Which place is cheaper, Sintra or Vilnius?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Vilnius or Sintra?
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 Vilnius and Sintra. 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: Vilnius or Sintra?
Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital and largest city in the country of Lithuania. It has a population of more than 500,000 residents and is located in the valley between the Neris River and the Vilnia River in the southeastern part of the country. Visitors come to the city for its beautiful Old Town, impressive architecture, and fascinating culture. In 2009 it was named the European Capital of Culture along with the city of Linz, in Austria.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Vilnius, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Lithuania, The Best Budget Tours to Portugal, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Portugal.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVilnius €94Sintra €115
The average daily cost (per person) in Vilnius is €94, 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 Vilnius and Sintra in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVilnius €42Sintra €57
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVilnius €84Sintra €114
Compare Hotels in Vilnius and Sintra
Looking for a hotel in Vilnius 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: Vilnius Hotel Prices and Sintra Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Vilnius €8.30Sintra €21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vilnius
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Vilnius:
- Airport Bus Transfer to/from Central Bus Station: $3.21
- Riga: Bus Transfer to/from Vilnius: $20
- Vilnius Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Riga: $24
- Private Vilnius Airport Arrival Transfer: $27
- Vilnius Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Warsaw: $35
- Arrival Transfer from Vilnius VNO Airport to Vilnius by Minivan: $46
- Vilnius Airport Transfer: $51
- Vilnius Airport (VNO): Bus Transfer to/from Gdansk: $51
- Vilnius Private 1-Way Airport Transfer: $53
- Private Transfer from Vilnius Airport to Lithuania: $142
- Jewish Heritage Sites Private Tour with Transfer: $214
- Hot Air Balloon Ride with Hotel Transfer: $214
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sintra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sintra:
- Estoril, Cascais or Sintra Private Transfer to Lisbon: $27
- Lisbon Airport Transfer to Cascais / Sintra / Estoril: $51
- Transfer from Lisbon Airport to Sintra: $53
- Lisbon Airport: Cascais/Estoril/Sintra Private Transfer: $57
- Transfer Sintra to Lisbon Airport: $71
- Tuk Tuk Transfer With Sintra Pena Ticket From Meeting Point: $73
- Private Transfer Lisbon & Cascais by Van or Car: $73
- TRANSFER Cascais to Lisbon Airport: $82
- Lisbon transfer, national and Iberian trips: $86
- Private Guided Transfer in Sintra and Lisbon: $87
- Tours and Transfers: $89
- Transfer Cascais to Lisbon(3pax): $98
Is it cheaper to fly into Vilnius or Sintra?
Prices for flights to both Sintra and Vilnius 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 dayVilnius €40Sintra €42
Typical Food Prices in Vilnius
Some typical examples of dining costs in Vilnius are as follows:
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Dinner for Two€13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vilnius
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Vilnius.
- Private National Dinner with Folk Show: $60
- Dinner in local family: $74
- Flavors of Vilnius - Private Walking Food Tour: $191
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.Vilnius €9.72Sintra €23
Typical Entertainment Prices in Vilnius
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Vilnius are as follows:
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Walking Tour€5.79
Tours and Activities in Vilnius
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Vilnius are as follows:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Secrets of Old Vilnius Smartphone App GPS Audio Walking Tour: $6.00
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.42
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $6.42
- Vilnius Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.56
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Skip the Line: Europos Parkas, Open-Air Museum Ticket Vilnius, Lithuania: $12
- Vibrant Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $14
- Regular walking tour of Soviet Vilnius: $18
- Regular walking tour of Jewish Vilnius: $18
- Regular walking tour of Jewish Vilnius: $19
- Regular walking tour of Soviet Vilnius: $19
Tours and Activities in Sintra
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Sintra are as follows:
- Discover Enchanted A Fairy-Tale Free Tour: $1.28
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $3.74
- Sintra Myths and Legends Interpretative Center Entry Ticket: $4.28
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.42
- Pena Palace In-app Audio Tour (WITHOUT A TICKET): $7.44
- Sintra Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.65
- Monserrate Palace and Park Skip-the-Line Ticket: $13
- Sintra Sightseeing Train Tour: $13
- National Palace of Sintra and Gardens Fast Track Ticket: $14
- National Sintra Palace Ticket & Optional Audio Guide: $16
- Hop-on Hop-off Tour in Sintra: $16
- Castle of the Moors E-Ticket & Optional Audio Guide: $18
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVilnius €6.38Sintra €17
Typical Alcohol Prices in Vilnius
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Vilnius from other travelers:
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Beer€4.34
Sample the Local Flavors in Vilnius
Also in Vilnius, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Beer degustation at Bear & Boar Brewery Taproom: $43
- Vilnius Private Pub & Bar Crawl Tour & Hidden Gems: $46
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 Vilnius and Sintra, we can see that Sintra is more expensive. And not only is Vilnius much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Vilnius would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vilnius 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 Vilnius.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Vilnius Expensive? and Is Sintra Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Vilnius or Sintra?
Vilnius has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Sintra. When comparing the sizes of Vilnius 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 Vilnius or Sintra?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Vilnius or Sintra in the Summer?
Both Sintra and Vilnius are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Vilnius this time of year.
In July, Vilnius is generally cooler than Sintra. Daily temperatures in Vilnius average around 18°C (65°F), and Sintra fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
It's quite sunny in Sintra. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vilnius. Vilnius usually receives less sunshine than Sintra during summer. Vilnius gets 219 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra receives 352 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Vilnius usually receives more rain than Sintra. Vilnius gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Sintra receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyVilnius 18°C (65°F)Sintra 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Vilnius or Sintra in the Autumn?
Both Sintra and Vilnius during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Vilnius for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.
Vilnius is much colder than Sintra in the autumn. The daily temperature in Vilnius averages around 8°C (46°F) in October, and Sintra fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
In Sintra, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Vilnius often gets less sunshine than Sintra. Vilnius gets 94 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra receives 213 hours of full sun.
Vilnius usually gets less rain in October than Sintra. Vilnius gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Sintra receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberVilnius 8°C (46°F)Sintra 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Vilnius or Sintra in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Vilnius and Sintra. Many visitors come to Vilnius in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Vilnius can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Vilnius is much colder than Sintra. Typically, the winter temperatures in Vilnius in January average around -5°C (23°F), and Sintra averages at about 12°C (53°F).
Vilnius usually receives less sunshine than Sintra during winter. Vilnius gets 36 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra receives 144 hours of full sun in the winter.
Sintra receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Vilnius usually receives less rain than Sintra. Vilnius gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Sintra receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryVilnius -5°C (23°F)Sintra 12°C (53°F)
Should I visit Vilnius or Sintra in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Vilnius as well as Sintra. Most visitors come to Vilnius for the natural beauty during these months.
In April, Vilnius is generally much colder than Sintra. Daily temperatures in Vilnius average around 7°C (45°F), and Sintra fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sintra. In the spring, Vilnius often gets less sunshine than Sintra. Vilnius gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra receives 235 hours of full sun.
Vilnius usually gets less rain in April than Sintra. Vilnius gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Sintra receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilVilnius 7°C (45°F)Sintra 16°C (60°F)
Typical Weather for Sintra and Vilnius
| Vilnius | Sintra | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -5°C (23°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Feb | -4°C (26°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Mar | 1°C (33°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Apr | 7°C (45°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| May | 14°C (57°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (63°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Jul | 18°C (65°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Aug | 18°C (64°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Sep | 13°C (56°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Oct | 8°C (46°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 2°C (36°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Dec | -2°C (29°F) | 55 mm (2.2 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.