Which place is cheaper, Costa de Prata or Lake Garda?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Lake Garda or Costa de Prata?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Lake Garda or Costa de Prata? 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: Lake Garda or Costa de Prata?
Lake Garda
As a gentle Mediterranean wind touches your skin, the aromatic fragrances of olive and lemon trees fill the air. Surrounded by lush gardens and Italian architecture in its ancient tans and beiges, you look to the horizon and find a paradise before your eyes: a shimmering lake, misty mountaintops, and a clear blue sky. Lake Garda is a popular holiday destination for locals of the Lombardy region and tourists alike. It has been shown that about 7% of Italy's tourists head straight for these gleaming blue shores. The largest lake in Italy, Lake Garda is located about halfway in between Brescia and Verona and between Venezia and Milano. Because it is surrounded by several different districts - Lombardy, Trentino, Alto, and the Veneto - Lake Garda is a culmination of culture that attracts cosmopolitan crowds. The lake is an ancient natural treasure Italy holds dear, with documents referring to Lake Garda dating as far back as the eighteenth century. The name "Garda" comes from the Germanic word "warda," which means "place of guard." Whether you are staying at one of the many luxurious resorts in Riva del Garda or are simply getting a pedicure in spa town Sirmione, Lake Garda continues to preserve its elegance and sophistication throughout the years.
Costa de Prata
Costa de Prata is a region located on the Silver Coast of Portugal, an hour north of Lisbon. The area is known for its beautiful beaches, ancient architecture, and relaxed, welcoming, atmosphere. The area experiences gorgeous weather nearly all year round, with temperatures in the high 70's and 80's Fahrenheit from May-September. June-August sees the warmest ocean temperatures, making these the best months for swimming. Even during their winter, temperatures rarely dip below 60°F, although ocean temperatures drop, making swimming a bit colder.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Italy, The Best Contiki Tours to Italy, The Best 10-Day Tours in Portugal, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Portugal.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLake Garda €166Costa de Prata €151
The average daily cost (per person) in Lake Garda is €166, while the average daily cost in Costa de Prata is €151. 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 Lake Garda and Costa de Prata in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLake Garda €84Costa de Prata €78
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLake Garda €168Costa de Prata €156
Compare Hotels in Lake Garda and Costa de Prata
Looking for a hotel in Lake Garda or Costa de Prata? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lake Garda €66Costa de Prata €53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lake Garda
Also for Lake Garda, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Verona Opera Arena: Transfer from Lake Garda & Opera Ticket: $128
- Private Transfer from Verona VRN Airport to Lake Garda: $109
Is it cheaper to fly into Lake Garda or Costa de Prata?
Prices for flights to both Costa de Prata and Lake Garda 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 dayLake Garda €42Costa de Prata €44
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lake Garda
For Lake Garda, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 3 Hour Fresh Pasta and Tiramisù Private Cooking Class with Meal : $65
- Valpolicella Wine and Food Tour: $75
- Cusina - Cooking Class: Fresh Pasta with wine tasting: $86
- Dining Experience at a local's Home in Cecina with Show Cooking: $93
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lake Garda €30Costa de Prata €13
Tours and Activities in Lake Garda
For Lake Garda, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Beekeeping Farm Tour and Tasting Experience in Lazise: $43
- 2 Hours Walking and Boat Tour in Sirmione Highlights: $53
- Bardolino: Vineyard Tour with Wine, Olive Oil & Food Tasting: $37
- Best of Sirmione with Boat Tour and Grotte di Catullo : $97
- Boat Tour of the Islands of Lake Garda with Aperitif: $76
- Canyoning "Vione" - advanced tour, for sportive beginner: $106
- Dolomites Full-Day Tour from Lake Garda: $75
- Dolomites Full-day Tour from Lake Garda: $76
- Experience in Sirmione Lake Garda: $98
- Fabulous Heritage of Sirmione - Walking Tour: $185
- From Garda/Bardolino: 4-hour Guided Boat Cruise to Sirmione: $49
- From Dolomites Bus Tour: $73
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLake Garda €19Costa de Prata €8.13
Sample the Local Flavors in Lake Garda
Also in Lake Garda, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bardolino: Wine tasting at Cantina Valetti: $26
- Wine Tasting and Tour of Lugana Wines in Sirmione: $32
- Wine Tasting with Local Food in Lazise Countryside: $32
- Vineyards Tour and Wine Tasting: $42
- Garda Hills Wine Tour and Tasting: $42
- Wine Tasting in Historical Center of Lazise: $44
- Art Experience with Food and Wine Tasting in Lazise: $55
- E-Bike Tour and wine tasting in Lazise Countryside: $87
- E-Bike Tour and Wine Tasting in Lazise: $87
- Lazise: Bike Tour and Wine Tasting: $90
- Castles boat tour with Bardolino wine tasting and nibbles: $98
When comparing the travel costs between Lake Garda and Costa de Prata, we can see that Lake Garda 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 Lake Garda Expensive? and Is Costa de Prata Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Lake Garda or Costa de Prata?
