Which place is cheaper, San Sebastian or Pamukkale?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Pamukkale or San Sebastian?
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 Pamukkale and San Sebastian can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Pamukkale or San Sebastian?
Pamukkale
Pamukkale is in southeastern Aegean Turkey and is historically a spa town that has been in existence since the 2nd century BC. It is popular with tourists for its beautiful hot springs and travertines, or pools that are coated in a very unique calcium covering. The area is very rich in mineral content and the water, which has been flowing for thousands of years, has deposited calcium in each pool. This unique whiteness creates an unworldly beauty that draws visitors from around the world. If you're visiting during the summer months when the sun is out in full force, don't forget the sunscreen, as the white reflects the light and you can end up with a sunburn quite quickly. You'll also want to make sure you have sunglasses available because the glare can be quite extreme.
San Sebastian
San Sebastián is a city in northern Spain very well known for its summertime fun in the sun. While the streets are cool and happening at night, they take on a different charm by day. Beautiful beaches line the city's edge, right next to elegant historic architecture and churches, topping charts as some of the best city beaches in Europe. The food, too, is said to be some of the best with traditional Basque cuisine as well as the popular pintxo (tapas) bites. San Sebastián is a place of lively culture, teeming with beauty, flavors, and colors.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Turkey, The Best G Adventures Tours to Turkey, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Spain, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Spain.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPamukkale $156San Sebastian $96
The average daily cost (per person) in Pamukkale is $156, while the average daily cost in San Sebastian is $96. 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 Pamukkale and San Sebastian in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPamukkale $56San Sebastian $43
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPamukkale $112San Sebastian $86
Compare Hotels in Pamukkale and San Sebastian
Looking for a hotel in Pamukkale or San Sebastian? 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.
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: Pamukkale Hotel Prices and San Sebastian Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pamukkale $35San Sebastian $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pamukkale
Also for Pamukkale, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Denizli Cardak Airport Transfers to Pamukkale Saraykoy Hotels: $82
- Antalya: Guided Pamukkale Tour w/Lunch/Transfer: $84
- Pamukkale Hot Air Balloon w/Flight Certificates,Champagne Toast & Hotel Transfer: $90
- Private Denizli Pamukkale Airport Transfer Service: $98
- Pamukkale - Karahayit Transfer from Denizli Cardak Airport: $100
- Transfer from Denizli Airport to Pamukkale Karahayit Hotels: $102
- Denizli Cardak Airport Transfers to Denizli City Hotels: $104
- Denizli Cardak Airport Transfers to Pamukkale Karahayit Hotels: $104
- Pamukkale Saraykoy Hotels to Denizli Cardak Airport Transfers: $109
- Pamukkale to Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport-Departure Transfer: $125
- Denizli City Hotels to Denizli Cardak Airport Transfers: $136
- City of Pamukkale/Denizli: Antalya Airport Private Transfer: $165
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Sebastian
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Sebastian:
- Private Transfer from San Sebastian to Vitoria: $291
- San Sebastián-Bilbao city or airport private transfer: $273
- Private Transfer from San Sebastian city to Bilbao Airport: $268
- Private Transfer from San Sebastian to Bilbao: $268
- Private Transfer from San Sebastian Airport to Pamplona city: $247
- Private Transfer from San Sebastian city to Pamplona Airport : $245
- Private Transfer from the Airport to San Sebastian City: $84
Is it cheaper to fly into Pamukkale or San Sebastian?
Prices for flights to both San Sebastian and Pamukkale 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
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Food Meals for one dayPamukkale $69San Sebastian $33
Typical Food Prices in San Sebastian
Some typical examples of dining costs in San Sebastian are as follows:
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Dinner for 2$59
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Lunch for 2$11
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Lunch for 2$34
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Sebastian
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Sebastian.
- San Sebastian Walking and Food Tour: $104
- Insider Best Culinary Gems Guided Food Tour in San Sebastian: $109
- Basque Cuisine Cooking Class with Market Visit: $148
- Full Day San Sebastian Food Tour : $150
- I travel for Food Tour in San Sebastian: $152
- Authentic Basque Cooking Class in the Old Town: $152
- Private San Sebastian Walking Food Tour: $158
- Michelin Star Secrets Cooking Class in San Sebastian: $213
- Food tour in San Sebastian and Visit to a Gastronomical Club: $224
- History and flavors of San Sebastian for Dinner with Eskerne Falcón: $235
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pamukkale $54San Sebastian $36
Typical Entertainment Prices in Pamukkale
For Pamukkale, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Entrance fees Travertines & Pool$2.01
Tours and Activities in Pamukkale
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Pamukkale.
