Which place is cheaper, Toledo or Sintra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sintra or Toledo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sintra or Toledo? 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 Toledo?
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.
Toledo
Set upon a hill above the plains of Castilla-La Mancha in central Spain lies the ancient city of Toledo. Its intricate architecture is only enriched by its profound historical background, spurring tourists from all over the world to gaze at and study the story of Toledo. It has been given many names throughout its history, including the "Imperial City" for being the main venue for Charles V, Holy Roman Empire, as well as the "City of the Three Cultures" for its historical co-existence of Christians, Muslims, and Jews. In 1986, UNESCO named Toledo a World Heritage Site due to the plethora of extensive cultural and monumental heritages. You will find that though an old city, it is just buzzing to life with things to do and places to see!
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Portugal, The Best Tours for Seniors to Portugal, The Best Adventure Tours to Spain, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Spain.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySintra €115Toledo €123
The average daily cost (per person) in Sintra is €115, while the average daily cost in Toledo is €123. 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 Toledo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSintra €57Toledo €66
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSintra €114Toledo €132
Compare Hotels in Sintra and Toledo
Looking for a hotel in Sintra or Toledo? 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 Toledo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sintra €21Toledo €20
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 Toledo
Also for Toledo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Puy du Fou Round-Trip Transfer: $24
- Madrid: Puy du Fou Round-Trip Transfer & Optional Ticket: $36
- Private Transfer from Toledo or Avila to MAD Airport by MiniVan: $176
- Madrid: Private Airport Transfer to Toledo: $180
- Hot Air Balloon over Toledo with optional transfers from Madrid : $234
- Balloon Ride with Transfer Option from Madrid: $262
Is it cheaper to fly into Sintra or Toledo?
Prices for flights to both Toledo 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 €42Toledo €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
Typical Food Prices in Toledo
For Toledo, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch€11
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sintra €23Toledo €30
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 Toledo
For Toledo, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Toledo Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $4.28
- City of the Three Cultures Guided Walking Tour: $5.35
- Hospital de Tavera Entrance Ticket: $5.35
- Escape Game and Tour: $5.35
- Auidio Tour - Toledo - Monuments of the 3 cultures: $6.41
- Toledo Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.54
- English Tour - Toledo Complete + Visit Casa Palacio: $8.56
- Underground Guided Tour with Entry Ticket: $8.56
- Tour of the Inquisition and Witchcraft in Toledo: $8.56
- The Enchanted City: A Mysterious Tour of Toledo: $8.56
- Legends and Secrets Walking Tour in Spanish: $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySintra €17Toledo €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 Toledo
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Toledo:
- From Madrid: Toledo Tour with Wine Tasting and 7 Monuments: $58
When comparing the travel costs between Sintra and Toledo, we can see that Toledo 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 Toledo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sintra or Toledo?
Toledo has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Sintra. When comparing the sizes of Sintra and Toledo, 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.
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.