Which place is cheaper, Varenna or Santander?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Santander or Varenna?
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 Varenna can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Santander or Varenna?
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.
Varenna
A golden light cascades from the heavens, bathing the misty blue mountains in a honey haze. The shivering waters of Lake Como blend the gentle blues and yellows of the sky to a tea rose pink that sits under white sailboats. A quaint village hustled around lush gardens, Varenna, Italy is an attractive fishing village that dates back to the eleventh century. Founded in 769 AD by fisherman, the town was originally destroyed in 1126 AD by the rival town Como, only to be restored refugees from the Isola Comacina whose town was also destroyed. Located on the eastern shore of the lake in the province of Lecco, Varenna is filled with a romantic air from its old Italian fisherman houses to the picturesque lanes. Unlike the towns of Bellagio or Milan, Varenna holds a particular authenticity to Italian culture without the burdens of tourist-ridden streets and hotel-packed areas. As Lake Como works as the main attraction of Varenna, the village provides its visitors with a wide array of entertainment on its pebbly beaches. Besides this, Varenna is also known for its exquisite gardens of two villas, Villa Monastero and Villa Cipressi. Besides this, Varenna also has museums just waiting to be explored. Take a tranquil retreat to Varenna!
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Madrid, The Best 10-Day Tours from Barcelona, The Best Budget Tours to Italy, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Italy.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySantander €108Varenna €164
The average daily cost (per person) in Santander is €108, while the average daily cost in Varenna is €164. 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 Varenna in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSantander €51Varenna €86
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSantander €102Varenna €172
Compare Hotels in Santander and Varenna
Looking for a hotel in Santander or Varenna? 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 Varenna Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santander €24Varenna €34
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santander
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santander:
- Santander Private Transfer from the city centre to Santander Airport: $44
- Santander Private Transfer from Santander Airport to City centre: $44
- Santander Private Departure Transfer: $35
- Santander Private Arrival Transfer: $35
- Private Transfer from Santander city to Bilbao Airport: $252
- Private Transfer from Santander city to Bilbao: $252
- Private Transfer from Santander Port to Bilbao Airport: $252
- One-way Private Transfer From/To Santander Airport: $41
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Varenna
Also for Varenna, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Varenna : Private transfer to/from Malpensa Airport: $358
Is it cheaper to fly into Santander or Varenna?
Prices for flights to both Varenna 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 €41Varenna €53
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Varenna
For Varenna, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Class at a Local's Home: $155
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santander €18Varenna €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 Varenna
For Varenna, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Lake Como Shared Boat Tour: $32
- Lake Como Sightseeing Cruise (90 minutes): $43
- Dining Experience at a Local's Home: $112
- Sunset shared boat tour with aperitif from Varenna: $118
- Picnic Experience in the Italian Alps: $150
- Private Luxury Boat Tour of Lake Como with Stops & Drinks: $491
- Bellagio: Private Tour on Vintage Wooden Boat: $664
- Lake Como: Grand Private Tour 5 hours Invictus boat: $1,551
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySantander €14Varenna €23
Sample the Local Flavors in Varenna
Also in Varenna, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Wine Tasting and Entry Ticket to Castello di Vezio: $112
- Wine Tasting and Entry Ticket to Villa Monastero: $134
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santander and Varenna, we can see that Varenna 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 Varenna would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Varenna 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 Varenna Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santander or Varenna?
Santander has a larger population, and is about 220 times larger than the population of Varenna. When comparing the sizes of Santander and Varenna, 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 Varenna?
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 Varenna in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Santander as well as Varenna. Additionally, most visitors come to Varenna for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In July, Santander is generally cooler than Varenna. Daily temperatures in Santander average around 19°C (66°F), and Varenna fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Varenna. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Santander this time of the year. In the summer, Santander often gets less sunshine than Varenna. Santander gets 213 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Varenna receives 250 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Varenna. Santander usually gets less rain in July than Varenna. Santander gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Varenna receives 133 mm (5.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySantander 19°C (66°F)Varenna 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Santander or Varenna in the Autumn?
Both Varenna and Santander are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Varenna because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Santander is around the same temperature as Varenna in the autumn. The daily temperature in Santander averages around 16°C (60°F) in October, and Varenna fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).
Santander usually receives less sunshine than Varenna during autumn. Santander gets 133 hours of sunny skies, while Varenna receives 152 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Varenna. It's quite rainy in Santander. In October, Santander usually receives around the same amount of rain as Varenna. Santander gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Varenna receives 140 mm (5.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSantander 16°C (60°F)Varenna 15°C (58°F)
Should I visit Santander or Varenna in the Winter?
Both Varenna and Santander during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Varenna this time of year.
It's quite cold in Varenna in the winter. In the winter, Santander is much warmer than Varenna. Typically, the winter temperatures in Santander in January average around 9°C (49°F), and Varenna averages at about 5°C (41°F).
In the winter, Santander often gets less sunshine than Varenna. Santander gets 91 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Varenna receives 119 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Santander. Santander usually gets more rain in January than Varenna. Santander gets 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Varenna receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySantander 9°C (49°F)Varenna 5°C (41°F)
Should I visit Santander or Varenna in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Santander and Varenna. Also, many travelers come to Varenna for the natural beauty.
In April, Santander is generally around the same temperature as Varenna. Daily temperatures in Santander average around 12°C (53°F), and Varenna fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
Santander usually receives less sunshine than Varenna during spring. Santander gets 148 hours of sunny skies, while Varenna receives 176 hours of full sun in the spring.
Varenna 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 Varenna. Santander gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Varenna receives 152 mm (6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSantander 12°C (53°F)Varenna 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Varenna and Santander
| Santander | Varenna | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 9°C (49°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Feb | 10°C (50°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Mar | 10°C (51°F) | 119 mm (4.7 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 106 mm (4.2 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (53°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 152 mm (6 in) |
| May | 14°C (58°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 194 mm (7.6 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (62°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 171 mm (6.7 in) |
| Jul | 19°C (66°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) |
| Aug | 19°C (67°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 166 mm (6.5 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (64°F) | 88 mm (3.4 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 153 mm (6 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (60°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (53°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Dec | 10°C (50°F) | 157 mm (6.2 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 63 mm (2.5 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.