Which place is cheaper, Plitvice Lakes National Park or Santander?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Santander or Plitvice Lakes National Park?
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 Plitvice Lakes National Park can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Santander or Plitvice Lakes National Park?
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.
Plitvice Lakes National Park
One of the most beautiful natural sights in Europe, Plitvice Lakes National Park is an area of green forests laced with a system of interconnected turquoise lakes. It was set aside as a national park in 1949, and was later designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Madrid, The Best 10-Day Tours from Barcelona, The Best 10-Day Tours in Croatia, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Croatia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySantander €108Plitvice Lakes National Park €125
The average daily cost (per person) in Santander is €108, while the average daily cost in Plitvice Lakes National Park is €125. 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 Plitvice Lakes National Park in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSantander €51Plitvice Lakes National Park €60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSantander €102Plitvice Lakes National Park €120
Compare Hotels in Santander and Plitvice Lakes National Park
Looking for a hotel in Santander or Plitvice Lakes National Park? 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.
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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santander €24Plitvice Lakes National Park €26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santander
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santander:
- Private Transfer from Santander city to Bilbao Airport: $252
- Private Transfer from Santander Port to Bilbao Airport: $252
- Private Transfer from Santander city to Bilbao: $252
- Santander Private Transfer from the city centre to Santander Airport: $44
- Santander Private Transfer from Santander Airport to City centre: $44
- One-way Private Transfer From/To Santander Airport: $41
- Santander Private Departure Transfer: $35
- Santander Private Arrival Transfer: $35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Plitvice Lakes National Park
Also for Plitvice Lakes National Park, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Plitvice Lakes to Zagreb private one-way transfer: $150
- From Zadar: Round-Trip Transfer to Plitvice Lakes: $42
- Plitvice lakes Guiding with Transfer: $182
- Private Transfer from Plitvička Jezera to Zadar Airport (ZAD): $271
- Private Transfer from Plitvička Jezera to Zagreb Airport (ZAG): $232
Is it cheaper to fly into Santander or Plitvice Lakes National Park?
Prices for flights to both Plitvice Lakes National Park 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
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Food Meals for one daySantander €41Plitvice Lakes National Park €40
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santander €18Plitvice Lakes National Park €34
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: $23
- From Cantabria Private Tour: $492
- From Gastronomic Tour: $128
- From Potes, Santillana and Altamira Day Tour: $42
- From Santillana del Mar & Altamira Museum Tour: $64
- Full Day Self Guided Tour in Santillana del Mar and Comillas: $55
- Full Day Tour Lakes of Covadonga and Santillana from Santander: $46
- Gastronomy tour: $120
- Obregón: Parque de la Naturaleza de Cabárceno Entry Ticket: $26
- Picos de Europa and Potes Guided Tour from Santander : $84
- Private Puente Viesgo Caves Full-Day Tour from Santander: $213
- 1-Hour City Cruise Around the Bay: $14
Tours and Activities in Plitvice Lakes National Park
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Plitvice Lakes National Park.
- Plitvice Lakes: National Park Official Entry Ticket: $11
- Plitvice Lakes National Park Admission Ticket: $14
- Half day tour around Plitvice Lakes: $29
- Plitvice Lakes Guided Tour: $36
- Plitvice Lakes: Guided Walking Tour and Boat Ride: $36
- Plitvice lakes: Guided walking tour with a boat ride: $37
- Private Guided Fairy Tale Tour in Ogulin: $38
- Plitvice Guided Tour- Tickets only RESERVED: $44
- From Split and Trogir: Plitvice Lakes Economy Group Tour: $48
- Abandoned military airbase Zeljava -2h guided tour: $55
- From Split: Plitvice Lakes Guided tour: $70
- Plitvice Lakes National Park - Inspiration Buggy Tour: $75
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySantander €14Plitvice Lakes National Park €14
When comparing the travel costs between Santander and Plitvice Lakes National Park, we can see that Plitvice Lakes National Park 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 Santander Expensive? and Is Plitvice Lakes National Park Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Santander or Plitvice Lakes National Park?
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 Plitvice Lakes National Park in the Summer?
Both Plitvice Lakes National Park and Santander during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the hiking and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Plitvice Lakes National Park this time of year.
In the summer, Santander is cooler than Plitvice Lakes National Park. Typically, the summer temperatures in Santander in July average around 19°C (66°F), and Plitvice Lakes National Park averages at about 22°C (72°F).
In Plitvice Lakes National Park, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Santander. In the summer, Santander often gets less sunshine than Plitvice Lakes National Park. Santander gets 213 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Plitvice Lakes National Park receives 266 hours of full sun.
Santander usually gets less rain in July than Plitvice Lakes National Park. Santander gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Plitvice Lakes National Park receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySantander 19°C (66°F)Plitvice Lakes National Park 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Santander or Plitvice Lakes National Park in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Santander and Plitvice Lakes National Park. Furthermore, many travelers come to Plitvice Lakes National Park for the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Santander is generally a little warmer than Plitvice Lakes National Park. Daily temperatures in Santander average around 16°C (60°F), and Plitvice Lakes National Park fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
Santander usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Plitvice Lakes National Park during autumn. Santander gets 133 hours of sunny skies, while Plitvice Lakes National Park receives 133 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Santander gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Santander usually receives more rain than Plitvice Lakes National Park. Santander gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Plitvice Lakes National Park receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSantander 16°C (60°F)Plitvice Lakes National Park 13°C (55°F)
Should I visit Santander or Plitvice Lakes National Park in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Santander as well as Plitvice Lakes National Park. Additionally, many visitors come to Plitvice Lakes National Park in the winter for the cuisine.
Plitvice Lakes National Park can get quite cold in the winter. Santander is much warmer than Plitvice Lakes National Park in the winter. The daily temperature in Santander averages around 9°C (49°F) in January, and Plitvice Lakes National Park fluctuates around 1°C (35°F).
In the winter, Santander often gets more sunshine than Plitvice Lakes National Park. Santander gets 91 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Plitvice Lakes National Park receives 54 hours of full sun.
Santander receives a lot of rain in the winter. Santander usually gets more rain in January than Plitvice Lakes National Park. Santander gets 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Plitvice Lakes National Park receives 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySantander 9°C (49°F)Plitvice Lakes National Park 1°C (35°F)
Should I visit Santander or Plitvice Lakes National Park in the Spring?
Both Plitvice Lakes National Park and Santander are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Plitvice Lakes National Park for the natural beauty during these months.
In the spring, Santander is around the same temperature as Plitvice Lakes National Park. Typically, the spring temperatures in Santander in April average around 12°C (53°F), and Plitvice Lakes National Park averages at about 13°C (55°F).
Santander usually receives less sunshine than Plitvice Lakes National Park during spring. Santander gets 148 hours of sunny skies, while Plitvice Lakes National Park receives 163 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Santander. In April, Santander usually receives more rain than Plitvice Lakes National Park. Santander gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Plitvice Lakes National Park receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSantander 12°C (53°F)Plitvice Lakes National Park 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Plitvice Lakes National Park and Santander
| Santander | Plitvice Lakes National Park | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 9°C (49°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 1°C (35°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Feb | 10°C (50°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Mar | 10°C (51°F) | 119 mm (4.7 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (53°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| May | 14°C (58°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (62°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Jul | 19°C (66°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 19°C (67°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (64°F) | 88 mm (3.4 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (60°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (53°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Dec | 10°C (50°F) | 157 mm (6.2 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.