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

Should you visit Santillana or Genoa?

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

Should I visit Santillana or Genoa? 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 Genoa?

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.

Genoa

Located on the coast of northwest Italy, Genoa is a port city and capital of the Liguria region. With a long history as a rich and powerful trade center, Genoa's past of many centuries is still visible in its old port, stunning architecture, and charming alleyways. A traveler can spend days walking along seaside villas, admiring towering churches, and shopping the boutiques of the city. Genoa is also the birthplace of Christopher Columbus, featuring what is thought to be his birth home and many other quaint abodes.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Spain, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Spain, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Italy, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Italy.


Which place is cheaper, Genoa or Santillana?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Santillana is €105, while the average daily cost in Genoa is €150. 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 Santillana and Genoa in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Santillana 60
    Genoa 88
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Santillana 120
    Genoa 176
Compare Hotels in Santillana and Genoa

Looking for a hotel in Santillana or Genoa? 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.

Hotels in Santillana


Hotels in Genoa


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: Santillana Hotel Prices and Genoa Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Santillana 17
    Genoa 8.69

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Genoa

Also for Genoa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Departure Private Transfer Genoa, Savona or Portofino to GOA Airport by Sedan: $44
  • From Genoa to Florence Hotels - Private Transfer: $145
  • From Genova: Portofino Return Transfer by Open-Top Bus: $63
  • Genoa Airport (GOA) to Genoa - Arrival Private Transfer: $27
  • Genoa Airport (GOA) to Genoa - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $55
  • Genoa Airport (GOA) to Milan - Arrival Private Transfer: $111
  • Genoa Airport (GOA) to Milan - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $222
  • Genoa Airport (GOA) to Portofino hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $107
  • Genoa Airport Transfers : Genoa City to Genoa Airport GOA in Business Car: $65
  • Genoa Airport Transfers : Genoa City to Genoa Airport GOA in Minivan: $65
  • Genoa Airport to Savona Cruise Port Private Arrival Transfer: $59
  • Genoa Cruise Port to Genoa city - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $52

Is it cheaper to fly into Santillana or Genoa?

Prices for flights to both Genoa and Santillana 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Santillana 30
    Genoa 51
Typical Food Prices in Santillana

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Santillana:


  • Breakfast
    7.00

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Genoa

For Genoa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Genoese cooking lesson in the garden with lunch: $68
  • Genoa Old town Food Tour: $74
  • Itinerant dinner in the old town: $75
  • Street Food Tour: $84
  • Do Eat Better Experience - Food Tours in Genoa: $86
  • Traditional Food Tour: $91
  • Lunch or dinner and cooking demo at a local home in Camogli: $93
  • Lunch or dinner and cooking demo at a local home in Savona: $93
  • Dining experience with cooking demo and wines in Rapallo: $93
  • Traditional Home Cooking Class in Genoa: $93
  • Tour of Genoa historic center and wine tasting with dinner: $93
  • Small-group Street food tour in Savona: $97

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Santillana 23
    Genoa 20

Tours and Activities in Santillana

Here are a few actual costs in Santillana for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Memorable Family Walking Tour in Ancient Santillana del Mar: $428

Tours and Activities in Genoa

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Genoa.

  • First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
  • Genoa Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
  • City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.95
  • City Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Tour: $6.95
  • City Highlights Self-guided Walking Tour: $8.45
  • Lighthouse Entrance Ticket: $8.56
  • Finance and Nobility Self-Guided Audio Tour: $8.99
  • Finance and Nobility: Explore medieval Genoa on a self-guided audio tour: $8.99
  • Historic Guided Tour of Christopher Columbus' House: $11
  • The City of Children and Young Museum Entry Ticket: $13
  • Historic Shops in Tour Through Tradition and Flavours: $15
  • 2-Hour Guided Walking Tour of the Historical Center: $15

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Santillana 4.29
    Genoa 10

Sample the Local Flavors in Santillana

Also in Santillana, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Santillana Uncorked: A Wine Tasting Adventure: $1,022

Sample the Local Flavors in Genoa

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Genoa:

  • Guided Eco Hiking and Sea View Wine Tasting in Portofino Park: $75
  • 3 Hour Pesto Making and Wine Tasting Activity in Campetto Genoa: $105
  • CAMOGLI: PRIVATE Ligurian Wine Tasting Experience and walking on National Park: $125


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


Which is Bigger, Santillana or Genoa?

