Should you visit Funchal or Azores?
Should I visit Funchal or Azores? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Funchal
Funchal is the capital city of the autonomous region of Madeira on the island of Madeira. The city is located to the south between the cities of Santa Cruz and Camara de Lobos. It is actually named for the fennel plant which grows liberally on the island. The city was most significant as a shipping center between the 15th and 17th centuries. Today it has a population of over 100,000 people and is, arguably, one of the most picturesque cities in Portugal. It's appeal as a tourist destination has made it the leading Portuguese port for cruise line dockings.
Azores
The Azores are a group of nine volcanic islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Portugal. Although the islands were created through volcanic activity, there is far less activity now, making the Azores the perfect beach escape. Most people speak Portuguese, or a dialect of it, with English spoken primarily by those in the tourism industry.
Which city is cheaper, Azores or Funchal?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Funchal is €75, while the average daily cost in Azores is €107. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Funchal and Azores in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about €82 in Funchal For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Travelers usually pay around €108 for a double occupancy room in Azores If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
In Funchal travelers spend around €25 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
In Azores travelers spend around €36 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
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Food
Meals for one day
Funchal €25
Azores €36
Typical Food prices in Funchal
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Funchal:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Funchal
For Funchal, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Madeira Evening Tour with Dinner and Performance:
$44
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Madeira Nights Tour - Dinner and Show:
$45
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“Petiscos” cooking experience & Market Tour:
$70
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Madeira Sunset by 4x4 with Dinner from Funchal:
$70
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Funchal than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend €7.95 on transportation in Funchal on average per day.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Azores than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend €24 on transportation in Azores on average per day.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Funchal
Also for Funchal, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Service Airport Transfer:
$25
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Private Airport Transfer: from Funchal to Madeira Airport (FNC):
$19
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One-Way Private Transfer from Madeira Airport to Funchal or Monte:
$14
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Madeira: Private Transfer to or from Palheiro Golf or Choupana:
$15
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Madeira: Private Transfer to or from Camara de Lobos:
$15
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Madeira: Funchal Shared Transfer to or from Airport:
$11
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Madeira Private Transfer: To/From Funchal Airport:
$18
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Madeira Private Arrival Transfer:
$32
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Madeira Funchal Airport FNC Arrival Private Transfer by Business Car:
$34
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Madeira Airport Round Trip Shuttle Transfers Service:
$19
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Madeira Airport Round Trip Private Transfers Services:
$34
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Madeira Airport Private Transfers Service To Funchal:
$21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Azores
Also for Azores, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Transfer from Posto Santo to Terceira Lajes (TER) Airport:
$62
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Private Transfer from Livramento to Azores (PDL) Airport:
$31
Entertainment
Sightseeing expenses in Funchal, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of €12 per day, per person.
Sightseeing expenses in Azores, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of €17 per day, per person.
Tours and Activities in Funchal
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Funchal.
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3-Hour Madeira Scenic Island Tour (Price per Sidecar - 1 or 2 passengers):
$143
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3d Fun Art Museum Ticket:
$11
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4x4 Full-Day Tour to Explore Portugal's Scents and Flavors:
$51
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Amazing Skywalk and more... Half day Tour in Open Roof 4x4:
$40
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Arieiro Peak & Nun´s Valley in Open Roof 4x4 Tour + Dolphins Watching:
$81
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Arieiro Peak and Nun´s Valley Half day Tour in Open Roof 4x4:
$40
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Ariero Peak, Santana "Biosphere Reserve" & more...Full day Tour in Open Roof 4x4:
$49
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Best of Funchal Private Tour:
$243
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Best of Funchal private walking tour with local specialities tasting:
$467
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Best of Madeira Private Tour Half Day:
$54
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Boat and Open Roof 4x4 Tour:
$1,595
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Botanic Garden Tour:
$50
Tours and Activities in Azores
For Azores, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Fortress Tour:
$31
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Full day Van Tour:
$87
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Half Day - Fire Tour (Lagoa do Fogo):
$49
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Jeep Tour - Furnas & Vila Franca do Campo (Full Day) with lunch:
$121
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Jeep Tour - Lagoa de Fogo (Half Day):
$78
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Jeep Tour Lagoa de Fogo & Sete Cidades (Full Day) with lunch:
$121
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Terceira Island Photo Experience: Full-Day Tour:
$124
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Terceira Island Private Tour: Full-Day:
$84
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Trail Run Experience:
$68
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Western Wonders - Private Tour (Flexible start and end time):
$177
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Funchal, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is €13.
Typically, people visiting Azores spend on average €7.71 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Funchal
Also in Funchal, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Funchal City Tour with Madeira Wine Tasting:
$15
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Half Day Traditions and Enchanting Valleys - Eira do Serrado, Curral das Freiras, Monte, Madeira Wine Tasting:
$49
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Skywalk & Professional Wine Tasting and Vineyards Tour in Open Roof 4x4:
$60
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Shore Excursion: Private Madeira Tour & Wine Tasting:
$94
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Cabo Girão Skywalk+Vineyards+Wine Tasting Tour in Open Roof 4x4+Dolphin Watching:
$98
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Full-Day Madeira Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch:
$166
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Madeira wine tasting and sightseeing private tour from Funchal:
$534
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Funchal and Azores, we can see that Azores is more expensive. And not only is Funchal much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Funchal would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Funchal 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 Azores would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Azores than you might in Funchal.
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