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

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

Nantes

Nantes is a city in western France, located on the Loire River, 31 miles from the Atlantic coast. The city is the sixth largest in France, with almost 600,000 inhabitants within the Urban area. Together with Saint-Nazaire, a seaport located on the Loire estuary, Nantes forms the main metropolis of north-western France. The city has a unique architectural heritage with its magnificent Chateau des ducs de Bretagne - a Renaissance-style castle nestled in a fortress, a medieval quarter and one of the highest cathedrals of France. It has been transformed in the last 20 years probably more than any other city in France. It is not only a vibrant and young metropolis often rewarded for its top-quality of life, but a city where art has literally been integrated in all possible aspects, making it a true example of how artists can turn a city upside down.

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

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

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

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

The summer brings many poeple to Nantes as well as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Most visitors come to Nantes for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Nantes is cooler than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Typically, the summer temperatures in Nantes in July average around 19°C (67°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park averages at about 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 Nantes this time of the year. In the summer, Nantes often gets less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Nantes gets 267 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 352 hours of full sun.

Nantes usually gets more rain in July than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Nantes gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Nantes are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Nantes because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Nantes is generally cooler than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Daily temperatures in Nantes average around 13°C (56°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

It's quite sunny in Sintra-Cascais National Park. Nantes usually receives less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park during autumn. Nantes gets 141 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 213 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Nantes usually receives around the same amount of rain as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Nantes gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

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

Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Nantes during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Nantes this time of year.

Nantes is much colder than Sintra-Cascais National Park in the winter. The daily temperature in Nantes averages around 6°C (42°F) in January, and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).

In the winter, Nantes often gets less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Nantes gets 72 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. Nantes usually gets less rain in January than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Nantes gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Nantes and Sintra-Cascais National Park. Many travelers come to Nantes for the natural beauty.

In the spring, Nantes is cooler than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Typically, the spring temperatures in Nantes in April average around 11°C (51°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park averages at about 16°C (60°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sintra-Cascais National Park this time of the year. Nantes usually receives less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park during spring. Nantes gets 187 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 235 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Nantes usually receives less rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Nantes gets 50 mm (2 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 Nantes