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

Should you visit Lake Garda or Sintra-Cascais National Park?

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

Should I visit Lake Garda 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: Lake Garda or Sintra-Cascais National Park?

Lake Garda

As a gentle Mediterranean wind touches your skin, the aromatic fragrances of olive and lemon trees fill the air. Surrounded by lush gardens and Italian architecture in its ancient tans and beiges, you look to the horizon and find a paradise before your eyes: a shimmering lake, misty mountaintops, and a clear blue sky. Lake Garda is a popular holiday destination for locals of the Lombardy region and tourists alike. It has been shown that about 7% of Italy's tourists head straight for these gleaming blue shores. The largest lake in Italy, Lake Garda is located about halfway in between Brescia and Verona and between Venezia and Milano. Because it is surrounded by several different districts - Lombardy, Trentino, Alto, and the Veneto - Lake Garda is a culmination of culture that attracts cosmopolitan crowds. The lake is an ancient natural treasure Italy holds dear, with documents referring to Lake Garda dating as far back as the eighteenth century. The name "Garda" comes from the Germanic word "warda," which means "place of guard." Whether you are staying at one of the many luxurious resorts in Riva del Garda or are simply getting a pedicure in spa town Sirmione, Lake Garda continues to preserve its elegance and sophistication throughout the years.

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 Italy, The Best Contiki Tours to Italy, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Portugal, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Portugal.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lake Garda and Sintra-Cascais National Park, we can see that Lake Garda 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 Lake Garda would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lake Garda 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 Lake Garda Expensive? and Is Sintra-Cascais National Park Expensive?.

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

The summer brings many poeple to Lake Garda as well as Sintra-Cascais National Park. The beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Lake Garda this time of year.

In July, Lake Garda is generally around the same temperature as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Daily temperatures in Lake Garda average around 24°C (75°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 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 Lake Garda this time of the year. In the summer, Lake Garda often gets less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Lake Garda gets 286 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 352 hours of full sun.

Lake Garda usually gets more rain in July than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Lake Garda gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Lake Garda are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Lake Garda for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

Lake Garda is cooler than Sintra-Cascais National Park in the autumn. The daily temperature in Lake Garda averages around 14°C (57°F) in October, and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

It's quite sunny in Sintra-Cascais National Park. Lake Garda usually receives less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park during autumn. Lake Garda gets 137 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 213 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Lake Garda usually receives around the same amount of rain as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Lake Garda gets 82 mm (3.2 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

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

Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Lake Garda during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Lake Garda in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Lake Garda can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Lake Garda is much colder than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Typically, the winter temperatures in Lake Garda in January average around 2°C (36°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park averages at about 12°C (53°F).

In the winter, Lake Garda often gets less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Lake Garda gets 98 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. Lake Garda usually gets less rain in January than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Lake Garda gets 55 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Lake Garda and Sintra-Cascais National Park. Most visitors come to Lake Garda for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.

In April, Lake Garda is generally cooler than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Daily temperatures in Lake Garda average around 13°C (55°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sintra-Cascais National Park this time of the year. Lake Garda usually receives less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park during spring. Lake Garda gets 169 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 235 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Lake Garda usually receives more rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Lake Garda gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Sintra-Cascais National Park and Lake Garda