Which place is cheaper, Arles or Sintra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sintra or Arles?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sintra or Arles? 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: Sintra or Arles?
Sintra
Located just 28 kilometers from Lisbon, Sintra is a town that was, for a long time, home to Portuguese royalty leading up to the 1910 revolution. In town you will find a Royal Palace and in the surrounding area there is a Moorish Castle, and the Pena Palace, which dates back to the 19th century. The town is on the Estoril Coast near the Sintra Mountains, making its setting very dramatic, beautiful and picturesque. The surrounding hills are actually designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site because they offer a great combination of both cultural importance and natural beauty.
Arles
Arles is a city (and commune) in the south of France, in the Bouches-du-Rhone department. A large part of the Camargue is located on the territory of the commune, making it the largest commune in Metropolitan France in terms of territory. The city has a long history, and was considerably important in the Roman province of Gallia Narbonensis. The Roman and Romanesque Monuments of Arles were listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1981. The Dutch post-Impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh lived in Arles from 1888 to 1889 and produced over 300 paintings and drawings during his time there. The Arles area is full of culture and rich in history. It has many treasures, points of interest, and colorful sunbaked houses and is a great introduction into the Camarguais culture.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Portugal, The Best Tours for Seniors to Portugal, The Best Contiki Tours to France, and The Best G Adventures Tours to France.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySintra €115Arles €142
The average daily cost (per person) in Sintra is €115, while the average daily cost in Arles 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 Sintra and Arles in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSintra €57Arles €71
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSintra €114Arles €142
Compare Hotels in Sintra and Arles
Looking for a hotel in Sintra or Arles? 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.
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: Sintra Hotel Prices and Arles Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sintra €21Arles €23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sintra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sintra:
- Algarve vs Lisbon: Private Transfer to/from Algarve /Lisbon: $513
- Estoril, Cascais or Sintra Private Transfer to Lisbon: $27
- Lisbon Airport Transfer to Cascais / Sintra / Estoril: $51
- Lisbon Airport: Cascais/Estoril/Sintra Private Transfer: $57
- Lisbon transfer, national and Iberian trips: $86
- Private Guided Transfer in Sintra and Lisbon: $87
- Private Transfer Lisbon & Cascais by Van or Car: $73
- Private transfer from Sintra to Porto with 2 hours for sightseeing: $289
- TRANSFER Cascais to Lisbon Airport: $82
- Tours and Transfers: $89
- Transfer Cascais to Lisbon(3pax): $98
- Transfer Cascais to Lisbon(8pax): $109
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arles
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Arles:
- Arles to Marseille Airport (MRS) - Departure Private Transfer: $117
Is it cheaper to fly into Sintra or Arles?
Prices for flights to both Arles and Sintra 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
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Food Meals for one daySintra €42Arles €52
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sintra
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sintra.
