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

Should you visit Messina or Sintra-Cascais National Park?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Messina and Sintra-Cascais National Park can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Messina or Sintra-Cascais National Park?

Messina

Messina is a city in the northwest area of Sicily. There are only five kilometers across the Straits of Messina to the Calabria region of mainland Italy. You can reach Messina by boats which travel every hour from the town of Villa San Giovanni in mainland Italy. There are also a couple of hydrofoils that make the trip every day from Reggio di Calabria. During the summer season don't be surprised to see cruise ships arriving with crowds of tourists. They are usually docked right downtown and are therefore hard to miss. Messina is also connected to mainland Italy by train, which are transported across the Straits of Messina by ferry.

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 Food and Culinary Tours in Italy, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in 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 Messina and Sintra-Cascais National Park, we can see that Sintra-Cascais National Park is more expensive. And not only is Messina much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Messina would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Messina 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 Messina.

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

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

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Messina and Sintra-Cascais National Park. Many visitors come to Messina in the summer for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

Messina is a little warmer than Sintra-Cascais National Park in the summer. The daily temperature in Messina averages around 27°C (80°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 Messina, it's very sunny this time of the year. Messina usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Sintra-Cascais National Park during summer. Messina gets 332 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 352 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Messina usually receives more rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Messina gets 19 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

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

The autumn brings many poeple to Messina as well as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Most visitors come to Messina for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months.

In the autumn, Messina is around the same temperature as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Messina in October average around 21°C (69°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. In the autumn, Messina often gets less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Messina gets 189 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 213 hours of full sun.

Messina receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Messina usually gets more rain in October than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Messina gets 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Messina are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The winter months attract visitors to Messina because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In January, Messina is generally around the same temperature as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Daily temperatures in Messina average around 13°C (55°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).

Messina usually receives less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park during winter. Messina gets 115 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. It's quite rainy in Messina. In January, Messina usually receives around the same amount of rain as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Messina gets 113 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

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

Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Messina during the spring are popular places to visit. The beaches and the activities around the city are the main draw to Messina this time of year.

Messina is around the same temperature as Sintra-Cascais National Park in the spring. The daily temperature in Messina 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 Messina. In the spring, Messina often gets less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Messina gets 207 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 235 hours of full sun.

Messina usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Messina gets 60 mm (2.4 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 Messina