A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Funchal vs. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Funchal or Las Palmas de Gran Canaria?

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

Should I visit Funchal or Las Palmas de Gran Canaria? 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 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria?

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.

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Las Palmas is the largest city on Gran Canaria, and one of the capitals of the Canary Islands. It is located in the northeast of the island with plenty to see and do from ocean-side activities on the beach to sightseeing, shopping, museums, culture, and architecture.

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 Barcelona, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Madrid.


Which place is cheaper, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria or Funchal?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Funchal is €93, while the average daily cost in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is €131. 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 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Funchal 52
    Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 68
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Funchal 104
    Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 136
Compare Hotels in Funchal and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Looking for a hotel in Funchal or Las Palmas de Gran Canaria? 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.

Hotels in Funchal


Hotels in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria


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 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Funchal 9.94
    Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 49

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Funchal

Also for Funchal, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Funchal Airport(FNC) to Funchal hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $26
  • Funchal Airport(FNC) to Madeira Island - Arrival Private Transfer: $51
  • Funchal Private Transfers Service to Madeira Airport: $29
  • Madeira Airport (FNC) Arrival Transfer (Airport to Funchal Hotels or Address): $54
  • Madeira Airport (FNC) Departure Transfer (Funchal Hotels to Madeira Airport): $54
  • Madeira Airport Private Transfers Service To Funchal: $33
  • Madeira Airport Round Trip Shuttle Transfers Service: $49
  • Madeira Airport Shuttle Transfer one way: $9.81
  • Madeira Airport Transfers Round Trip (FNC): $65
  • Madeira Island Transfers: $53
  • Madeira airport transfer for up to 8 people: $49
  • Minibus Transfer: Funchal - Madeira Airport: $38

Is it cheaper to fly into Funchal or Las Palmas de Gran Canaria?

Prices for flights to both Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Funchal 31
    Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 34
Typical Food Prices in Funchal

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Funchal:


  • 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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Funchal 15
    Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 16

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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Funchal 16
    Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 7.48

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 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, we can see that Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 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 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 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 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Funchal or Las Palmas de Gran Canaria?

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Funchal. When comparing the sizes of Funchal and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 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.