Which place is cheaper, Cinque Terre or Sintra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Sintra or Cinque Terre? 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.
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.
Located on the rugged Italian Riviera coastline, Cinque Terra consists of five seaside villages exuding a charm that dates back to medieval times. Fishing boats bob in the harbors, bringing fresh seafood to the tables of the region, while age old vineyards make for fragrant signature wines. Cinque Terre is considered to be a National Park, with its five villages earning a spot on the UNESCO World Heritage List for their beauty and timelessness.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Portugal, The Best Tours for Seniors to Portugal, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Italy, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Italy.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Sintra is €115, while the average daily cost in Cinque Terre is €140. 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 Cinque Terre in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Sintra or Cinque Terre? 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sintra:
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Cinque Terre:
Also for Cinque Terre, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Cinque Terre 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sintra.
For Cinque Terre, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
For Cinque Terre, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Sintra are as follows:
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Cinque Terre's activities, tours, and tickets:
For Cinque Terre, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Sintra:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Cinque Terre:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cinque Terre:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sintra and Cinque Terre, we can see that Cinque Terre 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 Cinque Terre would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cinque Terre 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 Cinque Terre Expensive?.
Sintra has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Cinque Terre. When comparing the sizes of Sintra and Cinque Terre, 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.
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.
Both Cinque Terre and Sintra during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, many visitors come to Cinque Terre in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Sintra is generally around the same temperature as Cinque Terre. Daily temperatures in Sintra average around 23°C (73°F), and Cinque Terre fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
In Cinque Terre, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Sintra. In the summer, Sintra often gets more sunshine than Cinque Terre. Sintra gets 352 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cinque Terre receives 316 hours of full sun.
Sintra usually gets less rain in July than Cinque Terre. Sintra gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Cinque Terre receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Sintra and Cinque Terre. Also, most visitors come to Cinque Terre for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
Sintra is a little warmer than Cinque Terre in the autumn. The daily temperature in Sintra averages around 19°C (66°F) in October, and Cinque Terre fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
In Sintra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Sintra usually receives more sunshine than Cinque Terre during autumn. Sintra gets 213 hours of sunny skies, while Cinque Terre receives 177 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Cinque Terre receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Sintra usually receives less rain than Cinque Terre. Sintra gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Cinque Terre receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
The winter brings many poeple to Sintra as well as Cinque Terre. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Cinque Terre because of the shopping scene and the cuisine.
In the winter, Sintra is a little warmer than Cinque Terre. Typically, the winter temperatures in Sintra in January average around 12°C (53°F), and Cinque Terre averages at about 8°C (46°F).
In the winter, Sintra often gets more sunshine than Cinque Terre. Sintra gets 144 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cinque Terre receives 105 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Cinque Terre. Sintra receives a lot of rain in the winter. Sintra usually gets more rain in January than Cinque Terre. Sintra gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Cinque Terre receives 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Cinque Terre and Sintra are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty are the main draw to Cinque Terre this time of year.
In April, Sintra is generally a little warmer than Cinque Terre. Daily temperatures in Sintra average around 16°C (60°F), and Cinque Terre fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sintra. Sintra usually receives more sunshine than Cinque Terre during spring. Sintra gets 235 hours of sunny skies, while Cinque Terre receives 192 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Sintra usually receives less rain than Cinque Terre. Sintra gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Cinque Terre receives 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Sintra | Cinque Terre | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 12°C (53°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
Mar | 14°C (58°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
May | 18°C (64°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
Aug | 23°C (74°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
Nov | 15°C (59°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |