A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Santillana vs. Costa de Prata for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Santillana or Costa de Prata?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Santillana or Costa de Prata? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Santillana or Costa de Prata?

Santillana

A quaint town outside of Santander in northern Spain, Santillana de Mar is renowned for its medieval architecture. One of Spain's prettiest villages, Santillana del Mar and its cobbled streets are lined with palaces, churches, and balconies full of flowers. There are plenty of traditional shops selling local specialties, and it is nearby the UNESCO world heritage site of the Altamira Caves for something a little different.

Costa de Prata

Costa de Prata is a region located on the Silver Coast of Portugal, an hour north of Lisbon. The area is known for its beautiful beaches, ancient architecture, and relaxed, welcoming, atmosphere. The area experiences gorgeous weather nearly all year round, with temperatures in the high 70's and 80's Fahrenheit from May-September. June-August sees the warmest ocean temperatures, making these the best months for swimming. Even during their winter, temperatures rarely dip below 60°F, although ocean temperatures drop, making swimming a bit colder.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Spain, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Spain, The Best 10-Day Tours in Portugal, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Portugal.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santillana and Costa de Prata, we can see that Costa de Prata is more expensive. And not only is Santillana much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Santillana would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santillana 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 Costa de Prata would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Costa de Prata than you might in Santillana.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santillana Expensive? and Is Costa de Prata Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Santillana or Costa de Prata?

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 Santillana or Costa de Prata in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Santillana as well as Costa de Prata.

Santillana is cooler than Costa de Prata in the summer. The daily temperature in Santillana averages around 19°C (66°F) in July, and Costa de Prata fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Costa de Prata. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Santillana this time of the year. In the summer, Santillana often gets less sunshine than Costa de Prata. Santillana gets 213 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Costa de Prata receives 308 hours of full sun.

Santillana usually gets more rain in July than Costa de Prata. Santillana gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Costa de Prata receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Santillana or Costa de Prata in the Autumn?

Both Costa de Prata and Santillana are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.

In the autumn, Santillana is cooler than Costa de Prata. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Santillana in October average around 16°C (60°F), and Costa de Prata averages at about 18°C (65°F).

Santillana usually receives less sunshine than Costa de Prata during autumn. Santillana gets 133 hours of sunny skies, while Costa de Prata receives 184 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Costa de Prata. It's quite rainy in Santillana. In October, Santillana usually receives more rain than Costa de Prata. Santillana gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Costa de Prata receives 101 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Santillana or Costa de Prata in the Winter?

Both Costa de Prata and Santillana during the winter are popular places to visit.

In January, Santillana is generally cooler than Costa de Prata. Daily temperatures in Santillana average around 9°C (49°F), and Costa de Prata fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

In the winter, Santillana often gets less sunshine than Costa de Prata. Santillana gets 91 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Costa de Prata receives 124 hours of full sun.

Costa de Prata gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Santillana. Santillana usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Costa de Prata. Santillana gets 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Costa de Prata receives 139 mm (5.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Santillana or Costa de Prata in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Santillana and Costa de Prata.

Santillana is cooler than Costa de Prata in the spring. The daily temperature in Santillana averages around 12°C (53°F) in April, and Costa de Prata fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Costa de Prata this time of the year. Santillana usually receives less sunshine than Costa de Prata during spring. Santillana gets 148 hours of sunny skies, while Costa de Prata receives 217 hours of full sun in the spring.

Santillana gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Santillana usually receives more rain than Costa de Prata. Santillana gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Costa de Prata receives 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Costa de Prata and Santillana