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

Should you visit Cairngorms National Park 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 Cairngorms National Park and Sintra-Cascais National Park can help you decide which place is right for you.

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

Cairngorms National Park

The Cairngorms National Park is an over 1,700 square mile park in the center of Scotland and is home to some of the most beautiful sights in the country. Voted one of the top 20 places to visit in the world by National Geographic Traveler Magazine, the park features everything from castles to wildlife tours to white water rafting. There is really no bad time to visit the park, as you will always have something to see and do here! In the winter, from late November-March, you can ski the slopes and go on snow treks. Summer, from May-September, is fantastic for walking, hiking, and canoeing.

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 from Edinburgh, The Best 2-Week Tours from London, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Portugal, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Portugal.


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

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Cairngorms National Park is £119, while the average daily cost in Sintra-Cascais National Park is £122. 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 Cairngorms National Park and Sintra-Cascais National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cairngorms National Park £56
    Sintra-Cascais National Park £54
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cairngorms National Park £112
    Sintra-Cascais National Park £108
Compare Hotels in Cairngorms National Park and Sintra-Cascais National Park

Looking for a hotel in Cairngorms National Park 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 Cairngorms National Park


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

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cairngorms National Park £53
    Sintra-Cascais National Park £53

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

Prices for flights to both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Cairngorms National Park 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
    Cairngorms National Park £30
    Sintra-Cascais National Park £35

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cairngorms National Park £26
    Sintra-Cascais National Park £23

Tours and Activities in Cairngorms National Park

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

  • Private Walking Tour to Ben Macdui Scotland: $114
  • Cairn Gorm Mountain Adventure Private Hike: $168
  • Private Guided Mountain Walking Experience in the Cairngorms: $177
  • Private Guided Ridge Scrambling Experience in the Cairngorms: $202
  • Private Guided Rock Climbing Experience in the Cairngorms: $202
  • Private Guided Winter Mountain Walking Experience in the Cairngorms: $202
  • Private Guided Winter Mountaineering Experience in the Cairngorms: $222

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cairngorms National Park £8.41
    Sintra-Cascais National Park £11


When comparing the travel costs between Cairngorms National Park 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 Cairngorms National Park Expensive? and Is Sintra-Cascais National Park Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Cairngorms National Park 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 Cairngorms National Park or Sintra-Cascais National Park in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Cairngorms National Park as well as Sintra-Cascais National Park. The summer months attract visitors to Cairngorms National Park because of the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Cairngorms National Park is much colder than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Typically, the summer temperatures in Cairngorms National Park in July average around 14°C (58°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park averages at about 23°C (73°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sintra-Cascais National Park. In the summer, Cairngorms National Park often gets less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Cairngorms National Park gets 147 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 352 hours of full sun.

Cairngorms National Park usually gets more rain in July than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Cairngorms National Park gets 55 mm (2.2 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
    Cairngorms National Park 14°C (58°F) 
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 23°C (73°F)

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

Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Cairngorms National Park are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Cairngorms National Park this time of year.

In October, Cairngorms National Park is generally much colder than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Daily temperatures in Cairngorms National Park average around 9°C (49°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

It's quite sunny in Sintra-Cascais National Park. Cairngorms National Park usually receives less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park during autumn. Cairngorms National Park gets 84 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 213 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Cairngorms National Park usually receives less rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Cairngorms National Park gets 56 mm (2.2 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
    Cairngorms National Park 9°C (49°F) 
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 19°C (66°F)

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

Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Cairngorms National Park during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Cairngorms National Park for the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Cairngorms National Park. Cairngorms National Park is much colder than Sintra-Cascais National Park in the winter. The daily temperature in Cairngorms National Park averages around 3°C (38°F) in January, and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).

In the winter, Cairngorms National Park often gets less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Cairngorms National Park gets 42 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. Cairngorms National Park usually gets less rain in January than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Cairngorms National Park gets 53 mm (2.1 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
    Cairngorms National Park 3°C (38°F) 
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 12°C (53°F)

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

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Cairngorms National Park and Sintra-Cascais National Park. Many visitors come to Cairngorms National Park in the spring for the natural beauty.

In the spring, Cairngorms National Park is much colder than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Typically, the spring temperatures in Cairngorms National Park in April average around 7°C (44°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park averages at about 16°C (60°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sintra-Cascais National Park this time of the year. Cairngorms National Park usually receives less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park during spring. Cairngorms National Park gets 136 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 235 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Cairngorms National Park usually receives less rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Cairngorms National Park gets 36 mm (1.4 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
    Cairngorms National Park 7°C (44°F) 
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 16°C (60°F)

Typical Weather for Sintra-Cascais National Park and Cairngorms National Park

Cairngorms National Park Sintra-Cascais National Park
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 3°C (38°F) 53 mm (2.1 in) 12°C (53°F) 110 mm (4.3 in)
Feb 3°C (38°F) 39 mm (1.5 in) 13°C (55°F) 111 mm (4.4 in)
Mar 5°C (41°F) 46 mm (1.8 in) 14°C (58°F) 69 mm (2.7 in)
Apr 7°C (44°F) 36 mm (1.4 in) 16°C (60°F) 64 mm (2.5 in)
May 10°C (50°F) 46 mm (1.8 in) 18°C (64°F) 39 mm (1.5 in)
Jun 13°C (55°F) 49 mm (1.9 in) 21°C (69°F) 21 mm (0.8 in)
Jul 14°C (58°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 23°C (73°F) 5 mm (0.2 in)
Aug 14°C (57°F) 71 mm (2.8 in) 23°C (74°F) 6 mm (0.2 in)
Sep 12°C (54°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 22°C (72°F) 26 mm (1 in)
Oct 9°C (49°F) 56 mm (2.2 in) 19°C (66°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
Nov 5°C (42°F) 62 mm (2.4 in) 15°C (59°F) 114 mm (4.5 in)
Dec 4°C (39°F) 52 mm (2 in) 12°C (54°F) 108 mm (4.3 in)


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