A Travel Price Comparison for Spain Santander vs. Playa del Ingles for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Santander or Playa del Ingles?

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 Playa del Ingles can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Santander or Playa del Ingles?

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.

Playa del Ingles

Translating to "Englishman's Beach," Playa del Ingles is a sea resort located on the south coast of the Gran Canaria island of Spain's Canary Islands. Since the 1960s it has been built up to accommodate tourists from around the world, especially from Europe. Some of the most popular attractions include an abundance of bars and clubs as well as beachside activities like swimming, surfing, scuba, and snorkeling.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Santander or Playa del Ingles?

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

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 Playa del Ingles in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Santander as well as Playa del Ingles.

In the summer, Santander is cooler than Playa del Ingles. Typically, the summer temperatures in Santander in July average around 19°C (66°F), and Playa del Ingles averages at about 22°C (72°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa del Ingles. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Santander this time of the year. In the summer, Santander often gets less sunshine than Playa del Ingles. Santander gets 213 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa del Ingles receives 293 hours of full sun.

Santander usually gets more rain in July than Playa del Ingles. Santander gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 0 mm (0 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Santander or Playa del Ingles in the Autumn?

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

In October, Santander is generally cooler than Playa del Ingles. Daily temperatures in Santander average around 16°C (60°F), and Playa del Ingles fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

It's quite sunny in Playa del Ingles. Santander usually receives less sunshine than Playa del Ingles during autumn. Santander gets 133 hours of sunny skies, while Playa del Ingles receives 213 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Santander. In October, Santander usually receives more rain than Playa del Ingles. Santander gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Santander or Playa del Ingles in the Winter?

Both Playa del Ingles and Santander during the winter are popular places to visit.

Santander is much colder than Playa del Ingles in the winter. The daily temperature in Santander averages around 9°C (49°F) in January, and Playa del Ingles fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

In the winter, Santander often gets less sunshine than Playa del Ingles. Santander gets 91 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa del Ingles receives 187 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Santander. Santander usually gets more rain in January than Playa del Ingles. Santander gets 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Santander or Playa del Ingles in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Santander and Playa del Ingles.

In the spring, Santander is much colder than Playa del Ingles. Typically, the spring temperatures in Santander in April average around 12°C (53°F), and Playa del Ingles averages at about 19°C (66°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Playa del Ingles this time of the year. Santander usually receives less sunshine than Playa del Ingles during spring. Santander gets 148 hours of sunny skies, while Playa del Ingles receives 225 hours of full sun in the spring.

Santander gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Santander usually receives more rain than Playa del Ingles. Santander gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Playa del Ingles and Santander