Which place is cheaper, Tenerife or Sintra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sintra or Tenerife?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sintra or Tenerife? 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 Tenerife?
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.
Tenerife
European tourists have long known Tenerife as a top vacation destination. Amazing beaches and a booming nightlife bring in visitors to the largest of the Canary Islands all the way from England, Germany and Spain - particularly during the Easter holiday. Now the rest of the world is catching up. It's not just a spot for spring breakers looking for a party - it is full of mountains, volcanoes and forests ready for exploring.
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 Spain, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Spain.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySintra €115Tenerife €128
The average daily cost (per person) in Sintra is €115, while the average daily cost in Tenerife is €128. 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 Tenerife in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSintra €57Tenerife €53
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSintra €114Tenerife €106
Compare Hotels in Sintra and Tenerife
Looking for a hotel in Sintra or Tenerife? 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 Tenerife Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sintra €21Tenerife €60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sintra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sintra:
- Tuk Tuk Transfer With Sintra Pena Ticket From Meeting Point: $73
- Transfer from Lisbon Airport to Sintra: $53
- Transfer Sintra to Lisbon Airport: $71
- Transfer Cascais to Lisbon(8pax): $109
- Transfer Cascais to Lisbon(3pax): $98
- Tours and Transfers: $89
- TRANSFER Cascais to Lisbon Airport: $82
- Private transfer from Sintra to Porto with 2 hours for sightseeing: $289
- Private Transfer Lisbon & Cascais by Van or Car: $73
- Private Guided Transfer in Sintra and Lisbon: $87
- Lisbon transfer, national and Iberian trips: $86
- Lisbon Airport: Cascais/Estoril/Sintra Private Transfer: $57
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tenerife
Also for Tenerife, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Puerto de la Cruz City Tour with Transfers: $21
- Roundtrip Transfer Caldera de Taburiente and Guaguas Station: $22
- Transfer Tenerife South Airport (TFS) to Santa Cruz Tenerife Port: $44
- Private Transfer from Tenerife to Santa Cruz Tenerife Cruise Port: $44
- Private Transfer from Santa Cruz Tenerife Cruise Port to Tenerife: $44
- Transfer- Santa Cruz Tenerife Port to Tenerife South Airport(TFS): $44
- Tenerife hotels to Santa Cruz Tenerife Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $44
- Santa Cruz Tenerife Cruise Port to Tenerife hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $44
- Tenerife Cruise Port to Tenerife South Airport (TFS) -Departure Private Transfer: $44
- Tenerife to Tenerife South Airport (TFS) - Departure Transfer : $50
- Canary Islands : Gran Canaria - Tenerife ferry transfer: $59
- Marine-Life Tour with Transfer, Buffet and Drinks: $63
Is it cheaper to fly into Sintra or Tenerife?
Prices for flights to both Tenerife 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 €42Tenerife €39
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 Tenerife
For Tenerife, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hard Rock Cafe Set Menu Lunch or Dinner & Drink: $33
- Tenerife : Horse Show Entry ticket with optional dinner: $48
- Castillo San Miguel Medieval Show with Dinner: $51
- Medieval San Miguel castle with dinner-Show in South Tenerife : $52
- Music Hall Tavern Comedy Drag Show Ticket & Dinner: $52
- Teide Sunset Night Tour with Dinner and Stargazing: $58
- Teide National Park Night Sky Star Safari & Dinner: $59
- Medieval Show and Dinner at Castillo San Miguel with Transfer: $67
- Self Driving Sunset Tour with Dinner and Stargazing in Tenerife: $71
- Teide Night Experience with Dinner and Stargazing: $75
- Teide National Park Sunset & Stargazing with Dinner (Star Safari): $82
- Tenerife Sky At Night: Sunset, Stargazing and Dinner: $83
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sintra €23Tenerife €27
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 Tenerife
For Tenerife, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Teide Legends Exhibition Entry Ticket: $3.21
- Santa Cruz: Parque Maritimo Cesar Manrique Entry ticket: $5.35
- Icod de los Vinos: Dragon Tree & Botanical Garden Ticket: $5.35
- Icod de los Vinos: Casa del Plátano Entry Ticket: $5.35
- Santa Cruz de Palmetum Entry Ticket: $6.42
- La Casa de Los Balcones Entrance Ticket: $6.42
- La Caleta Self-Guided Walking Tour: $7.38
- San Cristobal de La Laguna : Cathedral ticket w/ audioguide: $7.49
- Icod de los Vinos: ARTlandya Doll World Entry Ticket & Tour: $11
- Finca Las Margaritas Banana Plantation Experience: $11
- Guïmar: Pyramids of Güímar Ethnographic Park Entry Ticket: $13
