Which place is cheaper, Braga or Funchal?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Funchal or Braga?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Funchal or Braga? 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 Braga?
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.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Portugal, The Best G Adventures Tours to Portugal, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lisbon, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Lisbon.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFunchal €93Braga €112
The average daily cost (per person) in Funchal is €93, while the average daily cost in Braga is €112. 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 Braga in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFunchal €52Braga €54
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFunchal €104Braga €108
Compare Hotels in Funchal and Braga
Looking for a hotel in Funchal or Braga? 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 Braga Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Funchal €9.94Braga €20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Funchal
Also for Funchal, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Madeira Airport Shuttle Transfer one way: $9.95
- Private One Way Transfer from Funchal to Madeira Airport : $22
- Funchal Private Transfers Service to Madeira Airport: $29
- Madeira Airport Private Transfers Service To Funchal: $33
- Transfer Madeira Airport - Funchal: $35
- Transfer Funchal - Madeira Airport: $35
- Self-Guided Hike to Pico do Areeiro, with transfers.: $39
- Minibus Transfer: Madeira Airport - Funchal: $39
- Minibus Transfer: Funchal - Madeira Airport: $39
- Premium Transfer Madeira Airport - Funchal: $44
- Madeira airport transfer for up to 8 people: $50
- Madeira Airport Round Trip Shuttle Transfers Service: $50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Braga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Braga:
- Private Car Transfer from Braga to Lisbon with 2 hours for sightseeing: $283
- Braga Private Transfer:To/From the Oporto Airport: $103
- Braga Private Transfer to Porto: $55
Is it cheaper to fly into Funchal or Braga?
Prices for flights to both Braga 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 €31Braga €40
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 : Sunset in Pico do Arieiro (Dinner and Drinks optional): $61
- Madeira Sunset by 4x4 with Dinner from Funchal: $63
- Madeiran Traditional Dinner: $89
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: $77
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Funchal €15Braga €16
Tours and Activities in Funchal
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Funchal.
- City Sightseeing Funchal Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $22
- Scenic Route - Nuns Valley Tour: $26
- Nuns Valley Tour: $28
- Tour to Nun's Valley, Pico dos Barcelos and Eira do Serrado: $30
- Amazing East Tour : $31
- Majestic West Tour : $31
- Magnificent East Tour: $33
- Funchal Christmas lights sightseeing night tour: $33
- Full Day Tour of Madeira West: $33
- Santana / Typical Houses Tour: $33
- Small Group West Tour Waterfalls & Fanal Forest Tour: $36
- Go East - The most beautiful tour: $39
Tours and Activities in Braga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Braga are as follows:
- 1h Buggy Tour • Arcos de Valdevez • Peneda Gerês: $87
- 2h Buggy Tour • Arcos de Valdevez • Peneda Gerês: $143
- 2h Quad Tour • Arcos de Valdevez • Peneda Gerês: $121
- 4X4 Tour – Minho Litoral - Beaches and Mountains between Viana do Castelo and Caminha: $83
- 4X4 Tour – Mountain - Viana do Castelo - Serra Sta. Lucia, Serra D'Arga: $83
- 4X4 Tour - Discovering Serra d´ Arga: $177
- 4h Buggy Tour • Arcos de Valdevez • Peneda Gerês: $221
- Arcos de Valdevez Tour 1 Day: $243
- TOUR HD BRAGA SEDAN: $201
- Barcelos, Braga & Guimarães Tour: $110
- Braga & Guimarães: Premium Day Tour: $310
- Braga Private Walking Tour: $258
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayFunchal €16Braga €21
Sample the Local Flavors in Funchal
Also in Funchal, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Half day jeep Wine tour and tasting, & sea cliff adventure: $58
- Amazing Skywalk, Wine Tasting & 4x4 Adventure + Dolphin Watching: $99
- Guided Toboggan Ride and Madeira Wine Tasting Tour: $100
- Weekends Madeira Wine Tasting São Vicente: $111
- Full Day Private Madeira Wine Tour from Funchal: $174
- Visiting local Vineyard With Wine Tasting & Lunch included: $183
- Full-Day Madeira Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch: $194
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: $51
- Green Wine Region-Small Group Tour with Lunch and Wine Tastings, from Porto city: $144
- Douro Valley - Régua-Pinhão - with wine tasting: $150
- Private Culture and Wine Tourism Tour: $227
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Funchal and Braga, we can see that Braga 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 Braga would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Braga 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 Braga Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Funchal or Braga?
Braga has a larger population, and is about 20% larger than the population of Funchal. When comparing the sizes of Funchal and Braga, 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 Braga?
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 Braga in the Summer?
Both Braga and Funchal during the summer are popular places to visit.
In the summer, Funchal is around the same temperature as Braga. Typically, the summer temperatures in Funchal in July average around 22°C (72°F), and Braga averages at about 21°C (69°F).
In Braga, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Funchal. In the summer, Funchal often gets less sunshine than Braga. Funchal gets 227 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Braga receives 308 hours of full sun.
Funchal usually gets less rain in July than Braga. Funchal gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Braga receives 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyFunchal 22°C (72°F)Braga 21°C (69°F)
Should I visit Funchal or Braga in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Funchal and Braga.
In October, Funchal is generally a little warmer than Braga. Daily temperatures in Funchal average around 21°C (70°F), and Braga fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).
Funchal usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Braga during autumn. Funchal gets 183 hours of sunny skies, while Braga receives 184 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Braga receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Funchal gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Funchal usually receives less rain than Braga. Funchal gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Braga receives 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberFunchal 21°C (70°F)Braga 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Funchal or Braga in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Funchal as well as Braga.
Funchal is much warmer than Braga in the winter. The daily temperature in Funchal averages around 16°C (61°F) in January, and Braga fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
In the winter, Funchal often gets more sunshine than Braga. Funchal gets 141 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Braga receives 124 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Braga. Funchal receives a lot of rain in the winter. Funchal usually gets less rain in January than Braga. Funchal gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Braga receives 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryFunchal 16°C (61°F)Braga 10°C (50°F)
Should I visit Funchal or Braga in the Spring?
Both Braga and Funchal are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In the spring, Funchal is a little warmer than Braga. Typically, the spring temperatures in Funchal in April average around 17°C (63°F), and Braga averages at about 14°C (56°F).
It's quite sunny in Braga. Funchal usually receives less sunshine than Braga during spring. Funchal gets 182 hours of sunny skies, while Braga receives 217 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Braga. In April, Funchal usually receives less rain than Braga. Funchal gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Braga receives 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilFunchal 17°C (63°F)Braga 14°C (56°F)
Typical Weather for Braga and Funchal
| Funchal | Braga | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 16°C (61°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 171 mm (6.7 in) |
| Feb | 16°C (61°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) |
| Mar | 16°C (61°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (63°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 14°C (56°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| May | 19°C (66°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Jul | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (73°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Oct | 21°C (70°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) |
| Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 152 mm (6 in) |
| Dec | 18°C (64°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 176 mm (6.9 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.