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

Should you visit Varenna or Playa de las Americas?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Varenna and Playa de las Americas. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

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

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!

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 Budget Tours to Italy, The Best Tours for Seniors to 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 Varenna and Playa de las Americas, we can see that Playa de las Americas is more expensive. And not only is Varenna much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Varenna would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Varenna 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 Varenna.

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

Which is Bigger, Varenna or Playa de las Americas?

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

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Varenna and Playa de las Americas. Many travelers come to Varenna for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

Varenna is around the same temperature as Playa de las Americas in the summer. The daily temperature in Varenna averages around 23°C (73°F) in July, and Playa de las Americas fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Playa de las Americas this time of the year. In Varenna, it's very sunny this time of the year. Varenna usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Playa de las Americas during summer. Varenna gets 250 hours of sunny skies, while Playa de las Americas receives 268 hours of full sun in the summer.

Varenna gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Varenna usually receives more rain than Playa de las Americas. Varenna gets 133 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.

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

The autumn brings many poeple to Varenna as well as Playa de las Americas. Many visitors come to Varenna in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Varenna is much colder than Playa de las Americas. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Varenna in October average around 15°C (58°F), and Playa de las Americas averages at about 24°C (75°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa de las Americas. In the autumn, Varenna often gets less sunshine than Playa de las Americas. Varenna gets 152 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa de las Americas receives 200 hours of full sun.

Varenna receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Varenna usually gets more rain in October than Playa de las Americas. Varenna gets 140 mm (5.5 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

Both Playa de las Americas and Varenna are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Varenna for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Varenna can be very cold during winter. In January, Varenna is generally much colder than Playa de las Americas. Daily temperatures in Varenna average around 5°C (41°F), and Playa de las Americas fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

Varenna usually receives less sunshine than Playa de las Americas during winter. Varenna gets 119 hours of sunny skies, while Playa de las Americas receives 191 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Varenna usually receives more rain than Playa de las Americas. Varenna gets 76 mm (3 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.

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

Both Playa de las Americas and Varenna during the spring are popular places to visit. The spring months attract visitors to Varenna because of the natural beauty.

Varenna is much colder than Playa de las Americas in the spring. The daily temperature in Varenna averages around 13°C (55°F) in April, and Playa de las Americas fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

In Playa de las Americas, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Varenna often gets less sunshine than Playa de las Americas. Varenna gets 176 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa de las Americas receives 205 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Varenna. Varenna usually gets more rain in April than Playa de las Americas. Varenna gets 152 mm (6 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 Varenna