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

Should you visit Carcassonne 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 Carcassonne 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: Carcassonne or Sintra-Cascais National Park?

Carcassonne

Carcassonne is a hilltop town in southern France. Inhabited since the Neolithic period, Carcassonne is located in the Aude plain between historic trade routes, linking the Atlantic to the Mediterranean sea and the Massif Central to the Pyrenees. The Romans recognized its strategic importance and occupied its hilltop until the demise of the Western Roman Empire and was later taken over in the fifth century by the Visigoths who founded the city. Its desirable location led successive rulers to expand its fortifications until the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659. It is famous for its medieval citadel, La Cite, which has numerous watchtowers and double-walled fortifications. The first walls were built in Gallo-Roman times, with major additions made in the 13th and 14th centuries. With its position on a rocky hilltop, zigzag battlements, stout walls and spiky turrets, the fortified city of Carcassonne looks like something out of a children's storybook when it's seen from afar. A Unesco World Heritage Site since 1997, it's most people's idea of the perfect medieval castle. It attracts over four million visitors every year, peaking in high summer. Time your visit for late in the day (or even better in spring or fall) to truly appreciate the old town's medieval charm.

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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in France, The Best Historical Tours in France, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Portugal, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Portugal.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Carcassonne and Sintra-Cascais National Park, we can see that Sintra-Cascais National Park is more expensive. And not only is Carcassonne much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Carcassonne would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Carcassonne 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 Carcassonne.

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

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

The summer brings many poeple to Carcassonne as well as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Many travelers come to Carcassonne for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

Carcassonne is around the same temperature as Sintra-Cascais National Park in the summer. The daily temperature in Carcassonne averages around 24°C (75°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 Carcassonne this time of the year. In the summer, Carcassonne often gets less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Carcassonne gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 352 hours of full sun.

Carcassonne usually gets more rain in July than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Carcassonne gets 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Carcassonne are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Carcassonne in the autumn for the small town atmosphere and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Carcassonne is cooler than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Carcassonne in October average around 17°C (62°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park averages at about 19°C (66°F).

It's quite sunny in Sintra-Cascais National Park. Carcassonne usually receives less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park during autumn. Carcassonne gets 161 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 213 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Carcassonne usually receives more rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Carcassonne gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

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

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

In January, Carcassonne is generally cooler than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Daily temperatures in Carcassonne average around 8°C (47°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).

In the winter, Carcassonne often gets less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Carcassonne gets 88 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. Carcassonne usually gets less rain in January than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Carcassonne gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Carcassonne and Sintra-Cascais National Park. The spring months attract visitors to Carcassonne because of the small town charm and the natural beauty.

Carcassonne is cooler than Sintra-Cascais National Park in the spring. The daily temperature in Carcassonne averages around 14°C (56°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. Carcassonne usually receives less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park during spring. Carcassonne gets 178 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 235 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Carcassonne usually receives less rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Carcassonne gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Sintra-Cascais National Park and Carcassonne