A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Taormina vs. Playa de las Americas for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Taormina or Playa de las Americas?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Taormina and Playa de las Americas can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Taormina or Playa de las Americas?

Taormina

A quaint hillside town on the eastern side of Sicily, Taormina is arguably one of the most popular tourist resorts on the island. It's peak season is the months of July and August when Italian and European tourists alike flock to the beaches. During this time it can be crowded and hot, but if you visit during the spring or fall months you might find the crowds slightly less and the weather more comfortable. The town is popular with package tours, which stay at the beach resorts around Giardini Naxos to the south or Letojanni to the north.

Playa de las Americas

If you are looking to escape your life - to relax on a modern day pleasure island, then you need to book a trip to the Playa de las Americas resort town. Located on the south coast of Tenerife, this party, beach, and vacation capital never goes to sleep. Packed with nightclubs, bars, live music, shops and restaurants, Playa de las Americas is the stuff Hollywood movies are made of.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Italy, The Best Walking Tours in Italy, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Barcelona, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Madrid.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Taormina and Playa de las Americas, we can see that Playa de las Americas is more expensive. And not only is Taormina much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Taormina would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Taormina 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 de las Americas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Playa de las Americas than you might in Taormina.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Taormina Expensive? and Is Playa de las Americas Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Taormina or Playa de las Americas?

Taormina has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Playa de las Americas. When comparing the sizes of Taormina and Playa de las Americas, 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 Taormina or Playa de las Americas?

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 Taormina or Playa de las Americas in the Summer?

Both Playa de las Americas and Taormina are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Taormina in the summer for the beaches, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Taormina is generally a little warmer than Playa de las Americas. Daily temperatures in Taormina average around 27°C (80°F), and Playa de las Americas fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

It's quite sunny in Playa de las Americas. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Taormina. Taormina usually receives more sunshine than Playa de las Americas during summer. Taormina gets 332 hours of sunny skies, while Playa de las Americas receives 268 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Taormina usually receives more rain than Playa de las Americas. Taormina gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Taormina or Playa de las Americas in the Autumn?

Both Playa de las Americas and Taormina during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Taormina for the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

Taormina is cooler than Playa de las Americas in the autumn. The daily temperature in Taormina averages around 21°C (69°F) in October, and Playa de las Americas fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

In Playa de las Americas, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Taormina often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Playa de las Americas. Taormina gets 189 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa de las Americas receives 200 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Taormina. Taormina usually gets more rain in October than Playa de las Americas. Taormina gets 128 mm (5 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Taormina or Playa de las Americas in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Taormina and Playa de las Americas. The winter months attract visitors to Taormina because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, Taormina is much colder than Playa de las Americas. Typically, the winter temperatures in Taormina in January average around 13°C (55°F), and Playa de las Americas averages at about 19°C (66°F).

Taormina usually receives less sunshine than Playa de las Americas during winter. Taormina gets 115 hours of sunny skies, while Playa de las Americas receives 191 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Taormina usually receives more rain than Playa de las Americas. Taormina gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Taormina or Playa de las Americas in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Taormina as well as Playa de las Americas. The beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty are the main draw to Taormina this time of year.

In April, Taormina is generally cooler than Playa de las Americas. Daily temperatures in Taormina average around 16°C (60°F), and Playa de las Americas fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa de las Americas. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Taormina this time of the year. In the spring, Taormina often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Playa de las Americas. Taormina gets 207 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa de las Americas receives 205 hours of full sun.

Taormina usually gets more rain in April than Playa de las Americas. Taormina gets 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Playa de las Americas and Taormina