Which place is cheaper, Sintra-Cascais National Park or San Sebastian?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit San Sebastian or Sintra-Cascais National Park?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Sebastian or Sintra-Cascais National Park, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: San Sebastian or Sintra-Cascais National Park?
San Sebastian
San Sebastián is a city in northern Spain very well known for its summertime fun in the sun. While the streets are cool and happening at night, they take on a different charm by day. Beautiful beaches line the city's edge, right next to elegant historic architecture and churches, topping charts as some of the best city beaches in Europe. The food, too, is said to be some of the best with traditional Basque cuisine as well as the popular pintxo (tapas) bites. San Sebastián is a place of lively culture, teeming with beauty, flavors, and colors.
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 Bicycle Tours in Spain, The Best Adventure Tours to Spain, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Portugal, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Portugal.
-
San Sebastian Prices
Spain PricesSintra-Cascais National Park Prices
Portugal Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Sebastian €113Sintra-Cascais National Park €172
The average daily cost (per person) in San Sebastian is €113, while the average daily cost in Sintra-Cascais National Park is €172. 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 San Sebastian and Sintra-Cascais National Park in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Sebastian €40Sintra-Cascais National Park €63
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Sebastian €80Sintra-Cascais National Park €126
Compare Hotels in San Sebastian and Sintra-Cascais National Park
Looking for a hotel in San Sebastian or Sintra-Cascais National Park? 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: San Sebastian Hotel Prices and Sintra-Cascais National Park Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Sebastian €13Sintra-Cascais National Park €61
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Sebastian
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Sebastian:
- Transfer S. Sebastian to Bilbao or S. Sebastian Airports by Sedan: $65
- Private Transfer in San Sebastian: $87
- Transfer San Sebastian to Bilbao or San Sebastian Airports by Van: $116
- Private Transfer from San Sebastian city to Biarritz Airport : $192
- Private Transfer from San Sebastian Airport to Pamplona city: $280
- Private Transfer from San Sebastian city to Pamplona Airport : $280
Is it cheaper to fly into San Sebastian or Sintra-Cascais National Park?
Prices for flights to both Sintra-Cascais National Park and San Sebastian 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 daySan Sebastian €55Sintra-Cascais National Park €72
Typical Food Prices in San Sebastian
Some typical examples of dining costs in San Sebastian are as follows:
-
Dinner for 2€55
-
Lunch for 2€10
-
Lunch for 2€31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Sebastian
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Sebastian.
- San Sebastian Food Tour: Pintxos, Drinks, and Tapas with a Local: $118
- San Sebastian Food Tour: Pintxo Tasting Paired with Spanish Wines: $131
- Best Street Food Tour of San Sebastian with a Local Guide: $133
- Basque cuisine cooking class: $155
- Basque Cooking Experience: Market Tour & Hands-On Class English: $155
- Authentic Basque Cooking Class in San Sebastian Old Town: $165
- Private San Sebastian Walking Food Tour: $173
- Dinner in a Gastronomic Club in San Sebastian: $190
- Eat Like a True Basque San Sebastian Authentic Culinary Food Tour: $196
- Local Cooking Class in San Sebastian: $232
- San Sebastián Food & History Tour: Dinner with a Local Twist: $256
- Small Group Food Tour: Biarritz, St.Jean de Luz and Hondarribia: $288
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Sebastian €32Sintra-Cascais National Park €27
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Sebastian
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in San Sebastian are as follows:
-
Valle de los Caídos Monument€6.00
Tours and Activities in San Sebastian
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for San Sebastian are as follows:
- San Sebastián Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $5.13
- Old Town Exploration Game and Tour: $7.44
- San Sebastian Interactive City Tour: $8.33
- San Sebastian Donostria: Self Guided Scavenger Hunt and Tour: $14
- Sampling San Sebastián's History: A Self Guided Audio Tour : $15
- San Sebastian Walking Tour with Pintxo and Drink: $18
- San Sebastian Hop On Hop Off Sightseeing Tour: $19
- Guided tour of San Sebastián: $20
- Tour por el estadio Real Sociedad: $21
- Hondarribia on Bicycle Tour of Nature and Basque Culture: $36
- zumaia sup tours: $39
- San Sebastian Bike Tour: $51
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Sebastian €20Sintra-Cascais National Park €13
Sample the Local Flavors in San Sebastian
Also in San Sebastian, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- San Sebastian Centro Neighborhood Pintxos & Wine Tour: $130
- San Sebastian Old Town Pintxos & Wine Tour Small Group Tour: $132
- Small Group Basque Food, Pintxos and Wine Tour in San Sebastian : $177
- Private Half Day Txakoli Wine Tour & Getaria Fishing Village: $208
- Open Food & Wine tours in San Sebastian: $214
- Marques de Riscal and Ysios Architecture Wine Tour w/Lunch, SS: $284
- Rioja Wine Tour: 2 Wineries Visit with Tasting from San Sebastian: $286
- Rioja Wine Tour: Winery, Tasting & Lunch from San Sebastian: $298
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Sebastian and Sintra-Cascais National Park, we can see that Sintra-Cascais National Park is more expensive. And not only is San Sebastian much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Sebastian would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Sebastian 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 San Sebastian.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Sebastian Expensive? and Is Sintra-Cascais National Park Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit San Sebastian or Sintra-Cascais National Park?
