A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Taormina vs. Sintra-Cascais National Park for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Taormina or Sintra-Cascais National Park?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Taormina and Sintra-Cascais National Park can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Taormina or Sintra-Cascais National Park?

Taormina

A quaint hillside town on the eastern side of Sicily, Taormina is arguably one of the most popular tourist resorts on the island. It's peak season is the months of July and August when Italian and European tourists alike flock to the beaches. During this time it can be crowded and hot, but if you visit during the spring or fall months you might find the crowds slightly less and the weather more comfortable. The town is popular with package tours, which stay at the beach resorts around Giardini Naxos to the south or Letojanni to the north.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Italy, The Best Walking Tours in Italy, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Portugal, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Portugal.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Taormina and Sintra-Cascais National Park, we can see that Sintra-Cascais National Park is more expensive. And not only is Taormina much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Taormina would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Taormina 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 Taormina.

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

When is the best time to visit Taormina or Sintra-Cascais National Park?

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 Taormina or Sintra-Cascais National Park in the Summer?

Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Taormina during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Taormina in the summer for the beaches, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Taormina is a little warmer than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Typically, the summer temperatures in Taormina in July average around 27°C (80°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park averages at about 23°C (73°F).

In Sintra-Cascais National Park, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Taormina. In the summer, Taormina often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Taormina gets 332 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 352 hours of full sun.

Taormina usually gets more rain in July than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Taormina gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Taormina or Sintra-Cascais National Park in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Taormina and Sintra-Cascais National Park. Most visitors come to Taormina for the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In October, Taormina is generally around the same temperature as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Daily temperatures in Taormina average around 21°C (69°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sintra-Cascais National Park this time of the year. Taormina usually receives less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park during autumn. Taormina gets 189 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 213 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Taormina gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Taormina usually receives more rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Taormina gets 128 mm (5 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Taormina or Sintra-Cascais National Park in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Taormina as well as Sintra-Cascais National Park. The winter months attract visitors to Taormina because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Taormina is around the same temperature as Sintra-Cascais National Park in the winter. The daily temperature in Taormina averages around 13°C (55°F) in January, and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).

In the winter, Taormina often gets less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Taormina gets 115 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 144 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Sintra-Cascais National Park. Taormina usually gets less rain in January than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Taormina gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Taormina or Sintra-Cascais National Park in the Spring?

Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Taormina are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty are the main draw to Taormina this time of year.

In the spring, Taormina is around the same temperature as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Typically, the spring temperatures in Taormina in April average around 16°C (60°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park averages at about 16°C (60°F).

It's quite sunny in Sintra-Cascais National Park. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Taormina. Taormina usually receives less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park during spring. Taormina gets 207 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 235 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Taormina usually receives less rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Taormina gets 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Sintra-Cascais National Park and Taormina