Which place is cheaper, Montpellier or Albufeira?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Albufeira or Montpellier? 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.
Albufeira is a vibrant, touristy, and popular resort town. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include food, scuba diving and snorkeling, and beaches.
Montpellier is a bustling, beautiful, and friendly city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the beaches, shopping, and museums.
Tourists will generally find more to do in Albufeira. Although Albufeira and Montpellier are both popular with visitors, Albufeira has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Albufeira is more popular for its food, nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, and big city activities, while Montpellier is known for its museums, historical sights, and shopping. Albufeira is more touristy than Montpellier and is known for its golden beaches and limestone cliffs. It is also home to Praia da Falesia. Montpellier is popular for its relaxed atmosphere, grand boulevards, and authentic personality.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Montpellier and Albufeira. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Montpellier is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. However, Albufeira does not have museums and landmarks.
Montpellier offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. With such a long history, the city has many landmarks and monuments. Also make sure you visit Musée Fabre and Saint-Pierre Cathedral.
Albufeira does not have museums and landmarks.
Albufeira is a great destination for its restaurant scene. Also, Montpellier is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.
Dining out in Albufeira is an experience not to be missed. As the largest resort town in the Algarve, the city also has the widest selection of restaurants. There are traditional options that serve up classic dishes like grilled sardines, as well as international restaurants with traveler favorites. As expected, you'll find a lot of seafood, but you'll also find inland influences from local farms in the area.
There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Montpellier. The dishes are made with fresh ingredients produced in the agricultural areas just outside of town. The area is known for its seafood and fish stews.
Albufeira is an unbeatable place for its evening party scene. Also, Montpellier is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife.
The nightlife in Albufeira is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. It's probably the most infamous party destination in the Algarve and it won't disappoint. During the peak summer months you'll find the streets around the popular "Strip" filled with tourists and party-goers. There are hen and stag parties, backpackers, and drunken travelers out for a good time. The Strip has become so popular that there are now bars and clubs on the adjacent streets as well. If you're not staying in the area, you'll likely want to take a taxi, as it's a couple kilometers outside of the town center.
If you're looking for night time activities Montpellier has a few options to choose from. The weather is mild, making for a nice evening out. The population is also young, so you can expect a lot of activity during the evenings, particularly in the area around Place Jean Jaurés. Make sure you enjoy local wine and champagne while you're in town.
Albufeira is an unbeatable place for its resorts. However, Montpellier is not a resort destination.
Vacationers flock to Albufeira for its luxury resorts. As the largest resort town in the Algarve, you'll find a wide selection of hotels to choose from. Party-goers will want to stay near the Strip while families will prefer the old town or resorts in Olhos de Agua.
Montpellier is not a resort destination.
Albufeira is a great destination for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Montpellier is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.
There are many scuba diving and snorkeling spots near Albufeira. There are countless vendors who will take you by boat to explore the underwater world, either by snorkeling or scuba diving. The marine life is impressive and the water is generally clear.
Montpellier is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.
Albufeira is an unbeatable place for the beach. Also, Montpellier is still popular, but not quite as popular for its beaches.
Albufeira offers stunning beaches that attract visitors from around the world. With their golden sands and blue waters, the beaches are world class. The area also has a diversity of beaches that are perfect for all types of vacationers. For water sports, head to Praia dos Alemaes but for relaxation and catching some rays check out Praia da Falesia. You'll find some interesting rock formations at Praia dos Olhos de Agua. One of the most convenient beaches to town is Praia dos Pescadores. For nightlife you'll want to head to Praia da Oura.
Montpellier is considered a top beach destination. The coastline near Montpellier feels pristine and beautiful. You can also visit Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone to the southwest of town, which is a protected area.
Montpellier is a world-class destination for its old town. However, Albufeira does not have a historic old town.
The historic old town of Montpellier is revered around the world. Known as L'Écusson the town's old town dates back to the Middle Ages. It is a pedestrian area that is filled with boutiques, restaurants, and churches.
Albufeira does not have a historic old town.
Albufeira is a good destination for its hiking experiences. However, Montpellier is not a hiking destination.
Albufeira offers some nice hiking trails. There are countless coastal walks that are perfect for all skill levels. Many offers stunning views along the rocky coast and pass through natural settings. Popular trails in the area include Praia Grande Interpretation Trail and Paderne Castle Trail.
Montpellier is not a hiking destination.
Montpellier is a great destination for its shopping opportunities. However, Albufeira is a resort town with minimal options for its shopping areas.
Montpellier is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. Head to Rue de la Loge for some of the city's best shopping.
Albufeira has some good spots for those that want to go shopping. You'll find most of the shops are geared toward souvenirs or beach items, particularly near the beach and marina. If you look hard you might find some nice ceramics or items made of cork.
Kids will enjoy a visit to either Albufeira or Montpellier.
You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Albufeira. Despite it's reputation as a party-hard city, there are actually a lot of family-friendly activities in the area. Because it's the largest resort town in the Algarve, it also has the most activities to choose from, including theme parks, water parks, dolphin watching, ropes courses, go karting, and more. The best area's for families are in the old town or the most of the family-friendly resorts outside of town. Families should avoid staying near "the Strip."
Montpellier offers lots of family activities. Popular activities for kids include taking a ride on the carousel in the Comedie, visiting the playground - Jardin Champs de Mars, and visiting the botanical garden - Jardin des Plantes.
Albufeira is an unbeatable place for couples. Also, Montpellier is still popular, but not quite as popular for romance.
