A Travel Price Comparison for Portugal Sintra vs. Costa Vicentina for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Sintra or Costa Vicentina?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Sintra or Costa Vicentina? 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 Costa Vicentina?

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.

Costa Vicentina

Costa Vicentina is the beautiful coastal area in southwest Portugal which runs through both the Algarve and Alentejo Regions along the southern coast. This is actually part of the longest stretch of protected coastline in Portugal, making it one of the best places to experience the unadulterated beauty and nature of the country. Costa Vicentina offers miles of some of the best Portugal beaches, fantastic hiking trails, and lovely old villages to explore. The area sees far more Portuguese tourists than international ones, so expect Portuguese to be the only language spoken by many people, especially in the smaller villages.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Portugal, The Best Tours for Seniors to Portugal, The Best G Adventures Tours to Portugal, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lisbon.


Which place is cheaper, Costa Vicentina or Sintra?

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 Costa Vicentina is €125. 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 Costa Vicentina in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Sintra 57
    Costa Vicentina 66
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Sintra 114
    Costa Vicentina 132
Compare Hotels in Sintra and Costa Vicentina

Looking for a hotel in Sintra or Costa Vicentina? 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.

Hotels in Sintra


Hotels in Costa Vicentina


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Sintra 21
    Costa Vicentina 40

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sintra

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sintra:

  • Algarve vs Lisbon: Private Transfer to/from Algarve /Lisbon: $443
  • Ericeira Private Transfer from / to Lisbon: $61
  • Estoril, Cascais or Sintra Private Transfer to Lisbon: $28
  • Lisbon Airport Transfer to Cascais / Sintra / Estoril: $52
  • Lisbon Airport: Cascais/Estoril/Sintra Private Transfer: $58
  • Private Guided Transfer in Sintra and Lisbon: $88
  • Private transfer from Sintra to Porto with 2 hours for sightseeing: $292
  • Transfer Aeroporto de Lisboa para Sintra: $54
  • Transfer Cascais to Lisbon(8pax): $110
  • Transfer from Lisbon Airport to Cascais, Sintra or Estoril: $109
  • Tuk Tuk Transfer With Sintra Pena Ticket From Meeting Point: $73

Is it cheaper to fly into Sintra or Costa Vicentina?

Prices for flights to both Costa Vicentina 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Sintra 42
    Costa Vicentina 34

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sintra

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sintra.

  • Half-Day Ericeira Walking Food Tour: $55
  • Portuguese Cooking Workshop in Cascais (group of 4 min): $94
  • Private Portuguese Cooking Lesson and Meal with a Lisbon Local: $220

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Sintra 23
    Costa Vicentina 17

Tours and Activities in Sintra

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Sintra are as follows:

  • Sintra Walking Tour Experience: $0.16
  • Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $3.80
  • Sintra Myths and Legends Interpretative Center Entry Ticket: $4.34
  • City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.52
  • Biester Palace and Park Entry Ticket: $7.60
  • Sintra Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.80
  • Cascais Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.97
  • Monserrate Palace and Park Skip-the-Line Ticket: $13
  • Castle of the Moors Fast Track 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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Sintra 17
    Costa Vicentina 8.71

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: $61
  • Wine Tasting Tour: $83
  • Sintra and Cabo da Roca with Half Day Wine Tasting: $83
  • Private tour wine tasting in Setubal: $97
  • Hidden Gems: Sintra & Cascais Private Tour with Wine Tasting: $184
  • From Lisbon Private Tour to Porto with Port Wine Tasting: $237


When comparing the travel costs between Sintra and Costa Vicentina, we can see that Costa Vicentina 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.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sintra Expensive? and Is Costa Vicentina Expensive?.