Which place is cheaper, Vienna or Sintra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sintra or Vienna?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sintra or Vienna? 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 Vienna?
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.
Vienna
Vienna is the largest city and capital of Austria. It has a population of over 1.7 million and is a cultural, political and economic center for the country. The historical center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and some complain that it feels more like a museum than a real city. Outside of the historical center though, is a young and vibrant city with a huge music scene, many street performers, and eclectic and fun restaurants and nightclubs.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Portugal, The Best Tours for Seniors to Portugal, The Best 2-Week Tours in Austria, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Austria.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySintra €115Vienna €151
The average daily cost (per person) in Sintra is €115, while the average daily cost in Vienna is €151. 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 Vienna in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSintra €57Vienna €94
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSintra €114Vienna €188
Compare Hotels in Sintra and Vienna
Looking for a hotel in Sintra or Vienna? 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 Vienna Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sintra €21Vienna €19
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
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vienna
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Vienna:
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Bus to Airport€30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vienna
Also for Vienna, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Bratislava: Bus Transfer to/from Vienna: $9.52
- Bratislava: Bus Transfer to/from Vienna Airport: $12
- CAT Transfer: Vienna Airport – Wien Mitte: $16
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Viena Airport(VIE)-Viena City : $35
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Viena City - Viena Airport (VIE): $35
- Private Transfer from Vienna Airport (VIE) to Vienna City Center: $44
- Private Transfer from Vienna City Center to Vienna Airport (VIE): $44
- Private One Way Transfer from Vienna Hotels to Vienna Airport: $44
- Vienna International Airport (VIE) to Vienna Downtown - Arrival Private Transfer: $45
- Vienna Downtown to Vienna Intl Airport (VIE) - Departure Private Transfer: $45
- Private Transfer from Vienna Airport to Hotel in Vienna: $49
- Transfer in Private Minivan Viena Airport (VIE)-Viena City : $50
Is it cheaper to fly into Sintra or Vienna?
Prices for flights to both Vienna 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 €42Vienna €33
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 Vienna
For Vienna, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hard Rock Cafe with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $28
- Performance Of The Lipizzans At Spanish Riding School: $43
- Naschmarkt Food Tour: $64
- Vienna Naschmarket Food Tour: $65
- Traditional Vienna Tasting Dinner With Folk Music: $68
- Traditional Vienna Tasting Dinner with Folk Music: $70
- Naschmarkt Guided Food Tour: $74
- Vienna Evening Sightseeing Cruise With Music and Dinner: $74
- 3-Course Evening Dinner Cruise: $76
- Traditional Dinner Show at the Wiener Rathauskeller: $84
- Kursalon New Year's Day Concert with optional Dinner: $87
- Schnitzel cooking class with Nicole: $98
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sintra €23Vienna €38
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 Vienna
For Vienna, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Escape Game and Tour: $3.21
- Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Tour: $4.81
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.41
- Cultural Heart of the City Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Top of Vienna in One Day: An English Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.87
- Detective Trail Mystery tour for the whole family: $8.02
- MAK - Geymüllerschlössel Entry Ticket: $8.02
- Walking Tour of the MuseumsQuartier with Guide: $8.56
- Vienna Cathedral District Audio Tour (EN) (NO Ticket): $8.80
- Walking Around Hofburg Palace In-App Audio Tour (EN): $8.80
- Capuchins Crypt Entrance Ticket: $9.09
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySintra €17Vienna €17
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 Vienna
Also in Vienna, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl Vienna: $16
- Vienna Nights Pub Crawl: $16
- City Center Pub Crawl: $27
- Local Pub Crawl Vienna: $27
- Wine Tasting at Traditional Cellar: $34
- Guided Wine Tasting in a Private Wine Cellar: $39
- Viennese Wine Tasting in a Private Hidden Wine Cellar: $39
- Wine Tasting at Schönbrunn Palace: $48
- Austrian Wine Tasting Experience: $63
- Vienna Historical Highlight City Tour + Wine Tasting: $74
- Skip-the-Line Schönbrunn Palace Entry & Wine Tasting: $82
- Wine Tasting E-Bike Tour: $91
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sintra and Vienna, we can see that Vienna 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 Vienna would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Vienna than you might in Sintra.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sintra Expensive? and Is Vienna Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sintra or Vienna?
Vienna has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Sintra. When comparing the sizes of Sintra and Vienna, 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 Vienna?
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 Vienna in the Summer?
Both Vienna and Sintra during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, many visitors come to Vienna in the summer for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Sintra is around the same temperature as Vienna. Typically, the summer temperatures in Sintra in July average around 23°C (73°F), and Vienna averages at about 23°C (73°F).
In Vienna, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Sintra. In the summer, Sintra often gets more sunshine than Vienna. Sintra gets 352 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vienna receives 255 hours of full sun.
Sintra usually gets less rain in July than Vienna. Sintra gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Vienna receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySintra 23°C (73°F)Vienna 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Vienna in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Sintra and Vienna. Also, most visitors come to Vienna for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In October, Sintra is generally much warmer than Vienna. Daily temperatures in Sintra average around 19°C (66°F), and Vienna fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
In Sintra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Sintra usually receives more sunshine than Vienna during autumn. Sintra gets 213 hours of sunny skies, while Vienna receives 140 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Sintra usually receives more rain than Vienna. Sintra gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Vienna receives 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSintra 19°C (66°F)Vienna 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Vienna in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Sintra as well as Vienna. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Vienna because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
The weather in Vienna can be very cold. Sintra is much warmer than Vienna in the winter. The daily temperature in Sintra averages around 12°C (53°F) in January, and Vienna fluctuates around 2°C (36°F).
In the winter, Sintra often gets more sunshine than Vienna. Sintra gets 144 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vienna receives 65 hours of full sun.
Sintra receives a lot of rain in the winter. Sintra usually gets more rain in January than Vienna. Sintra gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Vienna receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySintra 12°C (53°F)Vienna 2°C (36°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Vienna in the Spring?
Both Vienna and Sintra are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the natural beauty are the main draw to Vienna this time of year.
In the spring, Sintra is a little warmer than Vienna. Typically, the spring temperatures in Sintra in April average around 16°C (60°F), and Vienna averages at about 13°C (55°F).
It's quite sunny in Vienna. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sintra. Sintra usually receives more sunshine than Vienna during spring. Sintra gets 235 hours of sunny skies, while Vienna receives 202 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Sintra usually receives more rain than Vienna. Sintra gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Vienna receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSintra 16°C (60°F)Vienna 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Vienna and Sintra
| Sintra | Vienna | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 12°C (53°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 4°C (38°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Mar | 14°C (58°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (74°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Nov | 15°C (59°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 43 mm (1.7 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.