A Travel Price Comparison for Portugal Albufeira vs. Madeira Islands for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Albufeira or Madeira Islands?

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

Should I visit Albufeira or Madeira Islands? 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: Albufeira or Madeira Islands?

Albufeira

Located in the Algarve region in the south of Portugal, Albufeira was once a small fishing village which has since evolved into a popular destination for tourists attracted by the area's beaches, pleasant climate, and fresh seafood.

Madeira Islands

Madeira, Portugal is an archipelago consisting of four islands, each covered with lush vegetation and mountainous landscapes. Madeira is famous for its fresh fish and namesake Madeira wine, which can be found throughout the main island. This area is the perfect blend of relaxing beaches and thrill-inducing activities such as paragliding and mountain biking. Portuguese is the main language here, although English is spoken widely by those in the tourism industry.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Portugal, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Portugal, The Best 2-Week Tours in Portugal, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Portugal.


Which place is cheaper, Madeira Islands or Albufeira?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Albufeira is €148, while the average daily cost in Madeira Islands is €95. 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 Albufeira and Madeira Islands in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Albufeira 74
    Madeira Islands 52
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Albufeira 148
    Madeira Islands 104
Compare Hotels in Albufeira and Madeira Islands

Looking for a hotel in Albufeira or Madeira Islands? 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.

Hotels in Albufeira


Hotels in Madeira Islands


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: Albufeira Hotel Prices and Madeira Islands Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Albufeira 34
    Madeira Islands 9.87

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Albufeira

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Albufeira:

  • Transfer Vilamoura - Balaia Golf (Albufeira): $30
  • Transfer Vilamoura - Alto Golf Pestana (Alvor): $71
  • Transfer Vila Real de Santo Antonio - Alto Golf Pestana (Alvor): $166
  • Transfer Vila Nova de Cacela - Balaia Golf (Albufeira): $141
  • Transfer Silves - Benamor Golf (Conceição): $100
  • Transfer Silves - Alto Golf Pestana (Alvor): $55
  • Transfer Quarteira - Alamos Golf (Portimão) : $72
  • Transfer Galé - Benamor Golf (Conceição): $89
  • Transfer Alcantarilha - Boavista Golf (Lagos): $43
  • Transfer Albufeira - Benamor Golf (Conceição): $89
  • Transfer Albufeira - Alamos Golf (Portimão): $60
  • Stork Transfers - Private Transfer From Albufeira to Faro Airport (up to 4 pax): $45

Is it cheaper to fly into Albufeira or Madeira Islands?

Prices for flights to both Madeira Islands and Albufeira 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 day
    Albufeira 48
    Madeira Islands 33

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Albufeira

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Albufeira.

  • A Portuguese Dinner and Cocktail Experience: $50
  • Algarve Bike and Food Tour with Sea Food and Wine Tasting: $62
  • Sunset Safari with Traditional Dinner : $66
  • 6-Hour Sunset Dinner Catamaran Cruise from Albufeira: $75
  • Sunset Tour - Champagne and Traditional Dinner: $76

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Albufeira 39
    Madeira Islands 15

Tours and Activities in Albufeira

Here are a few actual costs in Albufeira for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Full Day Private Tour in Silves and Coast Gems: $193
  • Safari Experience with Traditional Tapas: $77
  • 2 Hour Guided Catamaran Sailing Tour: $33
  • 3 Hour Benagil Sunset and Coastline Boat Tour in Albufeira: $36
  • 4 Hour Cruise along the Algarve Coastline: $94
  • 70 Minutes Guided Old Ruins Walking Tour in Albufeira: $22
  • 70 Minutes Guided Secrets of Albufeira Walking Tour: $22
  • Adventure between friends - Private safari, from 1 to 6 PAX: $164
  • Albufeira (FULL DAY) Jeep Safari Tour : $75
  • Albufeira 1.5-Hour Off-road Quad Tour: $44
  • Albufeira 2 hour Off-Road Tour Buggy Adventure Tour: $50
  • Albufeira 2 hour Off-Road Tour Quad Adventure Tour: $36

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Albufeira 26
    Madeira Islands 16

Sample the Local Flavors in Albufeira

Also in Albufeira, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Sunset Wine Tasting With BBQ in Porches: $50
  • Exclusive Wine Tasting Experience in Porches (Algarve): $50
  • Winery Tour with Wine Tasting and Tapas: $64
  • Small-Group Wine Tour & Silves Exploration (from Albufeira): $68
  • Wine Tour and Tasting - Semi-Private from Albufeira: $72
  • Albufeira Coast Tour w/ Wine tasting & Chicken lunch: $75
  • Lagos and Ponta Da Piedade Private Tour & Algarvian Wine Tasting: $108
  • From Private Lagos Tour Whith Wine Tasting: $413


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Albufeira and Madeira Islands, we can see that Albufeira is more expensive. And not only is Madeira Islands much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Madeira Islands would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Madeira Islands 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 Albufeira would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Albufeira than you might in Madeira Islands.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Albufeira Expensive? and Is Madeira Islands Expensive?.


Which has a larger population, Albufeira or Madeira Islands?

Madeira Islands has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Albufeira. When comparing the sizes of Albufeira and Madeira Islands, 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.