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

Should you visit Montpellier or Sintra-Cascais National Park?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Montpellier and Sintra-Cascais National Park. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

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

Montpellier

Montpellier is the 8th largest city of France, and also has been the fastest growing city in the country over the past 25 years. Graceful and easy-going, Montpellier is a stylish metropolis with elegant buildings, grand hotels, private mansions, stately boulevards and shady backstreets, and gorgeous white-sand beaches on its doorstep. Unlike many southern towns, Montpellier has no Roman heritage. Instead it was founded in the 10th century by the counts of Toulouse and later became a prosperous trading port as well as a scholarly center - Europe's first medical school was established here in the 12th century. The population swelled in the 1960s when many French settlers left independent Algeria and relocated here, and it's now France's fastest-growing city and one of its most multicultural areas. Students make up over a third of the population, giving it a spirited vibe.

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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in France, The Best 2-Week Tours in France, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Portugal, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Portugal.


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

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Montpellier is €118, while the average daily cost in Sintra-Cascais National Park is €142. 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 Montpellier and Sintra-Cascais National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Montpellier 69
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 63
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Montpellier 138
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 126
Compare Hotels in Montpellier and Sintra-Cascais National Park

Looking for a hotel in Montpellier 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 Montpellier


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

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Montpellier 26
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 61

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montpellier

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montpellier:

  • Transfer Montpellier Airport and Beziers Airport: $49
  • Montpellier–Méditerranée Airport Transfer: $64
  • Montpellier Private Transfer from Montpellier city centre to Montpellier Airport: $74
  • Private Transfer from Sète Cruise Port to Marseille city hotels: $131
  • Transfer from Sète Port to Marseille Provence Airport MRS: $131

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

Prices for flights to both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Montpellier 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
    Montpellier 31
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 41

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montpellier

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Montpellier.

  • Guided Food Tour With Local Snacks and Wine: $91
  • Montpellier Food Tour: $93
  • From Pic Saint-Loup Wine and Food Tour: $102
  • Cooking workshop: $106
  • Private cooking class with specialized chefs Montpellier: $108
  • Fusion Food Cooking Class: $428

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Montpellier 12
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 27

Tours and Activities in Montpellier

Here are a few actual costs in Montpellier for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Legendary Montpellier, flexible legends and storytelling tour: $16
  • CityTour and Photo Portraits Souvenirs in Montpellier: $38
  • Half-Day Hiking Tour of Pic Saint Loup & Picnic: $64
  • From Wine and Olive Tour: $75
  • Small-Group Half-Day Languedoc Wine and Olive Tour from Montpellier: $80
  • From Half-Day Vineyard & Pic Saint-Loup Tour: $80
  • Montpellier Wine and Oyster Tour: $86
  • Small-Group Half-Day Languedoc Wine and Oyster Tour from Montpellier: $95
  • Winetour & food experience in Pic St Loup: $107
  • Saint-Guilhem village and cave day tour : $142
  • Photoshoot Experience: $159
  • Private 2-hour Walking Tour of the Historical Center of Montpellier: $161

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Montpellier 15
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 13

Sample the Local Flavors in Montpellier

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Montpellier:

  • The Châteaux of Grès de Montpellier & Wine Tasting: $80
  • Small-Group Half-Day Châteaux of Montpellier Wine Tour: $84
  • Small-Group Half-Day Languedoc Pic Saint-Loup Wine Tour from Montpellier: $84
  • Wine tour in Pic Saint-Loup area: $142
  • Half-Day Wine Tour with Lunch: $155
  • Montpellier : half day wine tour in Camargue: $159
  • Private Half-Day Languedoc Wine Tour from Sète: $240
  • Sète: Private Half–Day Wine Tour: $353


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

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



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

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Montpellier and Sintra-Cascais National Park. Many travelers come to Montpellier for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Montpellier is around the same temperature as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Typically, the summer temperatures in Montpellier in July average around 23°C (73°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park averages at about 23°C (73°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sintra-Cascais National Park this time of the year. In Montpellier, it's very sunny this time of the year. Montpellier usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Sintra-Cascais National Park during summer. Montpellier gets 351 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 352 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Montpellier usually receives more rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Montpellier gets 20 mm (0.8 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
    Montpellier 23°C (73°F) 
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 23°C (73°F)

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

The autumn brings many poeple to Montpellier as well as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Many visitors come to Montpellier in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Montpellier is generally cooler than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Daily temperatures in Montpellier average around 15°C (60°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sintra-Cascais National Park. In the autumn, Montpellier often gets less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Montpellier gets 187 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 213 hours of full sun.

Montpellier receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Montpellier usually gets more rain in October than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Montpellier gets 110 mm (4.3 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
    Montpellier 15°C (60°F) 
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 19°C (66°F)

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

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

Montpellier is much colder than Sintra-Cascais National Park in the winter. The daily temperature in Montpellier averages around 7°C (44°F) in January, and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).

Montpellier usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Sintra-Cascais National Park during winter. Montpellier gets 147 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, Montpellier usually receives less rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Montpellier gets 72 mm (2.8 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
    Montpellier 7°C (44°F) 
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 12°C (53°F)

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

Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Montpellier during the spring are popular places to visit. The spring months attract visitors to Montpellier because of the beaches and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Montpellier is cooler than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Typically, the spring temperatures in Montpellier in April average around 13°C (55°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park averages at about 16°C (60°F).

In Sintra-Cascais National Park, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Montpellier. In the spring, Montpellier often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Montpellier gets 230 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 235 hours of full sun.

Montpellier usually gets less rain in April than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Montpellier gets 55 mm (2.2 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
    Montpellier 13°C (55°F) 
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 16°C (60°F)

Typical Weather for Sintra-Cascais National Park and Montpellier

Montpellier Sintra-Cascais National Park
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 7°C (44°F) 72 mm (2.8 in) 12°C (53°F) 110 mm (4.3 in)
Feb 8°C (46°F) 72 mm (2.8 in) 13°C (55°F) 111 mm (4.4 in)
Mar 10°C (50°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 14°C (58°F) 69 mm (2.7 in)
Apr 13°C (55°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 16°C (60°F) 64 mm (2.5 in)
May 16°C (61°F) 52 mm (2 in) 18°C (64°F) 39 mm (1.5 in)
Jun 20°C (68°F) 33 mm (1.3 in) 21°C (69°F) 21 mm (0.8 in)
Jul 23°C (73°F) 20 mm (0.8 in) 23°C (73°F) 5 mm (0.2 in)
Aug 22°C (72°F) 42 mm (1.7 in) 23°C (74°F) 6 mm (0.2 in)
Sep 19°C (67°F) 62 mm (2.4 in) 22°C (72°F) 26 mm (1 in)
Oct 15°C (60°F) 110 mm (4.3 in) 19°C (66°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
Nov 10°C (51°F) 63 mm (2.5 in) 15°C (59°F) 114 mm (4.5 in)
Dec 7°C (45°F) 63 mm (2.5 in) 12°C (54°F) 108 mm (4.3 in)


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