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

Should you visit Hydra or Sintra-Cascais National Park?

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

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

Hydra

The island of Hydra is located in the Aegean Sea between the Saronic and Argolic Gulfs. Named for its natural springs, the island now has most of its freshwater imported from the mainland. The real gem of the place is the absence of motorized vehicles. Car and scooters are nowhere to be seen by the narrow marble-cobbled lanes, rocks, and sea. Such vehicles have been outlawed and so the way to navigate the island is by donkey, water taxi, or on foot.

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 Historical Tours in Greece, The Best 10-Day Tours in Greece, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Portugal, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Portugal.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Hydra or Sintra-Cascais National Park?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Hydra or Sintra-Cascais National Park in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Hydra and Sintra-Cascais National Park. The beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Hydra this time of year.

Hydra is a little warmer than Sintra-Cascais National Park in the summer. The daily temperature in Hydra averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sintra-Cascais National Park this time of the year. In Hydra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Hydra usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Sintra-Cascais National Park during summer. Hydra gets 357 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 352 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Hydra usually receives more rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Hydra gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

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

The autumn brings many poeple to Hydra as well as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Many travelers come to Hydra for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Hydra is around the same temperature as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Hydra in October average around 19°C (67°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park averages at about 19°C (66°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 Hydra this time of the year. In the autumn, Hydra often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Hydra gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 213 hours of full sun.

Hydra usually gets less rain in October than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Hydra gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Hydra are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Hydra in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In January, Hydra is generally cooler than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Daily temperatures in Hydra average around 10°C (51°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).

Hydra usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Sintra-Cascais National Park during winter. Hydra gets 143 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 144 hours of full sun in the winter.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Sintra-Cascais National Park. In January, Hydra usually receives less rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Hydra gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

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

Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Hydra during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Hydra for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty during these months.

Hydra is around the same temperature as Sintra-Cascais National Park in the spring. The daily temperature in Hydra averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

In Sintra-Cascais National Park, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Hydra. In the spring, Hydra often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Hydra gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 235 hours of full sun.

Hydra usually gets less rain in April than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Hydra gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Sintra-Cascais National Park and Hydra