Which place is cheaper, Siena or Sintra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sintra or Siena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sintra or Siena? 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 Siena?
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.
Siena
Located in Tuscany, Siena is a medieval city that is about 70 kilometers south of Florence. One of its most famous events is the horse race, Il Palio, which occurs twice a year during the summer. The race puts a lot of emphasis on neighborhood pride and competition. It is a local tradition that is of great importance to the residence, so it is not an event that is held specifically for tourists. It dates back to the Medieval times and is associated with the area's religion, pageantry and rivalry. In addition to the city's strong neighborhood pride, rich history, and impressive architecture, Siena was also the home of many famous artists including Duccio, Simone Martini, and Ambrogio and Pietro Lorenzetti.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Portugal, The Best Tours for Seniors to Portugal, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Italy, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Italy.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySintra €115Siena €133
The average daily cost (per person) in Sintra is €115, while the average daily cost in Siena is €133. 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 Siena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSintra €57Siena €69
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSintra €114Siena €138
Compare Hotels in Sintra and Siena
Looking for a hotel in Sintra or Siena? 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 Siena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sintra €21Siena €20
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: $82
- 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 Siena
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Siena:
- Rome Fiumicino Airport: Shared Transfer to/from Siena by Bus: $11
- Arrival transfer Siena Airport SAY to Siena City by van or car: $148
- Private transfer from Siena to Florence: $202
- Transfer Siena-Florence with visit to Chianti and wine tasting: $218
- Transfer Siena-Pisa with stop in San Gimignano & Lunch: $245
- From Florence: Private Siena Day Trip with Transfers: $348
- Siena - Rome Transfer Tour with Orvieto & Montepulciano: $1,059
- Luxury Private Transfer Between Siena and Genoa: $1,118
- Siena to Milan Linate Airport 1-Way Private Transfer: $1,305
- Siena to Milan Malpensa airport private transfer: $1,433
Is it cheaper to fly into Sintra or Siena?
Prices for flights to both Siena 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 €42Siena €51
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 Siena
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Siena.
- Siena food tour and Chianti wine: $60
- Walking Food Tour with Tastings: $95
- Tuscan Dinner in a Villa in an Ancient Siena Olive Grove: $98
- Siena Food Tour - Do Eat Better Experience : $99
- From Siena/Chianti: Dinner & Drinks in the Chianti Vineyards: $102
- Siena countryside: cooking class in a real Tuscan farmhouse: $123
- Cooking Class in a historical villa in Siena Provence: $130
- Tuscan Cooking Class in Central Siena: $131
- 4 Hour Private Cooking Class Unique Tuscan Experience in Siena: $131
- Family Cooking Class: Pizza and Tiramisù from Siena: $138
- Small Group Cooking Class in Chianti Farmhouse: $138
- Small group Cooking Class in Chianti Farmhouse: $141
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sintra €23Siena €3.75
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 Siena
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Siena are as follows:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Palazzo Pubblico Entry Ticket: $6.42
- Escape Game and Tour: $6.95
- Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and City Tour: $6.95
- City Highlights Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $6.99
- Siena Cathedral and Piccolomini Library Entry Ticket: $8.56
- Siena Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $8.75
- Italian Opera in Siena Experience: $27
- Escape Tour - Self-Guided Citygame: $32
- Guided tour of Siena INCLUDING the Cathedral or Museum: $33
- Chianti: Wine and Olive Oil Tasting with Cellar Tour: $36
- Wine Experience in an Organic Chianti Winery: $36
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySintra €17Siena €2.19
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 Siena
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Siena:
- Wine Tasting at the Winery in the Panoramic Terrance: $27
- Montalcino: Brunello Wine Tasting Experience: $35
- Total Immersion Wine Tour in Chianti: $43
- Lapi&Tour Guided tour of the cellars with wine tasting: $52
- From Florence: San Gimignano, Siena, and Chianti Wine Tour: $55
- Tuscany Hiking Tour from Siena Including Wine Tasting: $60
- Siena Underground Wine tasting in a Medieval Cave: $61
- Siena Underground Wine tasting in a Medieval Cave: $63
- Tuscan Classics Wine Tasting Class with Aperitivo: $64
- Montalcino: Brunello Wine Tasting & Lunch in a Tuscan Castle: $64
- Wine and Food Pairing Class with Tuscan Wine Tastings: $75
- Organic Winery Tour and Wine Tasting in Siena: $80
When comparing the travel costs between Sintra and Siena, we can see that Siena 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 Siena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sintra or Siena?
Siena has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Sintra. When comparing the sizes of Sintra and Siena, 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 Siena?
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 Siena in the Summer?
Both Siena and Sintra are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Siena for the family-friendly experiences.
Sintra is around the same temperature as Siena in the summer. The daily temperature in Sintra averages around 23°C (73°F) in July, and Siena fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
It's quite sunny in Siena. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sintra. Sintra usually receives more sunshine than Siena during summer. Sintra gets 352 hours of sunny skies, while Siena receives 316 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Sintra usually receives less rain than Siena. Sintra gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Siena receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySintra 23°C (73°F)Siena 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Siena in the Autumn?
Both Siena and Sintra during the autumn are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many visitors come to Siena in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Sintra is a little warmer than Siena. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Sintra in October average around 19°C (66°F), and Siena averages at about 16°C (61°F).
It's quite sunny in Sintra. In the autumn, Sintra often gets more sunshine than Siena. Sintra gets 213 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Siena receives 177 hours of full sun.
Sintra usually gets less rain in October than Siena. Sintra gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Siena receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSintra 19°C (66°F)Siena 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Siena in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Sintra and Siena. Furthermore, most visitors come to Siena for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
In January, Sintra is generally much warmer than Siena. Daily temperatures in Sintra average around 12°C (53°F), and Siena fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).
Sintra usually receives more sunshine than Siena during winter. Sintra gets 144 hours of sunny skies, while Siena receives 105 hours of full sun in the winter.
Sintra gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Sintra usually receives more rain than Siena. Sintra gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Siena receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySintra 12°C (53°F)Siena 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Siena in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Sintra as well as Siena. Additionally, the spring months attract visitors to Siena because of the natural beauty.
Sintra is a little warmer than Siena in the spring. The daily temperature in Sintra averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Siena fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sintra this time of the year. In the spring, Sintra often gets more sunshine than Siena. Sintra gets 235 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Siena receives 192 hours of full sun.
Sintra usually gets less rain in April than Siena. Sintra gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Siena receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSintra 16°C (60°F)Siena 12°C (54°F)
Typical Weather for Siena and Sintra
| Sintra | Siena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 12°C (53°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 14°C (58°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (74°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Nov | 15°C (59°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 69 mm (2.7 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.