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

Should you visit Santiago de Compostela or Sintra-Cascais National Park?

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

Should I visit Santiago de Compostela 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: Santiago de Compostela or Sintra-Cascais National Park?

Santiago de Compostela

Santiago de Compostela is the capital city of northwest Spain's Galicia region. Its famous cathedral marks the culmination of the Way of Saint James pilgrimage route, and is the alleged burial site of the apostle himself. The pilgrimage route begins in the Pyrenees, 500 miles away, though travelers can decide to join the journey at certain points in between, depending on how far they want to walk and how much they want to see.

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 3-Week Tours in Spain, The Best Bicycle Tours in Spain, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Portugal, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Portugal.


Which place is cheaper, Sintra-Cascais National Park or Santiago de Compostela?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Santiago de Compostela is €91, 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 Santiago de Compostela and Sintra-Cascais National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Santiago de Compostela 37
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 63
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Santiago de Compostela 74
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 126
Compare Hotels in Santiago de Compostela and Sintra-Cascais National Park

Looking for a hotel in Santiago de Compostela 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 Santiago de Compostela


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: Santiago de Compostela Hotel Prices and Sintra-Cascais National Park Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Santiago de Compostela 38
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 61

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santiago de Compostela

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santiago de Compostela:

  • Departure Private Transfer Santiago de Compostela to SCQ Airport by Business Car: $38
  • Airport Transfer Santiago de Compostela: $45
  • Santiago de Compostela Private Transfer from the city centre to SCQ Airport: $51
  • Santiago de Compostela Private Transfer from the city centre to SCQ Airport: $51
  • Santiago de Compostela Private Transfer from SCQ Airport to City centre: $51
  • Airport transfer Santiago de Compostela: $71
  • Santiago de Compostela Private Transfer to SCQ Airport by Van: $91
  • Arrival Private Transfer Santiago de Compostela Airport to City Center by Minivan: $91

Is it cheaper to fly into Santiago de Compostela or Sintra-Cascais National Park?

Prices for flights to both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Santiago de Compostela 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
    Santiago de Compostela 19
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 41
Typical Food Prices in Santiago de Compostela

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Santiago de Compostela:


  • Raspberries
    3.50
  • Ice Cream
    2.00
  • Cookie
    1.00
  • Kebab
    7.25
  • Dinner & Tapas (for 2)
    28
  • Tuna Empanada
    3.50
  • Fruit Shake
    3.50
  • Crepe
    4.00

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Santiago de Compostela 39
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 27

Tours and Activities in Santiago de Compostela

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

  • Old Town of Santiago de Compostela Walking Tour: $1.09
  • Secrets of A Self-Guided Tour: $9.99
  • Secrets of Private Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
  • Old town walking tour with an Official Guide: $11
  • Guided Tour of the Old Town with an Official Guide: $11
  • Hostal de los Reyes Católicos Tour: $13
  • Land of Legends & Meigas Night Tour: $13
  • Night Tour Land of Legends and Meigas: $13
  • Queimada Experience Show and Tasting: $16
  • Museum Tour of Galician Culture: $16
  • Santiago: Cathedral & Museum Tour & Pórtico of Glory Option: $16
  • Santiago de Compostela Cathedral and Museum Guided Tour: $16

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Santiago de Compostela 23
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 13
Typical Alcohol Prices in Santiago de Compostela

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Santiago de Compostela from other travelers:


  • 1 Pint Beer
    2.00

Sample the Local Flavors in Santiago de Compostela

Also in Santiago de Compostela, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Cheese and Wine Tasting Experience: $31
  • Cheese and Wine Tasting Experience: $32
  • Albariño Wine Tasting with Winery Tour: $33
  • Premium Porto Santiago Compostela tour lunch & wine tasting: $214


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

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



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

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Santiago de Compostela and Sintra-Cascais National Park. The hiking and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Santiago de Compostela this time of year.

