Which place is cheaper, Bologna or Santillana?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Santillana or Bologna?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Santillana or Bologna? 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: Santillana or Bologna?
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.
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of the northern region of Italy, Emilia-Romagna, with a population of 380,000. It is a historical city known well by Italians, however, not as well known among foreigners. The locals of Bologna speak little to no English. The city is most known for having the oldest university in the West. Another reason many visit this city is because of its exquisite cuisine. Many Italians would consider it one of the most beautiful cities in the entire country because of its impeccably preserved historic centers. The best time to visit Bologna is usually between March and October, although bare in mind that July and August can get quite hot.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Spain, The Best 2-Week Tours in Spain, The Best Budget Tours to Italy, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Italy.
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Santillana Prices
Spain PricesBologna Prices
Italy Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySantillana €127Bologna €188
The average daily cost (per person) in Santillana is €127, while the average daily cost in Bologna is €188. 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 Santillana and Bologna in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSantillana €60Bologna €87
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSantillana €120Bologna €174
Compare Hotels in Santillana and Bologna
Looking for a hotel in Santillana or Bologna? 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: Santillana Hotel Prices and Bologna Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santillana €17Bologna €21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bologna
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bologna:
- Airport Transfer: Bologna Airport BLQ to Bologna by Luxury Car: $196
- Arrival Private Transfers: Bologna Airport BLQ to Bologna City in Business Car: $125
- Arrival Transfer Bologna Airport BLQ to Bologna City by Sedan: $67
- Bologna Airport (BLQ) to Bologna - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $131
- Bologna Airport (BLQ) to Florence - Arrival Private Transfer: $231
- Bologna Airport (BLQ) to Ravenna Cruise Port - Arrival Transfer : $159
- Bologna Airport Transfers : Bologna City to Bologna Airport BLQ in Business Car: $125
- Bologna Airport transfer: $54
- Bologna Private Transfer from Bologna city centre to Bologna Airport: $65
- Bologna to Florence - Departure Private Transfer: $241
- Day Tour Parmigiano, Ferrari Museum, Balsamic, Lambrusco, Lunch with Transfer: $203
- Departure Transfer Bologna City to Bologna Airport BLQ by Van: $89
Is it cheaper to fly into Santillana or Bologna?
Prices for flights to both Bologna and Santillana 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 daySantillana €53Bologna €68
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bologna
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bologna.
- Palermo cooking class: $30
- Bologna Private Food Tour Eating around the Centre: $72
- Pasta and Tiramisu Small Group Cooking Class with Wine: $82
- Bologna Walking Food Tour and Highlights with a Local Guide: $82
- Bologna Local Pasta Cooking Class: Ragu, Spritz & Mr. Gelato: $88
- Dinner, Wine & Tastings Walking Tour: $89
- Tagliatelle & Ragù Home Cooking Class with wine: $90
- Dining experience at a local's home in Predappio with cooking demo: $101
- Dining Experience at a local's Home in Forlimpopoli with Show Cooking: $101
- Dining Experience at a local's Home in Lama Mocogno with Show Cooking: $101
- Dining Experience at a local's Home in Castelnuovo Rangone with Show Cooking: $101
- Bologna on the plate, Cooking Class with Alessia: $104
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santillana €23Bologna €38
Tours and Activities in Santillana
Here are a few actual costs in Santillana for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Private Guided Walking Tour of Santillana del Mar: $215
- Private Walking Tour of Altamira and Neocave Museum: $239
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bologna
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Bologna are as follows:
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Food Tour (for 2)€31
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Wine Tasting Tour (for 2)€115
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Hop-on-Hop-off Bus Tour (for 2)€67
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National Gallery Museum Bologna (for 2)€12
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Archaeology Museum of Bologna (for 2)€12
Tours and Activities in Bologna
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bologna are as follows:
- Bologna Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $5.72
- Bologna Secrets Quest: Self-Guided Hidden Gems Adventure: $6.56
- Bologna's Ancient and Recent History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $8.99
- A Self-Guided Audio Tour from Porta Galliera to Le Tre Frecce: $12
- Bologna Audio Tour: Bologna Audio Tour Adventure: $15
- Bologna Guided Tour of the Basilica Di San Luca: $18
- Tower and Power, Virtual tour in Medieval Bologna: $22
- Entrance ticket to the Lamborghini Museum in Bologna : $22
- InfernoDante: experience 4 iconic songs in first person with Virtual Reality: $22
- Lamborghini Museum Guided Tour and Entry Ticket: $27
- Archiginnasio Small Group Guided Tour in Bologna: $27
- Bologna : Small Group Guided Tour: $29
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySantillana €4.29Bologna €28
Sample the Local Flavors in Bologna
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Bologna:
- Bologna Pub Crawl to meet people: $19
- Private wine tasting of Palazzo di Varignana: $21
- Wine tasting on the hills of Bologna in Dozza: $36
- Modena area: Lambrusco Wine Tasting Experience: $42
- Parma Hills and Wine Tasting with Food Platter: $58
- Montevecchio Isolani wine tasting experience: $60
- Bologna Food & Wine tour with a local Chef: $75
- Eating Bologna Food and Wine Tour: $112
- Food and Wine Tasting Tour in Bologna with Local Guide : $129
- Cook Fresh Pasta + Wine Tasting (Includes 4-Course Meal): $147
- Bologna Exclusive Italian Wine Tasting in the centre: $155
- Bologna Full Day Food Factory Tour and Wine Tasting: $238
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santillana and Bologna, we can see that Bologna 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 Bologna would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bologna 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 Santillana Expensive? and Is Bologna Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santillana or Bologna?
Bologna has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of Santillana. When comparing the sizes of Santillana and Bologna, 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 Santillana or Bologna?
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 Santillana or Bologna in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Santillana and Bologna. Also, many travelers come to Bologna for the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Santillana is cooler than Bologna. Typically, the summer temperatures in Santillana in July average around 19°C (66°F), and Bologna averages at about 24°C (75°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Bologna this time of the year. In Santillana, it's very sunny this time of the year. Santillana usually receives less sunshine than Bologna during summer. Santillana gets 213 hours of sunny skies, while Bologna receives 316 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Santillana usually receives more rain than Bologna. Santillana gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Bologna receives 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySantillana 19°C (66°F)Bologna 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Santillana or Bologna in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Santillana as well as Bologna. Also, many visitors come to Bologna in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Santillana is generally around the same temperature as Bologna. Daily temperatures in Santillana average around 16°C (60°F), and Bologna fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
In the autumn, Santillana often gets less sunshine than Bologna. Santillana gets 133 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bologna receives 177 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Bologna. Santillana receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Santillana usually gets more rain in October than Bologna. Santillana gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Bologna receives 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSantillana 16°C (60°F)Bologna 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Santillana or Bologna in the Winter?
Both Bologna and Santillana are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Bologna for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Bologna can be very cold during winter. Santillana is much warmer than Bologna in the winter. The daily temperature in Santillana averages around 9°C (49°F) in January, and Bologna fluctuates around 2°C (36°F).
Santillana usually receives less sunshine than Bologna during winter. Santillana gets 91 hours of sunny skies, while Bologna receives 105 hours of full sun in the winter.
It's quite rainy in Santillana. In January, Santillana usually receives more rain than Bologna. Santillana gets 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Bologna receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySantillana 9°C (49°F)Bologna 2°C (36°F)
Should I visit Santillana or Bologna in the Spring?
Both Bologna and Santillana during the spring are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Bologna because of the natural beauty.
In the spring, Santillana is around the same temperature as Bologna. Typically, the spring temperatures in Santillana in April average around 12°C (53°F), and Bologna averages at about 13°C (55°F).
In the spring, Santillana often gets less sunshine than Bologna. Santillana gets 148 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bologna receives 192 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Santillana. Santillana usually gets more rain in April than Bologna. Santillana gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Bologna receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSantillana 12°C (53°F)Bologna 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Bologna and Santillana
| Santillana | Bologna | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 9°C (49°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Feb | 10°C (50°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Mar | 10°C (51°F) | 119 mm (4.7 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (53°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| May | 14°C (58°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (62°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Jul | 19°C (66°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Aug | 19°C (67°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (64°F) | 88 mm (3.4 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (60°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (53°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 124 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 10°C (50°F) | 157 mm (6.2 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 85 mm (3.3 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.