Which place is cheaper, Pompeii or Sintra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Sintra or Pompeii?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sintra or Pompeii? 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: Sintra or Pompeii?
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.
Pompeii
Pompeii was once a 160-acre Roman port city, called home by more than 20,000 residents. In 79 A.D., Mount Vesuvius erupted and after burying the entire city 16 feet deep in ash, the debris destroyed everything in its path, killing thousands of people and affecting more than 200 square miles around the area.
However, the phenomenon is that the ash preserved everything as it was in that time and to this day, you can visit and observe life as it was nearly two thousand years ago, as figures of people running from the explosion have been burned permanently into history.
The best time to visit Pompeii is during spring, after the rains of March and before the scorching heat of June and July. On the downside, this is the beginning of the busy season for tourists, so while you'll enjoy pleasant weather, you won't be likely to avoid crowds. Conversely, November starts the low-season for travel, so you can easily skip the crowds, though you may have to compromise on weather, as the rains return this time of year. Rain and crowds won't be an issue if you visit during winter, but be warned, temperatures drop down to the 50's during the day, accompanied by winds.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Portugal, The Best Tours for Seniors to Portugal, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Italy, and The Best Walking Tours in Italy.
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Sintra Prices
Portugal PricesPompeii Prices
Italy Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySintra €146Pompeii €176
The average daily cost (per person) in Sintra is €146, while the average daily cost in Pompeii is €176. 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 Sintra and Pompeii in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSintra €57Pompeii €70
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSintra €114Pompeii €140
Compare Hotels in Sintra and Pompeii
Looking for a hotel in Sintra or Pompeii? 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: Sintra Hotel Prices and Pompeii Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sintra €21Pompeii €54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sintra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sintra:
- Transfer From Lisbon To Albufeira Algarve: $269
- Transfer From Lisboa to Nazaré: $132
- Transfer From Lisboa To Portimão Algarve: $299
- Transfer From Lisboa To Faro Algarve: $299
- Transfer Cascais to Lisbon(8pax): $119
- Transfer Cascais to Lisbon(3pax): $107
- Tours and Transfers: $98
- TRANSFER Cascais to Lisbon Airport: $89
- Private Transfer To & From Lisbon: $35
- Private Transfer From Lisbon Airport to/from Cascais: $84
- Private San Francisco Transfer: $232
- Lisbon: Private Transfer to Sintra: $47
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pompeii
Also for Pompeii, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Naples to Pompei or Vice Versa: $60
- From Ravello: deluxe transfer to Naples By English speaking driver.: $78
- Transfers from Naples to Sorrento Positano Amalfi Ravello Maiori: $95
- private transfer from Naples to Sorrento: $113
- Private transfer from Naples to Positano and vice versa: $119
- Transfer from Pompeii to Naples or viceversa: $119
- Transfer from Naples to Amalfi or Ravello: $119
- Transfer Ravello to Naples: $133
- Private transfer from Ravello to Naples: $133
- Private Transfer from Naples to Amalfi with Pick Up: $159
- Private Transfer from Naples to Positano: $159
- Tour of Pompeii for families with Transfer from Naples & Sorrento: $214
Is it cheaper to fly into Sintra or Pompeii?
Prices for flights to both Pompeii and Sintra 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 daySintra €73Pompeii €61
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sintra
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sintra.
- Lisbon Countryside Food Tour on Vintage Car: $103
- Boho Chic Picnic Dinner with Water Views: $109
- DINNER OR TAPAS in a Poruguese Home : $113
- Authentic Portuguese Cooking Experience: $120
- Pastel de Nata or Portuguese Cooking Class in Sintra with Locals: $140
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pompeii
For Pompeii, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Traditional Neapolitan Dinner in Pompei - Villa Franca - Family Restourant: $50
- Dinner at a Winery on the Slopes of Mount Vesuvius: $60
- Italian cooking class and lunch near the Pompeii excavations: $124
- guided tour of the ruins and cooking class fresh pasta : $179
- Pompei tour with a 2000 years roman dinner: $197
- Private market tour and cooking class with lunch or dinner in Pompei: $225
- Private Hands-on Italian Cooking Class in Pompeii with Sabrina: $250
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sintra €23Pompeii €77
Tours and Activities in Sintra
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Sintra are as follows:
- E-Bike Self Guided Tour Sintra & Cabo da Roca : $57
- 19th Century Photography Experience: $48
- 2 Hours Guided Tuk Tuk Tour in Sintra: $78
- 4 hour tour | Sintra, Quinta da Regaleira, Cabo da Roca: $66
- 4x4 Tours in Portuguese Classic Jeeps (UMM) around Sintra: $167
- Almada’s Tale: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
- Boat tour: charming Cascais Coast to Lisbon lighthouse: $57
- Cascais Coastal EBike Tour: $66
- Cascais Coastal Secrets 90 Minute Cruise with Free Wine and Beer: $57
- Cascais Electric Bike Tour Self-Guided Half-Day Experience: $72
- Cascais to Lisbon Sunset Cruise with Open Bar: $57
- Cascais: Glamour and Decay by The Lisbon Coastline - Private Tour: $36
Tours and Activities in Pompeii
