Which place is cheaper, Interlaken or Funchal?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Funchal or Interlaken?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Funchal or Interlaken? 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 Interlaken?
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.
Interlaken
Interlaken is a small city that is located in the Bernese Highlands Region of central Switzerland. It sits pleasantly between two Alpine Lakes, Brienzersee and Thunersee. This scenic setting and its easy accessibility make it a popular base camp for travel into the Bernese Oberland Alps. It has become a top tourist destination in Switzerland and it is also a hub for outdoor sports enthusiasts with plenty of hiking, skiing, paragliding, and other activities in the region.. Interlaken is a great hoping off point to explore many of the nearby mountains, lakes, and valleys, too. It offers easy transportation to most major Swiss cities by train or car.
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 Geneva, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Zurich.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFunchal €93Interlaken €217
The average daily cost (per person) in Funchal is €93, while the average daily cost in Interlaken is €217. 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 Interlaken in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFunchal €52Interlaken €125
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFunchal €104Interlaken €250
Compare Hotels in Funchal and Interlaken
Looking for a hotel in Funchal or Interlaken? 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 Interlaken Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Funchal €9.94Interlaken €12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Funchal
Also for Funchal, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer and Hiking PR8 Sao Lourenço : $44
- Transfer Madeira Airport - Funchal: $35
- Sunrise Transfer to Hike Pico Areeiro to Pico Ruivo: $71
- Private Transfer from Madeira Airport(FNC) to Madeira Cruise Port: $26
- Private Transfer from Funchal airport to Madeira south area: $59
- Private Transfer from Funchal Airport to Madeira Island: $123
- Private Transfer from Cristiano Ronaldo Airport to Funchal Hotels: $69
- Private One way Transfer Madeira Airport to or from Funchal: $22
- Premium Transfer Madeira Airport - Funchal: $44
- PR18 Levada do Rei Private transfer: $71
- Minibus Transfer: Funchal - Madeira Airport: $38
- Madeira airport transfer for up to 8 people: $49
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Interlaken
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Interlaken are as follows:
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Cable Cars (for 2)€62
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Interlaken
Also for Interlaken, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Group transfer Zurich Airport - Interlaken: $1,312
- From Private One-Way Transfer to Lucerne: $284
- Private Transfer from Interlaken to Zurich: $240
- Transfer from/to Hotel - Airport: $160
Is it cheaper to fly into Funchal or Interlaken?
Prices for flights to both Interlaken 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 €31Interlaken €60
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
Typical Food Prices in Interlaken
For Interlaken, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Tea at Interlaken€31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Interlaken
For Interlaken, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Fondue Cooking Class and Cheese Workshop in Switzerland: $143
- Cheese and Chocolate Full-Day Food Tour: $733
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Funchal €15Interlaken €97
Tours and Activities in Funchal
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Funchal.
- Low Cost Wheelchair Handicap Half Day Tour, Fully Accessible Tour : $76
- “Le tour de Churchill” - From Funchal to Câmara de Lobos: $58
- Magnificent East Tour: $33
- 4 Hours Adventure Jeep Tour in Central Madeira Portugal: $47
- 4x4 Jeep Safari Porto Moniz - the "Farowest" tour - Full Day Small Groups : $71
- Accessible Half Day Tour Cabo Girão: $120
- Adventure Trikes Private Tour in Madeira : $158
- Amazing East Tour : $31
- Amazing West - Jeep Safari Tour - Full Day: $60
- Arieiro Peak, Santo da Serra and Cristo Rei 4x4 Experience: $49
- Around The Island - Two Days Tour From 9am To 5pm (Each Day): $65
- Around the island - Two days tour: $82
Tours and Activities in Interlaken
For Interlaken, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Hidden gems e-bike tour with picnic at Lake Brienz : $212
- Iseltwald, Aare Gorge and Lake Brienz Experience in Switzerland: $290
- 007 Elegance: Private Tour to Schilthorn from Interlaken: $480
- A Day at Lake Brienz and Lauterbrunnen Tour from Zurich: $1,260
- Alpine Heights Jungfraujoch Small Group Tour from Interlaken: $529
- Alpine Majesty: Bern to Jungfraujoch Exclusive Private Tour: $835
- Bern: Grindelwald First & Bachalpsee Hiking Private Tour: $709
- Bike Tour of the Interlaken Valley: Rivers, Lakes & Forests: $111
- Bollywood Tour Gstaad - Express Tour: $90
- Canyoning Experience Grimsel from Interlaken : $200
- From Grimsel Gorge Canyoning Tour: $196
- From Gruyères, Cheese Factory & Cailler Tour: $290
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayFunchal €16Interlaken €16
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Funchal and Interlaken, we can see that Interlaken 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 Interlaken would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Interlaken 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 Interlaken Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Funchal or Interlaken?
Funchal has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Interlaken. When comparing the sizes of Funchal and Interlaken, 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 Interlaken?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Funchal or Interlaken in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Funchal and Interlaken. Also, many travelers come to Interlaken for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Funchal is generally around the same temperature as Interlaken. Daily temperatures in Funchal average around 22°C (72°F), and Interlaken fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Interlaken this time of the year. In Funchal, it's very sunny this time of the year. Funchal usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Interlaken during summer. Funchal gets 227 hours of sunny skies, while Interlaken receives 241 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Funchal usually receives less rain than Interlaken. Funchal gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Interlaken receives 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyFunchal 22°C (72°F)Interlaken 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Funchal or Interlaken in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Funchal as well as Interlaken. Also, many visitors come to Interlaken in the autumn for the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area.
Funchal is much warmer than Interlaken in the autumn. The daily temperature in Funchal averages around 21°C (70°F) in October, and Interlaken fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).
In the autumn, Funchal often gets more sunshine than Interlaken. Funchal gets 183 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Interlaken receives 120 hours of full sun.
Funchal receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Funchal usually gets more rain in October than Interlaken. Funchal gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Interlaken receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberFunchal 21°C (70°F)Interlaken 13°C (56°F)
Should I visit Funchal or Interlaken in the Winter?
Both Interlaken and Funchal are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Interlaken for the skiing and the cuisine during these months.
Interlaken can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Funchal is much warmer than Interlaken. Typically, the winter temperatures in Funchal in January average around 16°C (61°F), and Interlaken averages at about 3°C (37°F).
Funchal usually receives more sunshine than Interlaken during winter. Funchal gets 141 hours of sunny skies, while Interlaken receives 55 hours of full sun in the winter.
It's quite rainy in Funchal. In January, Funchal usually receives more rain than Interlaken. Funchal gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Interlaken receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryFunchal 16°C (61°F)Interlaken 3°C (37°F)
Should I visit Funchal or Interlaken in the Spring?
Both Interlaken and Funchal during the spring are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Interlaken because of the natural beauty.
In April, Funchal is generally a little warmer than Interlaken. Daily temperatures in Funchal average around 17°C (63°F), and Interlaken fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
In the spring, Funchal often gets more sunshine than Interlaken. Funchal gets 182 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Interlaken receives 150 hours of full sun.
Funchal usually gets less rain in April than Interlaken. Funchal gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Interlaken receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilFunchal 17°C (63°F)Interlaken 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Interlaken and Funchal
| Funchal | Interlaken | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.