Which place is cheaper, Santillana or Thessaloniki?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Thessaloniki or Santillana?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Thessaloniki or Santillana? 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: Thessaloniki or Santillana?
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki is the second largest city in Greece and serves as the capital city of the Central Macedonia region. It also has a rich history dating back more than 3,000 years. As a visitor, you'll find that the city has been touched by the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires, all of which left their mark. In particular, the many Byzantine churches are quite impressive, with some of them listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
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 Tours for Seniors to Greece, The Best Contiki Tours to Greece, 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 dayThessaloniki €134Santillana €105
The average daily cost (per person) in Thessaloniki is €134, 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 Thessaloniki and Santillana in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personThessaloniki €79Santillana €60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomThessaloniki €158Santillana €120
Compare Hotels in Thessaloniki and Santillana
Looking for a hotel in Thessaloniki 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: Thessaloniki Hotel Prices and Santillana Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Thessaloniki €13Santillana €17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Thessaloniki
Also for Thessaloniki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Private Day Trip to Meteora with Transfer: $428
- One Way Private Transfer SKG Airport to / from Thessaloniki City Center: $24
- Private Transfer from Kavala to Sofia (SOF) Airport: $237
- Private Transfer from Thessaloniki Airport to Ammon Zeus Hotel : $109
- Private Transfer from Thessaloniki Airport to Sani Resort: $109
- Private Transfer from Thessaloniki Airport to Thessaloniki Port: $41
- Private Transfer from Thessaloniki hotels to Thessaloniki Port: $41
- Private Transfer from Thessaloniki to Sofia (SOF) Airport: $254
- Private Transfer to Thessaloniki Airport from Thessaloniki City: $120
- Private transfer to IKOS OLIVIA: $87
- Thessaloniki Airport (SKG) to Thessaloniki - Arrival Transfer: $21
- Thessaloniki Airport (SKG): Transfer to Thessaloniki Port: $142
Is it cheaper to fly into Thessaloniki or Santillana?
Prices for flights to both Santillana and Thessaloniki 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 dayThessaloniki €42Santillana €30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Thessaloniki
For Thessaloniki, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Open Market Food Tour with Tasting: $48
- Walking Open Market Food Tour and Tasting: $49
- Cooking & Dining Experience with Greek Family: $63
- Guided Food Tour: $70
- Food Tour in Thessaloniki: $71
- Private Walking Tour Gastronomic Food Tour in Thessaloniki: $87
- Traditional Greek Food Tour With A Local: $95
- Greek Ouzo and Meze Food Tour: $95
- Greek Cooking Class, Market Visit and Lunch: $95
- Traditional Greek Food Tour With A Local: $97
- Greek Ouzo and Meze Food Tour: $97
- Greek Cooking Class, Market visit and Lunch: $97
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.Thessaloniki €26Santillana €23
Tours and Activities in Thessaloniki
For Thessaloniki, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Escape Game and Tour: $6.95
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $6.95
- White Tower Self-Guided Audio Tour: $8.54
- Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour & Narrative: $11
- Selfie Museum Entry Ticket: $11
- Self-Guided Game & Tour: $12
- Museum of Illusions Admission Ticket: $12
- Thessaloniki Self-Guided Game & Tour: $12
- Byzantine Museum E-Ticket with Audio Tour: $13
- E-ticket to Museum of Byzantine Culture with Audio Tour : $13
- Thessaloniki Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus Tour: $17
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 dayThessaloniki €15Santillana €4.29
Sample the Local Flavors in Thessaloniki
Also in Thessaloniki, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Friday Night Bar Crawl in Thessaloniki: $25
- From Pella-Edessa wine tasting: $64
- Small-Group Wine Tasting Tour with Appetizers: $81
- Thessaloniki Small-Group Wine Tasting Tour with Appetizers: $83
- Winery Visit with Wine Tasting Experience: $91
- Wine Tasting Experience from Thessaloniki: $93
- Thessaloniki to Naoussa, Wine Tasting Tour – Private Day Trip: $207
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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Thessaloniki and Santillana, we can see that Thessaloniki 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 Thessaloniki would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Thessaloniki 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 Thessaloniki Expensive? and Is Santillana Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Thessaloniki or Santillana?
Thessaloniki has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of Santillana. When comparing the sizes of Thessaloniki 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 Thessaloniki 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 Thessaloniki or Santillana in the Summer?
Both Santillana and Thessaloniki during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Thessaloniki because of the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
Thessaloniki is a little warmer than Santillana in the summer. The daily temperature in Thessaloniki averages around 25°C (77°F) in July, and Santillana fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
In Santillana, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Thessaloniki. In the summer, Thessaloniki often gets more sunshine than Santillana. Thessaloniki gets 327 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santillana receives 213 hours of full sun.
Thessaloniki usually gets less rain in July than Santillana. Thessaloniki gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Santillana receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyThessaloniki 25°C (77°F)Santillana 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Thessaloniki or Santillana in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Thessaloniki and Santillana. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Thessaloniki this time of year.
In the autumn, Thessaloniki is around the same temperature as Santillana. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Thessaloniki in October average around 16°C (61°F), and Santillana averages at about 16°C (60°F).
Thessaloniki usually receives more sunshine than Santillana during autumn. Thessaloniki gets 159 hours of sunny skies, while Santillana receives 133 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Santillana receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Thessaloniki usually receives less rain than Santillana. Thessaloniki gets 41 mm (1.6 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 OctoberThessaloniki 16°C (61°F)Santillana 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Thessaloniki or Santillana in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Thessaloniki as well as Santillana. Many travelers come to Thessaloniki for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Thessaloniki is generally much colder than Santillana. Daily temperatures in Thessaloniki average around 5°C (41°F), and Santillana fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).
In the winter, Thessaloniki often gets more sunshine than Santillana. Thessaloniki gets 101 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santillana receives 91 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Santillana. Thessaloniki usually gets less rain in January than Santillana. Thessaloniki gets 37 mm (1.5 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 JanuaryThessaloniki 5°C (41°F)Santillana 9°C (49°F)
Should I visit Thessaloniki or Santillana in the Spring?
Both Santillana and Thessaloniki are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Thessaloniki in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city.
Thessaloniki is a little warmer than Santillana in the spring. The daily temperature in Thessaloniki averages around 13°C (56°F) in April, and Santillana fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
Thessaloniki usually receives more sunshine than Santillana during spring. Thessaloniki gets 196 hours of sunny skies, while Santillana receives 148 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Santillana. In April, Thessaloniki usually receives less rain than Santillana. Thessaloniki gets 36 mm (1.4 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 AprilThessaloniki 13°C (56°F)Santillana 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Santillana and Thessaloniki
| Thessaloniki | Santillana | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 5°C (41°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) |
| Feb | 7°C (44°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Mar | 9°C (49°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 119 mm (4.7 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (56°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| May | 18°C (65°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (73°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (76°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) |
| Sep | 21°C (70°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 88 mm (3.4 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
| Nov | 11°C (52°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (44°F) | 53 mm (2.1 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.