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

Should you visit Rouen or Sintra-Cascais National Park?

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

Should I visit Rouen or Sintra-Cascais National Park? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

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

Rouen

Rouen is a city on the River Seine in the north of France. It is the capital of the region of Normandy. It was formerly one of the largest and most prosperous cities of Medieval Europe. The city has had a turbulent history. It was devastated by fire and plague several times during the Middle Ages, and was occupied by the English during the Hundred Years War. The young French heroine Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc) was tried for heresy and burned at the stake in the central square in 1431. And during WWII, Allied bombing raids laid waste to large parts of the city, especially south of the cathedral.

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

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

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

Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Rouen are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Rouen this time of year.

In July, Rouen is generally cooler than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Daily temperatures in Rouen average around 17°C (63°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

It's quite sunny in Sintra-Cascais National Park. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Rouen. Rouen usually receives less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park during summer. Rouen gets 241 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 352 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Rouen usually receives more rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Rouen gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

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

Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Rouen during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Rouen for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

Rouen is much colder than Sintra-Cascais National Park in the autumn. The daily temperature in Rouen averages around 12°C (53°F) in October, and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

In Sintra-Cascais National Park, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Rouen often gets less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Rouen gets 127 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 213 hours of full sun.

Rouen usually gets less rain in October than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Rouen gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Rouen and Sintra-Cascais National Park. Many visitors come to Rouen in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Rouen can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Rouen is much colder than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Typically, the winter temperatures in Rouen in January average around 4°C (39°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park averages at about 12°C (53°F).

Rouen usually receives less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park during winter. Rouen gets 62 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 144 hours of full sun in the winter.

Sintra-Cascais National Park receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Rouen usually receives less rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Rouen gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

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

The spring brings many poeple to Rouen as well as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Most visitors come to Rouen for the natural beauty during these months.

In April, Rouen is generally much colder than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Daily temperatures in Rouen average around 9°C (48°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sintra-Cascais National Park. In the spring, Rouen often gets less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Rouen gets 172 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 235 hours of full sun.

Rouen usually gets less rain in April than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Rouen gets 48 mm (1.9 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 Rouen