Which place is cheaper, Sintra-Cascais National Park or Funchal?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Funchal or Sintra-Cascais National Park?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Funchal 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: Funchal or Sintra-Cascais National Park?
Funchal
Funchal is the capital city of the autonomous region of Madeira on the island of Madeira. The city is located to the south between the cities of Santa Cruz and Camara de Lobos. It is actually named for the fennel plant which grows liberally on the island. The city was most significant as a shipping center between the 15th and 17th centuries. Today it has a population of over 100,000 people and is, arguably, one of the most picturesque cities in Portugal. It's appeal as a tourist destination has made it the leading Portuguese port for cruise line dockings.
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 Tours for Seniors to Portugal, The Best G Adventures Tours to Portugal, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lisbon, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Lisbon.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFunchal €93Sintra-Cascais National Park €142
The average daily cost (per person) in Funchal is €93, 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 Funchal and Sintra-Cascais National Park in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFunchal €52Sintra-Cascais National Park €63
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFunchal €104Sintra-Cascais National Park €126
Compare Hotels in Funchal and Sintra-Cascais National Park
Looking for a hotel in Funchal 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.
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: Funchal Hotel Prices and Sintra-Cascais National Park Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Funchal €9.94Sintra-Cascais National Park €61
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Funchal
Also for Funchal, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Madeira Airport Shuttle Transfer one way: $9.82
- Transfers Airport-Funchal/Funchal-Airport: $22
- Private One way Transfer Madeira Airport to or from Funchal: $22
- Funchal Airport(FNC) to Funchal hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $26
- Private Transfer from Madeira Airport(FNC) to Madeira Cruise Port: $26
- Funchal Private Transfers Service to Madeira Airport: $29
- Morning Self-Guided Hike Pico Arieiro to Pico Ruivo w/ Transfers: $33
- Madeira Airport Private Transfers Service To Funchal: $33
- Transfer Madeira Airport - Funchal: $35
- Transfer Funchal - Madeira Airport: $35
- Minibus Transfer: Madeira Airport - Funchal: $38
- Minibus Transfer: Funchal - Madeira Airport: $38
Is it cheaper to fly into Funchal or Sintra-Cascais National Park?
Prices for flights to both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Funchal 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
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Food Meals for one dayFunchal €31Sintra-Cascais National Park €41
Typical Food Prices in Funchal
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Funchal:
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Coffee€1.40
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Funchal
For Funchal, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Private Walking Food Tour Around Funchal: $31
- Madeira Nights Tour - Dinner and Show: $41
- Sunset Tour to Pico do Arieiro with Dinner and Drinks included: $76
- Madeiran Traditional Dinner: $87
- Gourmet Wine & Food Tour: $112
- Gourmet Wine & Food Tour: $112
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Funchal €15Sintra-Cascais National Park €27
Tours and Activities in Funchal
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Funchal.
- Portugal eSIM Tourist Data Plan: $4.79
- Sacred Art Museum of Funchal Entry Ticket: $11
- Old Funchal Walking Tour: $15
- Scenic Route - Nuns Valley Tour: $25
- Funchal Hop-On Hop-Off Tour 3 in 1: $27
- Christmas Lights in Funchal Tuk Tuk Tour: $27
- São Vicente Caves and Volcano Center Half-Day Tour: $27
- Nun's Valley Tour: $30
- Amazing East Tour : $31
- Majestic West Tour : $31
- Magnificent East Tour: $33
- Exorbitant West Tour: $33
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayFunchal €16Sintra-Cascais National Park €13
Sample the Local Flavors in Funchal
Also in Funchal, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Skywalk and 4x4 Adventure with Amazing Views and Wine Tasting: $49
- Half day jeep Wine tour and tasting, & sea cliff adventure: $53
- Bestselling Wine Tour, Tasting Experience & Skywalk 4x4 Adventure: $53
- Wine tasting and Jeep Adventure in Madeira's Majestic Countryside: $55
- Pub Crawl: $59
- Half-Day Wine Tour in Madeira: $76
- Shore Excursion: Private Madeira Tour & Wine Tasting: $86
- Amazing Skywalk, Wine Tasting & 4x4 Adventure + Dolphin Watching: $97
- Guided Toboggan Ride and Madeira Wine Tasting Tour: $98
- Tuk Tuk Wine Tour - Madeira Island: $101
- Exclusive Wine Tasting in the Wine Region of Boaventura: $104
- Weekends Madeira Wine Tasting São Vicente: $109
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Funchal and Sintra-Cascais National Park, we can see that Sintra-Cascais National Park is more expensive. And not only is Funchal much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Funchal would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Funchal 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 Funchal.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Funchal Expensive? and Is Sintra-Cascais National Park Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Funchal 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 Funchal or Sintra-Cascais National Park in the Summer?
Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Funchal during the summer are popular places to visit.
In July, Funchal is generally around the same temperature as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Daily temperatures in Funchal average around 22°C (72°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 Funchal. In the summer, Funchal often gets less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Funchal gets 227 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 352 hours of full sun.
Funchal usually gets more rain in July than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Funchal gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyFunchal 22°C (72°F)Sintra-Cascais National Park 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Funchal or Sintra-Cascais National Park in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Funchal and Sintra-Cascais National Park.
Funchal is around the same temperature as Sintra-Cascais National Park in the autumn. The daily temperature in Funchal averages around 21°C (70°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. Funchal usually receives less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park during autumn. Funchal gets 183 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 213 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Funchal gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Funchal usually receives more rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Funchal gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberFunchal 21°C (70°F)Sintra-Cascais National Park 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Funchal or Sintra-Cascais National Park in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Funchal as well as Sintra-Cascais National Park.
In the winter, Funchal is a little warmer than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Typically, the winter temperatures in Funchal in January average around 16°C (61°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park averages at about 12°C (53°F).
In the winter, Funchal often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Funchal gets 141 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. Funchal receives a lot of rain in the winter. Funchal usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Funchal gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryFunchal 16°C (61°F)Sintra-Cascais National Park 12°C (53°F)
Should I visit Funchal or Sintra-Cascais National Park in the Spring?
Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Funchal are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In April, Funchal is generally around the same temperature as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Daily temperatures in Funchal average around 17°C (63°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
It's quite sunny in Sintra-Cascais National Park. Funchal usually receives less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park during spring. Funchal gets 182 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 235 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Funchal usually receives more rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Funchal gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilFunchal 17°C (63°F)Sintra-Cascais National Park 16°C (60°F)
Typical Weather for Sintra-Cascais National Park and Funchal
| Funchal | Sintra-Cascais National Park | |||
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| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 16°C (61°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Feb | 16°C (61°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Mar | 16°C (61°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (63°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| May | 19°C (66°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Jul | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (73°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Oct | 21°C (70°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Dec | 18°C (64°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.