Which place is cheaper, Albufeira or Kos?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Kos and Albufeira can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Kos is a party-hard, vibrant, and beautiful island. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. And you can't forget about the food, scuba diving and snorkeling, and beaches.
Albufeira is a touristy, popular, and activity-filled resort town. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, food, and scuba diving and snorkeling.
Travelers will usually find more to do in Albufeira. Although Kos and Albufeira are popular destinations, Albufeira has more sights and attractions for tourists. Albufeira is very popular for its nightlife, resorts, and big city activities, while Kos attracts visitors for its museums, food, scuba diving & snorkeling, shopping, and impressive beauty. Albufeira is more touristy than Kos and is popular for its golden beaches and limestone cliffs. It is also well known for Praia da Falesia. Kos is famous for its sandy beaches and crystal clear blue water.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Albufeira and Kos. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Kos is a world-class destination for its museums and landmarks. However, Albufeira does not have museums and landmarks.
The museums, monuments, and landmarks in Kos are among the most recognizable in the world. The small island is packed with archaeological sites and interesting history. Famous places worth visiting include the ruins of Asklepion, the ancient Agora, Roman Odeon, Neratzia Castle, and so many more!
Albufeira does not have museums and landmarks.
Kos is a world-class destination for its restaurant scene. Also, Albufeira is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.
For foodies, Kos is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. The cuisine relies heavily on locally harvested ingredients with many dishes featuring cheese, seafood, vegetables, olive oil, and potatoes. The dishes are influenced by Italian and Turkish cuisines and common dishes include moussaka, souvlaki and tzatziki. Popular seafood options are prawns, squid, lobster and octopus. A great way to enjoy a sampling of local dishes is to visit an ouzeri, which is a Greek taverna that serves mezza style meals with small dishes that you can share.
Albufeira has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. As the largest resort town in the Algarve, the city also has the widest selection of restaurants. There are traditional options that serve up classic dishes like grilled sardines, as well as international restaurants with traveler favorites. As expected, you'll find a lot of seafood, but you'll also find inland influences from local farms in the area.
Albufeira is very popular for nightlife. Also, Kos is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife and partying.
Albufeira is a party destination, and you'll find plenty of activity all night long. It's probably the most infamous party destination in the Algarve and it won't disappoint. During the peak summer months you'll find the streets around the popular "Strip" filled with tourists and party-goers. There are hen and stag parties, backpackers, and drunken travelers out for a good time. The Strip has become so popular that there are now bars and clubs on the adjacent streets as well. If you're not staying in the area, you'll likely want to take a taxi, as it's a couple kilometers outside of the town center.
The people in Kos know how to have a good time. For such a small island you'll find a huge party scene during the peak summer months. There are almost nightly parties, beach raves, and late night clubs throughout the summer months. The bars and clubs are mostly concentrated around a couple of streets in the center of Kos Town, but Kardamena is also a lively party area. It's popular with British tourists who head here for the all-night clubs.
Albufeira is very popular for its luxury resorts. Also, Kos is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its resorts.
Albufeira is a world class resort vacation destination. As the largest resort town in the Algarve, you'll find a wide selection of hotels to choose from. Party-goers will want to stay near the Strip while families will prefer the old town or resorts in Olhos de Agua.
With a selection of resorts, Kos makes a nice vacation spot. It's a smaller island and there aren't as many resorts here as there are on some of the larger Greek islands. Some of the best resort areas include Lamp and Psalidi to the northwest, Tigaki on the west coast (a good option for families), as well as Mastihari and Marmari which both have relaxed atmospheres. The younger crowd often hangs out around Kardemena on the east coast.
Kos is a world-class destination for its diving and snorkeling. Also, Albufeira is still popular, but not quite as popular for snorkeling and scuba diving.
The clear water and abundant marine life make Kos a world-class scuba diving and snorkeling destination. There are countless snorkeling sports around the island where you can immerse yourself in the undersea world. Popular snorkeling areas include Camel Beach and Limnionas Beach. Make sure you understand the water conditions before heading into the water.
There is a nice variety of marine life that makes scuba diving and snorkeling great in Albufeira. There are countless vendors who will take you by boat to explore the underwater world, either by snorkeling or scuba diving. The marine life is impressive and the water is generally clear.
Both Kos and Albufeira are considered to be terrific beach destinations.
Kos is considered to be a world-class beach destination. The island is famous for its beautiful beaches, many of which are sandy with various shades of color. There are touristy beaches with plenty of amenities as well as less frequented beaches that offer a quieter and more remote atmosphere. Some of the most visited beaches on the island include Agios Stefanos, Kardamena, Kefalos and Lambi while some of the more peaceful areas are Cavo Paradiso and Helona Beach.
Albufeira offers stunning beaches that attract visitors from around the world. With their golden sands and blue waters, the beaches are world class. The area also has a diversity of beaches that are perfect for all types of vacationers. For water sports, head to Praia dos Alemaes but for relaxation and catching some rays check out Praia da Falesia. You'll find some interesting rock formations at Praia dos Olhos de Agua. One of the most convenient beaches to town is Praia dos Pescadores. For nightlife you'll want to head to Praia da Oura.
Both Kos and Albufeira are destinations which offer nice hiking.
Plenty of visitors go hiking around Kos. This is a great walking island with a number of easy walks or hikes that take you along the coastline or through interesting landscapes.
