Should I Visit Sintra or Braga for Vacation? Which is Better? Which is Cheaper? Which is More Expensive?

Should you visit Sintra or Braga?

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

Should I visit Sintra or Braga? 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 Braga?

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.

Braga

Located in the Cavado Valley of Northern Portugal, Braga is a medium sized city with both historical and modern characteristics. There is a university in town, known as Universidade do Minho, which gives the city a young feel with a lot of life. There are also many bars, clubs, and activities around to keep you entertained.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Portugal, The Best Tours for Seniors to Portugal, The Best G Adventures Tours to Portugal, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lisbon.

Which place is cheaper, Braga or Sintra?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

Sintra Prices
Portugal Prices

Braga Prices
Portugal Prices
Average Daily Cost Per person, per day

Sintra €146

Braga €142

The average daily cost (per person) in Sintra is €146, while the average daily cost in Braga 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 Braga in more detail.

Accommodation

Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person

Sintra €57

Braga €54
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room

Sintra €114

Braga €108

Compare Hotels in Sintra and Braga

Looking for a hotel in Sintra or Braga? 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 Braga Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation

Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.

Sintra €21

Braga €20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sintra

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sintra:

Estoril, Cascais or Sintra Private Transfer to Lisbon: $26
Lisbon: Private Transfer to Sintra: $46
Surf Lesson with transfer: $53
Lisbon Airport: Cascais/Estoril/Sintra Private Transfer: $55
Transfer in Cascais to Lisbon Airport: $58
Ericeira Private Transfer to/from Lisbon: $58
Transfer Sintra to Lisbon Airport: $69
Private Transfer Lisbon & Cascais by Van or Car: $74
TRANSFER Cascais to Lisbon Airport: $79
Transfer Cascais to Lisbon(3pax): $95
Transfer Cascais to Lisbon(8pax): $106
Private transfer from Sintra to Porto with 2 hours for sightseeing: $280

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Braga

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Braga:

Esposende Private Transfer to Porto: $39
Braga Private Transfer to Porto: $53
Transfers From / To Braga: $155
Private Car Transfer from Braga to Lisbon with 2 hours for sightseeing: $269

Is it cheaper to fly into Sintra or Braga?

Prices for flights to both Braga 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

Food Meals for one day

Sintra €73

Braga €70

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sintra

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sintra.

Portuguese Dinner Party in 17th Century Private Palace: $48

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Braga

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Braga.

The Lingerie Restaurant Cabaret Show with Dinner: $46
Italian Cooking Class with a French expat: $62
Braga Small-Group Food Tour: 3-Hour With a Local Guide: $82

Entertainment

Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.

Sintra €23

Braga €16

Tours and Activities in Sintra

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Sintra are as follows:

Magical Sintra Village Tour: $1.26
Discover Enchanted A Fairy-Tale Free Tour: $1.55
Sintra Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $3.16
Self-Guided Tour Explore the Quinta da Regaleira: $3.16
Sintra Myths and Legends Interpretative Center Entry Ticket: $4.13
Flexible Hiking Tour in Praia da Ursa: $6.19
Sintra Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.92
Pena Palace and Park Entrance Ticket: $10
Spies Nest Quest Experience in Estoril: $11
Sintra Highlights: Quest Experience: $11
Convent of the Capuchos Fast Track Entry Ticket: $11
Monserrate Palace & Park Ticket: $12

Tours and Activities in Braga

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Braga are as follows:

Braga Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $3.16
Flexible Walking Tour in Historic Center: $6.19
Braga Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tourer Hunt: $7.89
Guimaraes Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self Guided Tour: $7.89
Roman Heritage Quest Experience in Braga: $11
Tuk Tuk City Tour: $21
Tree and Slide Adventure in Lamas de Mouro at PNPG: $23
Paintball Experience : $32
Bravaes Kayak Park Private Adventure: $37
Small-Group Braga Half-Day Tour with Bom Jesus: $48
Small-Group Braga Half-Day Tour with Bom Jesus: $49
Guimarães Old Town Private Walking Tour: $52

Alcohol

Alcohol Drinks for one day

Sintra €17

Braga €21

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: $74
Half Day in Sintra and Cabo da Roca with Wine Tasting: $79
From Sintra, Mafra, or Ericeira: Hike and Wine Tour: $88
Arrábida-Palmela wine tasting, c/pick up hotel Private Tour: $122
Tour Mafra, Ericeira with wine tasting in Adega de Lisboa: $174
Hidden Gems: Sintra & Cascais Private Tour with Wine Tasting: $175
From Lisbon Private Tour to Porto with Port Wine Tasting: $227
Pena Palace, Cascais, Cabo da Roca, and Wine Tour: $241

Sample the Local Flavors in Braga

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Braga:

Wine Tasting & Lunch | Quinta de Santa Cristina Vinho Verde: $55
Green Wine Ponte Lima Region-Small Group tour-Lunch,Wine Tastings: $142
Douro Valley - Régua-Pinhão - with wine tasting: $142
Private Culture and Wine Tourism Tour: $216
Upper Douro Valley Wine Tour: $233

How are these travel costs calculated?

When comparing the travel costs between Sintra and Braga, we can see that Sintra 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.

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

Which is Bigger, Sintra or Braga?

Braga has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Sintra. When comparing the sizes of Sintra and Braga, 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 Braga?

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 Braga in the Summer?

Both Braga and Sintra are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities.

In July, Sintra is generally a little warmer than Braga. Daily temperatures in Sintra average around 23°C (73°F), and Braga fluctuates around 21°C (69°F).

