Which place is cheaper, Caen or Sintra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sintra or Caen?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sintra or Caen? 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 Caen?
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.
Caen
Caen is a city in France on the coast in the Calvados department of Lower Normandy. Caen is known for its historical buildings built during the reign of William the Conqueror, who was buried there. The town was destroyed almost completely in 1944 during WWII and it is a remarkable achievement that Caen has kept so many of its historical monuments given the terrible battle that besieged the town following the Normandy beach landings. After the war the town passed through 15 years of reconstruction, and continued to improve afterwards. In recent years the town has made further significant efforts and Caen now has an attractive, carefully restored, historic center. The city has also preserved the memory of its past by erecting a memorial and a museum dedicated to peace, the Memorial de Caen. The city is often considered the archetype of Normandy.
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 in France, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySintra €115Caen €123
The average daily cost (per person) in Sintra is €115, while the average daily cost in Caen is €123. 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 Caen in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSintra €57Caen €61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSintra €114Caen €122
Compare Hotels in Sintra and Caen
Looking for a hotel in Sintra or Caen? 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 Caen Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sintra €21Caen €35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sintra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sintra:
- Tuk Tuk Transfer With Sintra Pena Ticket From Meeting Point: $73
- Transfer from Lisbon Airport to Sintra: $53
- Transfer Sintra to Lisbon Airport: $71
- Transfer Cascais to Lisbon(8pax): $109
- Transfer Cascais to Lisbon(3pax): $98
- Tours and Transfers: $89
- TRANSFER Cascais to Lisbon Airport: $82
- Private transfer from Sintra to Porto with 2 hours for sightseeing: $289
- Private Transfer Lisbon & Cascais by Van or Car: $73
- Private Guided Transfer in Sintra and Lisbon: $87
- Lisbon transfer, national and Iberian trips: $86
- Lisbon Airport: Cascais/Estoril/Sintra Private Transfer: $57
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Caen
Also for Caen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Caen Carpiquet Airport (CFR) to Caen - Arrival Private Transfer: $32
- Caen to Caen Carpiquet Airport (CFR) - Departure Private Transfer: $32
- Private Transfer Round-Trip from Caen Airport (CFR) to Caen: $63
Is it cheaper to fly into Sintra or Caen?
Prices for flights to both Caen 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 €42Caen €40
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sintra €23Caen €19
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
Tours and Activities in Caen
For Caen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Memorial Museum Entrance Ticket: $21
- Caen Like a Local: Customized Guided Walking Tour: $51
- Private custom tour with a local guide: $59
- Private Custom Tour with a Local Guide in Caen: $60
- Private Guided Bike Tour of Cabourg and Dives in French: $74
- Guided Tour in an Old Convertible Car on the Côte de Nacre: $93
- Guided D-Day Sites Tour & Caen Memorial Museum Ticket: $127
- Mémorial de Caen Museum Admission and Guided Tour of D-Day Sites: $133
- Private Guided Walking Tour: $160
- Guided Tour of the Landing Sites and the Memorial of Caen: $191
- Small Group Guided D-Day Tour and Mémorial de Caen Museum: $201
- D-Day private tour Juno Beach departing Caen with audio guide. 2Pers. minimum: $268
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySintra €17Caen €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
When comparing the travel costs between Sintra and Caen, we can see that Caen 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 Caen Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sintra or Caen?
Caen has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Sintra. When comparing the sizes of Sintra and Caen, 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 Caen?
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 Caen in the Summer?
Both Caen and Sintra during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Caen because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
Sintra is a little warmer than Caen in the summer. The daily temperature in Sintra averages around 23°C (73°F) in July, and Caen fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
In Caen, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Sintra. In the summer, Sintra often gets more sunshine than Caen. Sintra gets 352 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Caen receives 227 hours of full sun.
Sintra usually gets less rain in July than Caen. Sintra gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Caen receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySintra 23°C (73°F)Caen 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Caen in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Sintra and Caen. Also, the city's sights and attractions are the main draw to Caen this time of year.
In the autumn, Sintra is much warmer than Caen. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Sintra in October average around 19°C (66°F), and Caen averages at about 12°C (54°F).
In Sintra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Sintra usually receives more sunshine than Caen during autumn. Sintra gets 213 hours of sunny skies, while Caen receives 128 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Sintra usually receives more rain than Caen. Sintra gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Caen receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSintra 19°C (66°F)Caen 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Caen in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Sintra as well as Caen. Also, many travelers come to Caen for the museums and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Caen. In January, Sintra is generally much warmer than Caen. Daily temperatures in Sintra average around 12°C (53°F), and Caen fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).
In the winter, Sintra often gets more sunshine than Caen. Sintra gets 144 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Caen receives 70 hours of full sun.
Sintra receives a lot of rain in the winter. Sintra usually gets more rain in January than Caen. Sintra gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Caen receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySintra 12°C (53°F)Caen 5°C (41°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Caen in the Spring?
Both Caen and Sintra are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Caen in the spring for the activities around the city.
Sintra is much warmer than Caen in the spring. The daily temperature in Sintra averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Caen fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sintra. Sintra usually receives more sunshine than Caen during spring. Sintra gets 235 hours of sunny skies, while Caen receives 171 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Sintra usually receives more rain than Caen. Sintra gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Caen receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSintra 16°C (60°F)Caen 9°C (49°F)
Typical Weather for Caen and Sintra
| Sintra | Caen | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 12°C (53°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Mar | 14°C (58°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (74°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Nov | 15°C (59°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 69 mm (2.7 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.