Which place is cheaper, Meknes or Sintra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sintra or Meknes?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sintra or Meknes? 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 Meknes?
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.
Meknes
So you love a bustling nightlife with fine restaurants and meaningful historical buildings, but you hate all the tourists. Well, it maybe time to visit Meknes, Morocco. Since most travelers head straight to Fez, that leaves Meknes relatively untouched and remains free of the usual hassles that plague other major destinations.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Portugal, The Best Tours for Seniors to Portugal, The Best Adventure Tours to Morocco, and The Best Cultural Tours in Morocco.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySintra €115Meknes €43
The average daily cost (per person) in Sintra is €115, while the average daily cost in Meknes is €43. 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 Meknes in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSintra €57Meknes €24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSintra €114Meknes €48
Compare Hotels in Sintra and Meknes
Looking for a hotel in Sintra or Meknes? 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 Meknes Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sintra €21Meknes €1.37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sintra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sintra:
- Algarve vs Lisbon: Private Transfer to/from Algarve /Lisbon: $513
- Private transfer from Sintra to Porto with 2 hours for sightseeing: $289
- Transfer Cascais to Lisbon(8pax): $109
- Transfer Cascais to Lisbon(3pax): $98
- Tours and Transfers: $89
- Private Guided Transfer in Sintra and Lisbon: $87
- Lisbon transfer, national and Iberian trips: $86
- TRANSFER Cascais to Lisbon Airport: $82
- Private Transfer Lisbon & Cascais by Van or Car: $73
- Tuk Tuk Transfer With Sintra Pena Ticket From Meeting Point: $73
- Transfer Sintra to Lisbon Airport: $71
- Lisbon Airport: Cascais/Estoril/Sintra Private Transfer: $57
Is it cheaper to fly into Sintra or Meknes?
Prices for flights to both Meknes 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 €42Meknes €13
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 Meknes
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Meknes:
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Popcorn€0.19
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Spices€2.34
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Meknes
For Meknes, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Fes Medina :Grocery shopping & cooking Class with Fatima: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sintra €23Meknes €3.32
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 Meknes
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Meknes.
- From Fez: Volubilis, Moulay Idriss and Meknes Full Day Tour: $17
- Fes Volubilis Tour: $45
- From Rabat: Volubilis and Meknes Full-day Tour: $258
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySintra €17Meknes €2.45
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
Typical Alcohol Prices in Meknes
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Meknes:
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Bottle of Wine€4.29
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sintra and Meknes, we can see that Sintra is more expensive. And not only is Meknes much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Sintra is in Europe and Meknes is in Africa, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Meknes would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Meknes 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 Sintra would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sintra than you might in Meknes.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sintra Expensive? and Is Meknes Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sintra or Meknes?
Meknes has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Sintra. When comparing the sizes of Sintra and Meknes, 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 Meknes?
Sintra has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Meknes experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Sintra or Meknes in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Sintra as well as Meknes. The warm climate attracts visitors to Meknes throughout the year.
In July, Sintra is generally around the same temperature as Meknes. Daily temperatures in Sintra average around 23°C (73°F), and Meknes fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Meknes. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sintra this time of the year. In the summer, Sintra often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Meknes. Sintra gets 352 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Meknes receives 330 hours of full sun.
Sintra usually gets more rain in July than Meknes. Sintra gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Meknes receives 0 mm (0 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySintra 23°C (73°F)Meknes 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Meknes in the Autumn?
Both Meknes and Sintra are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Meknes because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Sintra is around the same temperature as Meknes in the autumn. The daily temperature in Sintra averages around 19°C (66°F) in October, and Meknes fluctuates around 19°C (67°F).
It's quite sunny in Meknes. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sintra. Sintra usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Meknes during autumn. Sintra gets 213 hours of sunny skies, while Meknes receives 227 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Sintra usually receives more rain than Meknes. Sintra gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Meknes receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSintra 19°C (66°F)Meknes 19°C (67°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Meknes in the Winter?
Both Meknes and Sintra during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Meknes year-round.
In the winter, Sintra is around the same temperature as Meknes. Typically, the winter temperatures in Sintra in January average around 12°C (53°F), and Meknes averages at about 12°C (54°F).
In the winter, Sintra often gets less sunshine than Meknes. Sintra gets 144 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Meknes receives 165 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Sintra. Sintra usually gets more rain in January than Meknes. Sintra gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Meknes receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySintra 12°C (53°F)Meknes 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Meknes in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Sintra and Meknes. Meknes attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Sintra is generally around the same temperature as Meknes. Daily temperatures in Sintra average around 16°C (60°F), and Meknes fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Meknes this time of the year. In Sintra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Sintra usually receives less sunshine than Meknes during spring. Sintra gets 235 hours of sunny skies, while Meknes receives 256 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Sintra usually receives more rain than Meknes. Sintra gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Meknes receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSintra 16°C (60°F)Meknes 16°C (60°F)
Typical Weather for Meknes and Sintra
| Sintra | Meknes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 12°C (53°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Mar | 14°C (58°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (74°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 9 mm (0.3 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 15°C (59°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 109 mm (4.3 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 109 mm (4.3 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.