Which place is cheaper, Sintra or Thessaloniki?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Thessaloniki or Sintra?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Thessaloniki or Sintra? 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: Thessaloniki or Sintra?
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki is the second largest city in Greece and serves as the capital city of the Central Macedonia region. It also has a rich history dating back more than 3,000 years. As a visitor, you'll find that the city has been touched by the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires, all of which left their mark. In particular, the many Byzantine churches are quite impressive, with some of them listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Greece, The Best Contiki Tours to Greece, The Best Budget Tours to Portugal, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Portugal.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayThessaloniki €134Sintra €115
The average daily cost (per person) in Thessaloniki is €134, while the average daily cost in Sintra is €115. 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 Thessaloniki and Sintra in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personThessaloniki €79Sintra €57
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomThessaloniki €158Sintra €114
Compare Hotels in Thessaloniki and Sintra
Looking for a hotel in Thessaloniki or Sintra? 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: Thessaloniki Hotel Prices and Sintra Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Thessaloniki €13Sintra €21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Thessaloniki
Also for Thessaloniki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Bus Transfer to/from Kavala: $18
- Thessaloniki Airport (SKG) to Thessaloniki - Arrival Transfer: $21
- Thessaloniki to Thessaloniki Airport (SKG) - Departure Transfer: $21
- One Way Private Transfer SKG Airport to / from Thessaloniki City Center: $24
- Thessaloniki Airport Private Transfer Service: $32
- Private Transfer from Thessaloniki Airport to Thessaloniki Port: $41
- Private Transfer from Thessaloniki hotels to Thessaloniki Port: $41
- Thessaloniki Airport or Cruise Port Private Departure Transfer: $44
- Thessaloniki Airport - Sani Transfer: $81
- Thessaloniki Airport to Portes Lithos Luxury Resort Private Transfer: $82
- Thessaloniki Airport to Ikos Oceania Hotel Private Transfer: $87
- Private transfer to IKOS OLIVIA: $87
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Thessaloniki or Sintra?
Prices for flights to both Sintra and Thessaloniki 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 dayThessaloniki €42Sintra €42
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Thessaloniki
For Thessaloniki, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Open Market Food Tour with Tasting: $48
- Walking Open Market Food Tour and Tasting: $49
- Cooking & Dining Experience with Greek Family: $63
- Guided Food Tour: $70
- Food Tour in Thessaloniki: $71
- Private Walking Tour Gastronomic Food Tour in Thessaloniki: $87
- Traditional Greek Food Tour With A Local: $95
- Greek Ouzo and Meze Food Tour: $95
- Greek Cooking Class, Market Visit and Lunch: $95
- Traditional Greek Food Tour With A Local: $97
- Greek Ouzo and Meze Food Tour: $97
- Greek Cooking Class, Market visit and Lunch: $97
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Thessaloniki €26Sintra €23
Tours and Activities in Thessaloniki
For Thessaloniki, 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: $6.95
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $6.95
- White Tower Self-Guided Audio Tour: $8.54
- Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour & Narrative: $11
- Selfie Museum Entry Ticket: $11
- Self-Guided Game & Tour: $12
- Museum of Illusions Admission Ticket: $12
- Thessaloniki Self-Guided Game & Tour: $12
- Byzantine Museum E-Ticket with Audio Tour: $13
- E-ticket to Museum of Byzantine Culture with Audio Tour : $13
- Thessaloniki Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus Tour: $17
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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayThessaloniki €15Sintra €17
Sample the Local Flavors in Thessaloniki
Also in Thessaloniki, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Friday Night Bar Crawl in Thessaloniki: $25
- From Pella-Edessa wine tasting: $64
- Small-Group Wine Tasting Tour with Appetizers: $81
- Thessaloniki Small-Group Wine Tasting Tour with Appetizers: $83
- Winery Visit with Wine Tasting Experience: $91
- Wine Tasting Experience from Thessaloniki: $93
- Thessaloniki to Naoussa, Wine Tasting Tour – Private Day Trip: $207
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Thessaloniki and Sintra, we can see that Thessaloniki 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 Thessaloniki would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Thessaloniki 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 Thessaloniki Expensive? and Is Sintra Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Thessaloniki or Sintra?
Thessaloniki has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Sintra. When comparing the sizes of Thessaloniki and Sintra, 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 Thessaloniki or Sintra?
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 Thessaloniki or Sintra in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Thessaloniki as well as Sintra. The summer months attract visitors to Thessaloniki because of the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Thessaloniki is generally around the same temperature as Sintra. Daily temperatures in Thessaloniki average around 25°C (77°F), and Sintra fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sintra. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Thessaloniki this time of the year. In the summer, Thessaloniki often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Sintra. Thessaloniki gets 327 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra receives 352 hours of full sun.
Thessaloniki usually gets more rain in July than Sintra. Thessaloniki gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Sintra receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyThessaloniki 25°C (77°F)Sintra 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Thessaloniki or Sintra in the Autumn?
Both Sintra and Thessaloniki are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Thessaloniki this time of year.
Thessaloniki is cooler than Sintra in the autumn. The daily temperature in Thessaloniki averages around 16°C (61°F) in October, and Sintra fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
It's quite sunny in Sintra. Thessaloniki usually receives less sunshine than Sintra during autumn. Thessaloniki gets 159 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra receives 213 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Thessaloniki usually receives less rain than Sintra. Thessaloniki gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Sintra receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberThessaloniki 16°C (61°F)Sintra 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Thessaloniki or Sintra in the Winter?
Both Sintra and Thessaloniki during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Thessaloniki for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Thessaloniki is much colder than Sintra. Typically, the winter temperatures in Thessaloniki in January average around 5°C (41°F), and Sintra averages at about 12°C (53°F).
In the winter, Thessaloniki often gets less sunshine than Sintra. Thessaloniki gets 101 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra receives 144 hours of full sun.
Sintra gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Thessaloniki usually gets less rain in January than Sintra. Thessaloniki gets 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Sintra receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryThessaloniki 5°C (41°F)Sintra 12°C (53°F)
Should I visit Thessaloniki or Sintra in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Thessaloniki and Sintra. Many visitors come to Thessaloniki in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city.
In April, Thessaloniki is generally cooler than Sintra. Daily temperatures in Thessaloniki average around 13°C (56°F), and Sintra fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sintra this time of the year. Thessaloniki usually receives less sunshine than Sintra during spring. Thessaloniki gets 196 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra receives 235 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Thessaloniki usually receives less rain than Sintra. Thessaloniki gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Sintra receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilThessaloniki 13°C (56°F)Sintra 16°C (60°F)
Typical Weather for Sintra and Thessaloniki
| Thessaloniki | Sintra | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 5°C (41°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Feb | 7°C (44°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Mar | 9°C (49°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (56°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| May | 18°C (65°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (73°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (76°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Sep | 21°C (70°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 11°C (52°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (44°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 108 mm (4.3 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.