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

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

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

Catania

Located on the east coast of Sicily, Catania is at the base of Mount Etna, which is the largest volcano in Europe. It's also the island's second largest city and a major transportation center for the area. With almost one million residents in the metropolitan area, the city serves as an important economic base and university town for Sicily. It's a vibrant city with a young population, a lively downtown, and an excellent nightlife. The city has an abundance of Sicilian Baroque architecture and the downtown area, where much of it is this architecture is concentrated, has been declared a World Heritage Site.

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 Italy, The Best Walking Tours in Italy, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Portugal, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Portugal.


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

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Catania is €120, 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 Catania and Sintra-Cascais National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Catania 65
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 63
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Catania 130
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 126
Compare Hotels in Catania and Sintra-Cascais National Park

Looking for a hotel in Catania 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 Catania


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

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Catania 20
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 61

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Catania

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Catania:

  • Sicily: Catania Airport Bus Transfer to Giardini Naxos: $5.99
  • Catania International Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Syracuse: $6.63
  • Catania International Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Taormina: $7.49
  • Sicily: Catania Airport Bus Transfer to Licata: $9.84
  • Private Transfer from Catania Airport (CTA) to Siracusa Port: $44
  • Catania Airport: Private Transfer to Catania and Acireale: $52
  • Mt Etna: Winter Trekking Tour with Optional Catania Transfer: $52
  • Private Transfer from Catania Airport (CTA) to Messina Port: $61
  • From Catania Airport: 1-Way Private Transfer to Catania: $63
  • PRIVATE TRANSFER from CATANIA to TAORMINA (and VICEVERSA): $69
  • Catania Private Transfer (Taormina, Siracusa, Noto, Messina, Naxos, Etna, etc): $71
  • Taxi Catania Airport with transfer to Syracuse or Taormina: $76

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

Prices for flights to both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Catania 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
    Catania 41
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 41

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Catania

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Catania.

  • Catania Street Food Tour: Fish Market & City Centre: $38
  • Catania Street Food Tour: $52
  • Cooking class & visit to the Catania Historical market: $59
  • Patisserie Food tour: $60
  • Guided Street Food Tour with Tastings: $63
  • Food tour of Catania by night: $64
  • Catania Street Food Tour: $67
  • Guided Street Food Tour with Tastings: $73
  • Aci Trezza boat tour with dinner on board: $85
  • Cooking Class Tiramisù: $95
  • Cooking Class Arancini in Catania: $96
  • Cooking class Pizza: $96

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

Tours and Activities in Catania

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Catania are as follows:

  • One-way tickets to travel between airport and city: $2.69
  • Benedictine Monastery of Guided tour in English: $11
  • Heart of the City Guided Walking Tour: $21
  • The heart of the City - Guided tour in Italian: $21
  • Underground Catania Tickets and Guided Tour: $21
  • the heart of the City - Guided Walking Tour: $21
  • City Highlights Walking Tour: $24
  • City Highlights Tour with Guide: $27
  • Food Tasting Tour in an ancient church: $35
  • Tasting tour in the ancient church of Piazza Scammacca: $35
  • Pozzo di Gaspare Farm Guided Tour with Tastings: $37
  • 2 hours guided tour of Catania: $40

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Catania 18
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 13

Sample the Local Flavors in Catania

Also in Catania, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Volcanic Wine Tasting in a Metropolitan Market: $48
  • Wine Tasting in the South Slope of Etna: $50
  • Etna: Urban Winery, Vineyards Walk & Wine Tasting at Sunset: $62
  • Wine tour in Catania: $102
  • Mt Etna and Wine tasting tour from Catania: $116
  • Full-Day Etna and Wine Tour from Catania: $126
  • From Mt.Etna picnic and wine tasting: $128
  • Guided Tour of Etna with Wine Tasting & Appetizers: $139
  • Etna trekking and wine tasting: $147
  • Tour Etna & Wine Tasting: $158
  • Etna Tour and Lunch in a Winery with Wine Tasting: $265
  • From Catania/Taormina: Mount Etna Private Wine Tasting Tour: $433


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

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



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

Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Catania are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Catania because of the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Catania is generally a little warmer than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Daily temperatures in Catania average around 26°C (79°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 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 Catania. Catania usually receives less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park during summer. Catania gets 325 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 352 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Catania usually receives more rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Catania gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Catania 26°C (79°F) 
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 23°C (73°F)

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

Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Catania during the autumn are popular places to visit. The hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene are the main draw to Catania this time of year.

Catania is around the same temperature as Sintra-Cascais National Park in the autumn. The daily temperature in Catania averages around 19°C (67°F) in October, 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, Catania often gets less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Catania gets 189 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 213 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Catania. Catania usually gets more rain in October than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Catania gets 128 mm (5 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Catania 19°C (67°F) 
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 19°C (66°F)

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

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Catania and Sintra-Cascais National Park. Many travelers come to Catania for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, Catania is cooler than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Typically, the winter temperatures in Catania in January average around 10°C (51°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park averages at about 12°C (53°F).

Catania usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Sintra-Cascais National Park during winter. Catania gets 153 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, Catania usually receives less rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Catania gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Catania 10°C (51°F) 
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 12°C (53°F)

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

The spring brings many poeple to Catania as well as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Many visitors come to Catania in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city.

In April, Catania is generally around the same temperature as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Daily temperatures in Catania average around 15°C (58°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 16°C (60°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 Catania this time of the year. In the spring, Catania often gets less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Catania gets 204 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 235 hours of full sun.

Catania usually gets less rain in April than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Catania gets 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Catania 15°C (58°F) 
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 16°C (60°F)

Typical Weather for Sintra-Cascais National Park and Catania

Catania Sintra-Cascais National Park
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 10°C (51°F) 69 mm (2.7 in) 12°C (53°F) 110 mm (4.3 in)
Feb 11°C (52°F) 54 mm (2.1 in) 13°C (55°F) 111 mm (4.4 in)
Mar 12°C (54°F) 49 mm (1.9 in) 14°C (58°F) 69 mm (2.7 in)
Apr 15°C (58°F) 37 mm (1.5 in) 16°C (60°F) 64 mm (2.5 in)
May 19°C (65°F) 18 mm (0.7 in) 18°C (64°F) 39 mm (1.5 in)
Jun 23°C (73°F) 6 mm (0.2 in) 21°C (69°F) 21 mm (0.8 in)
Jul 26°C (79°F) 6 mm (0.2 in) 23°C (73°F) 5 mm (0.2 in)
Aug 26°C (79°F) 9 mm (0.4 in) 23°C (74°F) 6 mm (0.2 in)
Sep 24°C (74°F) 45 mm (1.8 in) 22°C (72°F) 26 mm (1 in)
Oct 19°C (67°F) 128 mm (5 in) 19°C (66°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
Nov 15°C (59°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 15°C (59°F) 114 mm (4.5 in)
Dec 12°C (53°F) 87 mm (3.4 in) 12°C (54°F) 108 mm (4.3 in)


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