Which place is cheaper, San Sebastian or Santander?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Santander or San Sebastian?
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 San Sebastian can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Santander or San Sebastian?
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.
San Sebastian
San Sebastián is a city in northern Spain very well known for its summertime fun in the sun. While the streets are cool and happening at night, they take on a different charm by day. Beautiful beaches line the city's edge, right next to elegant historic architecture and churches, topping charts as some of the best city beaches in Europe. The food, too, is said to be some of the best with traditional Basque cuisine as well as the popular pintxo (tapas) bites. San Sebastián is a place of lively culture, teeming with beauty, flavors, and colors.
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.
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Santander Prices
Spain PricesSan Sebastian Prices
Spain Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySantander €138San Sebastian €113
The average daily cost (per person) in Santander is €138, while the average daily cost in San Sebastian is €113. 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 San Sebastian in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSantander €51San Sebastian €40
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSantander €102San Sebastian €80
Compare Hotels in Santander and San Sebastian
Looking for a hotel in Santander or San Sebastian? 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 and San Sebastian Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santander €24San Sebastian €13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santander
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santander:
- Santander Private Departure Transfer: $39
- Santander Private Arrival Transfer: $39
- One-way Private Transfer From/To Santander Airport: $48
- Santander Private Transfer from the city centre to Santander Airport: $67
- Santander Private Transfer from Santander Airport to City centre: $90
- Private Transfer from Santander Port to Bilbao Airport: $291
- Private Transfer from Santander city to Bilbao Airport: $291
- Private Transfer from Santander city to Bilbao: $291
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Sebastian
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Sebastian:
- Private Transfer from San Sebastian Airport to Pamplona city: $283
- Private Transfer from San Sebastian city to Biarritz Airport : $194
- Private Transfer from San Sebastian city to Pamplona Airport : $283
- Private Transfer from San Sebastian city to San Sebastian Airport: $97
- Private Transfer from San Sebastian to Biarritz: $194
- Transfer S. Sebastian to Bilbao or S. Sebastian Airports by Sedan: $66
Is it cheaper to fly into Santander or San Sebastian?
Prices for flights to both San Sebastian 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 €70San Sebastian €55
Typical Food Prices in San Sebastian
Some typical examples of dining costs in San Sebastian are as follows:
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Dinner for 2€55
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Lunch for 2€10
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Lunch for 2€31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Sebastian
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Sebastian.
- San Sebastian Food Tour Oysters, Iberian Ham, Sweet Bite & more: $117
- San Sebastian Food Tour: Pintxos, Drinks, and Tapas with a Local: $119
- San Sebastian Food Tour: Pintxo Tasting Paired with Spanish Wines: $132
- Pintxos cooking class from the classics to modern pintxos: $144
- Basque Cooking Experience: Market Tour & Hands-On Class English: $156
- Basque cuisine cooking class: $157
- Authentic Basque Cooking Class in San Sebastian Old Town: $167
- San Sebastián Food & Wine Tour with Basque Club Dinner Experience: $250
- San Sebastián Food & History Tour: Dinner with a Local Twist: $259
- Private San Sebastian Food Tour: Pintxo Tasting & Spanish Wines: $265
- Local Cooking Class in San Sebastian: $277
- Small Group Food Tour: Biarritz, St.Jean de Luz and Hondarribia: $291
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santander €18San Sebastian €32
Tours and Activities in Santander
Here are a few actual costs in Santander for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Santander Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self Guided Tour: $5.78
- Guided tour of Santander Cathedral: $14
- The El Centro Botin Skip the Line Entry Ticket: $15
- 1-Hour City Cruise Around the Bay: $17
- Guided tour in English of the center of Santander: $18
- El Sardinero Stadium Guided Tour: $21
- Obregón: Parque de la Naturaleza de Cabárceno Entry Ticket: $30
- City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour & Train: $31
- City Sightseeing Santander Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $31
- Guided kayak tour of Santander Bay with a tour guide.: $41
- Guided Tour by Electric Bike: $65
- Santillana del Mar & Altamira Museum with tickets- small groups: $72
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Sebastian
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in San Sebastian are as follows:
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Valle de los Caídos Monument€6.00
Tours and Activities in San Sebastian
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for San Sebastian are as follows:
- San Sebastian Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $4.80
- San Sebastián Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $5.19
- Who Am I? San Sebastian Identity Puzzle Adventure: $7.20
- Old Town Exploration Game and Tour: $7.52
- San Sebastian Interactive City Tour: $8.43
- San Sebastian Donostria: Self Guided Scavenger Hunt and Tour: $14
- Sampling San Sebastián's History: A Self Guided Audio Tour : $15
