A Travel Price Comparison for Spain Santillana vs. Playa del Ingles for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Santillana or Playa del Ingles?

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

Should I visit Santillana or Playa del Ingles? 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 Playa del Ingles?

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.

Playa del Ingles

Translating to "Englishman's Beach," Playa del Ingles is a sea resort located on the south coast of the Gran Canaria island of Spain's Canary Islands. Since the 1960s it has been built up to accommodate tourists from around the world, especially from Europe. Some of the most popular attractions include an abundance of bars and clubs as well as beachside activities like swimming, surfing, scuba, and snorkeling.

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.

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

Which is Bigger, Santillana or Playa del Ingles?

Playa del Ingles has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Santillana. When comparing the sizes of Santillana and Playa del Ingles, 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 Playa del Ingles?

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 Playa del Ingles in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Santillana as well as Playa del Ingles.

In July, Santillana is generally cooler than Playa del Ingles. Daily temperatures in Santillana average around 19°C (66°F), and Playa del Ingles fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa del Ingles. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Santillana this time of the year. In the summer, Santillana often gets less sunshine than Playa del Ingles. Santillana gets 213 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa del Ingles receives 293 hours of full sun.

Santillana usually gets more rain in July than Playa del Ingles. Santillana gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 0 mm (0 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Santillana or Playa del Ingles in the Autumn?

Both Playa del Ingles and Santillana are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.

Santillana is cooler than Playa del Ingles in the autumn. The daily temperature in Santillana averages around 16°C (60°F) in October, and Playa del Ingles fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

It's quite sunny in Playa del Ingles. Santillana usually receives less sunshine than Playa del Ingles during autumn. Santillana gets 133 hours of sunny skies, while Playa del Ingles receives 213 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Santillana. In October, Santillana usually receives more rain than Playa del Ingles. Santillana gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Santillana or Playa del Ingles in the Winter?

Both Playa del Ingles and Santillana during the winter are popular places to visit.

In the winter, Santillana is much colder than Playa del Ingles. Typically, the winter temperatures in Santillana in January average around 9°C (49°F), and Playa del Ingles averages at about 17°C (63°F).

In the winter, Santillana often gets less sunshine than Playa del Ingles. Santillana gets 91 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa del Ingles receives 187 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Santillana. Santillana usually gets more rain in January than Playa del Ingles. Santillana gets 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Santillana or Playa del Ingles in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Santillana and Playa del Ingles.

In April, Santillana is generally much colder than Playa del Ingles. Daily temperatures in Santillana average around 12°C (53°F), and Playa del Ingles fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Playa del Ingles this time of the year. Santillana usually receives less sunshine than Playa del Ingles during spring. Santillana gets 148 hours of sunny skies, while Playa del Ingles receives 225 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 Playa del Ingles. Santillana gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Playa del Ingles and Santillana