Which place is cheaper, Sintra or Istanbul?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Istanbul or Sintra?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Istanbul or Sintra, 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: Istanbul or Sintra?
Istanbul
Istanbul is strategically located on the Bosphorus and is split between Europe and Asia. It truly is a city where east meets west. Istanbul is the cultural and financial hub of Turkey, and also the most populous city. The sites are countless and there's something for everybody, whether you're interested in art, music, food, or adventure. You can pass many days exploring both the residential and commercial pockets of this city. Much of the appeal is hidden away along back alleys or within corner shops.
Sintra
Located just 28 kilometers from Lisbon, Sintra is a town that was, for a long time, home to Portuguese royalty leading up to the 1910 revolution. In town you will find a Royal Palace and in the surrounding area there is a Moorish Castle, and the Pena Palace, which dates back to the 19th century. The town is on the Estoril Coast near the Sintra Mountains, making its setting very dramatic, beautiful and picturesque. The surrounding hills are actually designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site because they offer a great combination of both cultural importance and natural beauty.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Turkey, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Turkey, The Best Budget Tours to Portugal, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Portugal.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIstanbul $126Sintra $124
The average daily cost (per person) in Istanbul is $126, while the average daily cost in Sintra is $124. 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 Istanbul and Sintra in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIstanbul $47Sintra $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIstanbul $94Sintra $122
Compare Hotels in Istanbul and Sintra
Looking for a hotel in Istanbul or Sintra? 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: Istanbul Hotel Prices and Sintra Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Istanbul $55Sintra $22
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Istanbul are as follows:
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Ferry$0.09
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Local Bus$0.09
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Istanbul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Istanbul:
- Princes' Islands Tour with Lunch and Transfers: $13
- Private Transfer from Istanbul Hotels to Istanbul Cruise Port: $19
- Istanbul City to Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW)-Departure Private Transfer: $20
- Airport - Otel Transfer and City Tours: $20
- Private One-Way New Istanbul Airport Transfer To/From Istanbul: $21
- Istanbul Hotels to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (ISL) - Departure Private Transfer: $22
- Istanbul Airport (SAW) to Istanbul - Arrival Private Transfer: $22
- Istanbul to Istanbul Airport (SAW) - Departure Private Transfer: $22
- Istanbul Airport Private Transfers: $22
- Princes' Islands Cruise w/Music, Lunch & Transfer: $24
- Istanbul Airport VIP/ULTRA VIP Transfer, Free WIFI: $25
- Private Transfer from Istanbul Hotels to Istanbul Cruise Port: $26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sintra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sintra:
- Estoril, Cascais or Sintra Private Transfer to Lisbon: $27
- Lisbon Airport Transfer to Cascais / Sintra / Estoril: $51
- Transfer from Lisbon Airport to Sintra: $53
- Lisbon Airport: Cascais/Estoril/Sintra Private Transfer: $57
- Transfer Sintra to Lisbon Airport: $71
- Tuk Tuk Transfer With Sintra Pena Ticket From Meeting Point: $73
- Private Transfer Lisbon & Cascais by Van or Car: $73
- TRANSFER Cascais to Lisbon Airport: $82
- Lisbon transfer, national and Iberian trips: $86
- Private Guided Transfer in Sintra and Lisbon: $87
- Tours and Transfers: $89
- Transfer Cascais to Lisbon(3pax): $98
Is it cheaper to fly into Istanbul or Sintra?
Prices for flights to both Sintra and Istanbul 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 dayIstanbul $31Sintra $45
Typical Food Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Istanbul are as follows:
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Juice$0.06
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Turkish Delight$0.02
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Dessert$0.26
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Pastries$0.05
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Istanbul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Istanbul.
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Turkish Night Show from Istanbul: $16
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Show with Private Table: $17
- Dinner Cruise and Entertainment with Private Table: $17
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise , Unlimited Drinks, & Show: $21
- Bosphorus Luxury Catamaran Cruise with Dinner Show: $25
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise and Turkish Night Show: $26
- Bosphorus Boat Cruise with Dinner & Entertainment: $27
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Unlimited Drinks and Shows: $28
- Dinner Cruise Bosphorus with Hotel Transfer: $28
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise and Turkish Night Show: $29
- Half Day Sunset Luxury Yacht Dinner Cruise Tour in Istanbul: $29
- 3 Hour Ottoman Dinner Cruise in Istanbul : $29
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sintra
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sintra.
- Private Portuguese Cooking Lesson and Meal with a Lisbon Local: $220
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Istanbul $79Sintra $25
Typical Entertainment Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Istanbul are as follows:
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Bosphurus Boat (for 2)$0.62
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Yerebatan Cistern for Two$0.62
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Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts for Two$0.31
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Hagia Sofia entrance$0.93
Tours and Activities in Istanbul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Istanbul are as follows:
- App self-guided tours Istanbul with multilingual audioguide: $2.14
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- City Tour with Audio Guide in your smartphone: $5.35
- Highlights Self Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $5.35
- Hagia Sophia Exclusive Digital Audio Guided Tour: $5.35
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.42
- Istanbul Outdoor Escape Game: The Royal Adventure: $7.08
- Istanbul in a day: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in English: $7.87
- Daytime or Sunset Sightseeing Cruise & Audio Guide: $8.06
- Hippodrome and Blue Mosque Guided Tour: $8.73
- Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise with Audio Guide: $9.62
- The Royal Adventure Highlights Exploration Game: $11
Tours and Activities in Sintra
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Sintra are as follows:
- Discover Enchanted A Fairy-Tale Free Tour: $1.28
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $3.74
- Sintra Myths and Legends Interpretative Center Entry Ticket: $4.28
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.42
- Pena Palace In-app Audio Tour (WITHOUT A TICKET): $7.44
- Sintra Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.65
- Monserrate Palace and Park Skip-the-Line Ticket: $13
- Sintra Sightseeing Train Tour: $13
- National Palace of Sintra and Gardens Fast Track Ticket: $14
- National Sintra Palace Ticket & Optional Audio Guide: $16
- Hop-on Hop-off Tour in Sintra: $16
- Castle of the Moors E-Ticket & Optional Audio Guide: $18
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIstanbul $15Sintra $19
Sample the Local Flavors in Istanbul
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Istanbul:
- Istanbul Pub Crawl Big Nightout . Rooftop parties,party Bus & Nightlife: $22
- Istanbul 7-Hour Pub Crawl: Big Night Out: $27
- Famous Istanbul Pub Crawl #1 Nightlife Experience: $27
- Party Pub Crawl with Party Bus: $29
- Wine Tasting Experience in Istanbul : $50
- Istanbul Wine Tasting at Home with Local Family: $80
- 2-Day Wine Tasting Tour along the Thracian Wine Route: $180
- Istanbul Private Wine Tasting Tour Through 3 City Wineries : $245
- Istanbul Private and Guided, Food and Wine Tasting Tour: $430
- Luxury Wine Tasting on a Private Yacht: $844
Sample the Local Flavors in Sintra
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Sintra:
- Half-Day Tour in Cascais / Sintra with Brunch and Wine Tasting: $60
- Hiking and Wine Tasting Experience: $71
- Half Day in Sintra and Cabo da Roca with Wine Tasting: $82
- Wine Tasting Tour: $82
- Private tour wine tasting in Setubal: $96
- Excursion from Lisbon to Setúbal: Nature, Beach and Wine Tasting: $125
- Private Tour Sétubal, Palmela, Arrábida with wine tasting: $175
- Hidden Gems: Sintra & Cascais Private Tour with Wine Tasting: $181
- From Lisbon Private Tour to Porto with Port Wine Tasting: $235
When comparing the travel costs between Istanbul and Sintra, we can see that Istanbul is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Istanbul Expensive? and Is Sintra Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Istanbul or Sintra?
Istanbul has a larger population, and is about 430 times larger than the population of Sintra. When comparing the sizes of Istanbul and Sintra, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Istanbul or Sintra?
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 Istanbul or Sintra in the Summer?
Both Sintra and Istanbul are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Istanbul in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
Istanbul is around the same temperature as Sintra in the summer. The daily temperature in Istanbul averages around 24°C (74°F) in July, and Sintra fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
It's quite sunny in Sintra. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Istanbul. Istanbul usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Sintra during summer. Istanbul gets 333 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra receives 352 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Istanbul usually receives more rain than Sintra. Istanbul gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Sintra receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyIstanbul 24°C (74°F)Sintra 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Sintra in the Autumn?
Both Sintra and Istanbul during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Istanbul for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In the autumn, Istanbul is cooler than Sintra. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Istanbul in October average around 16°C (61°F), and Sintra averages at about 19°C (66°F).
In Sintra, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Istanbul often gets less sunshine than Sintra. Istanbul gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra receives 213 hours of full sun.
Istanbul usually gets less rain in October than Sintra. Istanbul gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Sintra receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberIstanbul 16°C (61°F)Sintra 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Sintra in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Istanbul and Sintra. The winter months attract visitors to Istanbul because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Istanbul is generally much colder than Sintra. Daily temperatures in Istanbul average around 6°C (43°F), and Sintra fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
Istanbul usually receives less sunshine than Sintra during winter. Istanbul gets 75 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra receives 144 hours of full sun in the winter.
Sintra receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Istanbul usually receives less rain than Sintra. Istanbul gets 99 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Sintra receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryIstanbul 6°C (43°F)Sintra 12°C (53°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Sintra in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Istanbul as well as Sintra. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Istanbul this time of year.
Istanbul is cooler than Sintra in the spring. The daily temperature in Istanbul averages around 13°C (55°F) in April, and Sintra fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sintra. In the spring, Istanbul often gets less sunshine than Sintra. Istanbul gets 180 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra receives 235 hours of full sun.
Istanbul usually gets less rain in April than Sintra. Istanbul gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Sintra receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilIstanbul 13°C (55°F)Sintra 16°C (60°F)
Typical Weather for Sintra and Istanbul
| Istanbul | Sintra | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 6°C (43°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (44°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (47°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (71°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (74°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (74°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Sep | 20°C (69°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Dec | 9°C (47°F) | 122 mm (4.8 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.