A Travel Price Comparison for Portugal Coimbra vs. Sintra-Cascais National Park for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Coimbra or Sintra-Cascais National Park?

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

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

Coimbra

Coimbra is located in Central Portugal in the Centro Region. It's the third largest city in the country with about 460,000 people living in the entire region. It is also where you'll find the University of Coimbra, which is one of the oldest universities in Europe and the oldest academic institution in the Portuguese speaking world. During the High Middle Ages, Coimbra served as the nation's capital and there are archaeological structures that date back to the Roman era.

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 Food and Culinary Tours in Portugal, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Portugal, The Best Walking Tours in Portugal, and The Best Luxury Tours to Portugal.


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

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Coimbra is €103, 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 Coimbra and Sintra-Cascais National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Coimbra 44
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 63
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Coimbra 88
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 126
Compare Hotels in Coimbra and Sintra-Cascais National Park

Looking for a hotel in Coimbra 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 Coimbra


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

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Coimbra 11
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 61

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Coimbra

Also for Coimbra, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer Fátima To Lisboa: $110
  • Fátima Private Transfer to/from Lisbon: $149

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

Prices for flights to both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Coimbra 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
    Coimbra 48
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 41

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Coimbra

For Coimbra, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Chanfana: Cooking Traditional Portuguese Cuisine Experience: $50

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Coimbra 18
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 27

Tours and Activities in Coimbra

For Coimbra, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.26
  • Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $3.26
  • City Exploration Game and Tour: $3.26
  • Coimbra's Historical Highlights: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour of Historical Highlights: $6.99
  • Scavenger Hunt and City Highlights Walking Tour: $7.80
  • Coimbra Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.96
  • Tomar Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.96
  • Convent of Christ Tour "Portugal in the Map" - Visit Tomar with a local guide!: $31
  • Mondego River Kayaking Tour: $33
  • Coimbra Private Walking Tour with U.C. Tickets Early Access: $44
  • University of Coimbra guided tours without queue: $55

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Coimbra 12
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 13

Sample the Local Flavors in Coimbra

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Coimbra:

  • Port Wine Tasting in Coimbra: $66
  • Self-drive Wine Tour in Bairrada Region: $176
  • Full-Day Private Bairrada Sparkling Wine Tour from Coimbra: $181


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

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



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

The summer brings many poeple to Coimbra as well as Sintra-Cascais National Park.

In the summer, Coimbra is around the same temperature as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Typically, the summer temperatures in Coimbra in July average around 23°C (73°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park averages at about 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 Coimbra this time of the year. In the summer, Coimbra often gets less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Coimbra gets 308 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 352 hours of full sun.

Coimbra usually gets more rain in July than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Coimbra gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


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

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

Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Coimbra are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.

In October, Coimbra is generally around the same temperature as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Daily temperatures in Coimbra average around 18°C (65°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

It's quite sunny in Sintra-Cascais National Park. Coimbra usually receives less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park during autumn. Coimbra gets 184 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 213 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Coimbra. In October, Coimbra usually receives more rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Coimbra gets 101 mm (4 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Coimbra 18°C (65°F) 
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 19°C (66°F)

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

Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Coimbra during the winter are popular places to visit.

Coimbra is around the same temperature as Sintra-Cascais National Park in the winter. The daily temperature in Coimbra averages around 11°C (51°F) in January, and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).

In the winter, Coimbra often gets less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Coimbra gets 124 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. It rains a lot this time of the year in Coimbra. Coimbra usually gets more rain in January than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Coimbra gets 139 mm (5.5 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Coimbra 11°C (51°F) 
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 12°C (53°F)

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

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Coimbra and Sintra-Cascais National Park.

In the spring, Coimbra is around the same temperature as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Typically, the spring temperatures in Coimbra in April average around 15°C (59°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park averages at about 16°C (60°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sintra-Cascais National Park this time of the year. In Coimbra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Coimbra usually receives less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park during spring. Coimbra gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 235 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Coimbra usually receives more rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Coimbra gets 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Coimbra 15°C (59°F) 
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 16°C (60°F)

Typical Weather for Sintra-Cascais National Park and Coimbra

Coimbra Sintra-Cascais National Park
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 11°C (51°F) 139 mm (5.5 in) 12°C (53°F) 110 mm (4.3 in)
Feb 12°C (53°F) 140 mm (5.5 in) 13°C (55°F) 111 mm (4.4 in)
Mar 13°C (56°F) 86 mm (3.4 in) 14°C (58°F) 69 mm (2.7 in)
Apr 15°C (59°F) 92 mm (3.6 in) 16°C (60°F) 64 mm (2.5 in)
May 17°C (63°F) 77 mm (3 in) 18°C (64°F) 39 mm (1.5 in)
Jun 21°C (69°F) 49 mm (1.9 in) 21°C (69°F) 21 mm (0.8 in)
Jul 23°C (73°F) 14 mm (0.6 in) 23°C (73°F) 5 mm (0.2 in)
Aug 23°C (73°F) 13 mm (0.5 in) 23°C (74°F) 6 mm (0.2 in)
Sep 22°C (71°F) 48 mm (1.9 in) 22°C (72°F) 26 mm (1 in)
Oct 18°C (65°F) 101 mm (4 in) 19°C (66°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
Nov 14°C (57°F) 128 mm (5 in) 15°C (59°F) 114 mm (4.5 in)
Dec 11°C (52°F) 130 mm (5.1 in) 12°C (54°F) 108 mm (4.3 in)