Which place is cheaper, Santa Cruz de Tenerife 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 Santa Cruz de Tenerife?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sintra or Santa Cruz de Tenerife? 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 Santa Cruz de Tenerife?
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.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Not everyone traveling to Spain is looking to collapse on a beach somewhere. If you're in search of a bustling, vibrant and colorful Spanish capital city without the crowds of Barcelona, you might want to book a few days in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Located on the eastern tip of the island of Tenerife on the Canary Island chain, Santa Cruz's bright buildings, charming shops and rich, green scenery are there to greet visitors from all over the world - including you.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Portugal, The Best Tours for Seniors to Portugal, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Madrid, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Barcelona.
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Sintra Prices
Portugal PricesSanta Cruz de Tenerife Prices
Spain Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySintra €146Santa Cruz de Tenerife €155
The average daily cost (per person) in Sintra is €146, while the average daily cost in Santa Cruz de Tenerife is €155. 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 Santa Cruz de Tenerife in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSintra €57Santa Cruz de Tenerife €48
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSintra €114Santa Cruz de Tenerife €96
Compare Hotels in Sintra and Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Looking for a hotel in Sintra or Santa Cruz de Tenerife? 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 Santa Cruz de Tenerife Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sintra €21Santa Cruz de Tenerife €64
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sintra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sintra:
- Ericeira Private Transfer to/from Lisbon: $66
- Estoril, Cascais or Sintra Private Transfer to Lisbon: $30
- Lisbon: Private Transfer to Sintra: $47
- Private San Francisco Transfer: $232
- Private Transfer From Lisbon Airport to/from Cascais: $84
- Private Transfer To & From Lisbon: $35
- TRANSFER Cascais to Lisbon Airport: $89
- Tours and Transfers: $98
- Transfer Cascais to Lisbon(3pax): $107
- Transfer Cascais to Lisbon(8pax): $119
- Transfer From Lisboa To Faro Algarve: $299
- Transfer From Lisboa To Portimão Algarve: $299
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santa Cruz de Tenerife:
- Mount Teide Tour with Transfer and Optional Cable Car Ticket: $59
- Whale and Dolphin Watching Catamaran with Transfer and Buffet : $71
- Santa Cruz Tenerife Cruise Port: Transfer to Tenerife hotels: $413
Is it cheaper to fly into Sintra or Santa Cruz de Tenerife?
Prices for flights to both Santa Cruz de Tenerife 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 €73Santa Cruz de Tenerife €68
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sintra €23Santa Cruz de Tenerife €25
Tours and Activities in Sintra
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Sintra are as follows:
- Sintra Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $4.49
- Spy Nest in Estoril: Self-Guided Cold War Puzzle Adventure: $7.15
- Pena Palace and Park Entrance Ticket: $12
- Frigate D. Fernando II e Glória Warship Entry Ticket: $12
- Almada’s Tale: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
- Convent of the Capuchos Fast Track Entry Ticket: $13
- Monserrate Palace & Park Ticket: $14
- Castle of the Moors Skip-the-Line Ticket: $14
- National Palace and Gardens Skip-the-Line Ticket: $15
- National Sintra Palace E-Ticket and Audio Guide: $17
- Palace of Monserrate Skip-the-Ticket-Line Entry Ticket: $18
- Pena Palace Entry Visit Ticket Experience: $20
Tours and Activities in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Here are a few actual costs in Santa Cruz de Tenerife for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Tenerife: Santa Cruz Guided Bike Tour 1.5 hour: $18
- Tenerife: Guided Historical Bike Tour with E-Bike Option: $29
- Tapas Bike Tour: $35
- From Costa Adeje or Santa Cruz: Contrasts of Tenerife Tour: $65
- Private Tour Tenerife: Anaga, Taganana, Benijo & La laguna: $88
- Tenerife Buggy Tour The Golden Mile: $116
- Tenerife: Island Tour with Teide Volcano and Lunch: $119
- Private Paragliding Flight Experience in Tenerife: $120
- Taucho Flight Experience: $129
- Tenerife: Introductory Dive for Cruise Ship Passengers: $140
- Private VIP Tour Tenerife Magic Circle: $277
- Tenerife: Anaga and La Laguna VIP Tour: $323
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySintra €17Santa Cruz de Tenerife €7.50
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
When comparing the travel costs between Sintra and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, we can see that Santa Cruz de Tenerife 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 Sintra Expensive? and Is Santa Cruz de Tenerife Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sintra or Santa Cruz de Tenerife?
Santa Cruz de Tenerife has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Sintra. When comparing the sizes of Sintra and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 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.
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.