- Private Portuguese Cooking Lesson and Meal with a Lisbon Local: $220
Typical Food Prices in Arles
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Arles:
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Cooked Clams€4.50
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Ice Cream€1.00
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sintra €23Arles €31
Tours and Activities in Sintra
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Sintra are as follows:
- Discover Enchanted A Fairy-Tale Free Tour: $1.28
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $3.74
- Sintra Myths and Legends Interpretative Center Entry Ticket: $4.28
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.42
- Pena Palace In-app Audio Tour (WITHOUT A TICKET): $7.44
- Sintra Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.65
- Monserrate Palace and Park Skip-the-Line Ticket: $13
- Sintra Sightseeing Train Tour: $13
- National Palace of Sintra and Gardens Fast Track Ticket: $14
- National Sintra Palace Ticket & Optional Audio Guide: $16
- Hop-on Hop-off Tour in Sintra: $16
- Castle of the Moors E-Ticket & Optional Audio Guide: $18
Typical Entertainment Prices in Arles
Here are a few typical costs in Arles for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Castle Entrance Fee€5.50
Tours and Activities in Arles
Here are a few actual costs in Arles for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Provence Region Roman Abbey of Montmajour Entrance Ticket: $7.64
- City tour 45mn of the city, its history, its monuments,: $70
- City tour 1 hour of the city, its history, its monuments,: $84
- From Avignon: Arles, Les Baux-de-Provence & Saint-Rémy Tour: $106
- Arles 2-Hour Private Walking Tour: $187
- 2-Hour Private Walking Tour: $201
- Half Day Private Guided Tour of Arles: $202
- Private Guided Tour of Arles: $218
- Art and History Walking Tour: $299
- Arles Private guided walking tour from Marseille: $342
- Arles, Saint-Rémy & Les Baux De Provence: Guided Tour: $1,176
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySintra €17Arles €24
Sample the Local Flavors in Sintra
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Sintra:
- Half-Day Tour in Cascais / Sintra with Brunch and Wine Tasting: $60
- Hiking and Wine Tasting Experience: $71
- Half Day in Sintra and Cabo da Roca with Wine Tasting: $82
- Wine Tasting Tour: $82
- Private tour wine tasting in Setubal: $96
- Excursion from Lisbon to Setúbal: Nature, Beach and Wine Tasting: $125
- Private Tour Sétubal, Palmela, Arrábida with wine tasting: $175
- Hidden Gems: Sintra & Cascais Private Tour with Wine Tasting: $181
- From Lisbon Private Tour to Porto with Port Wine Tasting: $235
Sample the Local Flavors in Arles
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Arles:
- Lavender Field & Distillery Tour between Nimes & Arles: $6.20
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sintra and Arles, we can see that Arles is more expensive. And not only is Sintra much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Sintra would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sintra 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 Arles would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Arles than you might in Sintra.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sintra Expensive? and Is Arles Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sintra or Arles?
Arles has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Sintra. When comparing the sizes of Sintra and Arles, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Sintra or Arles?
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 Sintra or Arles in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Sintra and Arles. Also, many travelers come to Arles for the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Sintra is generally around the same temperature as Arles. Daily temperatures in Sintra average around 23°C (73°F), and Arles fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Arles this time of the year. In Sintra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Sintra usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Arles during summer. Sintra gets 352 hours of sunny skies, while Arles receives 354 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Sintra usually receives less rain than Arles. Sintra gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Arles receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySintra 23°C (73°F)Arles 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Arles in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Sintra as well as Arles. Also, many visitors come to Arles in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.
Sintra is a little warmer than Arles in the autumn. The daily temperature in Sintra averages around 19°C (66°F) in October, and Arles fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sintra this time of the year. In the autumn, Sintra often gets more sunshine than Arles. Sintra gets 213 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arles receives 178 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Arles. Sintra usually gets less rain in October than Arles. Sintra gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Arles receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSintra 19°C (66°F)Arles 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Arles in the Winter?
Both Arles and Sintra are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Arles for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
In the winter, Sintra is much warmer than Arles. Typically, the winter temperatures in Sintra in January average around 12°C (53°F), and Arles averages at about 7°C (44°F).
Sintra usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Arles during winter. Sintra gets 144 hours of sunny skies, while Arles receives 146 hours of full sun in the winter.
It's quite rainy in Sintra. In January, Sintra usually receives more rain than Arles. Sintra gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Arles receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySintra 12°C (53°F)Arles 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Arles in the Spring?
Both Arles and Sintra during the spring are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Arles because of the natural beauty.
In April, Sintra is generally a little warmer than Arles. Daily temperatures in Sintra average around 16°C (60°F), and Arles fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).
In Arles, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Sintra. In the spring, Sintra often gets more sunshine than Arles. Sintra gets 235 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arles receives 218 hours of full sun.
Sintra usually gets more rain in April than Arles. Sintra gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Arles receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSintra 16°C (60°F)Arles 13°C (56°F)
Typical Weather for Arles and Sintra
| Sintra | Arles | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 12°C (53°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Mar | 14°C (58°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 60 mm (2.3 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (74°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Nov | 15°C (59°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.