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

Should you visit Caen or Sintra-Cascais National Park?

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 Caen and Sintra-Cascais National Park. 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: Caen or Sintra-Cascais National Park?

Caen

Caen is a city in France on the coast in the Calvados department of Lower Normandy. Caen is known for its historical buildings built during the reign of William the Conqueror, who was buried there. The town was destroyed almost completely in 1944 during WWII and it is a remarkable achievement that Caen has kept so many of its historical monuments given the terrible battle that besieged the town following the Normandy beach landings. After the war the town passed through 15 years of reconstruction, and continued to improve afterwards. In recent years the town has made further significant efforts and Caen now has an attractive, carefully restored, historic center. The city has also preserved the memory of its past by erecting a memorial and a museum dedicated to peace, the Memorial de Caen. The city is often considered the archetype of Normandy.

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 10-Day Tours in France, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Portugal, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Portugal.


Which place is cheaper, Sintra-Cascais National Park or Caen?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Caen is €123, while the average daily cost in Sintra-Cascais National Park is €142. 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 Caen and Sintra-Cascais National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Caen 61
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 63
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Caen 122
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 126
Compare Hotels in Caen and Sintra-Cascais National Park

Looking for a hotel in Caen or Sintra-Cascais National Park? 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.

Hotels in Caen


Hotels in Sintra-Cascais National Park


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: Caen Hotel Prices and Sintra-Cascais National Park Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Caen 35
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 61

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Caen

Also for Caen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Caen Carpiquet Airport (CFR) to Caen - Arrival Private Transfer: $32
  • Caen to Caen Carpiquet Airport (CFR) - Departure Private Transfer: $32
  • Private Transfer Round-Trip from Caen Airport (CFR) to Caen: $63

Is it cheaper to fly into Caen or Sintra-Cascais National Park?

Prices for flights to both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Caen 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Caen 40
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 41

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Caen 19
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 27

Tours and Activities in Caen

For Caen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Memorial Museum Entrance Ticket: $21
  • Caen Like a Local: Customized Guided Walking Tour: $51
  • Private custom tour with a local guide: $59
  • Private Custom Tour with a Local Guide in Caen: $60
  • Private Guided Bike Tour of Cabourg and Dives in French: $74
  • Guided Tour in an Old Convertible Car on the Côte de Nacre: $93
  • Guided D-Day Sites Tour & Caen Memorial Museum Ticket: $127
  • Mémorial de Caen Museum Admission and Guided Tour of D-Day Sites: $133
  • Private Guided Walking Tour: $160
  • Guided Tour of the Landing Sites and the Memorial of Caen: $191
  • Small Group Guided D-Day Tour and Mémorial de Caen Museum: $201
  • D-Day private tour Juno Beach departing Caen with audio guide. 2Pers. minimum: $268

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Caen 17
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 13


When comparing the travel costs between Caen and Sintra-Cascais National Park, we can see that Sintra-Cascais National Park 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 Caen Expensive? and Is Sintra-Cascais National Park Expensive?.



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

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 Caen or Sintra-Cascais National Park in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Caen as well as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Many travelers come to Caen for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

Caen is cooler than Sintra-Cascais National Park in the summer. The daily temperature in Caen averages around 18°C (64°F) in July, and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sintra-Cascais National Park. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Caen this time of the year. In the summer, Caen often gets less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Caen gets 227 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 352 hours of full sun.

Caen usually gets more rain in July than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Caen gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Caen 18°C (64°F) 
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 23°C (73°F)

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

Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Caen are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Caen in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions.

In the autumn, Caen is much colder than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Caen in October average around 12°C (54°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park averages at about 19°C (66°F).

It's quite sunny in Sintra-Cascais National Park. Caen usually receives less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park during autumn. Caen gets 128 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 213 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Caen usually receives less rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Caen gets 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Caen 12°C (54°F) 
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 19°C (66°F)

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

Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Caen during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Caen for the museums and the cuisine during these months.

Caen can be very cold during winter. In January, Caen is generally much colder than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Daily temperatures in Caen average around 5°C (41°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).

In the winter, Caen often gets less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Caen gets 70 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 144 hours of full sun.

Sintra-Cascais National Park gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Caen usually gets less rain in January than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Caen gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Caen 5°C (41°F) 
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 12°C (53°F)

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

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Caen and Sintra-Cascais National Park. The spring months attract visitors to Caen because of the activities around the city.

Caen is much colder than Sintra-Cascais National Park in the spring. The daily temperature in Caen averages around 9°C (49°F) in April, and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sintra-Cascais National Park this time of the year. Caen usually receives less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park during spring. Caen gets 171 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 235 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Caen usually receives less rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Caen gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Caen 9°C (49°F) 
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 16°C (60°F)

Typical Weather for Sintra-Cascais National Park and Caen

Caen Sintra-Cascais National Park
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 5°C (41°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 12°C (53°F) 110 mm (4.3 in)
Feb 5°C (42°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 13°C (55°F) 111 mm (4.4 in)
Mar 7°C (45°F) 56 mm (2.2 in) 14°C (58°F) 69 mm (2.7 in)
Apr 9°C (49°F) 46 mm (1.8 in) 16°C (60°F) 64 mm (2.5 in)
May 13°C (55°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 18°C (64°F) 39 mm (1.5 in)
Jun 15°C (60°F) 52 mm (2 in) 21°C (69°F) 21 mm (0.8 in)
Jul 18°C (64°F) 48 mm (1.9 in) 23°C (73°F) 5 mm (0.2 in)
Aug 18°C (64°F) 47 mm (1.9 in) 23°C (74°F) 6 mm (0.2 in)
Sep 16°C (60°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 22°C (72°F) 26 mm (1 in)
Oct 12°C (54°F) 68 mm (2.7 in) 19°C (66°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
Nov 8°C (47°F) 85 mm (3.3 in) 15°C (59°F) 114 mm (4.5 in)
Dec 6°C (43°F) 69 mm (2.7 in) 12°C (54°F) 108 mm (4.3 in)


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