Should you visit Sintra or Azores?
Should I visit Sintra or Azores? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
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.
Azores
The Azores are a group of nine volcanic islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Portugal. Although the islands were created through volcanic activity, there is far less activity now, making the Azores the perfect beach escape. Most people speak Portuguese, or a dialect of it, with English spoken primarily by those in the tourism industry.
Which city is cheaper, Azores or Sintra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Sintra is €92, while the average daily cost in Azores is €107. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Sintra and Azores in more detail.
Accommodation
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around €45. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Sintra the cost is €90 on average.
Travelers usually pay around €108 for a double occupancy room in Azores If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
The average traveler spends about €34 per day in Sintra for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
In Azores travelers spend around €36 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
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Food
Meals for one day
Sintra €34
Azores €36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sintra
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sintra.
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Sintra Walking Food Tour:
$60
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Sintra is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent €17 per person, per day, on local transportation in Sintra.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Azores than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend €24 on transportation in Azores on average per day.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sintra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sintra:
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Private Transfer To or From Lisbon Airport:
$25
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Private Transfer from Sintra City Center to Lisbon City Center:
$30
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Lisbon Private Transfer to or from Sintra:
$22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Azores
Also for Azores, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Transfer from Livramento to Azores (PDL) Airport:
$31
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Private Transfer from Posto Santo to Terceira Lajes (TER) Airport:
$62
Is it cheaper to fly into Sintra or Azores?
Prices for flights to both Azores 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.
Entertainment
Entertainment and activities in Sintra typically cost an average of €18 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Sightseeing expenses in Azores, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of €17 per day, per person.
Tours and Activities in Sintra
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Sintra are as follows:
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2 Tours Private /Day 1 From LISBON To ALGARVE Day 2 From LISBON To SINTRA:
$485
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2 Tours Private /Day 1 From LISBON To FÁTIMA Day 2 From LISBON To SINTRA:
$373
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2 Tours Private /Day 1 From LISBON To SINTRA Day 2 LISBON:
$261
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2 Tours Private/Day 1 From LISBON To FÁTIMA Day 2 LISBON:
$373
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2H Sintra Tour by Tuk Tuk:
$149
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3 Tours Private/Day 1 LISBON To SINTRA Day 2 LISBON to FÁTIMA Day 3 LISBON:
$498
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Archaeological Sintra Tour in a Classical car:
$56
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Cabo da Roca and Praia da Ursa Half Day Tour - IncrediblePortugal Private Tours:
$92
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Cascais & Sintra Tour in electric car:
$224
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Discover SINTRA`s hidden gems on our walking tour:
$30
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ECO FRIENDLY TOUR - The Unknown Side of Sintra:
$71
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Economic Tour - Pena Palace (2-4pax):
$27
Tours and Activities in Azores
For Azores, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Fortress Tour:
$31
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Half Day - Fire Tour (Lagoa do Fogo):
$49
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Trail Run Experience:
$68
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Jeep Tour - Lagoa de Fogo (Half Day):
$78
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Terceira Island Private Tour: Full-Day:
$84
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Full day Van Tour:
$87
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Jeep Tour - Furnas & Vila Franca do Campo (Full Day) with lunch:
$121
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Jeep Tour Lagoa de Fogo & Sete Cidades (Full Day) with lunch:
$121
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Terceira Island Photo Experience: Full-Day Tour:
$124
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Western Wonders - Private Tour (Flexible start and end time):
$177
Alcohol
The average person spends about €14 on alcoholic beverages in Sintra per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Typically, people visiting Azores spend on average €7.71 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Sintra
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Sintra:
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Ericeira & Mafra’s Wonders - Rural Beach & Wine Tour:
$117
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Sintra Brewery Tour & Beer Tasting Experience:
$121
When comparing the travel costs between Sintra and Azores, we can see that Azores 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.
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