- Antalya: Pamukkale Guided Tour With Optional Balloon Flight: $37
- Pamukkale City Highlights Small Group Guided Tour with Lunch: $40
- Full Day Pamukkale City Tour From Pamukkale And Karahayit Hotels: $45
- Pamukkale Paragliding Experience By Local Expert Pilots: $48
- From Antalya: Pamukkale and Hierapolis Tour with Lunch: $48
- Shared Pamukkale Group Tour from Pamukkale: $57
- From Bodrum: Pamukkale & Hierapolis Guided Tour with Lunch: $63
- Kusadasi or Selcuk: Pamukkale Guided Group Tour: $67
- Pamukkale Tour From Pamukkale : $71
- Antalya: Full-Day Pamukkale Tour: $80
- Shared Cultural Tour in Pamukkale and Hierapolis: $82
- Pamukkale and Hierapolis Tour: $85
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Sebastian
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in San Sebastian are as follows:
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Valle de los Caídos Monument$6.43
Tours and Activities in San Sebastian
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for San Sebastian are as follows:
- Biarritz & La Côte Basque Private tour: $246
- Biarritz and French Coast Small Grop Tour from San Sebastian: $86
- Bilbao city and Guggenheim Museum small group tour: $164
- Chef-Led Market Tour & Pintxo Lunch: $163
- Chef-Led Walking Pintxo Tour of San Sebastián : $272
- Cider House Experience From San Sebastian: $120
- City tour, bike ride: $45
- City tour, by electric bicycle: $50
- Coastal "Winery Camino Trail" Walking Tour from San Sebastian: $186
- Electric scooter city tour: $45
- Evening Pintxo-Tapas Tour with Discover San Sebastian: $191
- Exclusive Private Pintxos Adventure with Premium Spanish Wines": $175
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPamukkale $15San Sebastian $21
Sample the Local Flavors in San Sebastian
Also in San Sebastian, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Ultimate San Sebastian Pintxos & Wine Tour (Evening): $141
- Getaria Txakoli Wine Tour with Hotel Pick-up from San Sebastian: $148
- Best quality food & wine tasting tour in San Sebastian. : $191
- Rioja Wine Tour: 2 Wineries Visit with Tasting from San Sebastian: $240
- Rioja Wine Tour: Winery, Tasting & Lunch from San Sebastian: $251
- Full Rioja Wine Tour with Lunch from San Sebastian Private Tour: $298
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pamukkale and San Sebastian, we can see that Pamukkale is more expensive. And not only is San Sebastian much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Sebastian would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Sebastian 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 Pamukkale would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pamukkale than you might in San Sebastian.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pamukkale Expensive? and Is San Sebastian Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Pamukkale or San Sebastian?
San Sebastian has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Pamukkale. When comparing the sizes of Pamukkale and San Sebastian, 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 Pamukkale or San Sebastian?
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 Pamukkale or San Sebastian in the Summer?
Both San Sebastian and Pamukkale during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many travelers come to San Sebastian for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Pamukkale is generally a little warmer than San Sebastian. Daily temperatures in Pamukkale average around 28°C (82°F), and San Sebastian fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).
In San Sebastian, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Pamukkale. In the summer, Pamukkale often gets more sunshine than San Sebastian. Pamukkale gets 356 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Sebastian receives 209 hours of full sun.
Pamukkale usually gets less rain in July than San Sebastian. Pamukkale gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while San Sebastian receives 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPamukkale 28°C (82°F)San Sebastian 20°C (68°F)
Should I visit Pamukkale or San Sebastian in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Pamukkale and San Sebastian. Furthermore, many visitors come to San Sebastian in the autumn for the shopping scene.
Pamukkale is a little warmer than San Sebastian in the autumn. The daily temperature in Pamukkale averages around 19°C (67°F) in October, and San Sebastian fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
In Pamukkale, it's very sunny this time of the year. Pamukkale usually receives more sunshine than San Sebastian during autumn. Pamukkale gets 232 hours of sunny skies, while San Sebastian receives 144 hours of full sun in the autumn.
San Sebastian receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Pamukkale usually receives less rain than San Sebastian. Pamukkale gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while San Sebastian receives 155 mm (6.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPamukkale 19°C (67°F)San Sebastian 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Pamukkale or San Sebastian in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Pamukkale as well as San Sebastian. Additionally, most visitors come to San Sebastian for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
In the winter, Pamukkale is around the same temperature as San Sebastian. Typically, the winter temperatures in Pamukkale in January average around 9°C (48°F), and San Sebastian averages at about 8°C (47°F).
In the winter, Pamukkale often gets more sunshine than San Sebastian. Pamukkale gets 137 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Sebastian receives 85 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in San Sebastian. Pamukkale receives a lot of rain in the winter. Pamukkale usually gets less rain in January than San Sebastian. Pamukkale gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while San Sebastian receives 183 mm (7.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPamukkale 9°C (48°F)San Sebastian 8°C (47°F)
Should I visit Pamukkale or San Sebastian in the Spring?
Both San Sebastian and Pamukkale are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the spring months attract visitors to San Sebastian because of the beaches.
In April, Pamukkale is generally a little warmer than San Sebastian. Daily temperatures in Pamukkale average around 17°C (62°F), and San Sebastian fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pamukkale. Pamukkale usually receives more sunshine than San Sebastian during spring. Pamukkale gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while San Sebastian receives 141 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in San Sebastian. In April, Pamukkale usually receives less rain than San Sebastian. Pamukkale gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while San Sebastian receives 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPamukkale 17°C (62°F)San Sebastian 12°C (54°F)
Typical Weather for San Sebastian and Pamukkale
| Pamukkale | San Sebastian | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 9°C (48°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) |
| Feb | 10°C (50°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 147 mm (5.8 in) |
| Mar | 13°C (55°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (62°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) |
| May | 21°C (70°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 139 mm (5.5 in) |
| Jun | 26°C (78°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (67°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 155 mm (6.1 in) |
| Nov | 14°C (58°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) |
| Dec | 10°C (51°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 184 mm (7.2 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.