Which place is cheaper, Porto or Sintra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Sintra or Porto?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sintra or Porto? 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 Porto?
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.
Porto
Porto is the second largest city in Portugal. It is also the capital of the Northern Region and a hub for commercial and industrial activity. The city is not as large as you might expect, with a population of only about 300,000 residents, but the metropolitan area has a population of about 2.5 million. This includes nearby cities such as Gaia, Matosinhos, Maia and Gondomar.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Portugal, The Best Tours for Seniors to Portugal, The Best G Adventures Tours to Portugal, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lisbon.
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Sintra Prices
Portugal PricesPorto Prices
Portugal Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySintra €146Porto €160
The average daily cost (per person) in Sintra is €146, while the average daily cost in Porto is €160. 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 Porto in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSintra €57Porto €72
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSintra €114Porto €144
Compare Hotels in Sintra and Porto
Looking for a hotel in Sintra or Porto? 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 Porto Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sintra €21Porto €21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sintra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sintra:
- Transfer From Lisboa To Portimão Algarve: $292
- Transfer From Lisbon To Albufeira Algarve: $262
- Transfer From Lisbon To Evora: $146
- Transfer From Lisboa to Nazaré: $128
- Cascais Municipal Aerodrome (CAT) to Lisbon - Round-Trip Transfer: $124
- Transfer Cascais to Lisbon(8pax): $117
- Transfer Cascais to Lisbon(3pax): $105
- TRANSFER Cascais to Lisbon Airport: $87
- Private Transfer From Lisbon Airport to/from Cascais: $82
- Ericeira Private Transfer to/from Lisbon: $64
- Cascais Municipal Aerodrome (CAT) to Lisbon - Arrival Transfer: $62
- Lisbon Airport: Cascais/Estoril/Sintra Private Transfer: $61
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Porto
Also for Porto, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Porto Airport: Transfer to/from Valenca Do Minho Station: $12
- Oporto Airport: Private Arrival Transfer to Porto city hotels: $17
- Private Departure Transfer: Porto city Hotels to Oporto Airport: $17
- Oporto Airport Private Departure Transfer: $18
- Private One-way Transfer from Porto Airport to Porto: $18
- Gaia Private Transfer to Oporto Airport: $19
- Oporto Airport Private Transfer to Gaia: $19
- Porto Private Transfer to Gaia: $23
- Porto Airport Transfer from/to Porto Center: $23
- Private Airport Transfer to Porto: $23
- Porto Airport Transfer: $23
- Private Airport Transfer: Porto (24/7 Mercedes VIP Service): $23
Is it cheaper to fly into Sintra or Porto?
Prices for flights to both Porto 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 €73Porto €63
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sintra
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sintra.
- Lisbon Countryside Food Tour on a Vintage Car: $93
- Lisbon Countryside Food Tour on a Vintage Car: $94
- Boho Chic Picnic Dinner with Water Views: $126
- Ericeira Private Tour: 10 Tastings Food Tour: $145
- Tuk Tuk Food Tour with Lunch, Pastries and Ginjinha: $183
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Porto
For Porto, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Pastel de Nata Cooking Class with Porto Wine (Lapa): $41
- Pastel de Nata Cooking Class with Porto Wine (Sé do Porto): $41
- Private Fabulist Food Tour: $65
- Porto Food Tour Market Tapas and Port Wine Cellar Experience: $70
- Dinner with Fado and Portuguese Traditional Music: $70
- Bolhão Market Guided Food Tour: $76
- Authentic Porto Small Group Food Tour with Local Tastings: $79
- Taste of the Ocean Authentic Porto Seafood Tour: $82
- Aveiro Private Cooking Experience (for vacation rental guests): $87
- Porto Food Tour: $87
- Shopping, cooking and eating together at my home in Porto: $87
- Craft Beer & Food Tour in Porto by Taste Porto (since 2013): $87
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sintra €23Porto €25
Tours and Activities in Sintra
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Sintra are as follows:
- "Exclusive Sintra, Cabo da Roca & Cascais Private Tour": $137
- "Lisbon Essential Tour: Belém, Alfama & Cristo Rei Sanctuary": $99
- 1 Hour Private Sintra Sightseeing Tour by Renault 4L: $46
- 1 Hour Sightseeing Tour in Sintra with Tuktuk: $64
- 1 Hour Sightseeing Tour in Sintra with Tuktuk: $63
- 19th Century Photography Experience: $47
- 2 Hours Sintra Experience Renault 4L Tour: $69
- 4x4 Tours in Portuguese Classic Jeeps (UMM) around Sintra: $157
- Almada’s Tale: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
- Arrábida, Palmela & Sesimbra–Wine, Tiles & Cristo Rei Experience: $284
- Avoid lines and stress at Pena Palace – Tuk-Tuk trip to Sintra with ticket: $92
- BMW M2 Sportcar Driving Experience with Instructor: $92
Tours and Activities in Porto
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Porto.
