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

Should you visit Calais or Sintra-Cascais National Park?

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

Should I visit Calais or Sintra-Cascais National Park? 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: Calais or Sintra-Cascais National Park?

Calais

Calais is a port city in northern France located across the English Channel from the clifftop town of Dover It's the principal ferry crossing point between France and England. Its old town, Calais-Nord, sits on an artificial island surrounded by canals.

Calais is a Cultural Link to Europe, just a hop, skip and a jump away from Belgium and England, on the Opal Coast in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region. The city of Calais is exceptionally located between sea and countryside. Calais is renowned for its lace, which can be found in haute-couture designs. Preserved natural spaces abound with its 23 km of coastline, rugged cliffs, breathtakingly diverse terrain, and coastal villages. Whether on foot, bike or horseback, and even in the water along the coast, there is plenty to do to make this a great option for a visit!

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 Budget Tours to France, The Best Tours for Seniors to France, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Portugal, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Portugal.

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

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

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Calais and Sintra-Cascais National Park. The beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Calais this time of year.

In the summer, Calais is cooler than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Typically, the summer temperatures in Calais in July average around 17°C (63°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park averages at about 23°C (73°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sintra-Cascais National Park this time of the year. In Calais, it's very sunny this time of the year. Calais usually receives less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park during summer. Calais gets 212 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 352 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Calais usually receives more rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Calais gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

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

The autumn brings many poeple to Calais as well as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Many travelers come to Calais for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In October, Calais is generally much colder than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Daily temperatures in Calais average around 12°C (54°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sintra-Cascais National Park. In the autumn, Calais often gets less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Calais gets 119 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 213 hours of full sun.

Calais usually gets less rain in October than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Calais gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Calais are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Calais in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Calais can get quite cold in the winter. Calais is much colder than Sintra-Cascais National Park in the winter. The daily temperature in Calais averages around 4°C (40°F) in January, and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).

Calais usually receives less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park during winter. Calais gets 57 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 144 hours of full sun in the winter.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Sintra-Cascais National Park. In January, Calais usually receives less rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Calais gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

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

Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Calais during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Calais for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months.

In the spring, Calais is much colder than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Typically, the spring temperatures in Calais in April average around 9°C (47°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park averages at about 16°C (60°F).

In Sintra-Cascais National Park, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Calais often gets less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Calais gets 162 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 235 hours of full sun.

Calais usually gets less rain in April than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Calais gets 42 mm (1.7 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 Calais