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

Should you visit Santillana or Varenna?

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

Should I visit Santillana or Varenna? 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 Varenna?

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.

Varenna

A golden light cascades from the heavens, bathing the misty blue mountains in a honey haze. The shivering waters of Lake Como blend the gentle blues and yellows of the sky to a tea rose pink that sits under white sailboats. A quaint village hustled around lush gardens, Varenna, Italy is an attractive fishing village that dates back to the eleventh century. Founded in 769 AD by fisherman, the town was originally destroyed in 1126 AD by the rival town Como, only to be restored refugees from the Isola Comacina whose town was also destroyed. Located on the eastern shore of the lake in the province of Lecco, Varenna is filled with a romantic air from its old Italian fisherman houses to the picturesque lanes. Unlike the towns of Bellagio or Milan, Varenna holds a particular authenticity to Italian culture without the burdens of tourist-ridden streets and hotel-packed areas. As Lake Como works as the main attraction of Varenna, the village provides its visitors with a wide array of entertainment on its pebbly beaches. Besides this, Varenna is also known for its exquisite gardens of two villas, Villa Monastero and Villa Cipressi. Besides this, Varenna also has museums just waiting to be explored. Take a tranquil retreat to Varenna!

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

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

Which is Bigger, Santillana or Varenna?

Santillana has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Varenna. When comparing the sizes of Santillana and Varenna, 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 Varenna?

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 Varenna in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Santillana as well as Varenna. Additionally, the summer months attract visitors to Varenna because of the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

Santillana is cooler than Varenna in the summer. The daily temperature in Santillana averages around 19°C (66°F) in July, and Varenna fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Varenna. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Santillana this time of the year. In the summer, Santillana often gets less sunshine than Varenna. Santillana gets 213 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Varenna receives 250 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Varenna. Santillana usually gets less rain in July than Varenna. Santillana gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Varenna receives 133 mm (5.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Santillana or Varenna in the Autumn?

Both Varenna and Santillana are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Varenna this time of year.

In the autumn, Santillana is around the same temperature as Varenna. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Santillana in October average around 16°C (60°F), and Varenna averages at about 15°C (58°F).

Santillana usually receives less sunshine than Varenna during autumn. Santillana gets 133 hours of sunny skies, while Varenna receives 152 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Varenna. It's quite rainy in Santillana. In October, Santillana usually receives around the same amount of rain as Varenna. Santillana gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Varenna receives 140 mm (5.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Santillana or Varenna in the Winter?

Both Varenna and Santillana during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, many travelers come to Varenna for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Varenna. In January, Santillana is generally much warmer than Varenna. Daily temperatures in Santillana average around 9°C (49°F), and Varenna fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).

In the winter, Santillana often gets less sunshine than Varenna. Santillana gets 91 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Varenna receives 119 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Santillana. Santillana usually gets more rain in January than Varenna. Santillana gets 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Varenna receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Santillana or Varenna in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Santillana and Varenna. Also, many visitors come to Varenna in the spring for the natural beauty.

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

Santillana usually receives less sunshine than Varenna during spring. Santillana gets 148 hours of sunny skies, while Varenna receives 176 hours of full sun in the spring.

Varenna receives a lot of rain in the spring. Santillana gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Santillana usually receives less rain than Varenna. Santillana gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Varenna receives 152 mm (6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Varenna and Santillana