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

Should you visit Santander or Hondarribia?

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 Hondarribia can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Santander or Hondarribia?

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.

Hondarribia

The characteristic Spanish buildings painted in the brightest, most vibrant of colors only match the true spirit of the town, Hondarribia, Spain. Hondarribia is located on the west shore of Bidasoa river's mouth in Gipuzkoa of Basque Country. The town is rich in its Spanish history, holding both an ancient old quarter with walls and a castle within. Hondarribia is also known for its gorgeous beach of bright blue water across the Bidasoa alongside the fertile, roaming mountain of Jaizkibel. What's more, Hondarribia faces the border of Hendaye, France, so if you are yearning to expand your cultural learning, take a service boat over to Spain's friendly neighbor! No matter if you want to explore the ancient architecture or enjoy the cooling waters of the bay, Hondarribia is definitely a location known for its beauty and activity!

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, Hondarribia or Santander?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Santander Prices
    Spain Prices
    Hondarribia Prices
    Spain Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Santander 138
    Hondarribia 162

The average daily cost (per person) in Santander is €138, while the average daily cost in Hondarribia is €162. 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 Hondarribia in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Santander 51
    Hondarribia 70
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Santander 102
    Hondarribia 140
Compare Hotels in Santander and Hondarribia

Looking for a hotel in Santander or Hondarribia? 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 Hondarribia


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 Hondarribia Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Santander 24
    Hondarribia 32

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santander

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santander:

  • Santander Private Transfer from the city centre to Santander Airport: $60
  • Santander Private Transfer from Santander Airport to City centre: $80
  • Santander Private Departure Transfer: $35
  • Santander Private Arrival Transfer: $35
  • Private Transfer from Santander city to Bilbao Airport: $247
  • Private Transfer from Santander city to Bilbao: $247
  • Private Transfer from Santander Port to Bilbao Airport: $247
  • One-way Private Transfer From/To Santander Airport: $40

Is it cheaper to fly into Santander or Hondarribia?

Prices for flights to both Hondarribia 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 70
    Hondarribia 71

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Santander 18
    Hondarribia 22

Tours and Activities in Santander

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

  • From Cantabria Private Tour: $487
  • From Gastronomic Tour: $127
  • From Potes, Santillana and Altamira Day Tour: $41
  • From Santillana del Mar & Altamira Museum Tour: $66
  • Full Day Self Guided Tour in Santillana del Mar and Comillas: $53
  • Gastronomy tour: $118
  • Obregón: Parque de la Naturaleza de Cabárceno Entry Ticket: $25
  • Picos de Europa and Potes Guided Tour from Santander : $82
  • Private Puente Viesgo Caves Full-Day Tour from Santander: $278
  • Private walking tour of the Peninsula and the Magdalene Palace: $187
  • Santander El Sardinero Tour Real Racing Club: $18
  • Santander exclusive: Private tour of the peninsula and Magdalena Palace: $238

Tours and Activities in Hondarribia

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

  • Fontarrabie: Local tour of the fishermen's history and gastronomy: $26

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Santander 14
    Hondarribia 18

Sample the Local Flavors in Santander

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Santander:

  • Wine Tourism and Cheese in Cantabria: $187


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


Which is Bigger, Santander or Hondarribia?

Santander has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Hondarribia. When comparing the sizes of Santander and Hondarribia, 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 Hondarribia?

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 Santander or Hondarribia in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Santander as well as Hondarribia.

In the summer, Santander is around the same temperature as Hondarribia. Typically, the summer temperatures in Santander in July average around 19°C (66°F), and Hondarribia averages at about 20°C (68°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Hondarribia. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Santander this time of the year. In the summer, Santander often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Hondarribia. Santander gets 213 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hondarribia receives 209 hours of full sun.

Santander usually gets less rain in July than Hondarribia. Santander gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Hondarribia receives 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Santander 19°C (66°F) 
    Hondarribia 20°C (68°F)

Should I visit Santander or Hondarribia in the Autumn?

Both Hondarribia and Santander are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.

In October, Santander is generally around the same temperature as Hondarribia. Daily temperatures in Santander average around 16°C (60°F), and Hondarribia fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

Santander usually receives less sunshine than Hondarribia during autumn. Santander gets 133 hours of sunny skies, while Hondarribia receives 144 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Hondarribia. It's quite rainy in Santander. In October, Santander usually receives less rain than Hondarribia. Santander gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Hondarribia receives 155 mm (6.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


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

Should I visit Santander or Hondarribia in the Winter?

Both Hondarribia and Santander during the winter are popular places to visit.

Santander is around the same temperature as Hondarribia in the winter. The daily temperature in Santander averages around 9°C (49°F) in January, and Hondarribia fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).

In the winter, Santander often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Hondarribia. Santander gets 91 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hondarribia receives 85 hours of full sun.

Hondarribia gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Santander. Santander usually gets less rain in January than Hondarribia. Santander gets 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Hondarribia receives 183 mm (7.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Santander 9°C (49°F) 
    Hondarribia 8°C (47°F)

Should I visit Santander or Hondarribia in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Santander and Hondarribia.

In the spring, Santander is around the same temperature as Hondarribia. Typically, the spring temperatures in Santander in April average around 12°C (53°F), and Hondarribia averages at about 12°C (54°F).

Santander usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Hondarribia during spring. Santander gets 148 hours of sunny skies, while Hondarribia receives 141 hours of full sun in the spring.

Hondarribia receives a lot of rain in the spring. Santander gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Santander usually receives less rain than Hondarribia. Santander gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Hondarribia receives 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Santander 12°C (53°F) 
    Hondarribia 12°C (54°F)

Typical Weather for Hondarribia and Santander

Santander Hondarribia
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 9°C (49°F) 149 mm (5.9 in) 8°C (47°F) 183 mm (7.2 in)
Feb 10°C (50°F) 116 mm (4.6 in) 9°C (49°F) 147 mm (5.8 in)
Mar 10°C (51°F) 119 mm (4.7 in) 10°C (51°F) 148 mm (5.8 in)
Apr 12°C (53°F) 135 mm (5.3 in) 12°C (54°F) 163 mm (6.4 in)
May 14°C (58°F) 94 mm (3.7 in) 15°C (59°F) 139 mm (5.5 in)
Jun 17°C (62°F) 63 mm (2.5 in) 18°C (64°F) 92 mm (3.6 in)
Jul 19°C (66°F) 50 mm (2 in) 20°C (68°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Aug 19°C (67°F) 89 mm (3.5 in) 20°C (68°F) 115 mm (4.5 in)
Sep 18°C (64°F) 88 mm (3.4 in) 18°C (65°F) 134 mm (5.3 in)
Oct 16°C (60°F) 138 mm (5.4 in) 16°C (60°F) 155 mm (6.1 in)
Nov 12°C (53°F) 181 mm (7.1 in) 11°C (52°F) 190 mm (7.5 in)
Dec 10°C (50°F) 157 mm (6.2 in) 9°C (49°F) 184 mm (7.2 in)