A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Taormina vs. Santander for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Taormina or Santander?

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 Santander 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 Santander?

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.

Santander

Santander is the capital of the Cantabria Region which runs along the northern coast of Spain. Located right on the bay, it is a place of many historic churches and a handful of interesting museums that range from archaeological discoveries of the region, to maritime history, and cultural features like bullfighting. There is also a large selection of beaches for those looking for a more relaxing getaway in the sun and sand.

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


Which place is cheaper, Santander or Taormina?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Taormina is €108, while the average daily cost in Santander is €108. 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 Taormina and Santander in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Taormina 70
    Santander 51
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Taormina 140
    Santander 102
Compare Hotels in Taormina and Santander

Looking for a hotel in Taormina or Santander? 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 Taormina


Hotels in Santander


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: Taormina Hotel Prices and Santander Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Taormina 4.29
    Santander 24

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Taormina

Also for Taormina, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Sicily Catania Airport: Bus Transfer to and from Taormina: $7.49
  • Roundtrip Transfer from Messina: $41

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santander

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santander:

  • Private Transfer from Santander city to Bilbao Airport: $252
  • Private Transfer from Santander Port to Bilbao Airport: $252
  • Private Transfer from Santander city to Bilbao: $252
  • Santander Private Transfer from the city centre to Santander Airport: $44
  • Santander Private Transfer from Santander Airport to City centre: $44
  • One-way Private Transfer From/To Santander Airport: $41
  • Santander Private Departure Transfer: $35
  • Santander Private Arrival Transfer: $35

Is it cheaper to fly into Taormina or Santander?

Prices for flights to both Santander and Taormina 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
    Taormina 33
    Santander 41

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Taormina 11
    Santander 18

Tours and Activities in Taormina

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Taormina.

  • From Catania: Guided Tour of Mount Etna and Taormina: $57
  • From Catania: Guided Tour of Taormina and Castelmola: $106
  • Tour di Taormina, Savoca e Forza D' Agro': $139
  • Tour Messina Taormina Castelmola: $150
  • Taormina private tour: $160
  • Sicily: Best of Taormina and Castelmola Private Tour: $213
  • Taormina. Highlights Tour with Isolabella and Castelmola: $267
  • Taormina & Castelmola: Shore tour from Messina cruise port: $428
  • Taormina Walking Tour & Ancient theather Private or shared: $588
  • 5 Hours Private Tour of Taormina from Messina: $606
  • Tour da Messina a Taormina, Castelmola, Isola Bella: $695
  • From Catania or Agrigento and Piazza Armerina Tour: $743

Tours and Activities in Santander

Here are a few actual costs in Santander for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • City Sightseeing Santander Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $23
  • From Cantabria Private Tour: $492
  • From Gastronomic Tour: $128
  • From Potes, Santillana and Altamira Day Tour: $42
  • From Santillana del Mar & Altamira Museum Tour: $64
  • Full Day Self Guided Tour in Santillana del Mar and Comillas: $55
  • Full Day Tour Lakes of Covadonga and Santillana from Santander: $46
  • Gastronomy tour: $120
  • Obregón: Parque de la Naturaleza de Cabárceno Entry Ticket: $26
  • Picos de Europa and Potes Guided Tour from Santander : $84
  • Private Puente Viesgo Caves Full-Day Tour from Santander: $213
  • 1-Hour City Cruise Around the Bay: $14

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Taormina 8.57
    Santander 14

Sample the Local Flavors in Taormina

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Taormina:

  • Mt Etna Private guided walking Tour with Wine Tasting: $181
  • Catania: Mt. Etna Private Tour with Food and Wine Tasting: $299


When comparing the travel costs between Taormina and Santander, we can see that Santander is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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


Which is Bigger, Taormina or Santander?

Santander has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Taormina. When comparing the sizes of Taormina and Santander, 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 Santander?

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 Taormina or Santander in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Taormina as well as Santander. Many visitors come to Taormina in the summer for the beaches, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

Taormina is a little warmer than Santander in the summer. The daily temperature in Taormina averages around 27°C (80°F) in July, and Santander fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Santander. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Taormina this time of the year. In the summer, Taormina often gets more sunshine than Santander. Taormina gets 332 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santander receives 213 hours of full sun.

Taormina usually gets less rain in July than Santander. Taormina gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Santander receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Taormina 27°C (80°F) 
    Santander 19°C (66°F)

Should I visit Taormina or Santander in the Autumn?

Both Santander and Taormina are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Taormina for the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Taormina is a little warmer than Santander. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Taormina in October average around 21°C (69°F), and Santander averages at about 16°C (60°F).

Taormina usually receives more sunshine than Santander during autumn. Taormina gets 189 hours of sunny skies, while Santander receives 133 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Santander. It's quite rainy in Taormina. In October, Taormina usually receives around the same amount of rain as Santander. Taormina gets 128 mm (5 in) of rain, while Santander receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Taormina 21°C (69°F) 
    Santander 16°C (60°F)

Should I visit Taormina or Santander in the Winter?

Both Santander and Taormina during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Taormina because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In January, Taormina is generally a little warmer than Santander. Daily temperatures in Taormina average around 13°C (55°F), and Santander fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).

In the winter, Taormina often gets more sunshine than Santander. Taormina gets 115 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santander receives 91 hours of full sun.

Santander gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Taormina usually gets less rain in January than Santander. Taormina gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Santander receives 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Taormina 13°C (55°F) 
    Santander 9°C (49°F)

Should I visit Taormina or Santander in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Taormina and Santander. The beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty are the main draw to Taormina this time of year.

Taormina is a little warmer than Santander in the spring. The daily temperature in Taormina averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Santander fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).

In Taormina, it's very sunny this time of the year. Taormina usually receives more sunshine than Santander during spring. Taormina gets 207 hours of sunny skies, while Santander receives 148 hours of full sun in the spring.

Santander receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Taormina usually receives less rain than Santander. Taormina gets 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Santander receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Taormina 16°C (60°F) 
    Santander 12°C (53°F)

Typical Weather for Santander and Taormina

Taormina Santander
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 13°C (55°F) 69 mm (2.7 in) 9°C (49°F) 149 mm (5.9 in)
Feb 13°C (55°F) 54 mm (2.1 in) 10°C (50°F) 116 mm (4.6 in)
Mar 14°C (57°F) 49 mm (1.9 in) 10°C (51°F) 119 mm (4.7 in)
Apr 16°C (60°F) 37 mm (1.5 in) 12°C (53°F) 135 mm (5.3 in)
May 20°C (67°F) 18 mm (0.7 in) 14°C (58°F) 94 mm (3.7 in)
Jun 24°C (74°F) 6 mm (0.2 in) 17°C (62°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)
Jul 27°C (80°F) 6 mm (0.2 in) 19°C (66°F) 50 mm (2 in)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 9 mm (0.4 in) 19°C (67°F) 89 mm (3.5 in)
Sep 25°C (76°F) 45 mm (1.8 in) 18°C (64°F) 88 mm (3.4 in)
Oct 21°C (69°F) 128 mm (5 in) 16°C (60°F) 138 mm (5.4 in)
Nov 17°C (62°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 12°C (53°F) 181 mm (7.1 in)
Dec 14°C (57°F) 87 mm (3.4 in) 10°C (50°F) 157 mm (6.2 in)


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