Should you visit Sintra or Lisbon?
Should I visit Sintra or Lisbon? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into 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 €103. 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. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Sintra and Lisbon in more detail.
Accommodation
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around €45. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Sintra the cost is €90 on average.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about €92 in Lisbon For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
The average traveler spends about €34 per day in Sintra for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
In Lisbon travelers spend around €33 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
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Food
Meals for one day
Sintra €34
Lisbon €33
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
Typical Food prices in Lisbon
For Lisbon, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lisbon
For Lisbon, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Wine & Dine Food Tour:
$22
-
History and Flavors Half-Day Food Tour:
$29
-
Virtual Portuguese Cooking Lesson:
$31
-
Live Online Cooking Class from Pastel de Nata with Filipa:
$39
-
Live Fado & Alfama Tour with Traditional Dinner:
$40
-
Bohemian dinner party on a beautiful rooftop near the coast:
$42
-
3-Hour Self-Guided Locals' Food Tour:
$48
-
The magic of Pasteis de Nata cooking class in Lisbon:
$53
-
Bitemojo Self Guided Food Tour New To Lisbon:
$54
-
2-Hour Pastel de Nata Cooking Class:
$55
-
Zero-Waste Cooking Workshop:
$56
-
Withlocals Your Way: Lisbon Personalised Private Food Tour:
$56
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Sintra is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent €17 per person, per day, on local transportation in Sintra.
Lisbon's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend €19 per person, per day on transportation in Lisbon.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sintra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sintra:
-
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
Typical Local Transportation prices in Lisbon
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Lisbon:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lisbon
Also for Lisbon, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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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
-
Lisbon Shared Arrival Transfer from Airport, Train or Port:
$11
-
Lisbon Shared Departure Transfer to Airport, Train or Port:
$11
-
Lisbon Airport Arrival Shared Transfer:
$11
-
Lisbon Airport Shared Departure Transfer:
$11
-
Lisbon Airport: Shared Arrival and Departure Transfers:
$12
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.
Entertainment
Entertainment and activities in Sintra typically cost an average of €18 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Lisbon can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around €19 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Tours and Activities in Sintra
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Sintra are as follows:
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2 Tours Private /Day 1 From LISBON To ALGARVE Day 2 From LISBON To SINTRA:
$485
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2 Tours Private /Day 1 From LISBON To FÁTIMA Day 2 From LISBON To SINTRA:
$373
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2 Tours Private /Day 1 From LISBON To SINTRA Day 2 LISBON:
$261
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2 Tours Private/Day 1 From LISBON To FÁTIMA Day 2 LISBON:
$373
-
2H Sintra Tour by Tuk Tuk:
$149
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3 Tours Private/Day 1 LISBON To SINTRA Day 2 LISBON to FÁTIMA Day 3 LISBON:
$498
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Archaeological Sintra Tour in a Classical car:
$56
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Cabo da Roca and Praia da Ursa Half Day Tour - IncrediblePortugal Private Tours:
$92
-
Cascais & Sintra Tour in electric car:
$224
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Discover SINTRA`s hidden gems on our walking tour:
$30
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ECO FRIENDLY TOUR - The Unknown Side of Sintra:
$71
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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:
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Lisbon Downtown Tour - The Perfect Introduction to the City:
$1.24
-
Rua Augusta Arch Admission Ticket:
$3.03
-
Lisbon Historical Walking Tour:
$3.11
-
Rua Augusta Arch Admission Ticket:
$3.41
-
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
-
Street Art Virtual Tour in Lisbon:
$6.22
-
Skip the Line: Pilar 7 Bridge Experience Admission Ticket:
$6.22
-
Lisboa Story Centre: 1-Day Admission Ticket:
$7.96
-
Lisboa Story Centre Admission Ticket:
$8.09
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Lisboa Story Centre: 1-Day Admission Ticket:
$8.48
Alcohol
The average person spends about €14 on alcoholic beverages in Sintra per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Typically, people visiting Lisbon spend on average €14 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Sintra
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Sintra:
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Ericeira & Mafra’s Wonders - Rural Beach & Wine Tour:
$117
-
Sintra Brewery Tour & Beer Tasting Experience:
$121
Sample the Local Flavors in Lisbon
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Lisbon:
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Lisbon Pub Crawl:
$17
-
Lisbon Pub Crawl with Free Drinks:
$18
-
Lisbon Pub Crawl:
$18
-
Lisbon 4-Hour Pub Crawl:
$18
-
Alternative Pub Crawl with a Local Guide:
$28
-
3-Hour Portuguese History & Flavors Food & Wine Tour:
$30
-
Portuguese Wine Tasting and Cheese Lunch:
$44
-
From Half-Day Wine Tasting Tour:
$50
-
Christ the King and Arrábida Small-Group Tour with Wine Tasting from Lisbon:
$58
-
From Private Wine Tour with Setúbal & Arrábida:
$61
-
Sintra: Full-Day Tour from Lisbon with Wine Tasting:
$64
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Private Full-Day Arrábida Park and Wine Tour:
$67
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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