A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Frankfurt vs. Portofino for Couples, Attractions, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Frankfurt or Portofino?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Frankfurt and Portofino can help you decide which place is right for you.

Frankfurt

Frankfurt is a dynamic, diverse, and accessible city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping.

Portofino

Portofino is a exclusive, luxurious, and glamorous seaside village. It offers plenty of small town charm along with sights and activities, too. It's considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. As it offers a special and quaint atmosphere, visitors come from all over to experience this destination. It's also popular because of the hiking, shopping, and nightlife.

Frankfurt and Portofino: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Frankfurt or Portofino?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Frankfurt. Although Frankfurt and Portofino are both popular with visitors, Frankfurt has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Frankfurt is more popular for its museums and big city activities, while Portofino is known for its resorts, beaches, historical sights, hiking, small town charm, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere. Portofino is more touristy than Frankfurt and is popular for its picturesque harbor, high end shopping, strikingly blue waters, and popularity with superyachts. Frankfurt is popular for its financial industry, its popularity as a transportation hub, and its active nightlife. It is also home to The Old Town Center.

The Old Town Center

How is Frankfurt different from Portofino?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Portofino and Frankfurt. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Frankfurt or Portofino?

Frankfurt is notable for its sights and museums. However, Portofino is a mediocre seaside village for its museums and history.

Frankfurt offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Many sights are concentrated in the old town center. Highlights include the Historical Museum and St. Nicholas Church. Elsewhere, make sure you check out Maintower, the Städel Museum, and the Museum District.

While most people don't head to Portofino specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. The village is mostly about soaking up the atmosphere, but you can also visit sights such as Sun Church of St. George and Cervara Abbey.

Is the Food Better in Frankfurt or Portofino? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dining out at restaurants in both Frankfurt and Portofino can be an enjoyable experience.

Frankfurt has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. In addition to a number of international restaurants, the city also has a strong regional cuisine. Some of the most interesting local dishes include Frankfurter Sausage, Rindwurst, Grüne Soße (an herb sauce), and Handkäse mit Musik (marinated sour milk cheese). Also make sure you sample the Apfelwein.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Portofino makes for a great culinary experience. Located by the sea, you'll enjoy tons of great seafood here. Make sure you try the mussels, swordfish, and salt cod.

Is Frankfurt or Portofino Better for Nightlife?

Both Frankfurt and Portofino have great vibes after the sun sets.

Frankfurt has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. It's a vibrant city with many trendy clubs, cocktail bars, music venues, and more. You can enjoy techno, hip hop, and almost any style of music. There are also festivals, beer halls, and classic pubs.

The people in Portofino know how to have a good time. Most of the nightlife is found around Piazzetta (Oliveri Square) and Molo Umberto I. Happy hours (aperitivo) start around 5pm or 6pm and then as the evening continues, the party often moves to Paraggi Beach.

Is Frankfurt or Portofino Better for Resorts?

Portofino is an unbeatable place for its luxury resorts. However, Frankfurt is not a resort destination.

If you're looking for a fantastic resort destination, Portofino is a perfect choice. Known for it's exclusive luxury, there are a number of high end resorts in the area. Popular options include Splendido, Sublimis Boutique Hotel, and Grand Hotel Miramare.

Frankfurt is not a resort destination.

Is Frankfurt or Portofino Better for Beaches?

Portofino is very good for the beach. However, Frankfurt is not a beach destination.

Many people head to Portofino to enjoy the beach. Like much of the Italian coast, the beaches in the area are dramatic and beautiful. They're also rocky and pebbly and can get a bit crowded during the summer months.

Frankfurt is not a beach destination.

Is Frankfurt or Portofino Better for its Old Town?

Portofino is an excellent place to visit for its historic old town charm. Also, Frankfurt is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its historic old town.

There is a nice variety of sights in the old town of Portofino. Despite evolving into a famous resort town, Portofino still holds on to its fishing village charm.

Many visitors go to Frankfurt to see the historical old town. Many museums and cafes are concentrated in the old town area.

Is Frankfurt or Portofino Better for Hiking?

Portofino is an excellent place to visit for its hiking trails. However, Frankfurt is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Portofino. There are many beautiful hikes and treks along the coastline that pass by scenic landscapes and breathtaking views.

Frankfurt is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Frankfurt or Portofino?

Shoppers can find a variety of great stores in both Frankfurt and Portofino.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Frankfurt. It's a financial capital in Europe, and as such there are plenty of high end shopping opportunities. MyZeil is a major shopping mall in the city and Kleinmarkthalle is a more classic market. Popular shopping neighborhoods and streets include Goethestrasse, Sachsenhausen and Berger Strasse.

