Which place is cheaper, Santander or Sintra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sintra or Santander?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sintra or Santander? 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 Santander?
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.
Santander
Santander is the capital of the Cantabria Region which runs along the northern coast of Spain. Located right on the bay, it is a place of many historic churches and a handful of interesting museums that range from archaeological discoveries of the region, to maritime history, and cultural features like bullfighting. There is also a large selection of beaches for those looking for a more relaxing getaway in the sun and sand.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Portugal, The Best Tours for Seniors to Portugal, The Best 10-Day Tours from Madrid, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Barcelona.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySintra €115Santander €108
The average daily cost (per person) in Sintra is €115, while the average daily cost in Santander is €108. 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 Santander in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSintra €57Santander €51
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSintra €114Santander €102
Compare Hotels in Sintra and Santander
Looking for a hotel in Sintra or Santander? 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 Santander Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sintra €21Santander €24
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 Santander
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santander:
- Santander Private Departure Transfer: $35
- Santander Private Arrival Transfer: $35
- One-way Private Transfer From/To Santander Airport: $41
- Santander Private Transfer from the city centre to Santander Airport: $44
- Santander Private Transfer from Santander Airport to City centre: $44
- Private Transfer from Santander Port to Bilbao Airport: $252
- Private Transfer from Santander city to Bilbao Airport: $252
- Private Transfer from Santander city to Bilbao: $252
Is it cheaper to fly into Sintra or Santander?
Prices for flights to both Santander 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 €42Santander €41
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sintra €23Santander €18
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 Santander
Here are a few actual costs in Santander for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1-Hour City Cruise Around the Bay: $14
- City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $22
- City Sightseeing Santander Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $23
- Obregón: Parque de la Naturaleza de Cabárceno Entry Ticket: $26
- From Potes, Santillana and Altamira Day Tour: $42
- Full Day Tour Lakes of Covadonga and Santillana from Santander: $46
- Guided Tour by Electric Bike: $53
- Full Day Self Guided Tour in Santillana del Mar and Comillas: $55
- From Santillana del Mar & Altamira Museum Tour: $64
- Santoña: Anchovy Factory Tour and Boat Trip: $70
- Tour to the Towns of the Western Coast of Cantabria: $79
- Picos, Santo Toribio Monastery and Potes Day Tour: $82
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySintra €17Santander €14
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 Santander, we can see that Sintra 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 Santander Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sintra or Santander?
Santander has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Sintra. When comparing the sizes of Sintra and Santander, 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 Santander?
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 Santander in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Sintra and Santander.
In July, Sintra is generally a little warmer than Santander. Daily temperatures in Sintra average around 23°C (73°F), and Santander fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Santander this time of the year. In Sintra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Sintra usually receives more sunshine than Santander during summer. Sintra gets 352 hours of sunny skies, while Santander receives 213 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Sintra usually receives less rain than Santander. Sintra gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Santander receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySintra 23°C (73°F)Santander 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Santander in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Sintra as well as Santander.
Sintra is a little warmer than Santander in the autumn. The daily temperature in Sintra averages around 19°C (66°F) in October, and Santander fluctuates around 16°C (60°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 Santander. Sintra gets 213 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santander receives 133 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Santander. Sintra usually gets less rain in October than Santander. Sintra gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Santander receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSintra 19°C (66°F)Santander 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Santander in the Winter?
Both Santander and Sintra are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.
In the winter, Sintra is a little warmer than Santander. Typically, the winter temperatures in Sintra in January average around 12°C (53°F), and Santander averages at about 9°C (49°F).
Sintra usually receives more sunshine than Santander during winter. Sintra gets 144 hours of sunny skies, while Santander receives 91 hours of full sun in the winter.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Santander. It's quite rainy in Sintra. In January, Sintra usually receives less rain than Santander. Sintra gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Santander receives 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySintra 12°C (53°F)Santander 9°C (49°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Santander in the Spring?
Both Santander and Sintra during the spring are popular places to visit.
In April, Sintra is generally a little warmer than Santander. Daily temperatures in Sintra average around 16°C (60°F), and Santander fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
It's quite sunny in Sintra. In the spring, Sintra often gets more sunshine than Santander. Sintra gets 235 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santander receives 148 hours of full sun.
Santander gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Sintra usually gets less rain in April than Santander. Sintra gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Santander receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSintra 16°C (60°F)Santander 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Santander and Sintra
| Sintra | Santander | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 12°C (53°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Mar | 14°C (58°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 119 mm (4.7 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (74°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 88 mm (3.4 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
| Nov | 15°C (59°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 157 mm (6.2 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.