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

Should you visit Orkney Islands or Sintra-Cascais National Park?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Orkney Islands and Sintra-Cascais National Park can help you decide which place is right for you.

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

Orkney Islands

The Orkney Islands are located off the north coast of mainland Scotland, offering incredible sights and activities set against the Atlantic Ocean. Having been inhabited for over 5,000 years, Orkney is an archaeologist's dream as ancient relics are discovered all the time, meaning there are endless places for tourists to explore. The best time to visit Orkney is from May-October, when temperatures tend to stay between 50-65° Fahrenheit and rainfall is at it's lowest. Although, with their location on the sea, rain and heavy winds are very common, so be sure to always have waterproof clothing and shoes around!

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 from Edinburgh, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United Kingdom, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Portugal, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Portugal.

When comparing the travel costs between Orkney Islands and Sintra-Cascais National Park, we can see that Orkney Islands is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

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

Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Orkney Islands during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Orkney Islands because of the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Orkney Islands is much colder than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Typically, the summer temperatures in Orkney Islands in July average around 12°C (54°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park averages at about 23°C (73°F).

In Sintra-Cascais National Park, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Orkney Islands often gets less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Orkney Islands gets 129 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 352 hours of full sun.

Orkney Islands usually gets more rain in July than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Orkney Islands gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Orkney Islands and Sintra-Cascais National Park. The hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Orkney Islands this time of year.

In October, Orkney Islands is generally much colder than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Daily temperatures in Orkney Islands average around 9°C (48°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sintra-Cascais National Park this time of the year. Orkney Islands usually receives less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park during autumn. Orkney Islands gets 73 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 213 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Orkney Islands gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Orkney Islands usually receives more rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Orkney Islands gets 116 mm (4.6 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

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

The winter brings many poeple to Orkney Islands as well as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Many travelers come to Orkney Islands for the museums and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Orkney Islands. Orkney Islands is much colder than Sintra-Cascais National Park in the winter. The daily temperature in Orkney Islands averages around 4°C (39°F) in January, and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).

In the winter, Orkney Islands often gets less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Orkney Islands gets 29 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 144 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Sintra-Cascais National Park. Orkney Islands receives a lot of rain in the winter. Orkney Islands usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Orkney Islands gets 106 mm (4.2 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Orkney Islands are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Orkney Islands in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Orkney Islands is much colder than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Typically, the spring temperatures in Orkney Islands in April average around 6°C (43°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park averages at about 16°C (60°F).

It's quite sunny in Sintra-Cascais National Park. Orkney Islands usually receives less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park during spring. Orkney Islands gets 135 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 235 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Orkney Islands usually receives less rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Orkney Islands gets 56 mm (2.2 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 Orkney Islands