Which place is cheaper, Cologne or Sintra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sintra or Cologne?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sintra or Cologne? 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 Cologne?
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.
Cologne
Spanning the Rhine River in western Germany, the city of Cologne dates back 2,000 years, once existing as the largest city of the Holy Roman Empire in medieval times. Today, it is the region's cultural hub - a center of museums, galleries, and towering Gothic cathedrals.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Portugal, The Best Tours for Seniors to Portugal, The Best Luxury Tours to Germany, and The Best Budget Tours to Germany.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySintra €115Cologne €161
The average daily cost (per person) in Sintra is €115, while the average daily cost in Cologne is €161. 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 Cologne in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSintra €57Cologne €91
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSintra €114Cologne €182
Compare Hotels in Sintra and Cologne
Looking for a hotel in Sintra or Cologne? 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 Cologne Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sintra €21Cologne €19
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cologne
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cologne:
- Cologne hotels to Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) - Departure Private Transfer: $49
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Bonn hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $55
- Superior Private Transfer from Cologne City to Dortmund City: $64
- Transfer from Cologne Airport CGN to Cologne City by Luxury Car: $83
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Cologne hotels - Round-trip Private Transfer : $98
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Bonn hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $109
Is it cheaper to fly into Sintra or Cologne?
Prices for flights to both Cologne 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 €42Cologne €50
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
Typical Food Prices in Cologne
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cologne:
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Dinner€14
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Donner Kebab€4.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cologne
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cologne.
- Hard Rock Café with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $27
- Hard Rock Cafe Cologne With Set Lunch or Dinner: $29
- Köln Südstadt kulinarisch – Die Food Tour: $48
- 3-Hour Südstadt Food Tour: $481
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sintra €23Cologne €20
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
Tours and Activities in Cologne
Here are a few actual costs in Cologne for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Cologne Walking Tour: The essential and unmissable one: $3.20
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Original funky-fun Free Tour of Cologne: $3.21
- Germany eSIM Tourist Roaming Data Plan: $4.28
- Smartphone Scavenger Hunt Sightseeing Tour: $5.88
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.36
- Cologne Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
- Aachen Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
- Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $6.95
- Horrors of World War II Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.48
- Cologne Scavenger Hunt and Self Guided Walking Tour on your Phone: $7.63
- Aachen Scavenger Hunt and Self Guided Walking Tour on your Phone: $7.63
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySintra €17Cologne €23
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Cologne
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cologne:
- Old Town Walking Tour with Brewery and Kölsch Beer: $18
- Public brewery tour in Cologne in English: $18
- Public brewery tour in German in Cologne: $18
- Guided tour of the old town with a visit to the brewery in Cologne: $19
- Old Town Walking Tour inkl Brewery Visit: $24
- Entertaining Brewery Tour: Feel Good Package including local beer: $27
- South Cologne Walking Tour with brewery visit: $27
- Pub Crawl Cologne Including Admission Fee for Bars and Shots: $27
- Brewery Tour with 3 Kölsch Beer Tastings: $29
- Brewery Tour with Beer Tasting and Halven Hahn: $31
- The Legendary Kölsch Brewery Tour: $32
- The Legendary Kölsch Brewery Tour: $33
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sintra and Cologne, we can see that Cologne 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 Cologne would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cologne 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 Cologne Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sintra or Cologne?
Cologne has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Sintra. When comparing the sizes of Sintra and Cologne, 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 Cologne?
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 Cologne in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Sintra and Cologne. Also, the city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Cologne this time of year.
In July, Sintra is generally a little warmer than Cologne. Daily temperatures in Sintra average around 23°C (73°F), and Cologne fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
In Sintra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Sintra usually receives more sunshine than Cologne during summer. Sintra gets 352 hours of sunny skies, while Cologne receives 184 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Sintra usually receives less rain than Cologne. Sintra gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Cologne receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySintra 23°C (73°F)Cologne 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Cologne in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Sintra as well as Cologne. Also, many travelers come to Cologne for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Sintra is much warmer than Cologne in the autumn. The daily temperature in Sintra averages around 19°C (66°F) in October, and Cologne 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 Cologne. Sintra gets 213 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cologne receives 104 hours of full sun.
Sintra usually gets more rain in October than Cologne. Sintra gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Cologne receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSintra 19°C (66°F)Cologne 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Cologne in the Winter?
Both Cologne and Sintra are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Cologne in the winter for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Cologne can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Sintra is much warmer than Cologne. Typically, the winter temperatures in Sintra in January average around 12°C (53°F), and Cologne averages at about 3°C (37°F).
Sintra usually receives more sunshine than Cologne during winter. Sintra gets 144 hours of sunny skies, while Cologne receives 43 hours of full sun in the winter.
It's quite rainy in Sintra. In January, Sintra usually receives more rain than Cologne. Sintra gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Cologne receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySintra 12°C (53°F)Cologne 3°C (37°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Cologne in the Spring?
Both Cologne and Sintra during the spring are popular places to visit. Furthermore, most visitors come to Cologne for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.
In April, Sintra is generally much warmer than Cologne. Daily temperatures in Sintra average around 16°C (60°F), and Cologne fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
It's quite sunny in Sintra. In the spring, Sintra often gets more sunshine than Cologne. Sintra gets 235 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cologne receives 152 hours of full sun.
Sintra usually gets more rain in April than Cologne. Sintra gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Cologne receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSintra 16°C (60°F)Cologne 10°C (50°F)
Typical Weather for Cologne and Sintra
| Sintra | Cologne | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 12°C (53°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Mar | 14°C (58°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (74°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 62 mm (2.5 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Nov | 15°C (59°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 71 mm (2.8 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.