It's quite sunny in Braga. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sintra. Sintra usually receives more sunshine than Braga during summer. Sintra gets 352 hours of sunny skies, while Braga receives 308 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Sintra usually receives less rain than Braga. Sintra gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Braga receives 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Summer Average Temperatures July

Sintra 23°C (73°F)

Braga 21°C (69°F)

Should I visit Sintra or Braga in the Autumn?

Both Braga and Sintra during the autumn are popular places to visit.

Sintra is a little warmer than Braga in the autumn. The daily temperature in Sintra averages around 19°C (66°F) in October, and Braga fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).

It's quite sunny in Sintra. In the autumn, Sintra often gets more sunshine than Braga. Sintra gets 213 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Braga receives 184 hours of full sun.

Braga gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Sintra usually gets less rain in October than Braga. Sintra gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Braga receives 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Autumn Average Temperatures October

Sintra 19°C (66°F)

Braga 17°C (62°F)

Should I visit Sintra or Braga in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Sintra and Braga.

In the winter, Sintra is a little warmer than Braga. Typically, the winter temperatures in Sintra in January average around 12°C (53°F), and Braga averages at about 10°C (50°F).

Sintra usually receives more sunshine than Braga during winter. Sintra gets 144 hours of sunny skies, while Braga receives 124 hours of full sun in the winter.

Braga receives a lot of rain in the winter. Sintra gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Sintra usually receives less rain than Braga. Sintra gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Braga receives 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Winter Average Temperatures January

Sintra 12°C (53°F)

Braga 10°C (50°F)

Should I visit Sintra or Braga in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Sintra as well as Braga.

In April, Sintra is generally a little warmer than Braga. Daily temperatures in Sintra average around 16°C (60°F), and Braga fluctuates around 14°C (56°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Braga. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sintra this time of the year. In the spring, Sintra often gets more sunshine than Braga. Sintra gets 235 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Braga receives 217 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Braga. Sintra usually gets less rain in April than Braga. Sintra gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Braga receives 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Spring Average Temperatures April

Sintra 16°C (60°F)

Braga 14°C (56°F)

Typical Weather for Braga and Sintra

	Sintra		Braga
	Temp (°C)	Rain (mm)	Temp (°C)	Rain (mm)
Jan	12°C (53°F)	110 mm (4.3 in)	10°C (50°F)	171 mm (6.7 in)
Feb	13°C (55°F)	111 mm (4.4 in)	11°C (51°F)	169 mm (6.7 in)
Mar	14°C (58°F)	69 mm (2.7 in)	12°C (54°F)	112 mm (4.4 in)
Apr	16°C (60°F)	64 mm (2.5 in)	14°C (56°F)	112 mm (4.4 in)
May	18°C (64°F)	39 mm (1.5 in)	16°C (60°F)	89 mm (3.5 in)
Jun	21°C (69°F)	21 mm (0.8 in)	19°C (66°F)	53 mm (2.1 in)
Jul	23°C (73°F)	5 mm (0.2 in)	21°C (69°F)	16 mm (0.6 in)
Aug	23°C (74°F)	6 mm (0.2 in)	20°C (69°F)	22 mm (0.9 in)
Sep	22°C (72°F)	26 mm (1 in)	20°C (67°F)	64 mm (2.5 in)
Oct	19°C (66°F)	80 mm (3.1 in)	17°C (62°F)	131 mm (5.2 in)
Nov	15°C (59°F)	114 mm (4.5 in)	13°C (55°F)	152 mm (6 in)
Dec	12°C (54°F)	108 mm (4.3 in)	11°C (51°F)	176 mm (6.9 in)

A Travel Price Comparison for Portugal Sintra vs. Braga for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Sintra or Braga?

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

Where Should I go: Sintra or Braga?

Sintra

Braga

Which place is cheaper, Braga or Sintra?

Accommodation

Compare Hotels in Sintra and Braga

Local Transportation

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sintra

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Braga

Is it cheaper to fly into Sintra or Braga?

Food

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sintra

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Braga

Entertainment

Tours and Activities in Sintra

Tours and Activities in Braga

Alcohol

Sample the Local Flavors in Sintra

Sample the Local Flavors in Braga

Which is Bigger, Sintra or Braga?

When is the best time to visit Sintra or Braga?

Should I visit Sintra or Braga in the Summer?

Should I visit Sintra or Braga in the Autumn?

Should I visit Sintra or Braga in the Winter?

Should I visit Sintra or Braga in the Spring?

Typical Weather for Braga and Sintra

Related Articles for Sintra

Related Articles for Braga

A Travel Price Comparison for Portugal Sintra vs. Braga for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Sintra or Braga?

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

Where Should I go: Sintra or Braga?

Sintra

Braga

Which place is cheaper, Braga or Sintra?

Accommodation

Compare Hotels in Sintra and Braga

Local Transportation

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sintra

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Braga

Is it cheaper to fly into Sintra or Braga?

Food

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sintra

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Braga

Entertainment

Tours and Activities in Sintra

Tours and Activities in Braga

Alcohol

Sample the Local Flavors in Sintra

Sample the Local Flavors in Braga

Which is Bigger, Sintra or Braga?

When is the best time to visit Sintra or Braga?

Should I visit Sintra or Braga in the Summer?

Should I visit Sintra or Braga in the Autumn?

Should I visit Sintra or Braga in the Winter?

Should I visit Sintra or Braga in the Spring?

Typical Weather for Braga and Sintra

Related Articles for Sintra

Related Articles for Braga

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