For Pompeii, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Pompeii’s Secret Tales Self-Guided Walking Tour: $8.15
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Pompei: $9.53
- Pompeii Virtual Museum Entrance Ticket: $14
- The Rise, Fall, and Rediscovery of A Self-Guided Tour: $20
- Pompeii Walking Tour: $30
- Tour with Archaeologist Guide & Skip-the-Line Entry: $30
- The Archaeological Site of Pompei the Official Entry Ticket: $30
- PompeiI Exclusive Tour with your Archaeologist in a Small Group : $30
- Skip-the-Line Pompeii Admission Ticket: Walk Through History: $32
- Pompeii - Small Group tour w/an Archaeologist/Skip the line: $32
- Pompeii Ticket with Optional Guided Tour: $33
- Guided tour of Pompeii with a local guide: $36
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySintra €17Pompeii €7.31
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: $84
- Wine Tasting Tour: $89
- Half Day in Sintra and Cabo da Roca with Wine Tasting: $90
- From Sintra, Mafra, or Ericeira: Hike and Wine Tour: $100
- Lisbon Region Wine Tour: Mafra & Ericeira + Hotel Pick-Up: $197
- PRIVATE TOUR WINE TASTING QUINTA BACALHÔA & JOSÉ MARIA FONSECA (Setubal Region): $233
- Hidden Gems: Sintra & Cascais Private Tour with Wine Tasting: $316
Sample the Local Flavors in Pompeii
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Pompeii:
- Wine Tasting Tour on the Slopes of Vesuvius: $57
- Wine Tasting and Winery Tour in Vesuvio National Park with Lunch: $82
- Superior Wine Tasting with Lunch on the slopes of Mt. Vesuvius: $84
- Wine Tasting & Lunch by the Roman Necropolis of Pompeii: $89
- Seafood Lunch & Wine Tasting with Scenic Golf Cart Tour: $95
- From Vineyard to Table: Wine Tasting & Neapolitan Lunch in Pompei: $101
- Pompeii Tour & Lunch with Wine Tasting Experience: $107
- Explore Private Tour, Wine Tasting & Lunch: $215
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sintra and Pompeii, we can see that Pompeii 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 Pompeii would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pompeii 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 Sintra Expensive? and Is Pompeii Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Sintra or Pompeii?
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 Sintra or Pompeii in the Summer?
Both Pompeii and Sintra during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many travelers come to Pompeii for the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Sintra is generally around the same temperature as Pompeii. Daily temperatures in Sintra average around 23°C (73°F), and Pompeii fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).
In Pompeii, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Sintra. In the summer, Sintra often gets more sunshine than Pompeii. Sintra gets 352 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pompeii receives 313 hours of full sun.
Sintra usually gets less rain in July than Pompeii. Sintra gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySintra 23°C (73°F)Pompeii 23°C (74°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Pompeii in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Sintra and Pompeii.
Sintra is a little warmer than Pompeii in the autumn. The daily temperature in Sintra averages around 19°C (66°F) in October, and Pompeii fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
In Sintra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Sintra usually receives more sunshine than Pompeii during autumn. Sintra gets 213 hours of sunny skies, while Pompeii receives 189 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Pompeii receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Sintra usually receives less rain than Pompeii. Sintra gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 132 mm (5.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSintra 19°C (66°F)Pompeii 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Pompeii in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Sintra as well as Pompeii. Additionally, most visitors come to Pompeii for the museums during these months.
In the winter, Sintra is a little warmer than Pompeii. Typically, the winter temperatures in Sintra in January average around 12°C (53°F), and Pompeii averages at about 8°C (47°F).
In the winter, Sintra often gets more sunshine than Pompeii. Sintra gets 144 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pompeii receives 115 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Pompeii. Sintra receives a lot of rain in the winter. Sintra usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Pompeii. Sintra gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySintra 12°C (53°F)Pompeii 8°C (47°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Pompeii in the Spring?
Both Pompeii and Sintra are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In April, Sintra is generally a little warmer than Pompeii. Daily temperatures in Sintra average around 16°C (60°F), and Pompeii fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sintra. Sintra usually receives more sunshine than Pompeii during spring. Sintra gets 235 hours of sunny skies, while Pompeii receives 189 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Sintra usually receives less rain than Pompeii. Sintra gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSintra 16°C (60°F)Pompeii 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Pompeii and Sintra
| Sintra | Pompeii | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 12°C (53°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Mar | 14°C (58°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 52 mm (2.1 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (74°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Nov | 15°C (59°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 161 mm (6.3 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 118 mm (4.6 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.