A Travel Price Comparison for Portugal Lisbon vs. Funchal for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Lisbon or Funchal?

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

Should I visit Lisbon or Funchal? 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: Lisbon or Funchal?

Lisbon

Portugal's capital city of Lisbon continues to grow in popularity as a travel destination. The cultural scene has come to life in recent years and the city itself is stunningly beautiful. It sits on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and is made up of hills that create a dramatic and scenic layout. The city has many white-bleached limestone buildings, narrow alleyways, and a laidback charm that appeals to visitors.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Portugal, The Best 2-Week Tours in Portugal, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Portugal, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Portugal.


Which place is cheaper, Funchal or Lisbon?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Lisbon is €167, while the average daily cost in Funchal is €116. 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 Lisbon and Funchal in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Lisbon 63
    Funchal 52
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Lisbon 126
    Funchal 104
Compare Hotels in Lisbon and Funchal

Looking for a hotel in Lisbon or Funchal? 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 Lisbon


Hotels in Funchal


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: Lisbon Hotel Prices and Funchal Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Lisbon 25
    Funchal 9.94
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lisbon

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Lisbon:


  • Taxi Ride
    6.50

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lisbon

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

  • Lisbon to Seville or vice versa private transfer one way: $780
  • Lisboa - Porto, Private Transfer, up to 3 cities visits: $741
  • Full Day Tour - Transfer to Algarve from Lisbon with Stops: $684
  • From the Algarve to Lisbon; Guided transfer with extra Wow!: $667
  • Transfer to Porto from Lisbon: $655
  • Private Transfer From Lisbon to Algarve By 8 Seats Minibus: $650
  • Private Transfer From Algarve To Lisbon By 8 Seats Minibus: $650
  • Private Door to Door Transfers from/to (Seville - Lisbon): $570
  • Transfer to Lagos from Lisbon: $570
  • Porto: Private Transfer Between Porto City and Lisbon City: $569
  • Lisbon - Coimbra, Private Transfer & up to 3 Cities visits: $558
  • Porto Private transfer visiting Nazare and Obidos: $546

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Funchal

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

  • XL Madeira Airport to Funchal City Centre - Private Transfer: $68
  • Transfers Wheelchair Scooter Transfers Airport / Funchal: $93
  • Transfer to Pico do Arieiro Self-Guided Hike (Morning slot): $37
  • Transfer to Caniçal UNESCO Self-Guided Hike Ponta São Lourenço: $35
  • Transfer Sunrise Self-Guided Hike Pico do Arieiro : $40
  • Transfer Rabacal 25 Fontes & Risco Levada Self-Guided: $40
  • Transfer Funchal - Madeira Airport: $41
  • Transfer Airport/Funchal/Airport: $91
  • Private airport transfer to Funchal 8 people more return: $105
  • Private Transfer to Levada do Alecrim - Rosemary Levada (easy): $64
  • Private Transfer from Madeira Airport(FNC) to Madeira Cruise Port: $38
  • Private Transfer Madeira Airport: $29

Is it cheaper to fly into Lisbon or Funchal?

Prices for flights to both Funchal and Lisbon 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
    Lisbon 73
    Funchal 54
Typical Food Prices in Lisbon

For Lisbon, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Coffee
    2.50

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lisbon

For Lisbon, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Food Tour: Portuguese wine & Tapas with Ginjinha Tasting: $40
  • Alfama Tour and Live Fado with Traditional Dinner: $56
  • Fado Show and Portuguese Dinner: $56
  • Fado Night with Dinner with Live Performance: $57
  • Portuguese street food cooking class with Drinks: $57
  • Legendary Beer Dinner: $57
  • Lisbon Fado Experience: Walking Tour, Dinner and Live Music Show: $57
  • Associação: Dinner in Lisbon–Portuguese live music–Fado Show: $58
  • Traditional Walking Food Tour: $58
  • Food Tour with Local Tastings and Drinks: $59
  • 2-Hour Pastel de Nata Cooking Class: $63
  • Pastel de Nata Cooking Class in Lisbon: $64

