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

Should you visit Como or Sintra-Cascais National Park?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Como or Sintra-Cascais National Park, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

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

Como

At the foot of the jagged cliffs of the Alps lies an expanse of shimmering waters made a golden white by the sun and pockmarked by sailors. Its blue waters beckon you to come forth and dive deep into the mystic body of Lago di Como, or Lake Como. With an area of 146 square kilometers, Lake Como is the third largest lake in Italy, right after Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore. The lake was originally named by the Romans after the city of Comum, now presently called Como. Lake Como is shaped into an inverted "Y," with towns like Como, Lecco, Bellagio, Menaggio and Lierna situated around it.

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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Rome, The Best 10-Day Tours from Rome, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Portugal, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Portugal.


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

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Como is €214, 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 Como and Sintra-Cascais National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Como 146
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 63
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Como 292
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 126
Compare Hotels in Como and Sintra-Cascais National Park

Looking for a hotel in Como 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 Como


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

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Como 14
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 61

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Como

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

  • Private Transfer from Como to Milan hotels: $53
  • Private Transfer From Lecco or Malgrate: $65
  • Private transfer from Mandello del Lario or Abbadia Lariana: $76
  • Bellagio to Malpensa Airport Milan (MXP) - Departure Private Transfer: $78
  • Private transfer from Lenno or Argegno or Ossuccio: $147
  • Private Transfer from Lezzeno or Pognana Lario or Faggeto Lario: $169
  • From Bellagio or Como hotels to Venice (+water taxi) - Private Transfer: $193
  • Pirvate transfer from Malpensa airport to Como and Cernobbio: $207
  • Como Private Transfer from Como city centre to Milan Malpensa Airport: $221
  • Argegno: Private Transfer to/from Malpensa Airport: $235
  • Private Transfer: Lake Como to Milan Airport MXP in Luxury Van: $236
  • Milan Private Transfer from Cernobbio (Como) to Milan airports (LIN or MPX): $243

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

Prices for flights to both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Como 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
    Como 60
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 41

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Como

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

  • COOKING, EATING, LOVING - Lasagna cooking Class for everyone!: $45
  • Cantonese Dimsum Cooking Lesson in Como or Lugano with Chef Ling: $49
  • Dining Experience at a local's Home in Lentate Verbano with Show Cooking: $93
  • Lake Como Food Tour - Eat like a real Local: $108
  • Tour and historical dinner: Lake Como 1690: $131
  • Como Food Tour and the Farmers Market: $139
  • Homemade Pasta Cooking Class: $160
  • Como Area: Pizza Training Experience: $160
  • Pizza Training Experience. Como Area: $163
  • Lecco Bike Tour & Pizza Lunch: $163
  • Private Market Tour & Lunch or Dinner with a Local: $171
  • Como Food Tour: $180

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

Tours and Activities in Como

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

  • Agra Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $6.56
  • Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Como: $8.71
  • Como Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $8.75
  • Como Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $8.94
  • A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Como and its Breathtaking Lakeside: $20
  • Self-Guided Tour of Como and its Breathtaking Lakeside: $20
  • Lake Self-Guided Walking Tour - Downtown Como: $21
  • Como City Audio Guide and Skip The Ticket Line to Brunate: $22
  • Como City Walking Tour : $27
  • City Tour with Duomo Visit and First Basin Lake Cruise: $32
  • Guided City Walking Tour: $32
  • 90minutes Tea Preparation and Tasting Experience in Como: $33

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

Sample the Local Flavors in Como

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

  • Domaso: Wine Tasting at the Winery on Como Lake: $60
  • Italian Wine Tasting & Food Como Lake: $70
  • Lake Food and Wine tour in Colico: $114
  • Wine Tastings with Chef Luigi Gandola: $135
  • Private Wine Tasting in Bellagio with Chef Luigi Gandola: $185
  • Food and Wine Tours Lake Como: $196


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Como and Sintra-Cascais National Park, we can see that Como is more expensive. And not only is Sintra-Cascais National Park much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Sintra-Cascais National Park would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sintra-Cascais National Park 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 Como would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Como than you might in Sintra-Cascais National Park.

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



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

The summer brings many poeple to Como as well as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Most visitors come to Como for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Como is around the same temperature as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Typically, the summer temperatures in Como 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 Como this time of the year. In the summer, Como often gets less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Como gets 250 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 352 hours of full sun.

Como usually gets more rain in July than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Como gets 60 mm (2.4 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
    Como 23°C (73°F) 
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 23°C (73°F)

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

Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Como are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Como because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Como is generally cooler than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Daily temperatures in Como average around 15°C (58°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

It's quite sunny in Sintra-Cascais National Park. Como usually receives less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park during autumn. Como gets 152 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 213 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Como. In October, Como usually receives more rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Como gets 103 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
    Como 15°C (58°F) 
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 19°C (66°F)

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

Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Como during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Como this time of year.

It's quite cold in Como in the winter. Como is much colder than Sintra-Cascais National Park in the winter. The daily temperature in Como averages around 5°C (41°F) in January, and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).

In the winter, Como often gets less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Como gets 119 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. Como usually gets less rain in January than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Como gets 68 mm (2.7 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
    Como 5°C (41°F) 
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 12°C (53°F)

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

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Como and Sintra-Cascais National Park. Many travelers come to Como for the beaches and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Como is cooler than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Typically, the spring temperatures in Como in April average around 13°C (55°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. Como usually receives less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park during spring. Como gets 176 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 235 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Como usually receives more rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Como gets 76 mm (3 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
    Como 13°C (55°F) 
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 16°C (60°F)

Typical Weather for Sintra-Cascais National Park and Como

Como Sintra-Cascais National Park
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 5°C (41°F) 68 mm (2.7 in) 12°C (53°F) 110 mm (4.3 in)
Feb 6°C (44°F) 60 mm (2.3 in) 13°C (55°F) 111 mm (4.4 in)
Mar 10°C (49°F) 85 mm (3.4 in) 14°C (58°F) 69 mm (2.7 in)
Apr 13°C (55°F) 76 mm (3 in) 16°C (60°F) 64 mm (2.5 in)
May 17°C (62°F) 102 mm (4 in) 18°C (64°F) 39 mm (1.5 in)
Jun 20°C (69°F) 78 mm (3.1 in) 21°C (69°F) 21 mm (0.8 in)
Jul 23°C (73°F) 60 mm (2.4 in) 23°C (73°F) 5 mm (0.2 in)
Aug 22°C (72°F) 94 mm (3.7 in) 23°C (74°F) 6 mm (0.2 in)
Sep 19°C (67°F) 74 mm (2.9 in) 22°C (72°F) 26 mm (1 in)
Oct 15°C (58°F) 103 mm (4 in) 19°C (66°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
Nov 9°C (49°F) 102 mm (4 in) 15°C (59°F) 114 mm (4.5 in)
Dec 6°C (42°F) 60 mm (2.4 in) 12°C (54°F) 108 mm (4.3 in)