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

Should you visit Chartres or Sintra-Cascais National Park?

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

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

Chartres

Chartres is a city in north-central France southwest of Paris. It is famed for its massive Cathedrale Notre-Dame. The well-preserved Gothic cathedral, completed in 1220, features 2 towering spires, Romanesque sculptures and elaborate rose windows. The cathedral is unique in that it has two very different steeples – one Gothic, the other Romanesque. Follow them to check out the cathedral's dazzling blue stained-glass windows and its collection of relics, including the Sainte Voile (Holy Veil) said to have been worn by the Virgin Mary when she gave birth to Jesus, which have lured pilgrims since the Middle Ages. The nearby Centre International du Vitrail has workshops and exhibits on stained-glass art. Chartres also had a carefully preserved old city, which is adjacent to the cathedral with staircases and steep streets lined with half-timbered medieval houses leading downhill to the narrow western channel of the Eure River, romantically spanned by footbridges.

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 Vineyard & Wine Tours in France, The Best Food and Culinary 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 Chartres and Sintra-Cascais National Park, we can see that Sintra-Cascais National Park is more expensive. And not only is Chartres much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Chartres would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chartres 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 Chartres.

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

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

Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Chartres during the summer are popular places to visit. The small town charm and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Chartres this time of year.

In July, Chartres is generally cooler than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Daily temperatures in Chartres average around 20°C (68°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

In Sintra-Cascais National Park, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Chartres. In the summer, Chartres often gets less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Chartres gets 239 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 352 hours of full sun.

Chartres usually gets more rain in July than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Chartres 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.

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

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Chartres and Sintra-Cascais National Park. Many travelers come to Chartres for the small town atmosphere.

Chartres is cooler than Sintra-Cascais National Park in the autumn. The daily temperature in Chartres averages around 13°C (56°F) in October, and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sintra-Cascais National Park this time of the year. Chartres usually receives less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park during autumn. Chartres gets 126 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 213 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Chartres usually receives less rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Chartres gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

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

The winter brings many poeple to Chartres as well as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Many visitors come to Chartres in the winter for the museums and the cuisine.

Chartres can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Chartres is much colder than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Typically, the winter temperatures in Chartres in January average around 5°C (40°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park averages at about 12°C (53°F).

In the winter, Chartres often gets less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Chartres gets 56 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 144 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Sintra-Cascais National Park. Chartres usually gets less rain in January than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Chartres gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Chartres are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Chartres for the small town charm during these months.

In April, Chartres is generally cooler than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Daily temperatures in Chartres average around 11°C (52°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

It's quite sunny in Sintra-Cascais National Park. Chartres usually receives less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park during spring. Chartres gets 173 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 235 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Chartres usually receives less rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Chartres gets 48 mm (1.9 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 Chartres