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: $33
  • Amazing Dinner with Folklore: $51
  • Madeiran Traditional Dinner: $93

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Lisbon 24
    Funchal 15

Tours and Activities in Lisbon

For Lisbon, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Óbidos - Nazaré - Mafra (National Palace of Mafra)Private tour from Lisbon: $168
  • 2 Hours Surf Lesson Experience in Costa da Caprica: $37
  • 2-Hour Private Historic Lisbon Tour by Tuk Tuk: $186
  • Divine Journey : Fatima Full Day Private Tour: $209
  • Fatima, Batalha, Nazare, Obidos Small Group Tour From Lisbon: $87
  • Lisbon by Heart Private Walking Tour: $99
  • 8h Tour to Nazaré, Óbidos & Alcobaça (Church Incl.): $103
  • Fatima, Nazare, Obidos, mira de aire cave private tour: $173
  • Private Tour in a Piaggio Ape Calessino: $105
  • Saint George Castle Guided Tour from Lisbon: $58
  • Sintra or Cascais Half-day Private Tour - The real portuguese essence!: $128
  • Sintra, Cascais and Estoril Coast with Tickets from Lisbon: $74

Tours and Activities in Funchal

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Funchal.

  • Wheelchair Porto Moniz Handicap Tour: $174
  • 25 Fountains Levada: Hiking Tour in Madeira Rabaçal Valley (PR6): $53
  • 4x4 Jeep Safari Porto Moniz - the "Farowest" tour - Full Day Small Groups : $76
  • Achada do Teixeira to Pico Ruivo in Madeira (PR1.2) - Hiking Tour: $53
  • Adventure Trikes Private Tour in Madeira : $168
  • Agriculture Green Tour : $99
  • All Madeira In 2 Days Tour: $76
  • Amazing East Tour : $35
  • Amazing Sunset (Private tour): $256
  • Arieiro Peak and Cristo Rei 4x4 Experience + Dolphins Watching: $103
  • Arieiro Peak, Santana & Ponta São Lourenço in Open Roof 4X4 Tour: $76
  • Arieiro Peak, Santo da Serra and Cristo Rei 4x4 Experience: $52

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Lisbon 18
    Funchal 16

Sample the Local Flavors in Lisbon

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Lisbon:

  • 1-Hour Portuguese Wine Tasting Session: $22
  • Pub Crawl with Open Bar and VIP Club Entry: $23
  • Pub Crawl with Open Bar, Shots & VIP Club Entry: $23
  • Lisbon Pub Crawl: Unlimited Drinks, Shots & V.I.P Club Entry: $23
  • Pub Crawl Lisbon - 1 Hour of Unlimited Beer and Sangria and more!: $23
  • Private Bar Crawl in Lisbon: $23
  • Portuguese Wine Tasting: $24
  • Guided Port Wine Tasting Apéritif/Digestif: $27
  • Beer Tasting in a Classic Brewery: $28
  • Lisbon Wine Tasting: $28
  • Brewery Experience with 5 Craft Beer Tastings: $29
  • A Taste of Wine Tasting Experience: $41

Sample the Local Flavors in Funchal

Also in Funchal, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • 3-Hour Madeira Cruise with Sweets & Wine Tasting: $40
  • Skywalk and 4x4 Adventure with Amazing Views and Wine Tasting: $52
  • Half day jeep Wine tour and tasting, & sea cliff adventure: $60
  • Bestselling Wine Tour, Tasting Experience & Skywalk 4x4 Adventure: $62
  • Wine tasting and Jeep Adventure in Madeira's Majestic Countryside: $62
  • Madeira 4x4 Tour and Wine Tasting Experience : $87
  • Shore Excursion: Private Madeira Tour & Wine Tasting: $94
  • Amazing Skywalk, Wine Tasting & 4x4 Adventure + Dolphin Watching: $103
  • Tuk Tuk Wine Tour - Madeira Island: $108
  • Exclusive Wine Tasting in the Wine Region of Boaventura: $134
  • Visiting local Vineyard With Wine Tasting & Lunch included: $203


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lisbon and Funchal, we can see that Lisbon 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 Lisbon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lisbon 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 Lisbon Expensive? and Is Funchal Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Lisbon or Funchal?