In July, Santiago de Compostela is generally cooler than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Daily temperatures in Santiago de Compostela average around 19°C (66°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sintra-Cascais National Park this time of the year. In Santiago de Compostela, it's very sunny this time of the year. Santiago de Compostela usually receives less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park during summer. Santiago de Compostela gets 248 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 352 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Santiago de Compostela usually receives more rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Santiago de Compostela gets 25 mm (1 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
    Santiago de Compostela 19°C (66°F) 
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 23°C (73°F)

Should I visit Santiago de Compostela or Sintra-Cascais National Park in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Santiago de Compostela as well as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Many travelers come to Santiago de Compostela for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

Santiago de Compostela is cooler than Sintra-Cascais National Park in the autumn. The daily temperature in Santiago de Compostela averages around 16°C (61°F) in October, 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, Santiago de Compostela often gets less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Santiago de Compostela gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 213 hours of full sun.

Santiago de Compostela receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Santiago de Compostela usually gets more rain in October than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Santiago de Compostela gets 104 mm (4.1 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
    Santiago de Compostela 16°C (61°F) 
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 19°C (66°F)

Should I visit Santiago de Compostela or Sintra-Cascais National Park in the Winter?

Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Santiago de Compostela are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Santiago de Compostela in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, Santiago de Compostela is cooler than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Typically, the winter temperatures in Santiago de Compostela in January average around 11°C (51°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park averages at about 12°C (53°F).

Santiago de Compostela usually receives less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park during winter. Santiago de Compostela gets 103 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. It's quite rainy in Santiago de Compostela. In January, Santiago de Compostela usually receives more rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Santiago de Compostela gets 131 mm (5.2 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
    Santiago de Compostela 11°C (51°F) 
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 12°C (53°F)

Should I visit Santiago de Compostela or Sintra-Cascais National Park in the Spring?

Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Santiago de Compostela during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Santiago de Compostela for the natural beauty during these months.

In April, Santiago de Compostela is generally cooler than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Daily temperatures in Santiago de Compostela average around 13°C (55°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

In Sintra-Cascais National Park, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Santiago de Compostela often gets less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Santiago de Compostela gets 167 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 235 hours of full sun.

Santiago de Compostela usually gets more rain in April than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Santiago de Compostela gets 83 mm (3.3 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
    Santiago de Compostela 13°C (55°F) 
    Sintra-Cascais National Park 16°C (60°F)

Typical Weather for Sintra-Cascais National Park and Santiago de Compostela

Santiago de Compostela Sintra-Cascais National Park
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 11°C (51°F) 131 mm (5.2 in) 12°C (53°F) 110 mm (4.3 in)
Feb 11°C (52°F) 104 mm (4.1 in) 13°C (55°F) 111 mm (4.4 in)
Mar 12°C (53°F) 86 mm (3.4 in) 14°C (58°F) 69 mm (2.7 in)
Apr 13°C (55°F) 83 mm (3.3 in) 16°C (60°F) 64 mm (2.5 in)
May 15°C (58°F) 78 mm (3.1 in) 18°C (64°F) 39 mm (1.5 in)
Jun 17°C (62°F) 49 mm (1.9 in) 21°C (69°F) 21 mm (0.8 in)
Jul 19°C (66°F) 25 mm (1 in) 23°C (73°F) 5 mm (0.2 in)
Aug 19°C (67°F) 29 mm (1.1 in) 23°C (74°F) 6 mm (0.2 in)
Sep 19°C (65°F) 62 mm (2.4 in) 22°C (72°F) 26 mm (1 in)
Oct 16°C (61°F) 104 mm (4.1 in) 19°C (66°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
Nov 13°C (55°F) 116 mm (4.6 in) 15°C (59°F) 114 mm (4.5 in)
Dec 11°C (52°F) 128 mm (5 in) 12°C (54°F) 108 mm (4.3 in)