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 San Sebastian or Sintra-Cascais National Park in the Summer?
Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and San Sebastian are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to San Sebastian for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In July, San Sebastian is generally cooler than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Daily temperatures in San Sebastian average around 20°C (68°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
It's quite sunny in Sintra-Cascais National Park. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Sebastian. San Sebastian usually receives less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park during summer. San Sebastian gets 209 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 352 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, San Sebastian usually receives more rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. San Sebastian gets 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Sebastian 20°C (68°F)Sintra-Cascais National Park 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit San Sebastian or Sintra-Cascais National Park in the Autumn?
Both Sintra-Cascais National Park and San Sebastian during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to San Sebastian because of the shopping scene.
San Sebastian is cooler than Sintra-Cascais National Park in the autumn. The daily temperature in San Sebastian averages around 16°C (60°F) in October, and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
In Sintra-Cascais National Park, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, San Sebastian often gets less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park. San Sebastian gets 144 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 213 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in San Sebastian. San Sebastian usually gets more rain in October than Sintra-Cascais National Park. San Sebastian gets 155 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Sebastian 16°C (60°F)Sintra-Cascais National Park 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit San Sebastian or Sintra-Cascais National Park in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both San Sebastian and Sintra-Cascais National Park. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to San Sebastian this time of year.
In the winter, San Sebastian is cooler than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Typically, the winter temperatures in San Sebastian in January average around 8°C (47°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park averages at about 12°C (53°F).
San Sebastian usually receives less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park during winter. San Sebastian gets 85 hours of sunny skies, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 144 hours of full sun in the winter.
Sintra-Cascais National Park receives a lot of rain in the winter. San Sebastian gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, San Sebastian usually receives more rain than Sintra-Cascais National Park. San Sebastian gets 183 mm (7.2 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Sebastian 8°C (47°F)Sintra-Cascais National Park 12°C (53°F)
Should I visit San Sebastian or Sintra-Cascais National Park in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to San Sebastian as well as Sintra-Cascais National Park. Many travelers come to San Sebastian for the beaches.
In April, San Sebastian is generally cooler than Sintra-Cascais National Park. Daily temperatures in San Sebastian average around 12°C (54°F), and Sintra-Cascais National Park fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sintra-Cascais National Park. In the spring, San Sebastian often gets less sunshine than Sintra-Cascais National Park. San Sebastian gets 141 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 235 hours of full sun.
San Sebastian receives a lot of rain in the spring. San Sebastian usually gets more rain in April than Sintra-Cascais National Park. San Sebastian gets 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain, while Sintra-Cascais National Park receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Sebastian 12°C (54°F)Sintra-Cascais National Park 16°C (60°F)
Typical Weather for Sintra-Cascais National Park and San Sebastian
| San Sebastian | Sintra-Cascais National Park | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 8°C (47°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Feb | 9°C (49°F) | 147 mm (5.8 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Mar | 10°C (51°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (54°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 139 mm (5.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jun | 18°C (64°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Jul | 20°C (68°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Aug | 20°C (68°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (65°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (60°F) | 155 mm (6.1 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 11°C (52°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Dec | 9°C (49°F) | 184 mm (7.2 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.