Lisbon has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Funchal. When comparing the sizes of Lisbon and Funchal, 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 Lisbon or Funchal?

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 Lisbon or Funchal in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Lisbon and Funchal. The summer months attract visitors to Lisbon because of the beaches, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Lisbon is generally around the same temperature as Funchal. Daily temperatures in Lisbon average around 23°C (73°F), and Funchal fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Funchal this time of the year. In Lisbon, it's very sunny this time of the year. Lisbon usually receives more sunshine than Funchal during summer. Lisbon gets 352 hours of sunny skies, while Funchal receives 227 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Lisbon usually receives less rain than Funchal. Lisbon gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Funchal receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Lisbon 23°C (73°F) 
    Funchal 22°C (72°F)

Should I visit Lisbon or Funchal in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Lisbon as well as Funchal. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Lisbon this time of year.

Lisbon is around the same temperature as Funchal in the autumn. The daily temperature in Lisbon averages around 19°C (66°F) in October, and Funchal fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Lisbon this time of the year. In the autumn, Lisbon often gets more sunshine than Funchal. Lisbon gets 213 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Funchal receives 183 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Funchal. Lisbon usually gets less rain in October than Funchal. Lisbon gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Funchal receives 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Lisbon 19°C (66°F) 
    Funchal 21°C (70°F)

Should I visit Lisbon or Funchal in the Winter?

Both Funchal and Lisbon are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Lisbon for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, Lisbon is cooler than Funchal. Typically, the winter temperatures in Lisbon in January average around 12°C (53°F), and Funchal averages at about 16°C (61°F).

Lisbon usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Funchal during winter. Lisbon gets 144 hours of sunny skies, while Funchal receives 141 hours of full sun in the winter.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Funchal. It's quite rainy in Lisbon. In January, Lisbon usually receives around the same amount of rain as Funchal. Lisbon gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Funchal receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Lisbon 12°C (53°F) 
    Funchal 16°C (61°F)

Should I visit Lisbon or Funchal in the Spring?

Both Funchal and Lisbon during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Lisbon in the spring for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.

In April, Lisbon is generally around the same temperature as Funchal. Daily temperatures in Lisbon average around 16°C (60°F), and Funchal fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

It's quite sunny in Lisbon. In the spring, Lisbon often gets more sunshine than Funchal. Lisbon gets 235 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Funchal receives 182 hours of full sun.

Lisbon usually gets less rain in April than Funchal. Lisbon gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Funchal receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Lisbon 16°C (60°F) 
    Funchal 17°C (63°F)

Typical Weather for Funchal and Lisbon

Lisbon Funchal
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 12°C (53°F) 110 mm (4.3 in) 16°C (61°F) 110 mm (4.3 in)
Feb 13°C (55°F) 111 mm (4.4 in) 16°C (61°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
Mar 14°C (58°F) 69 mm (2.7 in) 16°C (61°F) 60 mm (2.4 in)
Apr 16°C (60°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 17°C (63°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
May 18°C (64°F) 39 mm (1.5 in) 19°C (66°F) 20 mm (0.8 in)
Jun 21°C (69°F) 21 mm (0.8 in) 21°C (70°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Jul 23°C (73°F) 5 mm (0.2 in) 22°C (72°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Aug 23°C (74°F) 6 mm (0.2 in) 23°C (73°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Sep 22°C (72°F) 26 mm (1 in) 23°C (73°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
Oct 19°C (66°F) 80 mm (3.1 in) 21°C (70°F) 100 mm (3.9 in)
Nov 15°C (59°F) 114 mm (4.5 in) 19°C (66°F) 100 mm (3.9 in)
Dec 12°C (54°F) 108 mm (4.3 in) 18°C (64°F) 90 mm (3.5 in)