Which place is cheaper, San Sebastian or Santillana?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Santillana or San Sebastian?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Santillana or San Sebastian? 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 San Sebastian?
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.
San Sebastian
San Sebastián is a city in northern Spain very well known for its summertime fun in the sun. While the streets are cool and happening at night, they take on a different charm by day. Beautiful beaches line the city's edge, right next to elegant historic architecture and churches, topping charts as some of the best city beaches in Europe. The food, too, is said to be some of the best with traditional Basque cuisine as well as the popular pintxo (tapas) bites. San Sebastián is a place of lively culture, teeming with beauty, flavors, and colors.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Spain, The Best 2-Week Tours in Spain, The Best Bicycle Tours in Spain, and The Best Adventure Tours to Spain.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySantillana €105San Sebastian €90
The average daily cost (per person) in Santillana is €105, while the average daily cost in San Sebastian is €90. 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 San Sebastian in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSantillana €60San Sebastian €40
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSantillana €120San Sebastian €80
Compare Hotels in Santillana and San Sebastian
Looking for a hotel in Santillana or San Sebastian? 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.
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 San Sebastian Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santillana €17San Sebastian €14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Sebastian
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Sebastian:
- Private Transfer from San Sebastian Airport to Pamplona city: $245
- Private Transfer from San Sebastian city to Bilbao Airport: $266
- Private Transfer from San Sebastian city to Vitoria Airport : $288
- Private Transfer from San Sebastian to Bilbao: $266
- Private Transfer from San Sebastian to Vitoria: $288
- San Sebastián-Bilbao city or airport private transfer: $271
- Transfer San Sebastian to Bilbao or San Sebastian Airports by Van: $90
Is it cheaper to fly into Santillana or San Sebastian?
Prices for flights to both San Sebastian 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
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Food Meals for one daySantillana €30San Sebastian €31
Typical Food Prices in Santillana
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Santillana:
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Breakfast€7.00
Typical Food Prices in San Sebastian
Some typical examples of dining costs in San Sebastian are as follows:
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Dinner for 2€55
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Lunch for 2€10
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Lunch for 2€31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Sebastian
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Sebastian.
- Insider Best Culinary Gems Guided Food Tour in San Sebastian: $108
- San Sebastian Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $114
- Basque Cuisine Cooking Class with Market Visit: $146
- Authentic Basque Cooking Class in the Old Town: $151
- Private San Sebastian Walking Food Tour: $157
- Dinner in a Gastronomic Club in San Sebastian: $173
- Basque Cooking Class in San Sebastian: $211
- Michelin Star Secrets Cooking Class in San Sebastian: $211
- Food tour in San Sebastian and Visit to a Gastronomical Club: $224
- History and flavors of San Sebastian for Dinner with Eskerne Falcón: $233
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santillana €23San Sebastian €33
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: $426
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Sebastian
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in San Sebastian are as follows:
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Valle de los Caídos Monument€6.00
Tours and Activities in San Sebastian
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for San Sebastian are as follows:
- San Sebastian Walking Tour With Pintxo And Drink: $16
- Guided tour of San Sebastián: $18
- Walking Tour in San Sebastian: $42
- City tour, bike ride: $45
- Electric scooter city tour: $45
- San Sebastian Bike Tour: $47
- Private Tour around San Sebastián with Pintxo and Drink: $49
- City tour, by electric bicycle: $50
- Hondarribia, S.Juan & S.Pedro Small Group Tour from San Sebastian: $60
- Private Guided Sightseeing Bike Tour of San Sebastian: $60
- Small-Group Electric Bike Tour in San Sebastián : $61
- San Sebastian Vegetarian Pintxos Tasting Tour: $70
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySantillana €4.29San Sebastian €20
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: $1,019
Sample the Local Flavors in San Sebastian
Also in San Sebastian, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Ultimate San Sebastian Pintxos & Wine Tour (Evening): $140
- Getaria Txakoli Wine Tour with Hotel Pick-up from San Sebastian: $146
- Best quality food & wine tasting tour in San Sebastian. : $190
- Rioja Wine Tour: 2 Wineries Visit with Tasting from San Sebastian: $239
- Rioja Wine Tour: Winery, Tasting & Lunch from San Sebastian: $249
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santillana and San Sebastian, we can see that Santillana is more expensive. And not only is San Sebastian much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Sebastian would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Sebastian 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 Santillana would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santillana than you might in San Sebastian.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santillana Expensive? and Is San Sebastian Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santillana or San Sebastian?
