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

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

Cefalu

Cefalu is a fishing village and beach resort that is located on the northern coast of Sicily, Italy. It sits on the Tyerrhenian Sea and is just 70 kilometers from Palermo and 185 kilometers from Messina. The town has a small population of under 14,000 residents but is a significant tourist destination on the island of Sicily. The city is flooded with millions of tourists every year from around Sicily, elsewhere in Italy, and abroad. During the summer months it is not uncommon for the city's population to triple, putting a lot of pressure on the main streets and roads around town. The city is popular as a beach resort with a youthful vibe and an active nightlife.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cefalu usually gets less rain in July than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Cefalu gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

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

Cefalu is around the same temperature as Sintra-Cascais National Park in the autumn. The daily temperature in Cefalu averages around 19°C (67°F) in October, and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

It's quite sunny in Sintra-Cascais National Park. Cefalu usually receives less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park during autumn. Cefalu gets 189 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 213 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Cefalu usually receives around the same amount of rain as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Cefalu gets 75 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

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

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

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

In the winter, Cefalu often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Cefalu gets 153 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. Cefalu usually gets less rain in January than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Cefalu gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

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

In April, Cefalu is generally around the same temperature as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Daily temperatures in Cefalu average around 15°C (58°F), 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. In Cefalu, it's very sunny this time of the year. Cefalu usually receives less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park during spring. Cefalu gets 204 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 235 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Cefalu usually receives less rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Cefalu 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.

Typical Weather for Sintra-Cascais National Park and Cefalu