A Travel Price Comparison for Portugal Porto vs. Sintra-Cascais National Park for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Porto 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 Porto and Sintra-Cascais National Park can help you decide which place is right for you.

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

Porto

Porto is the second largest city in Portugal. It is also the capital of the Northern Region and a hub for commercial and industrial activity. The city is not as large as you might expect, with a population of only about 300,000 residents, but the metropolitan area has a population of about 2.5 million. This includes nearby cities such as Gaia, Matosinhos, Maia and Gondomar.

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 Family-Friendly Tours to Portugal, The Best 10-Day Tours in Portugal, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Portugal, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Portugal.


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

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Porto is €126, 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 Porto and Sintra-Cascais National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Porto 65
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 63
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Porto 130
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 126
Compare Hotels in Porto and Sintra-Cascais National Park

Looking for a hotel in Porto 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 Porto


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

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Porto 21
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 61

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Porto

Also for Porto, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • From Porto Bus Station: Transfer to/from Lisbon Oriente: $4.20
  • Porto Airport Transfer from/to Porto Center: $9.58
  • Porto Airport Transfer (to/from Porto City Center): $11
  • Porto Airport Transfer from/to Porto Center : $11
  • Oporto Airport Shared Departure Transfer: $12
  • Porto Airport: Shared One-Way Arrival or Departure Transfer: $13
  • Bus Transfer to/from Madrid South: $13
  • Private transfer from Porto Airport to Porto City Hotels: $15
  • Private One-way Airport Transfer (Porto Airport To/From Porto): $15
  • Porto Airport Private Departure Transfer: $15
  • Porto Airport Private Arrival Transfer: $15
  • Porto Private Airport Departure Transfer: $17

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

Prices for flights to both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Porto 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
    Porto 36
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 41

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Porto

For Porto, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Pastel de Nata Cooking Class in Downtown Porto: $37
  • Tastiest Calories Food Tour: $48
  • Bolhão Market and Codfish Tasting Guided Food Tour: $52
  • Porto Food Tour: Full Meal & Drinks: $56
  • Porto Food Tour - Do Eat Better Experience: $57
  • Half-Day Food Tour: $68
  • 3-Hour Food Tour: $68
  • Portuguese Craft Beer and Food Tour: $73
  • Semi - Private Oporto Food Tour: $73
  • Secret Food Tour: $77
  • Semi Private Oporto Fado Show with Dinner: $80
  • Semi Private Oporto Fado Show with Dinner: $81

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Porto 25
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 27

Tours and Activities in Porto

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Porto.

  • City Highlights Guided Walking Tour: $1.06
  • Porto Walking Tour - The Perfect Introduction to the City: $1.08
  • First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.19
  • The Unvanquished Tour in Porto City Center: $3.24
  • From Portugal eSIM Tourist Data Plan: $4.79
  • Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and City Tour: $5.32
  • Porto Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $5.42
  • City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.37
  • Scavenger Hunt and City Highlights Walking Tour: $7.66
  • Porto (Gaia) Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.66
  • Porto (Gaia) Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.83
  • Porto Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.83

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Porto 19
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 13

Sample the Local Flavors in Porto

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Porto:

  • Museu do Vitral Entry Ticket and Wine Tasting: $8.51
  • Tickets for Port Cellar Visit and Wine Tasting at Fonseca: $11
  • Guided City Pub Crawl with Club Entry: $13
  • Magic Train Tour and Port Wine Tastings: $15
  • Guided Port Wine Tasting with Parings: $16
  • Mysterious Pub Crawl Interactive City Discovery Game: $19
  • Pub Crawl with 5 Drinks: $19
  • Douro and Port Wine Tasting: $20
  • Pub Crawl Porto Live night: $21
  • Poças: Guided Tour & Port Wine Tasting with Pastel de Nata: $21
  • Pub Crawl with Shots and Drinking Games: $21
  • Poças Guided Visit and Port Wine Tasting with Pastel de Nata: $21


When comparing the travel costs between Porto and Sintra-Cascais National Park, we can see that Sintra-Cascais National Park 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 Porto Expensive? and Is Sintra-Cascais National Park Expensive?.



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

Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Porto during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Porto because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

Porto is cooler than Sintra-Cascais National Park in the summer. The daily temperature in Porto averages around 21°C (69°F) in July, and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

In Sintra-Cascais National Park, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Porto. In the summer, Porto often gets less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Porto gets 308 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 352 hours of full sun.

Porto usually gets more rain in July than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Porto gets 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Porto 21°C (69°F) 
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 23°C (73°F)

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

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Porto and Sintra-Cascais National Park. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Porto this time of year.

In the autumn, Porto is cooler than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Porto in October average around 17°C (62°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park averages at about 19°C (66°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sintra-Cascais National Park this time of the year. Porto usually receives less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park during autumn. Porto gets 184 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 213 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Porto gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Porto usually receives more rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Porto gets 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Porto 17°C (62°F) 
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 19°C (66°F)

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

The winter brings many poeple to Porto as well as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Many travelers come to Porto for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In January, Porto is generally cooler than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Daily temperatures in Porto average around 10°C (50°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).

In the winter, Porto often gets less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Porto gets 124 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. Porto receives a lot of rain in the winter. Porto usually gets more rain in January than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Porto gets 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Porto 10°C (50°F) 
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 12°C (53°F)

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

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

Porto is cooler than Sintra-Cascais National Park in the spring. The daily temperature in Porto averages around 14°C (56°F) in April, and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

It's quite sunny in Sintra-Cascais National Park. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Porto. Porto usually receives less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park during spring. Porto gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 235 hours of full sun in the spring.

It's quite rainy in Porto. In April, Porto usually receives more rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Porto gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Porto 14°C (56°F) 
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 16°C (60°F)

Typical Weather for Sintra-Cascais National Park and Porto

Porto Sintra-Cascais National Park
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 10°C (50°F) 171 mm (6.7 in) 12°C (53°F) 110 mm (4.3 in)
Feb 11°C (51°F) 169 mm (6.7 in) 13°C (55°F) 111 mm (4.4 in)
Mar 12°C (54°F) 112 mm (4.4 in) 14°C (58°F) 69 mm (2.7 in)
Apr 14°C (56°F) 112 mm (4.4 in) 16°C (60°F) 64 mm (2.5 in)
May 16°C (60°F) 89 mm (3.5 in) 18°C (64°F) 39 mm (1.5 in)
Jun 19°C (66°F) 53 mm (2.1 in) 21°C (69°F) 21 mm (0.8 in)
Jul 21°C (69°F) 16 mm (0.6 in) 23°C (73°F) 5 mm (0.2 in)
Aug 20°C (69°F) 22 mm (0.9 in) 23°C (74°F) 6 mm (0.2 in)
Sep 20°C (67°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 22°C (72°F) 26 mm (1 in)
Oct 17°C (62°F) 131 mm (5.2 in) 19°C (66°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
Nov 13°C (55°F) 152 mm (6 in) 15°C (59°F) 114 mm (4.5 in)
Dec 11°C (51°F) 176 mm (6.9 in) 12°C (54°F) 108 mm (4.3 in)


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