Genoa has a larger population, and is about 150 times larger than the population of Santillana. When comparing the sizes of Santillana and Genoa, 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 Santillana or Genoa?

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 Genoa in the Summer?

Both Genoa and Santillana during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many visitors come to Genoa in the summer for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Santillana is cooler than Genoa. Typically, the summer temperatures in Santillana in July average around 19°C (66°F), and Genoa averages at about 25°C (76°F).

In Genoa, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Santillana. In the summer, Santillana often gets less sunshine than Genoa. Santillana gets 213 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Genoa receives 295 hours of full sun.

Santillana usually gets more rain in July than Genoa. Santillana gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Santillana 19°C (66°F) 
    Genoa 25°C (76°F)

Should I visit Santillana or Genoa in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Santillana and Genoa. Furthermore, most visitors come to Genoa for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In October, Santillana is generally cooler than Genoa. Daily temperatures in Santillana average around 16°C (60°F), and Genoa fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

Santillana usually receives less sunshine than Genoa during autumn. Santillana gets 133 hours of sunny skies, while Genoa receives 183 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Santillana gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Santillana usually receives more rain than Genoa. Santillana gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 97 mm (3.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Santillana 16°C (60°F) 
    Genoa 19°C (66°F)

Should I visit Santillana or Genoa in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Santillana as well as Genoa. Additionally, the winter months attract visitors to Genoa because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Santillana is cooler than Genoa in the winter. The daily temperature in Santillana averages around 9°C (49°F) in January, and Genoa fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

In the winter, Santillana often gets less sunshine than Genoa. Santillana gets 91 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Genoa receives 127 hours of full sun.

Santillana receives a lot of rain in the winter. Santillana usually gets more rain in January than Genoa. Santillana gets 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Santillana 9°C (49°F) 
    Genoa 11°C (51°F)

Should I visit Santillana or Genoa in the Spring?

Both Genoa and Santillana are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Genoa this time of year.

In the spring, Santillana is cooler than Genoa. Typically, the spring temperatures in Santillana in April average around 12°C (53°F), and Genoa averages at about 15°C (58°F).

Santillana usually receives less sunshine than Genoa during spring. Santillana gets 148 hours of sunny skies, while Genoa receives 198 hours of full sun in the spring.

It's quite rainy in Santillana. In April, Santillana usually receives more rain than Genoa. Santillana gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Genoa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Santillana 12°C (53°F) 
    Genoa 15°C (58°F)

Typical Weather for Genoa and Santillana

Santillana Genoa
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 9°C (49°F) 149 mm (5.9 in) 11°C (51°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Feb 10°C (50°F) 116 mm (4.6 in) 11°C (51°F) 73 mm (2.9 in)
Mar 10°C (51°F) 119 mm (4.7 in) 12°C (54°F) 69 mm (2.7 in)
Apr 12°C (53°F) 135 mm (5.3 in) 15°C (58°F) 65 mm (2.6 in)
May 14°C (58°F) 94 mm (3.7 in) 18°C (64°F) 54 mm (2.1 in)
Jun 17°C (62°F) 63 mm (2.5 in) 21°C (71°F) 33 mm (1.3 in)
Jul 19°C (66°F) 50 mm (2 in) 25°C (76°F) 12 mm (0.5 in)
Aug 19°C (67°F) 89 mm (3.5 in) 25°C (77°F) 34 mm (1.3 in)
Sep 18°C (64°F) 88 mm (3.4 in) 22°C (72°F) 57 mm (2.2 in)
Oct 16°C (60°F) 138 mm (5.4 in) 19°C (66°F) 97 mm (3.8 in)
Nov 12°C (53°F) 181 mm (7.1 in) 14°C (58°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
Dec 10°C (50°F) 157 mm (6.2 in) 12°C (53°F) 65 mm (2.6 in)