Which place is cheaper, Messina or Sintra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sintra or Messina?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sintra or Messina? 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 Messina?
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.
Messina
Messina is a city in the northwest area of Sicily. There are only five kilometers across the Straits of Messina to the Calabria region of mainland Italy. You can reach Messina by boats which travel every hour from the town of Villa San Giovanni in mainland Italy. There are also a couple of hydrofoils that make the trip every day from Reggio di Calabria. During the summer season don't be surprised to see cruise ships arriving with crowds of tourists. They are usually docked right downtown and are therefore hard to miss. Messina is also connected to mainland Italy by train, which are transported across the Straits of Messina by ferry.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Portugal, The Best Tours for Seniors to Portugal, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Italy, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Italy.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySintra €115Messina €118
The average daily cost (per person) in Sintra is €115, while the average daily cost in Messina is €118. 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 Messina in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSintra €57Messina €65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSintra €114Messina €130
Compare Hotels in Sintra and Messina
Looking for a hotel in Sintra or Messina? 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 Messina Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sintra €21Messina €22
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: $82
- Tours and Transfers: $89
- Transfer Cascais to Lisbon(3pax): $98
- Transfer Cascais to Lisbon(8pax): $109
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Messina
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Messina:
- From Private Air-Conditioned Transfer to Taormina: $99
Is it cheaper to fly into Sintra or Messina?
Prices for flights to both Messina 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 €42Messina €37
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Messina
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Messina.
- Private Home Cooking Demo with a Four-Course Meal: $112
- Cesarine: Dining & Cooking Demo at Local's Home in Messina: $115
- Market Tour & Lunch/Dinner at a Cesarina's Home: $149
- Messina Private Home Cooking Class: $155
- Home Cooking Class & Meal with a Local in Messina: $158
- Market Tour, Private Home Cooking Class and Dinner: $202
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sintra €23Messina €21
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
Tours and Activities in Messina
Here are a few actual costs in Messina for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Alfotour 2/3 hour tour with swimming stop: $32
- 2,5-Hour Messina Walking Tour: $46
- Guided City Highlights Walking Tour: $47
- The Godfather Movie Tour from Messina: $84
- Messina Taormina: cultural heritage experience: $85
- Messina and Taormina City Tour from Messina - Private tour: $87
- Taormina Shore Excursion from Messina - Shared tour: $87
- Taormina and Castelmola Tour from Messina: $98
- 3-Hour Messina Segway PT Authorized Tour: $118
- Full Day Taormina and Castelmola Tour with Messina Shore Excursion: $120
- Etna Alcantara tour: the majestic lava landscape : $126
- Taormina and Castelmola: Private tour: $149
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySintra €17Messina €18
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
When comparing the travel costs between Sintra and Messina, we can see that Messina 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 Messina Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sintra or Messina?
Messina has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Sintra. When comparing the sizes of Sintra and Messina, 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 Messina?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Sintra or Messina in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Sintra and Messina. Also, most visitors come to Messina for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Sintra is cooler than Messina in the summer. The daily temperature in Sintra averages around 23°C (73°F) in July, and Messina fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Messina 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 Messina during summer. Sintra gets 352 hours of sunny skies, while Messina receives 332 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Sintra usually receives less rain than Messina. Sintra gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Messina receives 19 mm (0.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySintra 23°C (73°F)Messina 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Messina in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Sintra as well as Messina. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Messina because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Sintra is around the same temperature as Messina. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Sintra in October average around 19°C (66°F), and Messina averages at about 21°C (69°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sintra this time of the year. In the autumn, Sintra often gets more sunshine than Messina. Sintra gets 213 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Messina receives 189 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Messina. Sintra usually gets less rain in October than Messina. Sintra gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Messina receives 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSintra 19°C (66°F)Messina 21°C (69°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Messina in the Winter?
Both Messina and Sintra are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Messina this time of year.
In January, Sintra is generally around the same temperature as Messina. Daily temperatures in Sintra average around 12°C (53°F), and Messina fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
Sintra usually receives more sunshine than Messina during winter. Sintra gets 144 hours of sunny skies, while Messina receives 115 hours of full sun in the winter.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Messina. It's quite rainy in Sintra. In January, Sintra usually receives around the same amount of rain as Messina. Sintra gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Messina receives 113 mm (4.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySintra 12°C (53°F)Messina 13°C (55°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Messina in the Spring?
Both Messina and Sintra during the spring are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many travelers come to Messina for the beaches and the activities around the city.
Sintra is around the same temperature as Messina in the spring. The daily temperature in Sintra averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Messina fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
In Messina, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Sintra. In the spring, Sintra often gets more sunshine than Messina. Sintra gets 235 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Messina receives 207 hours of full sun.
Sintra usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Messina. Sintra gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Messina receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSintra 16°C (60°F)Messina 16°C (60°F)
Typical Weather for Messina and Sintra
| Sintra | Messina | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 12°C (53°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 113 mm (4.5 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 98 mm (3.9 in) |
| Mar | 14°C (58°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 14 mm (0.5 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 19 mm (0.8 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (74°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 24 mm (1 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 109 mm (4.3 in) |
| Nov | 15°C (59°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 117 mm (4.6 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.