A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Sintra vs. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Sintra or Las Palmas de Gran Canaria?

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

Should I visit Sintra or Las Palmas de Gran Canaria? 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 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria?

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.

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Las Palmas is the largest city on Gran Canaria, and one of the capitals of the Canary Islands. It is located in the northeast of the island with plenty to see and do from ocean-side activities on the beach to sightseeing, shopping, museums, culture, and architecture.

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 Barcelona, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Madrid.


Which place is cheaper, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 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 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is €131. 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 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Sintra 57
    Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 68
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Sintra 114
    Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 136
Compare Hotels in Sintra and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Looking for a hotel in Sintra or Las Palmas de Gran Canaria? 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 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria


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 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Sintra 21
    Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 49

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: $81
  • Tours and Transfers: $89
  • Transfer Cascais to Lisbon(3pax): $98
  • Transfer Cascais to Lisbon(8pax): $109

Is it cheaper to fly into Sintra or Las Palmas de Gran Canaria?

Prices for flights to both Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 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
    Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 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: $54
  • Portuguese Cooking Workshop in Cascais (group of 4 min): $92
  • Private Portuguese Cooking Lesson and Meal with a Lisbon Local: $220

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Sintra 23
    Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 16

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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Sintra 17
    Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 7.48

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
  • Wine Tasting Tour: $81
  • Half Day in Sintra and Cabo da Roca with Wine Tasting: $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: $234


When comparing the travel costs between Sintra and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, we can see that Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 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 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Sintra or Las Palmas de Gran Canaria?

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Sintra. When comparing the sizes of Sintra and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 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.