Which place is cheaper, Santillana or Taormina?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Taormina or Santillana?
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 Santillana 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 Santillana?
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.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Italy, The Best Walking Tours in Italy, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Spain, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Spain.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTaormina €108Santillana €105
The average daily cost (per person) in Taormina is €108, while the average daily cost in Santillana is €105. 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 Santillana in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTaormina €70Santillana €60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTaormina €140Santillana €120
Compare Hotels in Taormina and Santillana
Looking for a hotel in Taormina or Santillana? 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: Taormina Hotel Prices and Santillana Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Taormina €4.29Santillana €17
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Taormina or Santillana?
Prices for flights to both Santillana 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
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Food Meals for one dayTaormina €33Santillana €30
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Taormina €11Santillana €23
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 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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTaormina €8.57Santillana €4.29
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
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 comparing the travel costs between Taormina and Santillana, we can see that Taormina 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 Santillana Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Taormina or Santillana?
Taormina has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Santillana. When comparing the sizes of Taormina and Santillana, 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 Santillana?
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 Santillana in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Taormina as well as Santillana. Many travelers come to Taormina for the beaches, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Taormina is generally a little warmer than Santillana. Daily temperatures in Taormina average around 27°C (80°F), and Santillana fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Santillana. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Taormina this time of the year. In the summer, Taormina often gets more sunshine than Santillana. Taormina gets 332 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santillana receives 213 hours of full sun.
Taormina usually gets less rain in July than Santillana. Taormina gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Santillana receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyTaormina 27°C (80°F)Santillana 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Taormina or Santillana in the Autumn?
Both Santillana and Taormina are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Taormina in the autumn for the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.
Taormina is a little warmer than Santillana in the autumn. The daily temperature in Taormina averages around 21°C (69°F) in October, and Santillana fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
Taormina usually receives more sunshine than Santillana during autumn. Taormina gets 189 hours of sunny skies, while Santillana receives 133 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Santillana. It's quite rainy in Taormina. In October, Taormina usually receives around the same amount of rain as Santillana. Taormina gets 128 mm (5 in) of rain, while Santillana receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberTaormina 21°C (69°F)Santillana 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Taormina or Santillana in the Winter?
Both Santillana and Taormina during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Taormina for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
In the winter, Taormina is a little warmer than Santillana. Typically, the winter temperatures in Taormina in January average around 13°C (55°F), and Santillana averages at about 9°C (49°F).
In the winter, Taormina often gets more sunshine than Santillana. Taormina gets 115 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santillana receives 91 hours of full sun.
Santillana gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Taormina usually gets less rain in January than Santillana. Taormina gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Santillana receives 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryTaormina 13°C (55°F)Santillana 9°C (49°F)
Should I visit Taormina or Santillana in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Taormina and Santillana. The spring months attract visitors to Taormina because of the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.
In April, Taormina is generally a little warmer than Santillana. Daily temperatures in Taormina average around 16°C (60°F), and Santillana fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
In Taormina, it's very sunny this time of the year. Taormina usually receives more sunshine than Santillana during spring. Taormina gets 207 hours of sunny skies, while Santillana receives 148 hours of full sun in the spring.
Santillana receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Taormina usually receives less rain than Santillana. Taormina gets 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Santillana receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilTaormina 16°C (60°F)Santillana 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Santillana and Taormina
| Taormina | Santillana | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
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.