Which place is cheaper, Heidelberg or Sintra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Sintra or Heidelberg? 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.
Heidelberg, in the state of Baden-Wurttemberg, is a top travel destination in Germany. It's picturesquely situated in the Neckar River Valley and is a wonderful place to spend a few days. The city has a population of over 148,000 and it's home to Germany's oldest university, the Ruprecht-Karls-Universitat, which has a student population of approximately 28,000.
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 Germany, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Germany.
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 Heidelberg is €142. 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 Heidelberg in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Sintra or Heidelberg? 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.
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Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sintra:
Also for Heidelberg, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Heidelberg 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 Heidelberg, 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:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Heidelberg.
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Sintra:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Heidelberg:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sintra and Heidelberg, we can see that Heidelberg 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 Heidelberg would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Heidelberg 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 Heidelberg Expensive?.
Heidelberg has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Sintra. When comparing the sizes of Sintra and Heidelberg, 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.
The summer brings many poeple to Sintra as well as Heidelberg. Additionally, the summer months attract visitors to Heidelberg because of the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Sintra is generally a little warmer than Heidelberg. Daily temperatures in Sintra average around 23°C (73°F), and Heidelberg fluctuates around 21°C (69°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Heidelberg. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sintra this time of the year. In the summer, Sintra often gets more sunshine than Heidelberg. Sintra gets 352 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Heidelberg receives 224 hours of full sun.
Sintra usually gets less rain in July than Heidelberg. Sintra gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Heidelberg receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Heidelberg and Sintra are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Heidelberg this time of year.
Sintra is much warmer than Heidelberg in the autumn. The daily temperature in Sintra averages around 19°C (66°F) in October, and Heidelberg fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sintra. Sintra usually receives more sunshine than Heidelberg during autumn. Sintra gets 213 hours of sunny skies, while Heidelberg receives 102 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Sintra usually receives more rain than Heidelberg. Sintra gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Heidelberg receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Both Heidelberg and Sintra during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, many travelers come to Heidelberg for the shopping scene and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Heidelberg. In the winter, Sintra is much warmer than Heidelberg. Typically, the winter temperatures in Sintra in January average around 12°C (53°F), and Heidelberg averages at about 3°C (37°F).
In the winter, Sintra often gets more sunshine than Heidelberg. Sintra gets 144 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Heidelberg receives 38 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Sintra. Sintra usually gets more rain in January than Heidelberg. Sintra gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Heidelberg receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Sintra and Heidelberg. Also, many visitors come to Heidelberg in the spring for the natural beauty.
In April, Sintra is generally a little warmer than Heidelberg. Daily temperatures in Sintra average around 16°C (60°F), and Heidelberg fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).
In Sintra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Sintra usually receives more sunshine than Heidelberg during spring. Sintra gets 235 hours of sunny skies, while Heidelberg receives 155 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Sintra usually receives more rain than Heidelberg. Sintra gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Heidelberg receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Sintra | Heidelberg | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 12°C (53°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
Mar | 14°C (58°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
May | 18°C (64°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
Aug | 23°C (74°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
Nov | 15°C (59°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 4°C (38°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |