Which place is cheaper, Edinburgh or Sintra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sintra or Edinburgh?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sintra or Edinburgh? 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 Edinburgh?
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.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the moderately sized capital of Scotland. It is a medieval city that has managed to perfect the combination of Georgian architecture and medieval relics with a cosmopolitan population and avant-garde atmosphere. The city's population is quite young, in large part because of the University of Edinburgh. This youthful vibe gives this city a lot of vitality. There's a thriving nightlife, many restaurants, theatres, galleries and museums.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Portugal, The Best Tours for Seniors to Portugal, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Edinburgh, and The Best 10-Day Tours from London.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySintra €115Edinburgh €166
The average daily cost (per person) in Sintra is €115, while the average daily cost in Edinburgh is €166. 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 Edinburgh in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSintra €57Edinburgh €87
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSintra €114Edinburgh €174
Compare Hotels in Sintra and Edinburgh
Looking for a hotel in Sintra or Edinburgh? 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 Edinburgh Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sintra €21Edinburgh €20
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
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Edinburgh
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Edinburgh:
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Local Bus€4.21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Edinburgh
Also for Edinburgh, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Edinburgh Airport: Bus Transfer: $5.62
- Private Transfer from South Queensferry Port to Edinburgh Airport: $28
- Private Transfer from South Queensferry Port to Edinburgh hotels: $28
- Private Transfer - Edinburgh Airport(EDI) to Newhaven Cruise Port: $28
- Private Transfer from Newhaven Port to Edinburgh Airport EDI: $28
- Private Transfer from Edinburgh Hotels to South Queensferry Port: $28
- Private Transfer from Edinburgh Hotels to Newhaven Cruise Port: $28
- Private Transfer from Newhaven Cruise Port to Glasgow Airport: $36
- Edinburgh Airport: Private Arrival or Departure Transfers: $37
- Private Airport transfer From or to Edinburgh airport (One way transfer): $39
- Private One-Way Transfer from Edinburgh to Edinburgh Airport: $41
- Private Transfer - South Queensferry Port to Glasgow Airport(GLA): $46
Is it cheaper to fly into Sintra or Edinburgh?
Prices for flights to both Edinburgh 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 €42Edinburgh €46
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 Edinburgh
For Edinburgh, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Breakfast€9.93
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Dinner at Filling Station€12
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Lunch for Two€18
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Sandwich€2.16
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Cheese & bread€8.45
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Thai Restaurant Dinner (for 2)€29
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2 Coffees and Scones€6.78
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Turkish Delight€1.64
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Soup at the Pub€6.90
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Edinburgh
For Edinburgh, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hard Rock Cafe with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $31
- Scottish Dinner and Folk Music Experience: $87
- Edinburgh Holiday Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $90
- 'Scotland meets Sardinia' - 8-course Dinner in Leith, Edinburgh: $110
- 3-Hour Guided Secret Food Tour: $116
- Edinburgh Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $120
- Edinburgh Food Tour with a Local Foodie Custom & Private: $167
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sintra €23Edinburgh €23
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Edinburgh
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Edinburgh's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Show Tickets€37
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Movie Tickets for Two€14
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Donation for Storytellers€7.01
Tours and Activities in Edinburgh
For Edinburgh, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Escape Game and Tour: $3.74
- Old Town's Highlights Walking Tour: $4.36
- Audio Tour Royal Mile: del Castillo hasta "The Tron Kirk": $5.34
- Edinbourgh, Royal mile: walking tour with audio guide: $5.35
- Edinburgh Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & City Tour: $5.56
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.41
- Audio Tour through History of Crime: $7.00
- Edinburgh Royal mile: Self-guided walking tour: $7.19
- Must-See In App Audio Tour: $7.61
- Edinburgh Royal Mile (New Self Guided Tour) : $7.99
- Harry Potter’s A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySintra €17Edinburgh €18
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
Typical Alcohol Prices in Edinburgh
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Edinburgh from other travelers:
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Beer & Wine€17
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Half Pint at Tollbooth Tavern€1.93
Sample the Local Flavors in Edinburgh
Also in Edinburgh, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl with Free Shots & Discounts: $11
- Edinburgh Bar Crawl: 5+ Venues, Free Shots, Free Club Entry: $19
- Pub Crawl in Edinburgh: $19
- Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour with "Real-Actors": $25
- East Lothian: Glenkinchie Whisky Distillery Tour & Tasting: $26
- Guided Gin Tasting at 56 North Distillery: $28
- Pickering's Gin Jolly Distillery Tasting Tour: $31
- Lind & Lime Gin Distillery Tour & Tasting: $31
- Whisky Tasting and Tales at Summerhall Distillery: $31
- Pub Crawl 7 Bars with 6 Shots: $31
- The Original Edinburgh Pub Crawl: $32
- Visit a Working South Loch Gin Distillery: $32
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sintra and Edinburgh, we can see that Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sintra or Edinburgh?
Edinburgh has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Sintra. When comparing the sizes of Sintra and Edinburgh, 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 Edinburgh?
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 Edinburgh in the Summer?
Both Edinburgh and Sintra during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, most visitors come to Edinburgh for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Sintra is much warmer than Edinburgh. Typically, the summer temperatures in Sintra in July average around 23°C (73°F), and Edinburgh averages at about 14°C (58°F).
It's quite sunny in Sintra. In the summer, Sintra often gets more sunshine than Edinburgh. Sintra gets 352 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Edinburgh receives 163 hours of full sun.
Sintra usually gets less rain in July than Edinburgh. Sintra gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Edinburgh receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySintra 23°C (73°F)Edinburgh 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Edinburgh in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Sintra and Edinburgh. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Edinburgh because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Sintra is generally much warmer than Edinburgh. Daily temperatures in Sintra average around 19°C (66°F), and Edinburgh fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).
In Sintra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Sintra usually receives more sunshine than Edinburgh during autumn. Sintra gets 213 hours of sunny skies, while Edinburgh receives 90 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Sintra usually receives more rain than Edinburgh. Sintra gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Edinburgh receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSintra 19°C (66°F)Edinburgh 10°C (49°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Edinburgh in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Sintra as well as Edinburgh. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine are the main draw to Edinburgh this time of year.
It's quite cold in Edinburgh in the winter. Sintra is much warmer than Edinburgh in the winter. The daily temperature in Sintra averages around 12°C (53°F) in January, and Edinburgh fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).
In the winter, Sintra often gets more sunshine than Edinburgh. Sintra gets 144 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Edinburgh receives 48 hours of full sun.
Sintra receives a lot of rain in the winter. Sintra usually gets more rain in January than Edinburgh. Sintra gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Edinburgh receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySintra 12°C (53°F)Edinburgh 3°C (38°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Edinburgh in the Spring?
Both Edinburgh and Sintra are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Edinburgh for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Sintra is much warmer than Edinburgh. Typically, the spring temperatures in Sintra in April average around 16°C (60°F), and Edinburgh averages at about 7°C (45°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sintra. Sintra usually receives more sunshine than Edinburgh during spring. Sintra gets 235 hours of sunny skies, while Edinburgh receives 132 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Sintra usually receives more rain than Edinburgh. Sintra gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Edinburgh receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSintra 16°C (60°F)Edinburgh 7°C (45°F)
Typical Weather for Edinburgh and Sintra
| Sintra | Edinburgh | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 12°C (53°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 14°C (58°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (74°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Nov | 15°C (59°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 64 mm (2.5 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.