A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Playa Blanca vs. Varenna for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Playa Blanca or Varenna?

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 Varenna 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 Varenna?

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.

Varenna

A golden light cascades from the heavens, bathing the misty blue mountains in a honey haze. The shivering waters of Lake Como blend the gentle blues and yellows of the sky to a tea rose pink that sits under white sailboats. A quaint village hustled around lush gardens, Varenna, Italy is an attractive fishing village that dates back to the eleventh century. Founded in 769 AD by fisherman, the town was originally destroyed in 1126 AD by the rival town Como, only to be restored refugees from the Isola Comacina whose town was also destroyed. Located on the eastern shore of the lake in the province of Lecco, Varenna is filled with a romantic air from its old Italian fisherman houses to the picturesque lanes. Unlike the towns of Bellagio or Milan, Varenna holds a particular authenticity to Italian culture without the burdens of tourist-ridden streets and hotel-packed areas. As Lake Como works as the main attraction of Varenna, the village provides its visitors with a wide array of entertainment on its pebbly beaches. Besides this, Varenna is also known for its exquisite gardens of two villas, Villa Monastero and Villa Cipressi. Besides this, Varenna also has museums just waiting to be explored. Take a tranquil retreat to Varenna!

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Week Tours in Spain, The Best Bicycle Tours in Spain, The Best Budget Tours to Italy, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Italy.


Which place is cheaper, Varenna 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 Varenna is €164. 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 Varenna in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Playa Blanca 81
    Varenna 86
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Playa Blanca 162
    Varenna 172
Compare Hotels in Playa Blanca and Varenna

Looking for a hotel in Playa Blanca or Varenna? 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 Varenna


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 Varenna Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Playa Blanca 49
    Varenna 34

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Varenna

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

  • Varenna : Private transfer to/from Malpensa Airport: $358

Is it cheaper to fly into Playa Blanca or Varenna?

Prices for flights to both Varenna 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
    Varenna 53

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Varenna

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

  • Cooking Class at a Local's Home: $155

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Playa Blanca 20
    Varenna 34

Tours and Activities in Varenna

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

  • Bellagio: Private Tour on Vintage Wooden Boat: $664
  • Lake Como: Grand Private Tour 5 hours Invictus boat: $1,551
  • Private Luxury Boat Tour of Lake Como with Stops & Drinks: $491
  • Sunset shared boat tour with aperitif from Varenna: $118
  • Dining Experience at a Local's Home: $112
  • Lake Como Shared Boat Tour: $32
  • Lake Como Sightseeing Cruise (90 minutes): $43
  • Picnic Experience in the Italian Alps: $150

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Playa Blanca 9.29
    Varenna 23

Sample the Local Flavors in Varenna

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

  • Wine Tasting and Entry Ticket to Castello di Vezio: $112
  • Wine Tasting and Entry Ticket to Villa Monastero: $134


When comparing the travel costs between Playa Blanca and Varenna, we can see that Varenna is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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 Varenna Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Playa Blanca or Varenna?

Playa Blanca has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Varenna. When comparing the sizes of Playa Blanca and Varenna, 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 Varenna?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Playa Blanca or Varenna in the Summer?

Both Varenna and Playa Blanca are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Varenna for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

Playa Blanca is around the same temperature as Varenna in the summer. The daily temperature in Playa Blanca averages around 23°C (73°F) in July, and Varenna fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

It's quite sunny in Varenna. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa Blanca. Playa Blanca usually receives more sunshine than Varenna during summer. Playa Blanca gets 282 hours of sunny skies, while Varenna receives 250 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Varenna. In July, Playa Blanca usually receives less rain than Varenna. Playa Blanca gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Varenna receives 133 mm (5.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Playa Blanca 23°C (73°F) 
    Varenna 23°C (73°F)

Should I visit Playa Blanca or Varenna in the Autumn?

Both Varenna and Playa Blanca during the autumn are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many visitors come to Varenna in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Playa Blanca is much warmer than Varenna. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Playa Blanca in October average around 22°C (72°F), and Varenna averages at about 15°C (58°F).

It's quite sunny in Playa Blanca. In the autumn, Playa Blanca often gets more sunshine than Varenna. Playa Blanca gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Varenna receives 152 hours of full sun.

Varenna gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Playa Blanca usually gets less rain in October than Varenna. Playa Blanca gets 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Varenna receives 140 mm (5.5 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Playa Blanca 22°C (72°F) 
    Varenna 15°C (58°F)

Should I visit Playa Blanca or Varenna in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Playa Blanca and Varenna. Furthermore, most visitors come to Varenna for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Varenna can be very cold during winter. In January, Playa Blanca is generally much warmer than Varenna. Daily temperatures in Playa Blanca average around 17°C (63°F), and Varenna fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).

In Playa Blanca, it's very sunny this time of the year. Playa Blanca usually receives more sunshine than Varenna during winter. Playa Blanca gets 204 hours of sunny skies, while Varenna receives 119 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Playa Blanca usually receives less rain than Varenna. Playa Blanca gets 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Varenna receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Playa Blanca 17°C (63°F) 
    Varenna 5°C (41°F)

Should I visit Playa Blanca or Varenna in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Playa Blanca as well as Varenna. Additionally, the spring months attract visitors to Varenna because of the natural beauty.

Playa Blanca is a little warmer than Varenna in the spring. The daily temperature in Playa Blanca averages around 19°C (66°F) in April, and Varenna fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Playa Blanca this time of the year. In the spring, Playa Blanca often gets more sunshine than Varenna. Playa Blanca gets 250 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Varenna receives 176 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Varenna. Playa Blanca usually gets less rain in April than Varenna. Playa Blanca gets 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Varenna receives 152 mm (6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Playa Blanca 19°C (66°F) 
    Varenna 13°C (55°F)

Typical Weather for Varenna and Playa Blanca

Playa Blanca Varenna
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 17°C (63°F) 16 mm (0.6 in) 5°C (41°F) 76 mm (3 in)
Feb 17°C (63°F) 20 mm (0.8 in) 6°C (44°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Mar 18°C (64°F) 11 mm (0.4 in) 10°C (49°F) 106 mm (4.2 in)
Apr 19°C (66°F) 16 mm (0.6 in) 13°C (55°F) 152 mm (6 in)
May 20°C (68°F) 2 mm (0.1 in) 17°C (62°F) 194 mm (7.6 in)
Jun 22°C (72°F) 0 mm (0 in) 20°C (69°F) 171 mm (6.7 in)
Jul 23°C (73°F) 0 mm (0 in) 23°C (73°F) 133 mm (5.2 in)
Aug 25°C (77°F) 0 mm (0 in) 22°C (72°F) 166 mm (6.5 in)
Sep 24°C (75°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 19°C (67°F) 153 mm (6 in)
Oct 22°C (72°F) 9 mm (0.4 in) 15°C (58°F) 140 mm (5.5 in)
Nov 20°C (68°F) 16 mm (0.6 in) 9°C (49°F) 120 mm (4.7 in)
Dec 18°C (64°F) 33 mm (1.3 in) 6°C (42°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)


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