A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Saint-Etienne vs. Santillana for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Saint-Etienne or Santillana?

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 Saint-Etienne and Santillana. 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: Saint-Etienne or Santillana?

Saint-Etienne

Saint-Etienne (Saint Stephen), a city southwest of Lyon, is drawing on its Industrial Revolution origins and its history of arms, bicycle, textile and ribbon production, to reinvent itself as design city. And the change is noticeable. After almost 30 years of decline, the city is now looking optimistically towards the future. Its center and suburbs are smartening up at a rapid pace. There are plenty of good surprises, including two great museums and a great eating scene.

Santillana

A quaint town outside of Santander in northern Spain, Santillana de Mar is renowned for its medieval architecture. One of Spain's prettiest villages, Santillana del Mar and its cobbled streets are lined with palaces, churches, and balconies full of flowers. There are plenty of traditional shops selling local specialties, and it is nearby the UNESCO world heritage site of the Altamira Caves for something a little different.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Paris, The Best 10-Day Tours from Paris, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Spain, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Spain.

When comparing the travel costs between Saint-Etienne and Santillana, we can see that Saint-Etienne 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 Saint-Etienne Expensive? and Is Santillana Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Saint-Etienne or Santillana?

Saint-Etienne has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Santillana. When comparing the sizes of Saint-Etienne and Santillana, 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 Saint-Etienne or Santillana?

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 Saint-Etienne or Santillana in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Saint-Etienne as well as Santillana. The hiking and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Saint-Etienne this time of year.

Saint-Etienne is a little warmer than Santillana in the summer. The daily temperature in Saint-Etienne averages around 22°C (71°F) in July, and Santillana fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Santillana. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint-Etienne this time of the year. In the summer, Saint-Etienne often gets more sunshine than Santillana. Saint-Etienne gets 285 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santillana receives 213 hours of full sun.

Saint-Etienne usually gets more rain in July than Santillana. Saint-Etienne gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Santillana receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint-Etienne or Santillana in the Autumn?

Both Santillana and Saint-Etienne are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Saint-Etienne for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Saint-Etienne is cooler than Santillana. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Saint-Etienne in October average around 14°C (56°F), and Santillana averages at about 16°C (60°F).

Saint-Etienne usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Santillana during autumn. Saint-Etienne gets 127 hours of sunny skies, while Santillana receives 133 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Santillana. In October, Saint-Etienne usually receives less rain than Santillana. Saint-Etienne gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Santillana receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Saint-Etienne or Santillana in the Winter?

Both Santillana and Saint-Etienne during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Saint-Etienne in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Saint-Etienne can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Saint-Etienne is generally much colder than Santillana. Daily temperatures in Saint-Etienne average around 4°C (39°F), and Santillana fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).

In the winter, Saint-Etienne often gets less sunshine than Santillana. Saint-Etienne gets 62 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santillana receives 91 hours of full sun.

Santillana gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Saint-Etienne usually gets less rain in January than Santillana. Saint-Etienne gets 55 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Santillana receives 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint-Etienne or Santillana in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint-Etienne and Santillana. Most visitors come to Saint-Etienne for the natural beauty during these months.

Saint-Etienne is around the same temperature as Santillana in the spring. The daily temperature in Saint-Etienne averages around 11°C (53°F) in April, and Santillana fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).

Saint-Etienne usually receives more sunshine than Santillana during spring. Saint-Etienne gets 174 hours of sunny skies, while Santillana receives 148 hours of full sun in the spring.

Santillana receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Saint-Etienne usually receives less rain than Santillana. Saint-Etienne gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Santillana receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Santillana and Saint-Etienne