Which place is cheaper, Calais or Sintra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sintra or Calais?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sintra or Calais? 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 Calais?
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.
Calais
Calais is a port city in northern France located across the English Channel from the clifftop town of Dover It's the principal ferry crossing point between France and England. Its old town, Calais-Nord, sits on an artificial island surrounded by canals.
Calais is a Cultural Link to Europe, just a hop, skip and a jump away from Belgium and England, on the Opal Coast in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region. The city of Calais is exceptionally located between sea and countryside. Calais is renowned for its lace, which can be found in haute-couture designs. Preserved natural spaces abound with its 23 km of coastline, rugged cliffs, breathtakingly diverse terrain, and coastal villages. Whether on foot, bike or horseback, and even in the water along the coast, there is plenty to do to make this a great option for a visit!
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Portugal, The Best Tours for Seniors to Portugal, The Best Budget Tours to France, and The Best Tours for Seniors to France.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySintra €115Calais €139
The average daily cost (per person) in Sintra is €115, while the average daily cost in Calais is €139. 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 Calais in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSintra €57Calais €77
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSintra €114Calais €154
Compare Hotels in Sintra and Calais
Looking for a hotel in Sintra or Calais? 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 Calais Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sintra €21Calais €47
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Sintra or Calais?
Prices for flights to both Calais 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 €42Calais €35
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 €23Calais €8.92
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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySintra €17Calais €12
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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sintra and Calais, we can see that Calais 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 Calais would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Calais 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 Calais Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sintra or Calais?
Calais has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Sintra. When comparing the sizes of Sintra and Calais, 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 Calais?
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 Calais in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Sintra and Calais. Also, the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Calais this time of year.
In July, Sintra is generally a little warmer than Calais. Daily temperatures in Sintra average around 23°C (73°F), and Calais fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Calais this time of the year. In Sintra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Sintra usually receives more sunshine than Calais during summer. Sintra gets 352 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 212 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Sintra usually receives less rain than Calais. Sintra gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Calais receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySintra 23°C (73°F)Calais 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Calais in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Sintra as well as Calais. Also, many travelers come to Calais for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
Sintra is much warmer than Calais in the autumn. The daily temperature in Sintra averages around 19°C (66°F) in October, and Calais fluctuates around 12°C (54°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 Calais. Sintra gets 213 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 119 hours of full sun.
Sintra usually gets more rain in October than Calais. Sintra gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Calais receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSintra 19°C (66°F)Calais 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Calais in the Winter?
Both Calais and Sintra are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Calais in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Calais can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Sintra is much warmer than Calais. Typically, the winter temperatures in Sintra in January average around 12°C (53°F), and Calais averages at about 4°C (40°F).
Sintra usually receives more sunshine than Calais during winter. Sintra gets 144 hours of sunny skies, while Calais receives 57 hours of full sun in the winter.
It's quite rainy in Sintra. In January, Sintra usually receives more rain than Calais. Sintra gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Calais receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySintra 12°C (53°F)Calais 4°C (40°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Calais in the Spring?
Both Calais and Sintra during the spring are popular places to visit. Furthermore, most visitors come to Calais for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months.
In April, Sintra is generally much warmer than Calais. Daily temperatures in Sintra average around 16°C (60°F), and Calais fluctuates around 9°C (47°F).
It's quite sunny in Sintra. In the spring, Sintra often gets more sunshine than Calais. Sintra gets 235 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Calais receives 162 hours of full sun.
Sintra usually gets more rain in April than Calais. Sintra gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Calais receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSintra 16°C (60°F)Calais 9°C (47°F)
Typical Weather for Calais and Sintra
| Sintra | Calais | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 12°C (53°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Mar | 14°C (58°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (74°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 15°C (59°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 49 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.