- San Sebastian Walking Tour with Pintxo and Drink: $18
- Guided tour of San Sebastián: $20
- Tour por el estadio Real Sociedad: $22
- Hondarribia on Bicycle Tour of Nature and Basque Culture: $36
- zumaia sup tours: $39
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySantander €14San Sebastian €20
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: $209
Sample the Local Flavors in San Sebastian
Also in San Sebastian, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- San Sebastian Centro Neighborhood Pintxos & Wine Tour: $131
- San Sebastian Old Town Pintxos & Wine Tour Small Group Tour: $133
- Small Group Basque Food, Pintxos and Wine Tour in San Sebastian : $179
- Private Half Day Txakoli Wine Tour & Getaria Fishing Village: $210
- Best quality food & wine tasting tour in San Sebastian. : $216
- Open Food & Wine tours in San Sebastian: $217
- Marques de Riscal and Ysios Architecture Wine Tour w/Lunch, SS: $288
- Rioja Wine Tour: 2 Wineries Visit with Tasting from San Sebastian: $289
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santander and San Sebastian, we can see that Santander is more expensive. And not only is San Sebastian much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Sebastian would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Sebastian 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 Santander would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santander than you might in San Sebastian.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santander Expensive? and Is San Sebastian Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santander or San Sebastian?
San Sebastian has a larger population, and is about 0% larger than the population of Santander. When comparing the sizes of Santander and San Sebastian, 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 San Sebastian?
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 San Sebastian in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Santander and San Sebastian. Furthermore, many travelers come to San Sebastian for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Santander is generally around the same temperature as San Sebastian. Daily temperatures in Santander average around 19°C (66°F), and San Sebastian fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Sebastian this time of the year. In Santander, it's very sunny this time of the year. Santander usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Sebastian during summer. Santander gets 213 hours of sunny skies, while San Sebastian receives 209 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Santander usually receives less rain than San Sebastian. Santander gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while San Sebastian receives 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySantander 19°C (66°F)San Sebastian 20°C (68°F)
Should I visit Santander or San Sebastian in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Santander as well as San Sebastian. Additionally, many visitors come to San Sebastian in the autumn for the shopping scene.
Santander is around the same temperature as San Sebastian in the autumn. The daily temperature in Santander averages around 16°C (60°F) in October, and San Sebastian fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
In the autumn, Santander often gets less sunshine than San Sebastian. Santander gets 133 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Sebastian receives 144 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in San Sebastian. Santander receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Santander usually gets less rain in October than San Sebastian. Santander gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while San Sebastian receives 155 mm (6.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSantander 16°C (60°F)San Sebastian 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Santander or San Sebastian in the Winter?
Both San Sebastian and Santander are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to San Sebastian for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
In the winter, Santander is around the same temperature as San Sebastian. Typically, the winter temperatures in Santander in January average around 9°C (49°F), and San Sebastian averages at about 8°C (47°F).
Santander usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Sebastian during winter. Santander gets 91 hours of sunny skies, while San Sebastian receives 85 hours of full sun in the winter.
It rains a lot this time of the year in San Sebastian. It's quite rainy in Santander. In January, Santander usually receives less rain than San Sebastian. Santander gets 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while San Sebastian receives 183 mm (7.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySantander 9°C (49°F)San Sebastian 8°C (47°F)
Should I visit Santander or San Sebastian in the Spring?
Both San Sebastian and Santander during the spring are popular places to visit. Also, the spring months attract visitors to San Sebastian because of the beaches.
In April, Santander is generally around the same temperature as San Sebastian. Daily temperatures in Santander average around 12°C (53°F), and San Sebastian fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
In the spring, Santander often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Sebastian. Santander gets 148 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Sebastian receives 141 hours of full sun.
San Sebastian 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 April than San Sebastian. Santander gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while San Sebastian receives 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSantander 12°C (53°F)San Sebastian 12°C (54°F)
Typical Weather for San Sebastian and Santander
| Santander | San Sebastian | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
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.