San Sebastian has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Santillana. When comparing the sizes of Santillana and San Sebastian, 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 San Sebastian?
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 San Sebastian in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Santillana and San Sebastian. Furthermore, many visitors come to San Sebastian in the summer for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.
Santillana is around the same temperature as San Sebastian in the summer. The daily temperature in Santillana averages around 19°C (66°F) in July, and San Sebastian fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Sebastian this time of the year. In Santillana, it's very sunny this time of the year. Santillana usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Sebastian during summer. Santillana gets 213 hours of sunny skies, while San Sebastian receives 209 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Santillana usually receives less rain than San Sebastian. Santillana gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while San Sebastian receives 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySantillana 19°C (66°F)San Sebastian 20°C (68°F)
Should I visit Santillana or San Sebastian in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Santillana as well as San Sebastian. Additionally, most visitors come to San Sebastian for the shopping scene during these months.
In the autumn, Santillana is around the same temperature as San Sebastian. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Santillana in October average around 16°C (60°F), and San Sebastian averages at about 16°C (60°F).
In the autumn, Santillana often gets less sunshine than San Sebastian. Santillana gets 133 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Sebastian receives 144 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in San Sebastian. Santillana receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Santillana usually gets less rain in October than San Sebastian. Santillana gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while San Sebastian receives 155 mm (6.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSantillana 16°C (60°F)San Sebastian 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Santillana or San Sebastian in the Winter?
Both San Sebastian and Santillana are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, the winter months attract visitors to San Sebastian because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Santillana is generally around the same temperature as San Sebastian. Daily temperatures in Santillana average around 9°C (49°F), and San Sebastian fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).
Santillana usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Sebastian during winter. Santillana gets 91 hours of sunny skies, while San Sebastian receives 85 hours of full sun in the winter.
It rains a lot this time of the year in San Sebastian. It's quite rainy in Santillana. In January, Santillana usually receives less rain than San Sebastian. Santillana gets 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while San Sebastian receives 183 mm (7.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySantillana 9°C (49°F)San Sebastian 8°C (47°F)
Should I visit Santillana or San Sebastian in the Spring?
Both San Sebastian and Santillana during the spring are popular places to visit. Also, the beaches are the main draw to San Sebastian this time of year.
Santillana is around the same temperature as San Sebastian in the spring. The daily temperature in Santillana averages around 12°C (53°F) in April, and San Sebastian fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
In the spring, Santillana often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Sebastian. Santillana gets 148 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Sebastian receives 141 hours of full sun.
San Sebastian gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Santillana. Santillana usually gets less rain in April than San Sebastian. Santillana gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while San Sebastian receives 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSantillana 12°C (53°F)San Sebastian 12°C (54°F)
Typical Weather for San Sebastian and Santillana
| Santillana | San Sebastian | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 9°C (49°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) |
| Feb | 10°C (50°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 147 mm (5.8 in) |
| Mar | 10°C (51°F) | 119 mm (4.7 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (53°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) |
| May | 14°C (58°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 139 mm (5.5 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (62°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
| Jul | 19°C (66°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Aug | 19°C (67°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (64°F) | 88 mm (3.4 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (60°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 155 mm (6.1 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (53°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) |
| Dec | 10°C (50°F) | 157 mm (6.2 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 184 mm (7.2 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.