Which place is cheaper, Marseille or Sintra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sintra or Marseille?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sintra or Marseille? 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 Marseille?
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.
Marseille
Marseille is the second largest city in France and is the largest Mediterranean port in the region. For visitors, Marseille offers an authentic glimpse at France. It has many colorful markets, natural beauty such as the Calanques with its large, beautiful cliffs, and the old harbor area, which offers a glimpse at the areas working class history.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Portugal, The Best Tours for Seniors to Portugal, The Best Contiki Tours to France, and The Best G Adventures Tours to France.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySintra €115Marseille €148
The average daily cost (per person) in Sintra is €115, while the average daily cost in Marseille is €148. 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 Marseille in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSintra €57Marseille €71
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSintra €114Marseille €142
Compare Hotels in Sintra and Marseille
Looking for a hotel in Sintra or Marseille? 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 Marseille Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sintra €21Marseille €28
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 Marseille
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Marseille:
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Metro Pass€3.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Marseille
Also for Marseille, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Marseille to Marseille Provence Terminal Private Transfer: $34
- Marseille Provence Cruise Terminal to Marseille - Arrival Private Transfer: $34
- Marseille Terminal to Marseille Airport Departure Transfer: $35
- Marseille Port (MPCT) to Marseille Airport (MRS) - Departure Private Transfer: $35
- Private Transfer to Gare St Charles: $53
- Private Airport Transfer in Marseille from Marseille Provence airport, Marignane: $65
- Private Transfer: Marseille Provence Airport (MRS) to Marseille: $69
- Marseille Airport (MRS) to Marseille- Round-Trip Private Transfer: $70
- Marseille Airport (MRS) to (MPCT) Marseille Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $70
- Private Transfer from Marseille Airport to Aix-en-Provence: $74
- Marseille Airport transfers: $75
- Private Transfer With an Electric Car in Marseille: $76
Is it cheaper to fly into Sintra or Marseille?
Prices for flights to both Marseille 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 €42Marseille €42
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 Marseille
For Marseille, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Orangina€2.50
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Marseille
For Marseille, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Web-cooking workshop / French cuisine or French pastry: $35
- No Diet Club - Unique food tour in Marseille! (Cours Julien): $63
- Sunset Cruise with Dinner: $74
- Sunset Sailing Cruise with Dinner and Drinks: $86
- Sunset Boat Cruise with Dinner and Drinks: $86
- Bakeries, Chocolate & Patisseries Food Tour: $93
- Sunset Apéro Food tour: $95
- Walking Food Tour with Tastings: $97
- Marseille Sunset Apéro Food tour: $97
- Evening Food Tour with Tastings: $102
- Sunset Sailing Dinner in the Frioul Archipelago: $102
- Marseille Miam Miam Food tour: $104
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sintra €23Marseille €38
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
Tours and Activities in Marseille
For Marseille, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $4.28
- Marseille:Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $4.28
- Marseille Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $4.36
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.41
- Marseille Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Self-guided Like a Local Highlights Day Tour: $9.52
- Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt Game & Sightseeing: $9.84
- Panier District Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $11
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Humorous and Informative Tour of the Historic Center of La Ciotat: $11
- Mucem Skip-the-Line Entry Ticket: $12
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySintra €17Marseille €27
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Marseille
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Marseille:
- Marseille Bar Crawl Party with Free Shots and VIP Entry: $21
- Marseille Riviera Bar Crawl Party with Free Shots and VIP Entry: $22
- Marseille Pub Crawl : Meet, Drink & Party: $43
- New Year's Eve Bar Crawl Marseille France: $96
- Delicious Food and Wine Tour: $117
- Bandol and Cassis: Full Day Wine Tour from Marseille: $143
- Luberon: Full-Day Wine Tour from Marseille: $143
- Full-day Wine Tour around Bandol & Cassis from Marseille: $146
- Full-Day Wine Tour around Luberon from Marseille: $146
- Côtes du Rhône Wine tour: Avignon, Palace of the Popes: $163
- Small Group Marseille Shore Excursion : Avignon & Chateauneuf du Pape Wine Tour: $164
- Marseille Shore Excursion - Full Day Wine Tour in Provence: $164
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sintra and Marseille, we can see that Marseille 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 Marseille would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Marseille 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 Marseille Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sintra or Marseille?
Marseille has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Sintra. When comparing the sizes of Sintra and Marseille, 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 Marseille?
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 Marseille in the Summer?
Both Marseille and Sintra during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many visitors come to Marseille in the summer for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Sintra is generally around the same temperature as Marseille. Daily temperatures in Sintra average around 23°C (73°F), and Marseille fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
In Marseille, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Sintra. In the summer, Sintra often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Marseille. Sintra gets 352 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Marseille receives 366 hours of full sun.
Sintra usually gets less rain in July than Marseille. Sintra gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySintra 23°C (73°F)Marseille 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Marseille in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Sintra and Marseille. Furthermore, most visitors come to Marseille for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
Sintra is a little warmer than Marseille in the autumn. The daily temperature in Sintra averages around 19°C (66°F) in October, and Marseille fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Marseille this time of the year. In Sintra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Sintra usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Marseille during autumn. Sintra gets 213 hours of sunny skies, while Marseille receives 205 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Sintra usually receives around the same amount of rain as Marseille. Sintra gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSintra 19°C (66°F)Marseille 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Marseille in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Sintra as well as Marseille. Additionally, the winter months attract visitors to Marseille because of the shopping scene and the cuisine.
In the winter, Sintra is much warmer than Marseille. Typically, the winter temperatures in Sintra in January average around 12°C (53°F), and Marseille averages at about 7°C (44°F).
In the winter, Sintra often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Marseille. Sintra gets 144 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Marseille receives 150 hours of full sun.
Sintra receives a lot of rain in the winter. Sintra usually gets more rain in January than Marseille. Sintra gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySintra 12°C (53°F)Marseille 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Marseille in the Spring?
Both Marseille and Sintra are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Marseille this time of year.
In April, Sintra is generally a little warmer than Marseille. Daily temperatures in Sintra average around 16°C (60°F), and Marseille fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).
It's quite sunny in Marseille. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sintra. Sintra usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Marseille during spring. Sintra gets 235 hours of sunny skies, while Marseille receives 245 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Sintra usually receives more rain than Marseille. Sintra gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSintra 16°C (60°F)Marseille 13°C (56°F)
Typical Weather for Marseille and Sintra
| Sintra | Marseille | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 12°C (53°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Mar | 14°C (58°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (74°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 15°C (59°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 56 mm (2.2 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.