Which place is cheaper, Basel or Funchal?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Funchal or Basel?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Funchal or Basel? 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: Funchal or Basel?
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.
Basel
Basel is often overlooked as a tourist destination in Switzerland, but despite this, it does have a lot to offer visitors as well as a beautiful medieval historic center. Every year it also hosts a Carnival festival that is one of the most popular in Europe, competing with those in Venice and Rio de Janeiro in its popularity. There are also some excellent museums and great examples of regional architecture around town. Basel also serves as an excellent entry point to the Swiss Jura mountains and a jumping off point to visit more popular cities such as Zurich or Lucerne.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Portugal, The Best G Adventures Tours to Portugal, The Best 2-Week Tours in Switzerland, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Switzerland.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFunchal €93Basel €221
The average daily cost (per person) in Funchal is €93, while the average daily cost in Basel is €221. 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 Funchal and Basel in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFunchal €52Basel €134
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFunchal €104Basel €268
Compare Hotels in Funchal and Basel
Looking for a hotel in Funchal or Basel? 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Funchal Hotel Prices and Basel Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Funchal €9.94Basel €43
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Funchal
Also for Funchal, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Madeira Airport Shuttle Transfer one way: $9.81
- Private One way Transfer Madeira Airport to or from Funchal: $22
- Private Transfer from Madeira Airport(FNC) to Madeira Cruise Port: $26
- Funchal Airport(FNC) to Funchal hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $26
- Funchal Private Transfers Service to Madeira Airport: $29
- Madeira Airport Private Transfers Service To Funchal: $33
- Transfer Madeira Airport - Funchal: $35
- Minibus Transfer: Funchal - Madeira Airport: $38
- Premium Transfer Madeira Airport - Funchal: $44
- Transfer and Hiking PR8 Sao Lourenço : $44
- Madeira airport transfer for up to 8 people: $49
- Madeira Airport Round Trip Shuttle Transfers Service: $49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Basel
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Basel:
- Private Transfer: Basel Airport BSL to Zurich in Luxury Van: $261
- Private Transfer from Basel to Zurich with 3h Sightseeing Stops: $251
- Private transfer from Basel to Strasbourg with a local driver: $233
- Private Transfer From Basel To Bern With a 2 Hour Stop in Olten: $224
- Private Direct Transfer from Basel to Zurich: $205
- Private One-way Transfer From Basel to Zurich, English Speaking Driver: $186
- Private direct transfer from Basel to Lucerne with a local driver: $177
- Basel Airport Transfer: EuroAirport (BSL MLH EAP) to Basel in Luxury Car: $157
- Arrival Private Transfer: EuroAirport (BSL MLH EAP) to Basel in Luxury Van: $119
- Basel Airport Transfer: EuroAirport (BSL MLH EAP) to Basel in Luxury Van: $119
- Basel Airport Transfer: Basel to EuroAirport (BSL MLH EAP) in Business Car: $108
- ONE WAY: Basel Train Station (ZDH) to / from Basel transfer: $88
Is it cheaper to fly into Funchal or Basel?
Prices for flights to both Basel and Funchal 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
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Food Meals for one dayFunchal €31Basel €57
Typical Food Prices in Funchal
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Funchal:
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Coffee€1.40
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Funchal
For Funchal, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Private Walking Food Tour Around Funchal: $31
- Madeira Nights Tour - Dinner and Show: $41
- Sunset Tour to Pico do Arieiro with Dinner and Drinks included: $76
- Gourmet Wine & Food Tour: $112
- Gourmet Wine & Food Tour: $112
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Funchal €15Basel €35
Tours and Activities in Funchal
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Funchal.