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 Lake Garda or Costa de Prata in the Summer?
Both Costa de Prata and Lake Garda are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Lake Garda because of the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
Lake Garda is around the same temperature as Costa de Prata in the summer. The daily temperature in Lake Garda averages around 24°C (75°F) in July, and Costa de Prata fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
It's quite sunny in Costa de Prata. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Lake Garda. Lake Garda usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Costa de Prata during summer. Lake Garda gets 286 hours of sunny skies, while Costa de Prata receives 308 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Lake Garda usually receives more rain than Costa de Prata. Lake Garda gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Costa de Prata receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLake Garda 24°C (75°F)Costa de Prata 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Lake Garda or Costa de Prata in the Autumn?
Both Costa de Prata and Lake Garda during the autumn are popular places to visit. The hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Lake Garda this time of year.
In the autumn, Lake Garda is cooler than Costa de Prata. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Lake Garda in October average around 14°C (57°F), and Costa de Prata averages at about 18°C (65°F).
In the autumn, Lake Garda often gets less sunshine than Costa de Prata. Lake Garda gets 137 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Costa de Prata receives 184 hours of full sun.
Costa de Prata gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Lake Garda usually gets less rain in October than Costa de Prata. Lake Garda gets 82 mm (3.2 in) of rain, while Costa de Prata receives 101 mm (4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLake Garda 14°C (57°F)Costa de Prata 18°C (65°F)
Should I visit Lake Garda or Costa de Prata in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Lake Garda and Costa de Prata. Many travelers come to Lake Garda for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Lake Garda. In January, Lake Garda is generally much colder than Costa de Prata. Daily temperatures in Lake Garda average around 2°C (36°F), and Costa de Prata fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
Lake Garda usually receives less sunshine than Costa de Prata during winter. Lake Garda gets 98 hours of sunny skies, while Costa de Prata receives 124 hours of full sun in the winter.
Costa de Prata receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Lake Garda usually receives less rain than Costa de Prata. Lake Garda gets 55 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Costa de Prata receives 139 mm (5.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLake Garda 2°C (36°F)Costa de Prata 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Lake Garda or Costa de Prata in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Lake Garda as well as Costa de Prata. Many visitors come to Lake Garda in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.
Lake Garda is cooler than Costa de Prata in the spring. The daily temperature in Lake Garda averages around 13°C (55°F) in April, and Costa de Prata fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Costa de Prata. In the spring, Lake Garda often gets less sunshine than Costa de Prata. Lake Garda gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Costa de Prata receives 217 hours of full sun.
Lake Garda usually gets less rain in April than Costa de Prata. Lake Garda gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Costa de Prata receives 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLake Garda 13°C (55°F)Costa de Prata 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Costa de Prata and Lake Garda
| Lake Garda | Costa de Prata | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 2°C (36°F) | 55 mm (2.1 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 139 mm (5.5 in) |
| Feb | 5°C (40°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Mar | 9°C (47°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (75°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (73°F) | 88 mm (3.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) |
| Sep | 19°C (67°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 14°C (57°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Nov | 8°C (46°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 128 mm (5 in) |
| Dec | 3°C (37°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 130 mm (5.1 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.