A Travel Price Comparison for Portugal Sintra vs. Viseu for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Sintra or Viseu?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Sintra or Viseu? 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 Viseu?

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.

Viseu

Viseu is the beautiful capital city of the Centro Region of Portugal, located northeast of Lisbon. The city, which is situated in the center of the famous Dao wine region, offers stunning natural scenery and beautiful ancient architecture. The best time to visit Viseu is during the summer from June through September when temperatures tend to range from 75-85° Fahrenheit and there is less rain. From October-May, temperatures tend to stay between 45-60° F and rainfall is at its highest.

Which place is cheaper, Viseu or Sintra?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Sintra is €115, while the average daily cost in Viseu is €98. 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 Viseu in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Sintra 57
    Viseu 52
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Sintra 114
    Viseu 104
Compare Hotels in Sintra and Viseu

Looking for a hotel in Sintra or Viseu? 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.

Hotels in Sintra


Hotels in Viseu


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 Viseu Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Sintra 21
    Viseu 19

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sintra

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sintra:

  • Transfer from Lisbon Airport to Cascais, Sintra or Estoril: $98
  • Transfer Cascais to Lisbon(8pax): $111
  • Transfer Cascais to Lisbon(3pax): $100
  • Transfer Aeroporto de Lisboa para Sintra: $54
  • TRANSFER Cascais to Lisbon Airport: $83
  • Private Transfer Lisbon & Cascais by Executive Van or Car: $74
  • Lisbon Airport: Cascais/Estoril/Sintra Private Transfer: $58
  • Lisbon Airport Transfer to Cascais / Sintra / Estoril: $52
  • Estoril, Cascais or Sintra Private Transfer to Lisbon: $28
  • Ericeira Private Transfer from / to Lisbon: $61
  • Algarve vs Lisbon: Private Transfer to/from Algarve /Lisbon: $444

Is it cheaper to fly into Sintra or Viseu?

Prices for flights to both Viseu 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Sintra 42
    Viseu 31

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sintra

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sintra.

  • Half-Day Ericeira Walking Food Tour: $55
  • Portuguese Traditional Cuisine: DINNER OR TAPAS : $94
  • Portuguese Cooking Workshop in Cascais (group of 4 min): $94

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Sintra 23
    Viseu 23

Tours and Activities in Sintra

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Sintra are as follows:

  • Half Day Private Wine and Traditional Tile Making Tour: $128
  • 2 Hour Private Picnic and Photoshoot Experience in Lisbon area: $189
  • 4 hour Private MTB Enduro Trail Tour in Sintra Mountain: $133
  • Amazing Sintra tour: $93
  • Cascais Private Walking Tour with a Professional Guide: $220
  • Cascais Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $8.10
  • Cascais-Sintra E-Bike Tour: Discover Its Natural Beauty: $161
  • E- Bike Self Guide Tour: $59
  • ERICEIRA | LIZANDRO RIVER AND SEA E-BIKE BTT TOUR 2h30 HOURS: $75
  • Ericeira Private Tour: Hidden Gastronomic Treasures with Lunch : $110
  • Ericeira: 2h Sunset E-BIKE BTT tour: $78
  • Ericeira: 2h30 Hours E-Bike Tour To Mafra: $54

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Sintra 17
    Viseu 7.71

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: $61
  • Wine Tasting Tour: $83
  • Hidden Gems: Sintra & Cascais Private Tour with Wine Tasting: $184
  • From Lisbon Private Tour to Porto with Port Wine Tasting: $239


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sintra and Viseu, we can see that Sintra is more expensive. And not only is Viseu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Viseu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Viseu 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 would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sintra than you might in Viseu.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sintra Expensive? and Is Viseu Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Sintra or Viseu?

Viseu has a larger population, and is about 1% larger than the population of Sintra. When comparing the sizes of Sintra and Viseu, 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 Viseu?

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 Viseu in the Summer?

Both Viseu and Sintra during the summer are popular places to visit.

Sintra is around the same temperature as Viseu in the summer. The daily temperature in Sintra averages around 23°C (73°F) in July, and Viseu fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

In Viseu, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Sintra. In the summer, Sintra often gets more sunshine than Viseu. Sintra gets 352 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Viseu receives 308 hours of full sun.

Sintra usually gets less rain in July than Viseu. Sintra gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Viseu receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Sintra 23°C (73°F) 
    Viseu 23°C (73°F)

Should I visit Sintra or Viseu in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Sintra and Viseu.

In the autumn, Sintra is around the same temperature as Viseu. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Sintra in October average around 19°C (66°F), and Viseu averages at about 18°C (65°F).

In Sintra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Sintra usually receives more sunshine than Viseu during autumn. Sintra gets 213 hours of sunny skies, while Viseu receives 184 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Viseu receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Sintra usually receives less rain than Viseu. Sintra gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Viseu receives 101 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Sintra 19°C (66°F) 
    Viseu 18°C (65°F)

Should I visit Sintra or Viseu in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Sintra as well as Viseu.

In January, Sintra is generally around the same temperature as Viseu. Daily temperatures in Sintra average around 12°C (53°F), and Viseu fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

In the winter, Sintra often gets more sunshine than Viseu. Sintra gets 144 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Viseu receives 124 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Viseu. Sintra receives a lot of rain in the winter. Sintra usually gets less rain in January than Viseu. Sintra gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Viseu receives 139 mm (5.5 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Sintra 12°C (53°F) 
    Viseu 11°C (51°F)

Should I visit Sintra or Viseu in the Spring?

Both Viseu and Sintra are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.

Sintra is around the same temperature as Viseu in the spring. The daily temperature in Sintra averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Viseu fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).

It's quite sunny in Viseu. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sintra. Sintra usually receives more sunshine than Viseu during spring. Sintra gets 235 hours of sunny skies, while Viseu receives 217 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Sintra usually receives less rain than Viseu. Sintra gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Viseu receives 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Sintra 16°C (60°F) 
    Viseu 15°C (59°F)

Typical Weather for Viseu and Sintra

Sintra Viseu
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 12°C (53°F) 110 mm (4.3 in) 11°C (51°F) 139 mm (5.5 in)
Feb 13°C (55°F) 111 mm (4.4 in) 12°C (53°F) 140 mm (5.5 in)
Mar 14°C (58°F) 69 mm (2.7 in) 13°C (56°F) 86 mm (3.4 in)
Apr 16°C (60°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 15°C (59°F) 92 mm (3.6 in)
May 18°C (64°F) 39 mm (1.5 in) 17°C (63°F) 77 mm (3 in)
Jun 21°C (69°F) 21 mm (0.8 in) 21°C (69°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Jul 23°C (73°F) 5 mm (0.2 in) 23°C (73°F) 14 mm (0.6 in)
Aug 23°C (74°F) 6 mm (0.2 in) 23°C (73°F) 13 mm (0.5 in)
Sep 22°C (72°F) 26 mm (1 in) 22°C (71°F) 48 mm (1.9 in)
Oct 19°C (66°F) 80 mm (3.1 in) 18°C (65°F) 101 mm (4 in)
Nov 15°C (59°F) 114 mm (4.5 in) 14°C (57°F) 128 mm (5 in)
Dec 12°C (54°F) 108 mm (4.3 in) 11°C (52°F) 130 mm (5.1 in)