A Travel Price Comparison for Spain Playa Blanca vs. Santander for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Playa Blanca or Santander?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Playa Blanca and Santander can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Playa Blanca or Santander?

Playa Blanca

Located on the southern tip of the Canary Island of Lanzarote, Playa Blanca is a resort area popular with families and couples seeking a quieter vacation alternative to the lively neighbor resort of Puerto del Carmen. The resort's white sandy beaches are peaceful and sheltered from the higher winds found on other parts of the island. Timanfaya National Park is also nearby, as well as a number of other spectacular volcanic features.

Santander

Santander is the capital of the Cantabria Region which runs along the northern coast of Spain. Located right on the bay, it is a place of many historic churches and a handful of interesting museums that range from archaeological discoveries of the region, to maritime history, and cultural features like bullfighting. There is also a large selection of beaches for those looking for a more relaxing getaway in the sun and sand.

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.


Which place is cheaper, Santander or Playa Blanca?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Playa Blanca is €155, while the average daily cost in Santander is €108. 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 Playa Blanca and Santander in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Playa Blanca 81
    Santander 51
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Playa Blanca 162
    Santander 102
Compare Hotels in Playa Blanca and Santander

Looking for a hotel in Playa Blanca or Santander? 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 Playa Blanca


Hotels in Santander


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: Playa Blanca Hotel Prices and Santander Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Playa Blanca 49
    Santander 24

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santander

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santander:

  • Santander Private Transfer from the city centre to Santander Airport: $43
  • Santander Private Transfer from Santander Airport to City centre: $43
  • Santander Private Departure Transfer: $35
  • Santander Private Arrival Transfer: $35
  • Private Transfer from Santander city to Bilbao Airport: $251
  • Private Transfer from Santander city to Bilbao: $251
  • Private Transfer from Santander Port to Bilbao Airport: $251
  • One-way Private Transfer From/To Santander Airport: $41

Is it cheaper to fly into Playa Blanca or Santander?

Prices for flights to both Santander and Playa Blanca 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
    Playa Blanca 45
    Santander 41

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Playa Blanca 20
    Santander 18

Tours and Activities in Santander

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

  • City Sightseeing Santander Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $23
  • From Cantabria Private Tour: $492
  • From Gastronomic Tour: $128
  • From Potes, Santillana and Altamira Day Tour: $42
  • From Santillana del Mar & Altamira Museum Tour: $64
  • Full Day Self Guided Tour in Santillana del Mar and Comillas: $54
  • Full Day Tour Lakes of Covadonga and Santillana from Santander: $46
  • Gastronomy tour: $119
  • Obregón: Parque de la Naturaleza de Cabárceno Entry Ticket: $26
  • Picos de Europa and Potes Guided Tour from Santander : $84
  • Private Puente Viesgo Caves Full-Day Tour from Santander: $212
  • 1-Hour City Cruise Around the Bay: $14

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Playa Blanca 9.29
    Santander 14


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

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


Which is Bigger, Playa Blanca or Santander?

Santander has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Playa Blanca. When comparing the sizes of Playa Blanca and Santander, 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 Playa Blanca or Santander?

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 Playa Blanca or Santander in the Summer?

Both Santander and Playa Blanca during the summer are popular places to visit.

In the summer, Playa Blanca is a little warmer than Santander. Typically, the summer temperatures in Playa Blanca in July average around 23°C (73°F), and Santander averages at about 19°C (66°F).

In Santander, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Playa Blanca. In the summer, Playa Blanca often gets more sunshine than Santander. Playa Blanca gets 282 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santander receives 213 hours of full sun.

Playa Blanca usually gets less rain in July than Santander. Playa Blanca gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Santander receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Playa Blanca 23°C (73°F) 
    Santander 19°C (66°F)

Should I visit Playa Blanca or Santander in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Playa Blanca and Santander.

In October, Playa Blanca is generally a little warmer than Santander. Daily temperatures in Playa Blanca average around 22°C (72°F), and Santander fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

In Playa Blanca, it's very sunny this time of the year. Playa Blanca usually receives more sunshine than Santander during autumn. Playa Blanca gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Santander receives 133 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Santander receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Playa Blanca usually receives less rain than Santander. Playa Blanca gets 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Santander receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Playa Blanca 22°C (72°F) 
    Santander 16°C (60°F)

Should I visit Playa Blanca or Santander in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Playa Blanca as well as Santander.

Playa Blanca is much warmer than Santander in the winter. The daily temperature in Playa Blanca averages around 17°C (63°F) in January, and Santander fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Playa Blanca this time of the year. In the winter, Playa Blanca often gets more sunshine than Santander. Playa Blanca gets 204 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santander receives 91 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Santander. Playa Blanca usually gets less rain in January than Santander. Playa Blanca gets 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Santander receives 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Playa Blanca 17°C (63°F) 
    Santander 9°C (49°F)

Should I visit Playa Blanca or Santander in the Spring?

Both Santander and Playa Blanca are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.

In the spring, Playa Blanca is much warmer than Santander. Typically, the spring temperatures in Playa Blanca in April average around 19°C (66°F), and Santander averages at about 12°C (53°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa Blanca. Playa Blanca usually receives more sunshine than Santander during spring. Playa Blanca gets 250 hours of sunny skies, while Santander receives 148 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Santander. In April, Playa Blanca usually receives less rain than Santander. Playa Blanca gets 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Santander receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Playa Blanca 19°C (66°F) 
    Santander 12°C (53°F)

Typical Weather for Santander and Playa Blanca

Playa Blanca Santander
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 17°C (63°F) 16 mm (0.6 in) 9°C (49°F) 149 mm (5.9 in)
Feb 17°C (63°F) 20 mm (0.8 in) 10°C (50°F) 116 mm (4.6 in)
Mar 18°C (64°F) 11 mm (0.4 in) 10°C (51°F) 119 mm (4.7 in)
Apr 19°C (66°F) 16 mm (0.6 in) 12°C (53°F) 135 mm (5.3 in)
May 20°C (68°F) 2 mm (0.1 in) 14°C (58°F) 94 mm (3.7 in)
Jun 22°C (72°F) 0 mm (0 in) 17°C (62°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)
Jul 23°C (73°F) 0 mm (0 in) 19°C (66°F) 50 mm (2 in)
Aug 25°C (77°F) 0 mm (0 in) 19°C (67°F) 89 mm (3.5 in)
Sep 24°C (75°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 18°C (64°F) 88 mm (3.4 in)
Oct 22°C (72°F) 9 mm (0.4 in) 16°C (60°F) 138 mm (5.4 in)
Nov 20°C (68°F) 16 mm (0.6 in) 12°C (53°F) 181 mm (7.1 in)
Dec 18°C (64°F) 33 mm (1.3 in) 10°C (50°F) 157 mm (6.2 in)