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

Should you visit Santillana or Portofino?

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

Should I visit Santillana or Portofino? 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 Portofino?

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.

Portofino

Located on the Italian Riviera coastline just southeast of Genoa, Portofino is known first and foremost as a resort town and popular yachting destination. The half-moon village sits in pastels, curving into a beautiful harbor of fishing boats and luxury yachts. A castle on a hill overlooks it all, while shops, restaurants, cafes, and luxury hotels make up the spread down below. Portofino also has opportunities for hiking, diving, and boating.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Spain, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Spain, The Best Historical Tours in Italy, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Italy.


Which place is cheaper, Portofino 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 Portofino is €326. 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 Portofino in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Santillana 60
    Portofino 190
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Santillana 120
    Portofino 380
Compare Hotels in Santillana and Portofino

Looking for a hotel in Santillana or Portofino? 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 Portofino


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 Portofino Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Santillana 17
    Portofino 23

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Portofino

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Portofino:

  • CAR 3 PAX TRANSFER TO AIRPORT MILANO MALPENSA: $876
  • Portofino hotels to Genoa Airport (GOA) - Departure Private Transfer: $54
  • Private Transfer - Portofino Cruise Port to Florence Airport(FLR): $158
  • Private Transfer from Portofino Cruise Port to Florence hotels: $158
  • Private Transfer from Portofino Cruise Port to Genoa Airport(GOA): $49
  • Private Transfer from Portofino Cruise Port to Genoa city hotels: $49

Is it cheaper to fly into Santillana or Portofino?

Prices for flights to both Portofino 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
    Portofino 118
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 Portofino

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

  • Portofino Boat and Walking Tour with Pesto Cooking & Lunch: $246

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Santillana 23
    Portofino 27

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 Portofino

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

  • 1-Hour Snorkeling Tour in Paraggi Bay, Portofino: $42
  • Snorkel Tour in Paraggi Bay: $43
  • Portofino Stand Up Paddleboard Experience: $52
  • Easy Kayak Tour to Portofino with Optional Snorkeling: $52
  • Paddle Boarding Experience in Portofino: $54
  • Portofino Kayak Tour: $54
  • Coasteering Tour: $74
  • Portofino and San Fruttuoso Boat Experience: $107
  • Portofino Private Walking Tour: $267
  • White Boat Tour Tigullio Portofino: $449
  • Private Sunset Boat Tour with Aperitif of Ligurian goods: $481
  • Private Tour of Genoa and Portofino from Genoa: $713

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Santillana 4.29
    Portofino 16

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


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


Which is Bigger, Santillana or Portofino?

Santillana has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Portofino. When comparing the sizes of Santillana and Portofino, 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.

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