Should you visit Sintra or Sintra-Cascais National Park?
Should I visit Sintra or Sintra-Cascais National Park? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
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.
Sintra-Cascais National Park
The Sintra-Cascais Natural Park is located on the west coast of Portugal and is often called the place where "the land ends and the sea begins". The UNESCO listed park is famous for being home to Cabo da Roca, a seaside cliff that is actually the westernmost part of Europe. Sintra-Cascais is interesting due to their large diversity in landscape which includes sand dunes, lakes, forests, and ocean cliffs.
Which city is cheaper, Sintra-Cascais National Park or Sintra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Sintra is €92, while the average daily cost in Sintra-Cascais National Park is €114. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Sintra and Sintra-Cascais National Park in more detail.
Accommodation
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around €45. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Sintra the cost is €90 on average.
Sintra-Cascais National Park's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is €102. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is €51.
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Accommodation
Hotel or hostel for one person
Sintra €45
Sintra-Cascais National Park €51
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Accommodation
Typical double-occupancy room
Sintra
€90
Sintra-Cascais National Park
€102
Food
The average traveler spends about €34 per day in Sintra for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
In Sintra-Cascais National Park travelers spend around €33 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sintra
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sintra.
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Sintra Walking Food Tour:
$60
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Lisbon: Sintra Food Tour and Wine Tasting with Scenic Drive:
$148
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Sintra is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent €17 per person, per day, on local transportation in Sintra.
The cost of a taxi ride in Sintra-Cascais National Park is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent €49 per person, per day, on local transportation in Sintra-Cascais National Park.
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Local Transportation
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
Sintra €17
Sintra-Cascais National Park €49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sintra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sintra:
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Lisbon Private Transfer to or from Sintra:
$22
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Private Transfer To or From Lisbon Airport:
$25
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Private Transfer from Sintra City Center to Lisbon City Center:
$30
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To/ From Lisbon Airport: Cascais or Sintra Private Transfer:
$40
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Lisbon Airport: Cascais/Estoril/Sintra Private Transfer:
$51
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Half-Day Sintra Tour from Lisbon with Transfers:
$171
Is it cheaper to fly into Sintra or Sintra-Cascais National Park?
Prices for flights to both Sintra-Cascais National Park 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.
Entertainment
Entertainment and activities in Sintra typically cost an average of €18 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Entertainment and activities in Sintra-Cascais National Park typically cost an average of €21 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
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Entertainment
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
Sintra €18
Sintra-Cascais National Park €21
Tours and Activities in Sintra
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Sintra are as follows:
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Sintra Myths and Legends Interactive Centre Admission Ticket:
$4.35
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Monserrate Palace and Park Skip-the-Line Ticket:
$9.13
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Sightseeing Train Tour:
$9.13
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Castle of the Moors Fast Track Ticket:
$9.13
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Castle of the Moors Skip-the-Line Entrance Ticket:
$9.95
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Monserrate Palace and Park Skip-the-Line Ticket:
$9.95
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Queluz National Palace & Gardens Skip-the-Line Ticket:
$11
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National Palace of Sintra Skip-the-Line Ticket:
$12
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Hop-on Hop-off Tour in Sintra:
$15
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Pena Palace & Chalet of Edla Admission Ticket:
$17
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Economic Tour - Pena Palace (2-4pax):
$27
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National Palace of Sintra Tickets: Skip the line Entry:
$27
Alcohol
The average person spends about €14 on alcoholic beverages in Sintra per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
The average person spends about €10 on alcoholic beverages in Sintra-Cascais National Park per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Sintra
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Sintra:
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From Lisbon: Sintra, Pena Palace, Cascais and Wine Tasting:
$92
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Ericeira & Mafra’s Wonders - Rural Beach & Wine Tour:
$117
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Sintra Brewery Tour & Beer Tasting Experience:
$121
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Full-Day Tour from Lisbon with Wine Tasting:
$240
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sintra and Sintra-Cascais National Park, we can see that Sintra-Cascais National Park 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 Sintra-Cascais National Park would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sintra-Cascais National Park than you might in Sintra.
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