- Los Cristianos: Eco-Yacht Whale Watching Cruise with Swim: $16
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySintra €17Tenerife €6.43
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 Tenerife
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Tenerife:
- Wine tasting and Canarian products in La Orotava: $19
- Wine Tour & Taste surrounded by Anaga Forest: $25
- Half Day Southern Rural Tenerife Tour with Wine Tasting: $63
- Tour of the senses through the South of Tenerife with Wine Tasting: $64
- Wine Tasting Experience in Tenerife: $66
- Full-Day Gastronomy and Wine Tour: $81
- Taste of Tenerife Tour With Wine Tasting: $93
- Wine tasting with tapas, Teide at sunset (shared): $102
- Volcano Teide Buggy Tour with Wine Tasting & Tapas: $225
When comparing the travel costs between Sintra and Tenerife, we can see that Tenerife 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 Tenerife Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Sintra or Tenerife?
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 Tenerife in the Summer?
Both Tenerife and Sintra during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, many visitors come to Tenerife in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
Sintra is around the same temperature as Tenerife in the summer. The daily temperature in Sintra averages around 23°C (73°F) in July, and Tenerife fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
In Tenerife, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Sintra. In the summer, Sintra often gets more sunshine than Tenerife. Sintra gets 352 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tenerife receives 268 hours of full sun.
Sintra usually gets more rain in July than Tenerife. Sintra gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Tenerife receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySintra 23°C (73°F)Tenerife 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Tenerife in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Sintra and Tenerife. Also, most visitors come to Tenerife for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In the autumn, Sintra is cooler than Tenerife. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Sintra in October average around 19°C (66°F), and Tenerife averages at about 22°C (72°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Tenerife this time of the year. In Sintra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Sintra usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Tenerife during autumn. Sintra gets 213 hours of sunny skies, while Tenerife receives 200 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Sintra usually receives more rain than Tenerife. Sintra gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Tenerife receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSintra 19°C (66°F)Tenerife 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Tenerife in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Sintra as well as Tenerife. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Tenerife because of the shopping scene and the cuisine.
In January, Sintra is generally cooler than Tenerife. Daily temperatures in Sintra average around 12°C (53°F), and Tenerife fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
In the winter, Sintra often gets less sunshine than Tenerife. Sintra gets 144 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tenerife receives 191 hours of full sun.
Sintra receives a lot of rain in the winter. Sintra usually gets more rain in January than Tenerife. Sintra gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Tenerife receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySintra 12°C (53°F)Tenerife 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Tenerife in the Spring?
Both Tenerife and Sintra are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Tenerife this time of year.
Sintra is cooler than Tenerife in the spring. The daily temperature in Sintra averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Tenerife fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
It's quite sunny in Tenerife. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sintra. Sintra usually receives more sunshine than Tenerife during spring. Sintra gets 235 hours of sunny skies, while Tenerife receives 205 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Sintra usually receives more rain than Tenerife. Sintra gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Tenerife receives 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSintra 16°C (60°F)Tenerife 18°C (64°F)
Typical Weather for Tenerife and Sintra
| Sintra | Tenerife | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 12°C (53°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Mar | 14°C (58°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (74°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Nov | 15°C (59°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 56 mm (2.2 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.