A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Puerto de la Cruz vs. Varenna for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Puerto de la Cruz or Varenna?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Puerto de la Cruz and Varenna. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Puerto de la Cruz or Varenna?

Puerto de la Cruz

The coast of the island of Tenerife is a dream destination for those seeking a luxurious getaway full of beaches and parties. However, for those of you traveling with families or looking to simply avoid the hustle and bustle of the nightclub crowd, there's Puerto de la Cruz. Known as a sophisticated destination, Puerto de la Cruz is one of the top places to visit yet still retains its authentic, Canarian charm.

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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Spain, The Best Luxury Tours to Spain, The Best Budget Tours to Italy, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Italy.

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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Puerto de la Cruz Expensive? and Is Varenna Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Puerto de la Cruz or Varenna?

Puerto de la Cruz has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Varenna. When comparing the sizes of Puerto de la Cruz 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 Puerto de la Cruz or Varenna?

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 Puerto de la Cruz or Varenna in the Summer?

Both Varenna and Puerto de la Cruz during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, the hiking and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Varenna this time of year.

In July, Puerto de la Cruz is generally around the same temperature as Varenna. Daily temperatures in Puerto de la Cruz average around 24°C (75°F), and Varenna fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

In Varenna, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Puerto de la Cruz. In the summer, Puerto de la Cruz often gets more sunshine than Varenna. Puerto de la Cruz gets 334 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Varenna receives 250 hours of full sun.

Varenna gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Puerto de la Cruz usually gets less rain in July than Varenna. Puerto de la Cruz gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Varenna receives 133 mm (5.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Puerto de la Cruz or Varenna in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Puerto de la Cruz and Varenna. Also, many travelers come to Varenna for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

Puerto de la Cruz is a little warmer than Varenna in the autumn. The daily temperature in Puerto de la Cruz averages around 21°C (70°F) in October, and Varenna fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).

In Puerto de la Cruz, it's very sunny this time of the year. Puerto de la Cruz usually receives more sunshine than Varenna during autumn. Puerto de la Cruz gets 218 hours of sunny skies, while Varenna receives 152 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Varenna receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Puerto de la Cruz usually receives less rain than Varenna. Puerto de la Cruz gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Varenna receives 140 mm (5.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Puerto de la Cruz or Varenna in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Puerto de la Cruz as well as Varenna. Also, many visitors come to Varenna in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Varenna can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Puerto de la Cruz is much warmer than Varenna. Typically, the winter temperatures in Puerto de la Cruz in January average around 18°C (64°F), and Varenna averages at about 5°C (41°F).

In the winter, Puerto de la Cruz often gets more sunshine than Varenna. Puerto de la Cruz gets 180 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Varenna receives 119 hours of full sun.

Puerto de la Cruz usually gets less rain in January than Varenna. Puerto de la Cruz gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Varenna receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Puerto de la Cruz or Varenna in the Spring?

Both Varenna and Puerto de la Cruz are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Varenna for the natural beauty during these months.

In April, Puerto de la Cruz is generally much warmer than Varenna. Daily temperatures in Puerto de la Cruz average around 20°C (68°F), and Varenna fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Puerto de la Cruz. Puerto de la Cruz usually receives more sunshine than Varenna during spring. Puerto de la Cruz gets 229 hours of sunny skies, while Varenna receives 176 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Varenna. In April, Puerto de la Cruz usually receives less rain than Varenna. Puerto de la Cruz gets 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Varenna receives 152 mm (6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Varenna and Puerto de la Cruz