Which place is cheaper, Portofino or Sintra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sintra or Portofino?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sintra or Portofino? 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 Portofino?
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.
Portofino
Located on the Italian Riviera coastline just southeast of Genoa, Portofino is known first and foremost as a resort town and popular yachting destination. The half-moon village sits in pastels, curving into a beautiful harbor of fishing boats and luxury yachts. A castle on a hill overlooks it all, while shops, restaurants, cafes, and luxury hotels make up the spread down below. Portofino also has opportunities for hiking, diving, and boating.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Portugal, The Best Tours for Seniors to Portugal, The Best Historical Tours in Italy, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Italy.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySintra €115Portofino €326
The average daily cost (per person) in Sintra is €115, while the average daily cost in Portofino is €326. 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 Portofino in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSintra €57Portofino €190
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSintra €114Portofino €380
Compare Hotels in Sintra and Portofino
Looking for a hotel in Sintra or Portofino? 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 Portofino Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sintra €21Portofino €23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sintra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sintra:
- Estoril, Cascais or Sintra Private Transfer to Lisbon: $27
- Lisbon Airport Transfer to Cascais / Sintra / Estoril: $51
- Transfer from Lisbon Airport to Sintra: $53
- Lisbon Airport: Cascais/Estoril/Sintra Private Transfer: $57
- Transfer Sintra to Lisbon Airport: $71
- Tuk Tuk Transfer With Sintra Pena Ticket From Meeting Point: $73
- Private Transfer Lisbon & Cascais by Van or Car: $73
- TRANSFER Cascais to Lisbon Airport: $81
- Lisbon transfer, national and Iberian trips: $86
- Private Guided Transfer in Sintra and Lisbon: $87
- Tours and Transfers: $89
- Transfer Cascais to Lisbon(3pax): $98
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Portofino
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Portofino:
- Private Transfer from Portofino Cruise Port to Genoa Airport(GOA): $49
- Private Transfer from Portofino Cruise Port to Genoa city hotels: $49
- Portofino hotels to Genoa Airport (GOA) - Departure Private Transfer: $54
- Private Transfer - Portofino Cruise Port to Florence Airport(FLR): $158
- Private Transfer from Portofino Cruise Port to Florence hotels: $158
- CAR 3 PAX TRANSFER TO AIRPORT MILANO MALPENSA: $876
Is it cheaper to fly into Sintra or Portofino?
Prices for flights to both Portofino 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 €42Portofino €118
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sintra
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sintra.
- Half-Day Ericeira Walking Food Tour: $54
- Portuguese Cooking Workshop in Cascais (group of 4 min): $92
- Private Portuguese Cooking Lesson and Meal with a Lisbon Local: $220
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Portofino
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Portofino.
- Portofino Boat and Walking Tour with Pesto Cooking & Lunch: $246
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sintra €23Portofino €27
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 Portofino
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Portofino are as follows:
- 1-Hour Snorkeling Tour in Paraggi Bay, Portofino: $42
- Snorkel Tour in Paraggi Bay: $43
- Portofino Stand Up Paddleboard Experience: $52
- Easy Kayak Tour to Portofino with Optional Snorkeling: $52
- Paddle Boarding Experience in Portofino: $54
- Portofino Kayak Tour: $54
- Coasteering Tour: $74
- Portofino and San Fruttuoso Boat Experience: $107
- Portofino Private Walking Tour: $267
- White Boat Tour Tigullio Portofino: $449
- Private Sunset Boat Tour with Aperitif of Ligurian goods: $481
- Private Tour of Genoa and Portofino from Genoa: $713
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySintra €17Portofino €16
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
- Wine Tasting Tour: $81
- Half Day in Sintra and Cabo da Roca with Wine Tasting: $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: $234
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sintra and Portofino, we can see that Portofino 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 Portofino would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Portofino 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 Portofino Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sintra or Portofino?
Sintra has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Portofino. When comparing the sizes of Sintra and Portofino, 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.
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.