Which place is cheaper, Rotterdam or Sintra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sintra or Rotterdam?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sintra or Rotterdam? 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 Rotterdam?
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.
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second largest city in the Netherlands and has the largest port in Europe. It's famously known as a city of architecture. In a few square kilometers of the city center you can get a complete overview of twentieth century architecture within Rotterdam.
Rotterdam is a very diverse, international, and hard working city. Nearly half of the city's population is not native to the Netherlands or have at least one parent from outside the country. Muslim's make up a significant portion of the population. Other area's represented include Cape Verde and the Dutch Antilles.
There's an air of optimism that permeates the entire city. There are frequent events, festivals and performances, making Rotterdam an enjoyable place to spend some time. Water is also an integral part of the city design.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Portugal, The Best Tours for Seniors to Portugal, The Best River Cruises from Amsterdam, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Netherlands.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySintra €115Rotterdam €152
The average daily cost (per person) in Sintra is €115, while the average daily cost in Rotterdam is €152. 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 Rotterdam in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSintra €57Rotterdam €77
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSintra €114Rotterdam €154
Compare Hotels in Sintra and Rotterdam
Looking for a hotel in Sintra or Rotterdam? 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 Rotterdam Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sintra €21Rotterdam €26
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rotterdam
Also for Rotterdam, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Rotterdam to Rotterdam Airport (RTM) - Departure Private Transfer: $38
- Rotterdam Airport (RTM) to Rotterdam - Arrival Private Transfer: $38
- Private Transfer from Rotterdam hotels to Rotterdam Cruise Port : $38
- Private Transfer from Rotterdam Cruise Port to Rotterdam hotels: $38
- Private Transfer from Rotterdam Port to Rotterdam Airport (RTM): $38
- Private Transfer from Rotterdam Cruise Port to Rotterdam hotels: $60
- Private Transfer from Rotterdam Airport (RTM) to IJmuiden Port: $61
- Private Transfer from Rotterdam hotels to Rotterdam Cruise Port: $61
- Private Transfer from Rotterdam Port to Amsterdam Airport (AMS): $66
- Rotterdam Airport(RTM) to Rotterdam - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $76
- Rotterdam Airport RTM Private Transfer to Rotterdam in Sedan Car: $77
- Rotterdam Private Transfer to Rotterdam Airport RTM in Sedan Car: $81
Is it cheaper to fly into Sintra or Rotterdam?
Prices for flights to both Rotterdam 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 €42Rotterdam €54
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 Rotterdam
For Rotterdam, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Self-Guided Rotterdam BiteMe Food Tour: $43
- 4-Hour Food Tour - Self-guided: $48
- Guided Food Tour: $79
- Guided Walking Food Tour: $84
- Biking Rotterdam Food Tour with Local Guide: $86
- Walking Rotterdam Food Tour: $86
- WALKING DINNER ROTTERDAM | 3 courses + 3 drinks and a lot of fun: $87
- Food Tour by Bike: $91
- Private Walking Food Tour of Rotterdam: $120
- Rotterdam Walking Dutch Food Tour: $153
- Rotterdam Private 2-Hour Food Tour with Tastings: $160
- Private Multicultural Bike Food Tour: $273
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sintra €23Rotterdam €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 Rotterdam
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Rotterdam.
- Hightlights City Centre Walking Tour: $1.07
- Rotterdam Spanish Tour 2 Hours: $2.61
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Rotterdam Walking Tour in 2 Hours : $3.27
- Escape Game and Tour: $4.28
- Rotterdam Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.56
- Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $6.95
- Rotterdam Walking Audio Tour on Your Phone (ENG): $7.65
- Walking Tour with Audio Guide on App: $8.02
- Waterbus Ticket to Dordrecht and/or Kinderdijk: $10
- Private Smartphone Walking Tour on WhatsApp: $10
- Dordrecht: Walking Tour with Audio Guide on App: $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySintra €17Rotterdam €19
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 Rotterdam
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rotterdam:
- Beer Brewery Noordt Tastings with Optional Tour: $8.02
- Heineken Building former brewery | Guided Tour: $8.02
- Stadshaven Brewery Tour with Beer Tastings: $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sintra and Rotterdam, we can see that Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sintra or Rotterdam?
Rotterdam has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Sintra. When comparing the sizes of Sintra and Rotterdam, 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 Rotterdam?
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 Rotterdam in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Sintra as well as Rotterdam. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Rotterdam because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Sintra is generally a little warmer than Rotterdam. Daily temperatures in Sintra average around 23°C (73°F), and Rotterdam fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Rotterdam. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sintra this time of the year. In the summer, Sintra often gets more sunshine than Rotterdam. Sintra gets 352 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rotterdam receives 202 hours of full sun.
Sintra usually gets less rain in July than Rotterdam. Sintra gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Rotterdam receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySintra 23°C (73°F)Rotterdam 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Rotterdam in the Autumn?
Both Rotterdam and Sintra are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Rotterdam this time of year.
Sintra is much warmer than Rotterdam in the autumn. The daily temperature in Sintra averages around 19°C (66°F) in October, and Rotterdam fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sintra. Sintra usually receives more sunshine than Rotterdam during autumn. Sintra gets 213 hours of sunny skies, while Rotterdam receives 105 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Sintra usually receives more rain than Rotterdam. Sintra gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Rotterdam receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSintra 19°C (66°F)Rotterdam 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Rotterdam in the Winter?
Both Rotterdam and Sintra during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many travelers come to Rotterdam for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Rotterdam. In the winter, Sintra is much warmer than Rotterdam. Typically, the winter temperatures in Sintra in January average around 12°C (53°F), and Rotterdam averages at about 2°C (36°F).
In the winter, Sintra often gets more sunshine than Rotterdam. Sintra gets 144 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rotterdam receives 47 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Sintra. Sintra usually gets more rain in January than Rotterdam. Sintra gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Rotterdam receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySintra 12°C (53°F)Rotterdam 2°C (36°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Rotterdam in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Sintra and Rotterdam. Furthermore, many visitors come to Rotterdam in the spring for the activities around the city.
In April, Sintra is generally much warmer than Rotterdam. Daily temperatures in Sintra average around 16°C (60°F), and Rotterdam fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).
In Sintra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Sintra usually receives more sunshine than Rotterdam during spring. Sintra gets 235 hours of sunny skies, while Rotterdam receives 158 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Sintra usually receives more rain than Rotterdam. Sintra gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Rotterdam receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSintra 16°C (60°F)Rotterdam 8°C (46°F)
Typical Weather for Rotterdam and Sintra
| Sintra | Rotterdam | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 12°C (53°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Mar | 14°C (58°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (74°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Nov | 15°C (59°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 80 mm (3.1 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.