A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Balaton Lake vs. Sintra-Cascais National Park for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Balaton Lake or Sintra-Cascais National Park?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Balaton Lake and Sintra-Cascais National Park can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Balaton Lake or Sintra-Cascais National Park?

Balaton Lake

Balaton is a major freshwater lake in Hungary and the largest lake in Central Europe with a shoreline of 197 kilometers. The region around the lake is a popular holiday destination with a great number of resort towns and high-rise hotels to accommodate visitors seeking out lakeside activities, beaches, volcanic hills, and vineyards. Some of the towns are also very historic, offering examples from eighteenth-century art and architecture to castle ruins.

Sintra-Cascais National Park

The Sintra-Cascais Natural Park is located on the west coast of Portugal and is often called the place where "the land ends and the sea begins". The UNESCO listed park is famous for being home to Cabo da Roca, a seaside cliff that is actually the westernmost part of Europe. Sintra-Cascais is interesting due to their large diversity in landscape which includes sand dunes, lakes, forests, and ocean cliffs.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Hungary, The Best Luxury Tours to Hungary, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Portugal, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Portugal.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Balaton Lake and Sintra-Cascais National Park, we can see that Sintra-Cascais National Park is more expensive. And not only is Balaton Lake much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Balaton Lake would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Balaton Lake 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 Sintra-Cascais National Park would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sintra-Cascais National Park than you might in Balaton Lake.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Balaton Lake Expensive? and Is Sintra-Cascais National Park Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Balaton Lake or Sintra-Cascais National Park?

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 Balaton Lake or Sintra-Cascais National Park in the Summer?

Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Balaton Lake are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities.

In the summer, Balaton Lake is around the same temperature as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Typically, the summer temperatures in Balaton Lake in July average around 22°C (71°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park averages at about 23°C (73°F).

It's quite sunny in Sintra-Cascais National Park. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Balaton Lake. Balaton Lake usually receives less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park during summer. Balaton Lake gets 302 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 352 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Balaton Lake usually receives more rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Balaton Lake gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Balaton Lake or Sintra-Cascais National Park in the Autumn?

Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Balaton Lake during the autumn are popular places to visit.

In October, Balaton Lake is generally cooler than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Daily temperatures in Balaton Lake average around 13°C (56°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

In Sintra-Cascais National Park, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Balaton Lake often gets less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Balaton Lake gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 213 hours of full sun.

Balaton Lake usually gets less rain in October than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Balaton Lake gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Balaton Lake or Sintra-Cascais National Park in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Balaton Lake and Sintra-Cascais National Park.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Balaton Lake. Balaton Lake is much colder than Sintra-Cascais National Park in the winter. The daily temperature in Balaton Lake averages around 0°C (32°F) in January, and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).

Balaton Lake usually receives less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park during winter. Balaton Lake gets 72 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 144 hours of full sun in the winter.

Sintra-Cascais National Park receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Balaton Lake usually receives less rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Balaton Lake gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Balaton Lake or Sintra-Cascais National Park in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Balaton Lake as well as Sintra-Cascais National Park.

In the spring, Balaton Lake is cooler than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Typically, the spring temperatures in Balaton Lake in April average around 12°C (54°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park averages at about 16°C (60°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sintra-Cascais National Park. In the spring, Balaton Lake often gets less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Balaton Lake gets 187 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 235 hours of full sun.

Balaton Lake usually gets less rain in April than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Balaton Lake gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Sintra-Cascais National Park and Balaton Lake