- Self-Guided Tour Adventure Discovering Porto: $1.14
- Porto History and Culture Walking Tour with Local Guides: $2.80
- Porto Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $3.49
- Self-Guided Tours in Porto with 100 Captivating Audio Stories: $3.49
- The Unvanquished Tour in Porto City Center: $3.49
- Self-Guided Tapas Tour of Porto: $3.49
- Porto Revealed The Must Do Walking Tour: $3.50
- Porto Gaia Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $3.50
- Tour of Vila Nova de Gaia: $3.50
- Porto Old Town Hidden Gems and Douro Views Walking Tour: $3.50
- Porto's Old Town Tour & Ribeira: $3.50
- Porto Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $3.50
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySintra €17Porto €19
Sample the Local Flavors in Sintra
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Sintra:
- Portuguese Wine Tasting with Local Flavours & Music: $51
- Half-Day Tour in Cascais / Sintra with Brunch and Wine Tasting: $82
- Sintra EBike tour through the palaces and wine tasting in winery: $114
- From Sintra, Mafra, or Ericeira: Hike and Wine Tour: $114
- E-Bike Tour among the Palaces with Wine Tasting: $132
- Lisbon Region Wine Tour: Mafra & Ericeira + Hotel Pick-Up: $192
Sample the Local Flavors in Porto
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Porto:
- 1 Demarcation Museum Tickets and Port Wine Tasting: $5.83
- Crazy Pub Crawl with 9 Drinks, Free Shots, Wild Games +VIP: $15
- Porto:Pub Crawl 4Bars,8Drinks,Games & VIP Club Entry: $21
- 4-hour Guided Porto Pub Crawl with 6 drinks and VIP CLUBentry: $21
- Porto Pub Crawl With Unlimited Beer: $21
- Pub Crawl Porto: $25
- Poças Guided Visit and Wine Tasting of 2 DOC Douro & 1 Port Wine: $27
- Poças Guided Visit and Wine Tasting of 3 Port Wines: $27
- Premium wine tasting at Quinta das Arcas: $28
- Classic Wine Tasting with GUIDED TOUR: $29
- Fado Concert with Port Wine Tasting at Quinta da Boeira: $29
- Taylor's Port Cellars Visit & Port Wine Tasting: $29
When comparing the travel costs between Sintra and Porto, we can see that Porto 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 Porto Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sintra or Porto?
Porto has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Sintra. When comparing the sizes of Sintra and Porto, 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 Porto?
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 Porto in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Sintra as well as Porto. Additionally, many travelers come to Porto for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
Sintra is a little warmer than Porto in the summer. The daily temperature in Sintra averages around 23°C (73°F) in July, and Porto fluctuates around 21°C (69°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Porto. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sintra this time of the year. In the summer, Sintra often gets more sunshine than Porto. Sintra gets 352 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Porto receives 308 hours of full sun.
Sintra usually gets less rain in July than Porto. Sintra gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Porto receives 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySintra 23°C (73°F)Porto 21°C (69°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Porto in the Autumn?
Both Porto and Sintra are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Porto in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Sintra is a little warmer than Porto. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Sintra in October average around 19°C (66°F), and Porto averages at about 17°C (62°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sintra. Sintra usually receives more sunshine than Porto during autumn. Sintra gets 213 hours of sunny skies, while Porto receives 184 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Porto. In October, Sintra usually receives less rain than Porto. Sintra gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Porto receives 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSintra 19°C (66°F)Porto 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Porto in the Winter?
Both Porto and Sintra during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, most visitors come to Porto for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
In January, Sintra is generally a little warmer than Porto. Daily temperatures in Sintra average around 12°C (53°F), and Porto fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
In the winter, Sintra often gets more sunshine than Porto. Sintra gets 144 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Porto receives 124 hours of full sun.
Porto gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Sintra. Sintra usually gets less rain in January than Porto. Sintra gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Porto receives 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySintra 12°C (53°F)Porto 10°C (50°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Porto in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Sintra and Porto. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Porto because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Sintra is a little warmer than Porto in the spring. The daily temperature in Sintra averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Porto fluctuates around 14°C (56°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Porto this time of the year. In Sintra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Sintra usually receives more sunshine than Porto during spring. Sintra gets 235 hours of sunny skies, while Porto receives 217 hours of full sun in the spring.
Porto receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Sintra usually receives less rain than Porto. Sintra gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Porto receives 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSintra 16°C (60°F)Porto 14°C (56°F)
Typical Weather for Porto and Sintra
| Sintra | Porto | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 12°C (53°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 171 mm (6.7 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) |
| Mar | 14°C (58°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 14°C (56°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (74°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) |
| Nov | 15°C (59°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 152 mm (6 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 176 mm (6.9 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.