A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Braga vs. Puerto del Carmen for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Braga or Puerto del Carmen?

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

Should I visit Braga or Puerto del Carmen? 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: Braga or Puerto del Carmen?

Braga

Located in the Cavado Valley of Northern Portugal, Braga is a medium sized city with both historical and modern characteristics. There is a university in town, known as Universidade do Minho, which gives the city a young feel with a lot of life. There are also many bars, clubs, and activities around to keep you entertained.

Puerto del Carmen

Located on the south-eastern coast of the Canary Island of Lanzarote, Puerto del Carmen is a popular resort area best known for its high concentration of bars, pubs, restaurants, and clubs. By day, visitors frequent the beaches for swimming, sunbathing, windsurfing, and other watersports - and by night, they flock to enjoy the live music and drinks of the area's thriving nightlife.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Porto, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Portugal, The Best 3-Day Tours from Madrid, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Madrid.


Which place is cheaper, Puerto del Carmen or Braga?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Braga is €112, while the average daily cost in Puerto del Carmen is €173. 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 Braga and Puerto del Carmen in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Braga 54
    Puerto del Carmen 98
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Braga 108
    Puerto del Carmen 196
Compare Hotels in Braga and Puerto del Carmen

Looking for a hotel in Braga or Puerto del Carmen? 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 Braga


Hotels in Puerto del Carmen


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: Braga Hotel Prices and Puerto del Carmen Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Braga 20
    Puerto del Carmen 39

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Braga

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Braga:

  • Traditional Vinho Verde Tour in Bowl with Private Transfer (Porto and Braga): $131
  • Braga Private Transfer:To/From the Oporto Airport: $102

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto del Carmen

Also for Puerto del Carmen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Lanzarote : Parasailing activity with hotel transfer: $102

Is it cheaper to fly into Braga or Puerto del Carmen?

Prices for flights to both Puerto del Carmen and Braga 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
    Braga 40
    Puerto del Carmen 51

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Braga

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

  • Small-Group Braga Food Tour With A Local Guide: $84

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Braga 16
    Puerto del Carmen 17

Tours and Activities in Braga

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Braga are as follows:

  • KAYAK TOUR I Going down the Lima River in Kayak | AV: $66
  • 1h Buggy Tour | Arches of Valdevez | Peneda Gerês: $76
  • 2h Buggy Tour | Arcos de Valdevez | Peneda Gerês: $131
  • 4X4 Tour – Minho Litoral - Beaches and Mountains between Viana do Castelo and Caminha: $82
  • 4X4 Tour - Discovering Serra d´ Arga: $175
  • Alto Douro Walk & WineTour: $197
  • TOUR HD BRAGA MERCEDES V EXT LONG: $225
  • TOUR HD BRAGA SEDAN: $198
  • Barcelos, Braga & Guimarães Tour: $109
  • Braga & Guimarães: Premium Day Tour: $321
  • Braga Private Walking Tour: $254
  • Braga Private Walking Tour with a Professional Guide: $216

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Braga 21
    Puerto del Carmen 60

Sample the Local Flavors in Braga

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Braga:

  • Wine Tasting & Lunch | Quinta de Santa Cristina Vinho Verde: $50
  • Green Wine Region-Small Group Tour with Lunch and Wine Tastings, from Porto city: $142
  • Douro Valley Private Tour from Lunch & Wine Tour: $288
  • Vinho Verde Private Wine Tour: $535


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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Braga Expensive? and Is Puerto del Carmen Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Braga or Puerto del Carmen?

Braga has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Puerto del Carmen. When comparing the sizes of Braga and Puerto del Carmen, 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.