playa de las Americas this time of the year. Pamplona usually receives less sunshine than Playa de las Americas during spring. Pamplona gets 141 hours of sunny skies, while Playa de las Americas receives 205 hours of full sun in the spring.

Pamplona gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Pamplona usually receives more rain than Playa de las Americas. Pamplona gets 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Playa de las Americas and Pamplona