Albufeira is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. For an active honeymoon or couple's retreat, this resort town has it all. Beautiful beaches, adventure-filled activities, a wild nightlife scene, and excellent resorts and restaurants all make for a memorable couple's getaway.
Montpellier is a great resort town if you're traveling as a couple. Rich in history and beautiful architecture, this city offers a romantic setting for a great couple's getaway.
Albufeira is an unbeatable place for backpackers. Also, Montpellier is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.
Albufeira is a very popular resort town to visit for backpackers. If you're looking for a party, then you found it. The area is a top pick for European holidays, so you'll find plenty of energy and activities around town. There are also golden beaches and a decent selection of hostels to choose from.
Montpellier is very popular with the backpacker crowd. With a young population and a number of hostels to choose from, Montpellier attracts its share of backpackers.
Montpellier is a world-class destination for students. However, Albufeira is not popular with students.
Many students frequent Montpellier. Montpellier is a popular university town that is home to many trendy university students. It's also where you'll find the youngest population of any city in France.
Albufeira is not popular with students.
Montpellier is a great destination for its public transit. However, Albufeira is a resort town with minimal options for times when you don't have a car.
The public transit in Montpellier can get you around easily. There are a number of options for getting around town including the tramway, bus, and tourist train.
Public transit is mostly limited in Albufeira. There are regional buses and even trains, but do take note that many of the train and bus stations are a good distance outside of town.
Montpellier is a great destination for its high level of walkability. However, Albufeira is a resort town with minimal options for its ease of walking around.
Montpellier is a very walkable city. Many of the sights and attractions are easily accessible on foot and can be enjoyed as part of a self-guided walking tour.
Albufeira is generally not a very walkable resort town. Most people prefer to hire a car, but if your hotel is near the beach and you're ok with walking to restaurants, then you may be able to get away without one. If you hope to travel into the countryside at all then a car is necessary.
For even more information, also check out Is Albufeira Worth Visiting? and Is Montpellier Worth Visiting?.
Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Albufeira and Montpellier. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Albufeira than in Montpellier. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Albufeira, and 1-3 days is enough time in Montpellier.
Families should spend more time in Albufeira than Montpellier. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Albufeira, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Albufeira than Montpellier. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Albufeira that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Albufeira than Montpellier if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Albufeira.
Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the party hard resort town of Albufeira. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.
You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Montpellier. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Montpellier has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
Visitors enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the party hard destination of Albufeira. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. This resort town offers something for everyone. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.
You'll find museums and nightlife around the beautiful destination of Montpellier. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.
Visitors enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and nightlife when visiting the high energy resort town of Albufeira. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. Many people spend five days here.If you enjoy all that's offered here, then five days is just the right amount of time to spend here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.
Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the beautiful city of Montpellier. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. It's also a great beach destination, too. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.
Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Albufeira. Anyone can find something fun to do here. This is a popular place to visit for one week. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. In one week, you should have a good grasp of this resort town.
Montpellier is a popular choice for travelers. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.
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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in France, and The Best 2-Week Tours in France.
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 Montpellier is €118. 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 Montpellier in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Albufeira or Montpellier? 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Albufeira:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montpellier:
Prices for flights to both Montpellier 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Albufeira.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Montpellier.
Here are a few actual costs in Albufeira for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Here are a few actual costs in Montpellier for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Also in Albufeira, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Montpellier:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Albufeira and Montpellier, we can see that Albufeira is more expensive. And not only is Montpellier much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Montpellier would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Montpellier 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 Montpellier.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Albufeira Expensive? and Is Montpellier Expensive?.
Montpellier has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Albufeira. When comparing the sizes of Albufeira and Montpellier, 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.
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.
Both Montpellier and Albufeira are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Albufeira for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Montpellier because of the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Albufeira is a little warmer than Montpellier. Typically, the summer temperatures in Albufeira in July average around 25°C (78°F), and Montpellier averages at about 23°C (73°F).
In July, Albufeira usually receives less rain than Montpellier. Albufeira gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Montpellier receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Both Montpellier and Albufeira during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Albufeira because of the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Montpellier this time of year.
In October, Albufeira is generally a little warmer than Montpellier. Daily temperatures in Albufeira average around 19°C (67°F), and Montpellier fluctuates around 15°C (60°F).
Montpellier gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Albufeira usually gets less rain in October than Montpellier. Albufeira gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Montpellier receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Albufeira and Montpellier. The shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to Albufeira this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Montpellier for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Albufeira is much warmer than Montpellier in the winter. The daily temperature in Albufeira averages around 11°C (52°F) in January, and Montpellier fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).
In January, Albufeira usually receives more rain than Montpellier. Albufeira gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Montpellier receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.
The spring brings many poeple to Albufeira as well as Montpellier. Many travelers come to Albufeira for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Montpellier in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Albufeira is a little warmer than Montpellier. Typically, the spring temperatures in Albufeira in April average around 15°C (60°F), and Montpellier averages at about 13°C (55°F).
Albufeira usually gets less rain in April than Montpellier. Albufeira gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Montpellier receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
Albufeira | Montpellier | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 11°C (52°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
Feb | 12°C (54°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
Mar | 14°C (56°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
Apr | 15°C (60°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
May | 19°C (65°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
Jun | 23°C (73°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
Jul | 25°C (78°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
Aug | 26°C (78°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
Oct | 19°C (67°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
Nov | 15°C (58°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
Dec | 12°C (53°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |