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

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

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

Sigulda

Only 50 kilometers from Riga, Sigulda can be reached by either train or bus. The town is pleasantly situated in the Vidzeme Region of Latvia in the beautiful Gauja Valley. The area is quite scenic with steep banks and cliffs, and has earned itself the title as the "Switzerland of Latvia." Don't put too much emphasis on this name, but it is a pleasant area to explore, particularly if you're looking to get outside of the city and immerse yourself in some pristine wilderness.

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 Sightseeing Tours in Portugal, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Portugal.

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

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

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

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Sigulda and Sintra-Cascais National Park.

Sigulda is cooler than Sintra-Cascais National Park in the summer. The daily temperature in Sigulda averages around 17°C (63°F) in July, and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

In July, Sigulda usually receives more rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Sigulda gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

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

The autumn brings many poeple to Sigulda as well as Sintra-Cascais National Park.

In the autumn, Sigulda is much colder than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Sigulda in October average around 7°C (45°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park averages at about 19°C (66°F).

Sigulda usually gets less rain in October than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Sigulda gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Sigulda are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Sigulda. In January, Sigulda is generally much colder than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Daily temperatures in Sigulda average around -5°C (23°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Sintra-Cascais National Park. In January, Sigulda usually receives less rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Sigulda gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

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

Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Sigulda during the spring are popular places to visit.

Sigulda is much colder than Sintra-Cascais National Park in the spring. The daily temperature in Sigulda averages around 5°C (42°F) in April, and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

Sigulda usually gets less rain in April than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Sigulda gets 39 mm (1.5 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 Sigulda