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

Should you visit Varenna or Sintra-Cascais National Park?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Varenna and Sintra-Cascais National Park. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

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

Varenna

A golden light cascades from the heavens, bathing the misty blue mountains in a honey haze. The shivering waters of Lake Como blend the gentle blues and yellows of the sky to a tea rose pink that sits under white sailboats. A quaint village hustled around lush gardens, Varenna, Italy is an attractive fishing village that dates back to the eleventh century. Founded in 769 AD by fisherman, the town was originally destroyed in 1126 AD by the rival town Como, only to be restored refugees from the Isola Comacina whose town was also destroyed. Located on the eastern shore of the lake in the province of Lecco, Varenna is filled with a romantic air from its old Italian fisherman houses to the picturesque lanes. Unlike the towns of Bellagio or Milan, Varenna holds a particular authenticity to Italian culture without the burdens of tourist-ridden streets and hotel-packed areas. As Lake Como works as the main attraction of Varenna, the village provides its visitors with a wide array of entertainment on its pebbly beaches. Besides this, Varenna is also known for its exquisite gardens of two villas, Villa Monastero and Villa Cipressi. Besides this, Varenna also has museums just waiting to be explored. Take a tranquil retreat to Varenna!

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 Budget Tours to Italy, The Best Tours for Seniors to Italy, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Portugal, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Portugal.

When comparing the travel costs between Varenna and Sintra-Cascais National Park, we can see that Varenna 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 Varenna Expensive? and Is Sintra-Cascais National Park Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Varenna 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 Varenna or Sintra-Cascais National Park in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Varenna as well as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Many travelers come to Varenna for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Varenna is generally around the same temperature as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Daily temperatures in Varenna average around 23°C (73°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sintra-Cascais National Park. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Varenna this time of the year. In the summer, Varenna often gets less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Varenna gets 250 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 352 hours of full sun.

Varenna receives a lot of rain in the summer. Varenna usually gets more rain in July than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Varenna gets 133 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Varenna are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Varenna in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

Varenna is cooler than Sintra-Cascais National Park in the autumn. The daily temperature in Varenna averages around 15°C (58°F) in October, and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

It's quite sunny in Sintra-Cascais National Park. Varenna usually receives less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park during autumn. Varenna gets 152 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 213 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Varenna. In October, Varenna usually receives more rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Varenna gets 140 mm (5.5 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

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

Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and Varenna during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Varenna for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Varenna can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Varenna is much colder than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Typically, the winter temperatures in Varenna in January average around 5°C (41°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park averages at about 12°C (53°F).

In the winter, Varenna often gets less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Varenna gets 119 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 144 hours of full sun.

Sintra-Cascais National Park gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Varenna usually gets less rain in January than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Varenna gets 76 mm (3 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Varenna and Sintra-Cascais National Park. The spring months attract visitors to Varenna because of the natural beauty.

In April, Varenna is generally cooler than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Daily temperatures in Varenna average around 13°C (55°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sintra-Cascais National Park this time of the year. Varenna usually receives less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park during spring. Varenna gets 176 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 235 hours of full sun in the spring.

Varenna gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Varenna usually receives more rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Varenna gets 152 mm (6 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 Varenna