Which place is cheaper, Budapest or Sintra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sintra or Budapest?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sintra or Budapest? 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 Budapest?
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.
Budapest
Budapest is the capital city of Hungary. It has been called the "Paris of the East" because of its impressive architecture and general beauty. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987 because of its cultural importance, its location on the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter and Andrassy Avenue. In addition to its rich history, Budapest still has a young vibe with a lot of energy. There's an active night life, an impressive music scene, and a good reputation with European youth.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Portugal, The Best Tours for Seniors to Portugal, The Best 10-Day Tours from Budapest, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Budapest.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySintra €115Budapest €84
The average daily cost (per person) in Sintra is €115, while the average daily cost in Budapest is €84. 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 Budapest in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSintra €57Budapest €46
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSintra €114Budapest €92
Compare Hotels in Sintra and Budapest
Looking for a hotel in Sintra or Budapest? 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 Budapest Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sintra €21Budapest €9.80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sintra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sintra:
- Algarve vs Lisbon: Private Transfer to/from Algarve /Lisbon: $513
- Private transfer from Sintra to Porto with 2 hours for sightseeing: $289
- Transfer Cascais to Lisbon(8pax): $109
- Transfer Cascais to Lisbon(3pax): $98
- Tours and Transfers: $89
- Private Guided Transfer in Sintra and Lisbon: $87
- Lisbon transfer, national and Iberian trips: $86
- TRANSFER Cascais to Lisbon Airport: $82
- Private Transfer Lisbon & Cascais by Van or Car: $73
- Tuk Tuk Transfer With Sintra Pena Ticket From Meeting Point: $73
- Transfer Sintra to Lisbon Airport: $71
- Lisbon Airport: Cascais/Estoril/Sintra Private Transfer: $57
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Budapest
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Budapest:
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Short Taxi Ride€6.47
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Metro Pass€3.55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Budapest
Also for Budapest, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared Airport Shuttle Bus Transfer: $13
- Budapest Airport Private Departure Transfer : City to Airport: $16
- Budapest Private Arrival Transfer: Railway station to hotels: $16
- Premier Outlet Shopping Transfer from City Center: $16
- Private One-Way Budapest Int Airport Transfer To/From Budapest: $24
- Ferenc Liszt Intl Airport to Budapest - Arrival Private Transfer : $25
- Budapest Airport Transfers: $26
- Budapest Private transfer Airport or Hotel to or from Cruise Port: $26
- Private Airport Transfer Budapest: $27
- Budapest City - Budapest Airport Transfer: $31
- Private Transfer Budapest Airport BUD to Budapest by car or van: $34
- Hotel to Liszt Ferenc Airport departure Transfer: $37
Is it cheaper to fly into Sintra or Budapest?
Prices for flights to both Budapest 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 €42Budapest €22
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 Budapest
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Budapest:
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Lunch€3.16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Budapest
For Budapest, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Traveling Spoon Hungarian Goulash Private Online Cooking Class: $40
- Downtown Budapest Cruise with Pizza and Beer: $45
- Pizza & Beer Downtown Budapest Cruise: $46
- Vegan Hungarian Food Tour (full meals): $51
- Medieval Dinner Show with Drinks: $52
- Private Street Food Tour: $59
- Danube Cruise with Hungarian Dinner and Live Music: $74
- Budapest Danube Cruise with Buffet Dinner, Performances and Music: $75
- Evening Cruise and Dinner with Champagne: $86
- Lángos (Hungary’s nr1 streetfood) cooking class: $87
- Candlelit Dinner River Cruise with Live Music: $91
- Budapest Danube River Candlelit Dinner Cruise with Live Music: $93
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sintra €23Budapest €20
Tours and Activities in Sintra
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Sintra are as follows:
- E-Bike Rental Self Guide Tour in Sintra and Cabo da Roca : $64
- Half Day Private Wine and Traditional Tile Making Tour: $157
- 1h sight seeing - Sintra Mountain Tour (price per car) - max 4persons: $119
- 2 Hour Private Picnic and Photoshoot Experience in Lisbon area: $149
- 2 Hours Romantic experience for two by sailboat in Cascais: $297
- 2 hours Private Sailing Experience in Cascais: $297
- 3 Hour Sintra Village and Beaches Tuktuk Tour: $125
- 4 hour Private MTB Enduro Trail Tour in Sintra Mountain: $171
- 4 hour Private MTB Enduro Trail Tour in Sintra Mountain: $153
- 4x4 Tours in Portuguese Classic Jeeps (UMM) around Sintra: $153
- Amazing Sintra tour: $91
- Cascais Private Walking Tour with a Professional Guide: $260
Typical Entertainment Prices in Budapest
For Budapest, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Entrance to the Baths for Two€6.35
Tours and Activities in Budapest
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Budapest.
