Which city is cheaper, Coimbra or Sintra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for Portugal Sintra vs. Coimbra for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Sintra or Coimbra?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sintra or Coimbra? 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 Coimbra?
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.
Coimbra
Coimbra is located in Central Portugal in the Centro Region. It's the third largest city in the country with about 460,000 people living in the entire region. It is also where you'll find the University of Coimbra, which is one of the oldest universities in Europe and the oldest academic institution in the Portuguese speaking world. During the High Middle Ages, Coimbra served as the nation's capital and there are archaeological structures that date back to the Roman era.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySintra €115Coimbra €103
The average daily cost (per person) in Sintra is €115, while the average daily cost in Coimbra is €103. 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Sintra and Coimbra in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSintra €57Coimbra €44
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSintra €114Coimbra €88
Compare Hotels in Sintra and Coimbra
Looking for a hotel in Sintra or Coimbra? 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 Coimbra Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sintra €21Coimbra €11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sintra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sintra:
- To/ From Lisbon Airport: Cascais or Sintra Private Transfer: $40
- Private Transfer To or From Lisbon Airport: $25
- Private Transfer from Sintra City Center to Lisbon City Center: $30
- Lisbon Private Transfer to or from Sintra: $22
- Lisbon Airport: Cascais/Estoril/Sintra Private Transfer: $51
- Half-Day Sintra Tour from Lisbon with Transfers: $169
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Coimbra
Also for Coimbra, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Porto Private Transfer to or from Coimbra: $71
- Lisbon Private Transfer to or from Coimbra: $108
- Transfer Porto visiting Aveiro: $121
- Private transfer from Coimbra to Lisbon: $126
- Transfer Lisbon visiting Fátima Sanctuary: $136
- Private Transfer From Coimbra To Lisbon Stops in Batalha Fátima Tomar Alcobaça: $280
- Transfer Coimbra/Figueira da Foz/Buçaco - Up to 3 People: $373
- Transfer Coimbra/Figueira da Foz/Buçaco - Up to 7 People: $460
Is it cheaper to fly into Sintra or Coimbra?
Prices for flights to both Coimbra 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 €42Coimbra €48
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sintra
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sintra.
- Sintra Walking Food Tour: $60
- Lisbon: Sintra Food Tour and Wine Tasting with Scenic Drive: $148
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sintra €23Coimbra €18
Tours and Activities in Sintra
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Sintra are as follows:
- 2 Tours Private /Day 1 From LISBON To ALGARVE Day 2 From LISBON To SINTRA: $485
- 2 Tours Private /Day 1 From LISBON To FÁTIMA Day 2 From LISBON To SINTRA: $373
- 2 Tours Private /Day 1 From LISBON To SINTRA Day 2 LISBON: $261
- 2 Tours Private/Day 1 From LISBON To FÁTIMA Day 2 LISBON: $373
- 2H Sintra Tour by Tuk Tuk: $149
- 3 Tours Private/Day 1 LISBON To SINTRA Day 2 LISBON to FÁTIMA Day 3 LISBON: $498
- Archaeological Sintra Tour in a Classical car: $56
- Cabo da Roca and Praia da Ursa Half Day Tour - IncrediblePortugal Private Tours: $92
- Cascais & Sintra Tour in electric car: $224
- Discover SINTRA`s hidden gems on our walking tour: $30
- ECO FRIENDLY TOUR - The Unknown Side of Sintra: $71
- Economic Tour - Pena Palace (2-4pax): $27
Tours and Activities in Coimbra
For Coimbra, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Bôa Vista | Secret Palace - Fado & Drinks Experience: $15
- Coimbra Hop-On Hop-Off Tour: $16
- Coimbra Hop-On Hop-Off Tour and Mondego Cruise: $19
- Coimbra Exclusive Walking Tour: $20
- Coimbra's Historical Highlights Tour: $25
- Coimbra Experience Walking Tour: $25
- Mondego River Kayaking Tour: $26
- Bussaco Forest Walking Experience: $44
- Joanina Library & University Tour of Coimbra (VIP access!): $50
- Lousa Mountain Half Day Private Tour: $56
- Jewish History of Coimbra Tour: $58
- Conimbriga and The Roman Tour: $62
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySintra €17Coimbra €12
Sample the Local Flavors in Sintra
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Sintra:
- From Lisbon: Sintra, Pena Palace, Cascais and Wine Tasting: $91
- Ericeira & Mafra’s Wonders - Rural Beach & Wine Tour: $117
- Sintra Brewery Tour & Beer Tasting Experience: $121
- Full-Day Tour from Lisbon with Wine Tasting: $237
When comparing the travel costs between Sintra and Coimbra, we can see that Sintra 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.
When is the best time to visit Sintra or Coimbra?
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 Coimbra in the Summer?
Both Coimbra and Sintra during the summer are popular places to visit.
In July, Sintra is generally around the same temperature as Coimbra. Temperatures in Sintra average around 23°C (73°F), and Coimbra stays around 23°C (73°F).
In Coimbra, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Sintra. In the summer, Sintra often gets more sunshine than Coimbra. Sintra gets 352 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Coimbra receives 308 hours of full sun.
Sintra usually gets less rain in July than Coimbra. Sintra gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Coimbra receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySintra 23°C (73°F)Coimbra 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Coimbra in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Sintra and Coimbra.
Sintra is around the same temperature as Coimbra in the autumn. The temperature in Sintra is usually 19°C (66°F) in October, and Coimbra stays around 18°C (65°F).
In Sintra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Sintra usually receives more sunshine than Coimbra during autumn. Sintra gets 213 hours of sunny skies, while Coimbra receives 184 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Coimbra receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Sintra usually receives less rain than Coimbra. Sintra gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Coimbra receives 101 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSintra 19°C (66°F)Coimbra 18°C (65°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Coimbra in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Sintra as well as Coimbra.
In the winter, Sintra is around the same temperature as Coimbra. Typically, the winter temperatures in Sintra in January are around 12°C (53°F), and Coimbra is about 11°C (51°F).
In the winter, Sintra often gets more sunshine than Coimbra. Sintra gets 144 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Coimbra receives 124 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Coimbra. Sintra receives a lot of rain in the winter. Sintra usually gets less rain in January than Coimbra. Sintra gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Coimbra receives 139 mm (5.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySintra 12°C (53°F)Coimbra 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Coimbra in the Spring?
Both Coimbra and Sintra are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In April, Sintra is generally around the same temperature as Coimbra. Temperatures in Sintra average around 16°C (60°F), and Coimbra stays around 15°C (59°F).
It's quite sunny in Coimbra. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sintra. Sintra usually receives more sunshine than Coimbra during spring. Sintra gets 235 hours of sunny skies, while Coimbra receives 217 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Sintra usually receives less rain than Coimbra. Sintra gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Coimbra receives 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSintra 16°C (60°F)Coimbra 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Coimbra and Sintra
| Sintra | Coimbra | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 12°C (53°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 139 mm (5.5 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Mar | 14°C (58°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (74°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Nov | 15°C (59°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 128 mm (5 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
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