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

Should you visit Istanbul 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 Istanbul 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: Istanbul or Sintra-Cascais National Park?

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-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 2-Week Tours in Turkey, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Turkey, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Portugal, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Portugal.


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

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Istanbul is $126, while the average daily cost in Sintra-Cascais National Park is $152. 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-Cascais National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Istanbul $47
    Sintra-Cascais National Park $68
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Istanbul $94
    Sintra-Cascais National Park $136
Compare Hotels in Istanbul and Sintra-Cascais National Park

Looking for a hotel in Istanbul 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 Istanbul


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

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Istanbul $55
    Sintra-Cascais National Park $66
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Istanbul

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Istanbul are as follows:


  • Ferry
    $0.09
  • 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

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

Prices for flights to both Sintra-Cascais National Park 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Istanbul $31
    Sintra-Cascais National Park $44
Typical Food Prices in Istanbul

Some typical examples of dining costs in Istanbul are as follows:


  • Juice
    $0.06
  • Turkish Delight
    $0.02
  • Dessert
    $0.26
  • 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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Istanbul $79
    Sintra-Cascais National Park $29
Typical Entertainment Prices in Istanbul

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Istanbul are as follows:


  • Bosphurus Boat (for 2)
    $0.62
  • Yerebatan Cistern for Two
    $0.62
  • Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts for Two
    $0.31
  • 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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Istanbul $15
    Sintra-Cascais National Park $14

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


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

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-Cascais National Park Expensive?.



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

Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Istanbul are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Istanbul for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Istanbul is around the same temperature as Sintra-Cascais National Park in the summer. The daily temperature in Istanbul averages around 24°C (74°F) in July, and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

It's quite sunny in Sintra-Cascais National Park. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Istanbul. Istanbul usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Sintra-Cascais National Park during summer. Istanbul gets 333 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 352 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Istanbul usually receives more rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Istanbul gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Istanbul 24°C (74°F) 
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 23°C (73°F)

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

Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Istanbul during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Istanbul because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Istanbul is cooler than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Istanbul in October average around 16°C (61°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park averages at about 19°C (66°F).

In Sintra-Cascais National Park, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Istanbul often gets less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Istanbul gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 213 hours of full sun.

Istanbul usually gets less rain in October than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Istanbul gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Istanbul 16°C (61°F) 
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 19°C (66°F)

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

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Istanbul and Sintra-Cascais National Park. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Istanbul this time of year.

In January, Istanbul is generally much colder than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Daily temperatures in Istanbul average around 6°C (43°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).

Istanbul usually receives less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park during winter. Istanbul gets 75 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 144 hours of full sun in the winter.

Sintra-Cascais National Park receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Istanbul usually receives less rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Istanbul gets 99 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Istanbul 6°C (43°F) 
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 12°C (53°F)

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

The spring brings many poeple to Istanbul as well as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Many travelers come to Istanbul for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.

Istanbul is cooler than Sintra-Cascais National Park in the spring. The daily temperature in Istanbul averages around 13°C (55°F) in April, and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sintra-Cascais National Park. In the spring, Istanbul often gets less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Istanbul gets 180 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 235 hours of full sun.

Istanbul usually gets less rain in April than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Istanbul gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Istanbul 13°C (55°F) 
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 16°C (60°F)

Typical Weather for Sintra-Cascais National Park and Istanbul

Istanbul Sintra-Cascais National Park
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)