Albufeira offers some nice hiking trails. There are countless coastal walks that are perfect for all skill levels. Many offers stunning views along the rocky coast and pass through natural settings. Popular trails in the area include Praia Grande Interpretation Trail and Paderne Castle Trail.
Kos is a popular place for its shopping opportunities. However, Albufeira is a resort town with minimal options for its shopping areas.
Kos offers some nice shopping areas. There are a number of traditional items that you can pick up while you're in town. Fun souvenirs include jewelry, leather items, and perfumes.
Albufeira has some good spots for those that want to go shopping. You'll find most of the shops are geared toward souvenirs or beach items, particularly near the beach and marina. If you look hard you might find some nice ceramics or items made of cork.
Both Kos and Albufeira are nice to visit with kids.
Kos is a family-friendly island. It's comparable to other Greek islands when it comes to kids' activities. Kos Town can get a bit lively at night so if you want to avoid the party crowds, then those areas are easily avoided. Popular activities include exploring ancient ruins, going to the Kos Archaeological Museum, visiting The Castle of the Knights, and of course, hanging out at the beach. One of the best family-friendly resort areas is Tigaki along the west coast.
You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Albufeira. Despite it's reputation as a party-hard city, there are actually a lot of family-friendly activities in the area. Because it's the largest resort town in the Algarve, it also has the most activities to choose from, including theme parks, water parks, dolphin watching, ropes courses, go karting, and more. The best area's for families are in the old town or the most of the family-friendly resorts outside of town. Families should avoid staying near "the Strip."
Albufeira is very popular for romance. Also, Kos is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its romantic activities.
Albufeira is a great resort town for couples, as it has plenty to offer. For an active honeymoon or couple's retreat, this resort town has it all. Beautiful beaches, adventure-filled activities, a wild nightlife scene, and excellent resorts and restaurants all make for a memorable couple's getaway.
Couples visit Kos frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. This small island offers beautiful beaches and plenty of ancient ruins to explore. Kos Town is where you'll find the liveliest atmosphere but for some of the best resorts you'll want to stay in one of the resort suburbs like Lampi or Psalidi.
Albufeira is very popular for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Kos is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.
Many backpackers frequent Albufeira. If you're looking for a party, then you found it. The area is a top pick for European holidays, so you'll find plenty of energy and activities around town. There are also golden beaches and a decent selection of hostels to choose from.
Kos is a great island to visit for backpackers. It's a small island but has a few hostels and a variety of apartments available for rent. Despite its small size, there are areas where you'll want to have a car if you wish to explore, but if you stay in town you'll find getting around fairly easy. The island attracts its share of young travelers and you'll find plenty of people to hang out with.
Kos is a great destination for its public transit. However, Albufeira is a resort town with minimal options for times when you don't have a car.
The public transit in Kos can get you around easily. Buses connect many of the tourist destinations including beaches, cultural sights, are resort areas.
Public transit is mostly limited in Albufeira. There are regional buses and even trains, but do take note that many of the train and bus stations are a good distance outside of town.
Kos is a great destination for its high level of walkability. However, Albufeira is a resort town with minimal options for its ease of walking around.
Kos is a very walkable island. It's small size means it's possible to explore parts of the island on foot or bicycle. There are some beautiful walks on the island, but some areas will require a car or bus.
Albufeira is generally not a very walkable island. Most people prefer to hire a car, but if your hotel is near the beach and you're ok with walking to restaurants, then you may be able to get away without one. If you hope to travel into the countryside at all then a car is necessary.
For even more information, also check out Is Kos Worth Visiting? and Is Albufeira Worth Visiting?.
Both Kos and Albufeira have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Albufeira than in Kos. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Kos, and 3-7 days is enough time in Albufeira.
Families should spend more time in Kos than Albufeira. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Kos, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Kos than Albufeira if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Kos.
You'll find nightlife and food around the island of Kos. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
With food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the high energy destination of Albufeira, there's plenty to do. It's also a relaxing resort destination. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.
You'll find food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the beautiful destination of Kos. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this island has to offer. This island offers a variety of activities to choose from.
Many people visit Albufeira for a weekend. With scuba diving and snorkeling and nightlife around the activity-filled resort town of Albufeira, there's plenty to do. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.
You'll find scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping around the ancient island of Kos. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this island makes for a great vacation. It's also a great beach destination, too. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this island has to offer.
With nightlife and food around the destination of Albufeira, there's plenty to do. Many people spend five days here. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. It offers something for everyone. Because of this, five days is usually enough time for a trip here.
Kos is a popular choice for travelers. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.
Albufeira, a popular resort town, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for one week. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. Your budget might influence how long you stay. One week is usually enough time to experience most activities.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Athens, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Greece.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Kos is €134, while the average daily cost in Albufeira is €148. 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 Kos and Albufeira in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Kos or Albufeira? 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.
Also for Kos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Albufeira:
Prices for flights to both Albufeira and Kos 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.
For Kos, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Albufeira.
For Kos, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Here are a few actual costs in Albufeira for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Kos:
Also in Albufeira, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When comparing the travel costs between Kos and Albufeira, we can see that Albufeira is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kos Expensive? and Is Albufeira Expensive?.
Kos has a larger population, and is about 21% larger than the population of Albufeira. When comparing the sizes of Kos and Albufeira, 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.