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Free Tour Budapest Essential in Spanish: $3.26
- Budapest Historical Sightseeing - Walking Tour: $3.27
- Free walking tour in the Buda Castle incl. Fisherman's Bastion: $3.27
- Free Walking Tour Budapest incl. the Shoes on the Danube Bank: $3.27
- Communist History Evening Walking Tour of Budapest: $3.27
- Past and Present of Budapest Jewish District Tour: $3.27
- Self Guided City Audio Tour in Buda Castle: $5.45
- Escape Game and Tour: $5.88
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $5.88
- Historical Heroes & Hot Spa Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- TOP 10 Budapest- City Tour : $6.00
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySintra €17Budapest €17
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 Budapest
Also in Budapest, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- The Original Budapest Pub Crawl - One Hour Open Bar + Free Shots: $17
- 5-Hour Pub Crawl through Ruin Bars: $21
- Ultimate Budapest Pub Crawl: $23
- Ultimate Budapest Pub Crawl: $23
- Bingo Bar Crawl: $25
- Budapest Original Ruin Pub Crawl Including 5 Shots: $28
- Ruin Bar Pub Crawl with Entry Tickets: $29
- Detective Pub Crawl Game by App: $38
- 8-Tier Hungarian Wine Tasting in a Cozy Downtown Wine Bar: $38
- Tipsy Tour Fun Bar Crawl with a Local Guide: $42
- Drunken History Bar Crawl Tour with Local Drinks: $42
- Hungarian Wine Tasting (with Cheese and Charcuterie) in Budapest: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sintra and Budapest, we can see that Sintra is more expensive. And not only is Budapest much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Budapest would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Budapest 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 would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sintra than you might in Budapest.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sintra Expensive? and Is Budapest Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sintra or Budapest?
Budapest has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Sintra. When comparing the sizes of Sintra and Budapest, 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 Budapest?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Sintra or Budapest in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Sintra as well as Budapest. Also, many travelers come to Budapest for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Sintra is around the same temperature as Budapest. Typically, the summer temperatures in Sintra in July average around 23°C (73°F), and Budapest averages at about 21°C (70°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Budapest. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sintra this time of the year. In the summer, Sintra often gets more sunshine than Budapest. Sintra gets 352 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Budapest receives 278 hours of full sun.
Sintra usually gets less rain in July than Budapest. Sintra gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySintra 23°C (73°F)Budapest 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Budapest in the Autumn?
Both Budapest and Sintra are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Budapest in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Sintra is generally much warmer than Budapest. Daily temperatures in Sintra average around 19°C (66°F), and Budapest fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sintra. Sintra usually receives more sunshine than Budapest during autumn. Sintra gets 213 hours of sunny skies, while Budapest receives 152 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Sintra usually receives more rain than Budapest. Sintra gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSintra 19°C (66°F)Budapest 12°C (53°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Budapest in the Winter?
Both Budapest and Sintra during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, most visitors come to Budapest for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Budapest can be very cold during winter. Sintra is much warmer than Budapest in the winter. The daily temperature in Sintra averages around 12°C (53°F) in January, and Budapest fluctuates around -1°C (31°F).
In the winter, Sintra often gets more sunshine than Budapest. Sintra gets 144 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Budapest receives 61 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Sintra. Sintra usually gets more rain in January than Budapest. Sintra gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySintra 12°C (53°F)Budapest -1°C (31°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Budapest in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Sintra and Budapest. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Budapest because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Sintra is a little warmer than Budapest. Typically, the spring temperatures in Sintra in April average around 16°C (60°F), and Budapest averages at about 12°C (53°F).
In Sintra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Sintra usually receives more sunshine than Budapest during spring. Sintra gets 235 hours of sunny skies, while Budapest receives 178 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Sintra usually receives more rain than Budapest. Sintra gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSintra 16°C (60°F)Budapest 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Budapest and Sintra
| Sintra | Budapest | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 12°C (53°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | -1°C (31°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 14°C (58°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (74°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Nov | 15°C (59°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 48 mm (1.9 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.