Which place is cheaper, Cambridge or Sintra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sintra or Cambridge?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sintra or Cambridge? 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 Cambridge?
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.
Cambridge
Cambridge is a university city in England located along the River Cam and best-known as the home of Cambridge University, which was established in the 13th century. Aside from university architectural landmarks, Cambridge is also characterized by open green landscapes perfect for picnics and gentle walks, as well as churches, museums, parks, and gardens.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Portugal, The Best Tours for Seniors to Portugal, The Best 3-Day Tours from London, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from London.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySintra €115Cambridge €156
The average daily cost (per person) in Sintra is €115, while the average daily cost in Cambridge is €156. 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 Cambridge in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSintra €57Cambridge €84
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSintra €114Cambridge €168
Compare Hotels in Sintra and Cambridge
Looking for a hotel in Sintra or Cambridge? 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 Cambridge Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sintra €21Cambridge €28
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 Cambridge
Also for Cambridge, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Heathrow To Cambridge: $175
Is it cheaper to fly into Sintra or Cambridge?
Prices for flights to both Cambridge 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 €42Cambridge €48
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 €23Cambridge €26
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 Cambridge
For Cambridge, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $5.35
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt and Tour: $5.35
- Self-Guided Colleges Walking Tour and Sightseeing: $5.99
- Hidden Histories Self-Guided Smartphone Tour: $5.99
- Cambridge’s Colleges and Classic Sights: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Cambridge Instagram Self-Guided Tour - Top Photo Spots: $6.35
- Explore Cambridge's Grandeur: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Live Like a Student with Private Cambridge Self Guided Tours: $13
- Explore Cambridge Student Life & Top Colleges Walking Tour: $13
- Cambridge - Shared Punting Tour: $13
- Shared Guided Punting Tour of Cambridge: $13
- University Walking Tour: $15
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySintra €17Cambridge €27
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 Cambridge, we can see that Cambridge 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 Cambridge would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cambridge 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 Cambridge Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sintra or Cambridge?
Cambridge has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Sintra. When comparing the sizes of Sintra and Cambridge, 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.
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.