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

Should you visit Santander or Girona?

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 Santander and Girona can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Santander or Girona?

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.

Girona

Girona is an ancient town in northeastern Spain, and serves as the capital of the province of the same name in Spain's Catalonia region. It is characterized by narrow medieval alleys, architecture, and an impressive wall that once served to fortify the city.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Madrid, The Best 2-Week Tours from Barcelona, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Spain, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Spain.


Which place is cheaper, Girona or Santander?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Santander is €108, while the average daily cost in Girona is €140. 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 Santander and Girona in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Santander 51
    Girona 69
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Santander 102
    Girona 138
Compare Hotels in Santander and Girona

Looking for a hotel in Santander or Girona? 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 Santander


Hotels in Girona


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: Santander Hotel Prices and Girona Hotel Prices.

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

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santander

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santander:

  • Santander Private Departure Transfer: $36
  • Santander Private Arrival Transfer: $36
  • One-way Private Transfer From/To Santander Airport: $42
  • Santander Private Transfer from the city centre to Santander Airport: $45
  • Santander Private Transfer from Santander Airport to City centre: $45
  • Private Transfer from Santander Port to Bilbao Airport: $259
  • Private Transfer from Santander city to Bilbao Airport: $259
  • Private Transfer from Santander city to Bilbao: $259

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Girona

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Girona:

  • Girona Airport (GRO) to Costa Brava - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $101
  • Girona Airport Arrival to Barcelona City Transfers: $165
  • Girona Airport Bus Transfer from/to Barcelona Center: $21
  • Palamós to Barcelona Airport (BNC) Departure Private Transfer: $101
  • Palamós to Girona Airport (GRO) - Departure Private Transfer : $34
  • Private Transfer from Barcelona to Girona: $218
  • Transfer arrival Shuttle Girona Airport to Santa Susanna: $16
  • Transfer from Barcelona to girona Airport: $251

Is it cheaper to fly into Santander or Girona?

Prices for flights to both Girona and Santander 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
    Santander 41
    Girona 41

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Girona

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Girona.

  • Girona Morning Food Tour & Local Market: $93
  • Girona Evening Food Tour & Tapas Bar Experience: $98
  • The 11 Tastings of Girona small-group tour and dinner: $99
  • Girona Morning Food Tour & Local Market: $100
  • Girona Evening Food Tour and Tapas Bar Experience: $110

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Santander 18
    Girona 24

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: $24
  • Full Day Self Guided Tour in Santillana del Mar and Comillas: $56
  • Tour to Capricho de Gaudí Santillana del Mar and Redwood Forest: $73
  • Picos de Europa and Potes Guided Tour from Santander : $86
  • Gastronomy tour: $123
  • Private Puente Viesgo Caves Full-Day Tour from Santander: $218

Tours and Activities in Girona

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Girona are as follows:

  • Girona self-guided tour app with multilingual audioguide: $4.39
  • Essential Audio Tour at your own pace [Spanish]: $6.57
  • Girona Art Museum: Skip-the-Line Entry Ticket & Audio Guide: $6.59
  • Entrance ticket to the Girona Art Museum: $6.71
  • Museum of Cinema Entry Ticket: $7.68
  • Fábrica-Museo de Anchoas Solés Ticket: $7.94
  • Self-guided Audio City Tour on Your Phone: $11
  • Girona City Tour Self-guided Audio Tour on Your Phone (no ticket): $11
  • Ticket pass to Girona Cathedral, Sant Felix and Girona Art Museum: $13
  • Montilivi Stadium Guided Tour: $20
  • ONLY Game of thrones Tour - All the spots in one hour: $26
  • Mysteries and Legends Tour: $27

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Santander 14
    Girona 9.69

Sample the Local Flavors in Girona

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

  • Local Wineries Tour with Breakfast and Wine Tasting: $153
  • Private Full Day Tour in Alt Empordà with Wine Tasting: $291


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santander and Girona, we can see that Girona 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 Girona would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Girona 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 Santander Expensive? and Is Girona Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Santander or Girona?

Santander has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Girona. When comparing the sizes of Santander and Girona, 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 Santander or Girona?

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 Santander or Girona in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Santander and Girona. Also, most visitors come to Girona for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Santander is generally cooler than Girona. Daily temperatures in Santander average around 19°C (66°F), and Girona fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Girona this time of the year. In Santander, it's very sunny this time of the year. Santander usually receives less sunshine than Girona during summer. Santander gets 213 hours of sunny skies, while Girona receives 279 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Santander usually receives more rain than Girona. Santander gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Girona receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Santander 19°C (66°F) 
    Girona 24°C (75°F)

Should I visit Santander or Girona in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Santander as well as Girona. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Girona because of the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

Santander is around the same temperature as Girona in the autumn. The daily temperature in Santander averages around 16°C (60°F) in October, and Girona fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

In the autumn, Santander often gets less sunshine than Girona. Santander gets 133 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Girona receives 170 hours of full sun.

Santander receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Santander usually gets more rain in October than Girona. Santander gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Girona receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Santander 16°C (60°F) 
    Girona 16°C (61°F)

Should I visit Santander or Girona in the Winter?

Both Girona and Santander are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Girona this time of year.

In the winter, Santander is a little warmer than Girona. Typically, the winter temperatures in Santander in January average around 9°C (49°F), and Girona averages at about 8°C (46°F).

Santander usually receives less sunshine than Girona during winter. Santander gets 91 hours of sunny skies, while Girona receives 148 hours of full sun in the winter.

It's quite rainy in Santander. In January, Santander usually receives more rain than Girona. Santander gets 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Girona receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Santander 9°C (49°F) 
    Girona 8°C (46°F)

Should I visit Santander or Girona in the Spring?

Both Girona and Santander during the spring are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many travelers come to Girona for the small town charm and the natural beauty.

In April, Santander is generally around the same temperature as Girona. Daily temperatures in Santander average around 12°C (53°F), and Girona fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

In the spring, Santander often gets less sunshine than Girona. Santander gets 148 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Girona receives 177 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Santander. Santander usually gets more rain in April than Girona. Santander gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Girona receives 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Santander 12°C (53°F) 
    Girona 13°C (55°F)

Typical Weather for Girona and Santander

Santander Girona
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 9°C (49°F) 149 mm (5.9 in) 8°C (46°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Feb 10°C (50°F) 116 mm (4.6 in) 9°C (48°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Mar 10°C (51°F) 119 mm (4.7 in) 11°C (51°F) 54 mm (2.1 in)
Apr 12°C (53°F) 135 mm (5.3 in) 13°C (55°F) 73 mm (2.9 in)
May 14°C (58°F) 94 mm (3.7 in) 16°C (62°F) 87 mm (3.4 in)
Jun 17°C (62°F) 63 mm (2.5 in) 21°C (69°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)
Jul 19°C (66°F) 50 mm (2 in) 24°C (75°F) 38 mm (1.5 in)
Aug 19°C (67°F) 89 mm (3.5 in) 24°C (74°F) 55 mm (2.2 in)
Sep 18°C (64°F) 88 mm (3.4 in) 21°C (70°F) 58 mm (2.3 in)
Oct 16°C (60°F) 138 mm (5.4 in) 16°C (61°F) 79 mm (3.1 in)
Nov 12°C (53°F) 181 mm (7.1 in) 11°C (52°F) 82 mm (3.2 in)
Dec 10°C (50°F) 157 mm (6.2 in) 9°C (47°F) 47 mm (1.9 in)