A Travel Price Comparison for Spain Santillana vs. Girona for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Santillana or Girona?

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

Should I visit Santillana or Girona? 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 Girona?

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.

Girona

Girona is an ancient town in northeastern Spain, and serves as the capital of the province of the same name in Spain's Catalonia region. It is characterized by narrow medieval alleys, architecture, and an impressive wall that once served to fortify the city.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Spain, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Spain, The Best Luxury Tours to Spain, and The Best Budget Tours to Spain.


Which place is cheaper, Girona 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 Girona is €140. 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 Girona in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Santillana 60
    Girona 69
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Santillana 120
    Girona 138
Compare Hotels in Santillana and Girona

Looking for a hotel in Santillana or Girona? 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 Girona


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 Girona Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Santillana 17
    Girona 49

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Girona

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Girona:

  • Girona Airport Bus Transfer from/to Barcelona Center: $21
  • Palamós to Girona Airport (GRO) - Departure Private Transfer : $33
  • Private Transfer from Tossa de Mar/ Lloret de Mar to Barcelona: $262
  • Transfer from Barcelona to girona Airport: $196

Is it cheaper to fly into Santillana or Girona?

Prices for flights to both Girona 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
    Girona 41
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 Girona

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Girona.

  • The 11 tastings of Girona small-group tour and dinner: $88
  • Girona Morning Food Tour & Local Market: $91
  • Girona Evening Food Tour & Tapas Bar Experience: $95
  • The 11 Tastings of Girona small-group tour and dinner: $96
  • Girona Morning Food Tour & Local Market: $97

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Santillana 23
    Girona 24

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 Girona

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Girona are as follows:

  • Girona self-guided tour app with multilingual audioguide: $4.28
  • Audio Tour Imprescindible a tu ritmo: $6.41
  • Girona Art Museum: Skip-the-Line Entry Ticket & Audio Guide: $6.42
  • Museum of Cinema Entry Ticket: $7.49
  • Self-guided Audio City Tour on Your Phone: $11
  • Girona City Tour Self-guided Audio Tour on Your Phone (no ticket): $11
  • Ticket pass to Girona Cathedral, Sant Felix and Girona Art Museum: $13
  • Catedral, Art Museum, St Felix Church Ticket & Audio: $29
  • E-ticket to Girona's Cathedral, Art Museum & S.t Feliu Church: $29
  • Girona History, Legends, and Food Walking Tour with food tasting: $31
  • Guided 2-Hour Walking Tour with Food Tasting: $37
  • Small Group Walking Tour: $37

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Santillana 4.29
    Girona 9.69

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 Girona

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

  • Spanish Wine Tasting in the Costa Brava: $82
  • Local Wineries Tour with Breakfast and Wine Tasting: $149


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


Which is Bigger, Santillana or Girona?

Girona has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Santillana. When comparing the sizes of Santillana and Girona, 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 Girona?

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 Santillana or Girona in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Santillana and Girona. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Girona because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

Santillana is cooler than Girona in the summer. The daily temperature in Santillana averages around 19°C (66°F) in July, and Girona fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Girona this time of the year. In Santillana, it's very sunny this time of the year. Santillana usually receives less sunshine than Girona during summer. Santillana gets 213 hours of sunny skies, while Girona receives 279 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Santillana usually receives more rain than Girona. Santillana gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Girona receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Santillana 19°C (66°F) 
    Girona 24°C (75°F)

Should I visit Santillana or Girona in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Santillana as well as Girona. Also, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Girona this time of year.

In the autumn, Santillana is around the same temperature as Girona. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Santillana in October average around 16°C (60°F), and Girona averages at about 16°C (61°F).

In the autumn, Santillana often gets less sunshine than Girona. Santillana gets 133 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Girona receives 170 hours of full sun.

Santillana receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Santillana usually gets more rain in October than Girona. Santillana gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Girona receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Santillana 16°C (60°F) 
    Girona 16°C (61°F)

Should I visit Santillana or Girona in the Winter?

Both Girona and Santillana are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Girona for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In January, Santillana is generally a little warmer than Girona. Daily temperatures in Santillana average around 9°C (49°F), and Girona fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

Santillana usually receives less sunshine than Girona during winter. Santillana gets 91 hours of sunny skies, while Girona receives 148 hours of full sun in the winter.

It's quite rainy in Santillana. In January, Santillana usually receives more rain than Girona. Santillana gets 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Girona receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Santillana 9°C (49°F) 
    Girona 8°C (46°F)

Should I visit Santillana or Girona in the Spring?

Both Girona and Santillana during the spring are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many visitors come to Girona in the spring for the small town charm and the natural beauty.

Santillana is around the same temperature as Girona in the spring. The daily temperature in Santillana averages around 12°C (53°F) in April, and Girona fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

In the spring, Santillana often gets less sunshine than Girona. Santillana gets 148 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Girona receives 177 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Santillana. Santillana usually gets more rain in April than Girona. Santillana gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Girona receives 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Santillana 12°C (53°F) 
    Girona 13°C (55°F)

Typical Weather for Girona and Santillana

Santillana Girona
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 9°C (49°F) 149 mm (5.9 in) 8°C (46°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Feb 10°C (50°F) 116 mm (4.6 in) 9°C (48°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Mar 10°C (51°F) 119 mm (4.7 in) 11°C (51°F) 54 mm (2.1 in)
Apr 12°C (53°F) 135 mm (5.3 in) 13°C (55°F) 73 mm (2.9 in)
May 14°C (58°F) 94 mm (3.7 in) 16°C (62°F) 87 mm (3.4 in)
Jun 17°C (62°F) 63 mm (2.5 in) 21°C (69°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)
Jul 19°C (66°F) 50 mm (2 in) 24°C (75°F) 38 mm (1.5 in)
Aug 19°C (67°F) 89 mm (3.5 in) 24°C (74°F) 55 mm (2.2 in)
Sep 18°C (64°F) 88 mm (3.4 in) 21°C (70°F) 58 mm (2.3 in)
Oct 16°C (60°F) 138 mm (5.4 in) 16°C (61°F) 79 mm (3.1 in)
Nov 12°C (53°F) 181 mm (7.1 in) 11°C (52°F) 82 mm (3.2 in)
Dec 10°C (50°F) 157 mm (6.2 in) 9°C (47°F) 47 mm (1.9 in)