- Portugal eSIM Tourist Data Plan: $4.81
- Sacred Art Museum of Funchal Entry Ticket: $11
- Old Funchal Walking Tour: $15
- Scenic Route - Nuns Valley Tour: $25
- Funchal Hop-On Hop-Off Tour 3 in 1: $27
- Christmas Lights in Funchal Tuk Tuk Tour: $27
- São Vicente Caves and Volcano Center Half-Day Tour: $27
- Majestic West Tour : $31
- Amazing East Tour : $31
- Magnificent East Tour: $33
- Exorbitant West Tour: $33
- Santana / Typical Houses Tour: $33
Tours and Activities in Basel
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Basel are as follows:
- Alpine Majesty: Basel to Jungfraujoch Exclusive Private Tour: $821
- Alpine Majesty: Private Tour to Mount Titlis from Basel: $650
- Basel (Kleinbasel) Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour: $15
- Basel : Old Town Walking Tour: $107
- Basel : Private Custom Walking Tour With A Local Guide: $82
- Basel Adventure Tour - The city quiz: $37
- Basel City Sightseeing Bus Tour: $27
- Basel City: Private guided Segway Tour: $196
- Basel Family Adventure: Exploring Historic & Artistic Gems: $543
- Basel Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Tour: $5.35
- Basel History Tour for Groups: $328
- Basel Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $60
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayFunchal €16Basel €31
Sample the Local Flavors in Funchal
Also in Funchal, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Skywalk and 4x4 Adventure with Amazing Views and Wine Tasting: $49
- Half day jeep Wine tour and tasting, & sea cliff adventure: $53
- Bestselling Wine Tour, Tasting Experience & Skywalk 4x4 Adventure: $53
- Wine tasting and Jeep Adventure in Madeira's Majestic Countryside: $56
- Pub Crawl: $59
- Shore Excursion: Private Madeira Tour & Wine Tasting: $86
- Amazing Skywalk, Wine Tasting & 4x4 Adventure + Dolphin Watching: $97
- Guided Toboggan Ride and Madeira Wine Tasting Tour: $98
- Tuk Tuk Wine Tour - Madeira Island: $102
- Weekends Madeira Wine Tasting São Vicente: $109
- Wine Tour by Overland Madeira: $150
- Visiting local Vineyard With Wine Tasting & Lunch included: $158
Sample the Local Flavors in Basel
Also in Basel, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl Meet People and Hidden Bars and Clubs: $33
- Pinot Noir & Pinot Wine Tour to Baden-Württemberg: $279
- Fantastic, full day, private wine tour to Alsace!: $285
- Half Day Private Cheese & Wine Tasting in Vineyard in Basel: $289
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Funchal and Basel, we can see that Basel 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 Basel would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Basel than you might in Funchal.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Funchal Expensive? and Is Basel Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Funchal or Basel?
Basel has a larger population, and is about 63% larger than the population of Funchal. When comparing the sizes of Funchal and Basel, 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.
When is the best time to visit Funchal or Basel?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Funchal or Basel in the Summer?
Both Basel and Funchal during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, many visitors come to Basel in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.
Funchal is around the same temperature as Basel in the summer. The daily temperature in Funchal averages around 22°C (72°F) in July, and Basel fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
In Basel, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Funchal. In the summer, Funchal often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Basel. Funchal gets 227 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Basel receives 241 hours of full sun.
Funchal usually gets less rain in July than Basel. Funchal gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Basel receives 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyFunchal 22°C (72°F)Basel 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Funchal or Basel in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Funchal and Basel. Also, most visitors come to Basel for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In the autumn, Funchal is much warmer than Basel. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Funchal in October average around 21°C (70°F), and Basel averages at about 13°C (56°F).
Funchal usually receives more sunshine than Basel during autumn. Funchal gets 183 hours of sunny skies, while Basel receives 120 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Funchal gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Funchal usually receives more rain than Basel. Funchal gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Basel receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberFunchal 21°C (70°F)Basel 13°C (56°F)
Should I visit Funchal or Basel in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Funchal as well as Basel. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Basel because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
The weather in Basel can be very cold. In January, Funchal is generally much warmer than Basel. Daily temperatures in Funchal average around 16°C (61°F), and Basel fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).
In the winter, Funchal often gets more sunshine than Basel. Funchal gets 141 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Basel receives 55 hours of full sun.
Funchal receives a lot of rain in the winter. Funchal usually gets more rain in January than Basel. Funchal gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Basel receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryFunchal 16°C (61°F)Basel 3°C (37°F)
Should I visit Funchal or Basel in the Spring?
Both Basel and Funchal are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the natural beauty are the main draw to Basel this time of year.
Funchal is a little warmer than Basel in the spring. The daily temperature in Funchal averages around 17°C (63°F) in April, and Basel fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
Funchal usually receives more sunshine than Basel during spring. Funchal gets 182 hours of sunny skies, while Basel receives 150 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Funchal usually receives less rain than Basel. Funchal gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Basel receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilFunchal 17°C (63°F)Basel 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Basel and Funchal
| Funchal | Basel | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 16°C (61°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Feb | 16°C (61°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Mar | 16°C (61°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (63°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| May | 19°C (66°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Jul | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (73°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 21°C (70°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 18°C (64°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.