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

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Should you visit Sintra or Lisbon?

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

Should I visit Sintra or Lisbon? 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.

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.

Lisbon

Portugal's capital city of Lisbon continues to grow in popularity as a travel destination. The cultural scene has come to life in recent years and the city itself is stunningly beautiful. It sits on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and is made up of hills that create a dramatic and scenic layout. The city has many white-bleached limestone buildings, narrow alleyways, and a laidback charm that appeals to visitors.

Which city is cheaper, Lisbon or Sintra?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Sintra is €92, while the average daily cost in Lisbon is €105. 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Sintra and Lisbon in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Sintra €45
    Lisbon €47
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Sintra €90
    Lisbon €94

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Sintra €17
    Lisbon €19

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sintra

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sintra:

  • To/ From Lisbon Airport: Cascais or Sintra Private Transfer: $40
  • Private Transfer To or From Lisbon Airport: $25
  • Private Transfer from Sintra City Center to Lisbon City Center: $30
  • Lisbon Private Transfer to or from Sintra: $22
  • Lisbon Airport: Cascais/Estoril/Sintra Private Transfer: $51
  • Half-Day Sintra Tour from Lisbon with Transfers: $169

Typical Local Transportation prices in Lisbon

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Lisbon:


  • Taxi Ride
    €6.50

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lisbon

Also for Lisbon, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Lisbon Shared Transfer: To or From the Airport: $9.58
  • Lisbon Shared Transfer: To or From the Airport: $11
  • Lisbon Private Transfer to Airport: $11
  • Lisbon Airport Shared Departure Transfer: $11
  • Lisbon Airport Shared Arrival Transfer: $11
  • Lisbon Private Transfer: To or From the Airport: $11
  • Private Transfer To or From Lisbon Airport: $11
  • Shared Transfer Between Airport and City Hotels: $11
  • From Freeport Shopping Experience with Transfers: $11
  • Lisbon Airport Arrival Shared Transfer: $11
  • Lisbon Shared Departure Transfer to Airport, Train or Port: $11
  • Lisbon Shared Arrival Transfer from Airport, Train or Port: $11

Is it cheaper to fly into Sintra or Lisbon?

Prices for flights to both Lisbon 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 €34
    Lisbon €34

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sintra

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

  • Sintra Walking Food Tour: $60
  • Lisbon: Sintra Food Tour and Wine Tasting with Scenic Drive: $148

Typical Food prices in Lisbon

For Lisbon, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Coffee
    €2.50

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lisbon

For Lisbon, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Virtual Portuguese Cooking Lesson: $31
  • Live Online Cooking Class from Pastel de Nata with Filipa: $39
  • Bohemian dinner party on a beautiful rooftop near the coast: $42
  • 2-Hour Pastel de Nata Cooking Class: $51
  • The magic of Pasteis de Nata cooking class in Lisbon: $53
  • Bitemojo Self Guided Food Tour New To Lisbon: $54
  • Withlocals Your Way: Lisbon Personalised Private Food Tour: $56
  • Pastel de Nata Cooking Class with Local Baker: $57
  • Private Groups: Pastel de Nata cooking class and tasting in Lisbon's pastry shop: $57
  • Authentic Portuguese dinner with a local chef: $58
  • Lisbon Food Tour: $62
  • Lisbon Old Town Food Tour by Sitway: $63

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Sintra €18
    Lisbon €19

Tours and Activities in Sintra

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

  • 2 Tours Private /Day 1 From LISBON To ALGARVE Day 2 From LISBON To SINTRA: $485
  • 2 Tours Private /Day 1 From LISBON To FÁTIMA Day 2 From LISBON To SINTRA: $373
  • 2 Tours Private /Day 1 From LISBON To SINTRA Day 2 LISBON: $261
  • 2 Tours Private/Day 1 From LISBON To FÁTIMA Day 2 LISBON: $373
  • 2H Sintra Tour by Tuk Tuk: $149
  • 3 Tours Private/Day 1 LISBON To SINTRA Day 2 LISBON to FÁTIMA Day 3 LISBON: $498
  • Archaeological Sintra Tour in a Classical car: $56
  • Cabo da Roca and Praia da Ursa Half Day Tour - IncrediblePortugal Private Tours: $92
  • Cascais & Sintra Tour in electric car: $224
  • Discover SINTRA`s hidden gems on our walking tour: $30
  • ECO FRIENDLY TOUR - The Unknown Side of Sintra: $71
  • Economic Tour - Pena Palace (2-4pax): $27

Tours and Activities in Lisbon

For Lisbon, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Lisbon Downtown Tour - The Perfect Introduction to the City: $1.24
  • Lisbon Historical Walking Tour: $3.11
  • Sintra Myths and Legends Interpretative Center Entry Ticket: $3.99
  • Contemporary Park of Nations Walking Audio Tour by VoiceMap: $5.48
  • The Soul of Alfama Self-guided Audio Tour by VoiceMap Lisbon: $5.99
  • Museu Coleção Berardo Admission Ticket: $6.22
  • Skip the Line: Pilar 7 Bridge Experience Admission Ticket: $6.22
  • Street Art Virtual Tour in Lisbon: $6.22
  • Lisboa Story Centre: 1-Day Admission Ticket: $7.41
  • Lisboa Story Centre Admission Ticket: $8.09
  • Capuchos Convent Skip-the-Line Ticket: $8.71
  • Calouste Gulbenkian Museum Admission Ticket: $12

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Sintra €14
    Lisbon €14

Sample the Local Flavors in Sintra

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Sintra:

  • From Lisbon: Sintra, Pena Palace, Cascais and Wine Tasting: $91
  • Ericeira & Mafra’s Wonders - Rural Beach & Wine Tour: $117
  • Sintra Brewery Tour & Beer Tasting Experience: $121
  • Full-Day Tour from Lisbon with Wine Tasting: $237

Sample the Local Flavors in Lisbon

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Lisbon:

  • 1-Hour Portuguese Wine Tasting Session: $22
  • 3-Hour Portuguese History & Flavors Food & Wine Tour: $30
  • Portuguese Wine Tasting and Cheese Lunch: $56
  • Christ the King and Arrábida Small-Group Tour with Wine Tasting from Lisbon: $58
  • Craft Beer, Port & Wine Tour: $68
  • Food & Wine Tasting Walking Tour: $75
  • Santuário Cristo Rei-Sesimbra-Castle Palmela-Bacalhoa Winery with wine tasting: $81
  • Full-Day Évora Wine Tour: $84
  • Wine Tasting in Lisbon: $87
  • Private Van Tour Arrabida and Wine Tasting: $89
  • Wine tasting Private Day Tour ARRABIDA: $92
  • Van Private Tour Arrábida Wine Tour: $96

About these numbers

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

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Sintra vs. Lisbon Travel Comparison

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