Portofino is an extremely popular place for shoppers. The quaint cobblestone streets are lined with high end boutiques that target the opulent jet-setter crowd that frequents Portofino. Much of the shopping is around Martiri dell'Olivetta Square.

Is Frankfurt or Portofino Better for Families?

Frankfurt is notable for its family-friendly activities. However, Portofino is a mediocre seaside village for its kid-friendly activities.

Frankfurt is a very kid-friendly city. In town there's a zoo, a children’s museum, a math and technology museum (EXPERIMINTA), and a number of parks, natural areas, and playgrounds. If you're willing to head out of town then you can visit Taunus Wunderland, which is an amusement park with about 50 rides and attractions.

Portofino is not always a place people visit with their families. The town has a picturesque setting and some beautiful pebbly beaches. It's fun for kids to run around the town, explore by kayak, or play in the waters edge.

Is Frankfurt or Portofino Better for Couples?

Portofino is an unbeatable place for couples. Also, Frankfurt is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for romance.

For those traveling as a couple, Portofino has plenty to offer. Set beautifully against the ocean's edge, this famous Italian town makes for a truly romantic holiday. Ogle the mega yachts in the harbor and then wander the charming streets while you soak in the atmosphere.

Frankfurt is a nice destination for couples. The iconic spot of romance in the city is the Iron Footbridge, which is a traditional spot to attach a "love lock" and take a selfie. The city also offers river cruises, winery tours, and beautiful parks and natural areas.

Is Frankfurt or Portofino Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Frankfurt is notable for backpackers. However, Portofino is a mediocre seaside village for backpackers and budget travelers.

Frankfurt is a great city to visit for backpackers. You'll find a number of hostels in town. The city is also a major transportation hub so many backpackers pass through the area at some point on their trip through Germany.

Portofino is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Known for it's high prices, the town isn't particularly popular with the backpacker crowd. It is possible to stay outside of town and head in for a day trip.

Is Frankfurt or Portofino Better for Students?

Frankfurt is an unbeatable place for students. However, Portofino is not popular with students.

Many students frequent Frankfurt. The city offers prestigious universities and a world class education. The economy offers many internships and job opportunities and you'll find students from around the world studying here. Frankfurt is also well connected to the rest of Europe, so it's easy to explore the region.

Portofino is not popular with students.

Is Frankfurt or Portofino Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Frankfurt is an unbeatable place for its public transit. However, Portofino is a mediocre seaside village for times when you don't have a car.

Visitors in Frankfurt can get around quickly with the extensive public transit system. It is a huge transportation hub with a major international airport and a number of international train connections. Locally, the city has a subway, trams, commuter trains and buses.

Public transit is mostly limited in Portofino. The closet train stations are Santa Margherita Ligure and Camogli. You can catch a bus from the Santa Margherita train station. There are also some ferry options.

Is Frankfurt or Portofino a more walkable city?

Portofino is an unbeatable place for its ease of walking around. Also, Frankfurt is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its walkability.

It's very easy to get around on foot in Portofino. It's easy to walk around the village and then explore the countryside on one of the nearby trails.

Frankfurt is very walkable. It has a compact city center that is generally pedestrian-friendly.

For even more information, also check out Is Frankfurt Worth Visiting? and Is Portofino Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Portofino or Frankfurt?

How long in Frankfurt or Portofino?

In either Frankfurt or Portofino, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Portofino than Frankfurt because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Frankfurt, and 2-5 days is enough time in Portofino.

Families should spend more time in Frankfurt than Portofino. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Frankfurt, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Portofino than Frankfurt. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Portofino that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Frankfurt than Portofino 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 Frankfurt.

One day in Frankfurt or Portofino?

People visit Frankfurt because there is so much to do. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Frankfurt has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Even though Portofino is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Frankfurt or Portofino?

People visit Frankfurt because there is so much to do. 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.

Portofino is a small town where visitors enjoy the shopping and nightlife. Hikers are also drawn to this area. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this seaside village has to offer. This seaside village offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Frankfurt or Portofino?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the accessible city of Frankfurt. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Portofino is a small town with plenty to do. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this seaside village makes for a great vacation. It's also a relaxing resort destination. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this seaside village has to offer.

A week in Frankfurt or Portofino?

Frankfurt is a popular choice for travelers. 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.

Portofino is a popular choice for travelers. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. 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 Coach Bus Tours in Germany, The Best Adventure Tours to Germany, The Best Historical Tours in Italy, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Italy.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Frankfurt or Portofino?

Frankfurt has a larger population, and is about 1230 times larger than the population of Portofino. When comparing the sizes of Frankfurt and Portofino, 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.