Should I Visit Lisbon or Madeira Islands for Vacation? Which is Better? Which is Cheaper? Which is More Expensive?

Should you visit Lisbon or Madeira Islands?

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

Should I visit Lisbon or Madeira Islands? 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 Madeira Islands?

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.

Madeira Islands

Madeira, Portugal is an archipelago consisting of four islands, each covered with lush vegetation and mountainous landscapes. Madeira is famous for its fresh fish and namesake Madeira wine, which can be found throughout the main island. This area is the perfect blend of relaxing beaches and thrill-inducing activities such as paragliding and mountain biking. Portuguese is the main language here, although English is spoken widely by those in the tourism industry.

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, Madeira Islands or Lisbon?

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

Lisbon Prices
Portugal Prices

Madeira Islands Prices
Portugal Prices
Average Daily Cost Per person, per day

Lisbon €162

Madeira Islands €0.00

The average daily cost (per person) in Lisbon is €162, while the average daily cost in Madeira Islands is €0.00. 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 Madeira Islands in more detail.

Accommodation

Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person

Lisbon €58

Madeira Islands -
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room

Lisbon €116

Madeira Islands €0.00

Compare Hotels in Lisbon and Madeira Islands

Looking for a hotel in Lisbon or Madeira Islands? 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: Lisbon Hotel Prices and Madeira Islands Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation

Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.

Lisbon €24

Madeira Islands -

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 private luxury transfer to or from lisbon airport: $62
Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Lisbon HTL-APT (LIS): $36
Transfers from/to Lisbon Airport to: Fátima / Nazaré / Alcobaça..: $251
Transfers and Tours safely and comfortably aboard a Tesla M3: $37
Transfers: $126
Transfer: Airport to where you want in Lisbon: $39
Transfer: Airport to where you want in Cascais/Sintra: $79
Transfer to Sintra, Cascais, Estoril and Carcavelos from Lisbon: $84
Transfer to Setubal (not Troia or Comporta) from Lisbon: $52
Transfer to Porto with Stop in Coimbra and Aveiro: $566
Transfer to Porto from Lisbon: $440
Transfer to Peniche /Amoreira / Baleal from Lisbon: $212

Is it cheaper to fly into Lisbon or Madeira Islands?

Prices for flights to both Madeira Islands 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

Madeira Islands -

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:

Hard Rock Cafe Lisbon with Set Lunch or Dinner : $28
Food Tour: Portuguese wine & Tapas with Ginjinha Tasting: $36
2-Hour Pastel de Nata Cooking Class: $44
Portuguese street food cooking class with Drinks: $44
Fado Show and Portuguese Dinner: $45
Lisbon Fado Experience: Walking Tour, Dinner and Live Music Show: $47
Alfama Tour and Live Fado with Traditional Dinner: $51
Fado Night with Dinner in Fado Club: $51
Legendary Beer Dinner: $51
Pastel de Nata Cooking Class in Lisbon: $52
Lisbon Fado Night with Dinner in Ancient Fado House: $52
Valentine's Day Cruise with Dinner: $52

Entertainment

Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.

Lisbon €24

Madeira Islands -

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: $152
Lisbon City Half-Day Private Tour : $272
Lisbon by Heart Private Walking Tour: $90
Private Tour in a Piaggio Ape Calessino: $75
from Sintra half-day sightseeing tour: $188
Évora & Arroiolos Small-Group Full Day Tour : $115
Évora Private Tour: $180
Évora Private Tour - Cork Factory and Wine Estate Included: $288
Évora Tour: $136
Évora Tour - The heart of Alentejo region: $236
Évora and Alentejo & Wine Taste Private Full Day Tour from Lisbon: $225
Évora and Megalithic Circuit Private Tour 10H: $238

Alcohol

Alcohol Drinks for one day

Lisbon €18

Madeira Islands -

Sample the Local Flavors in Lisbon

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

Pub Crawl with Open Bar and VIP Club Entry: $15
Pub Crawl with Open Bar, Shots, & VIP Club Entry: $15
Lisbon Pub Crawl: Unlimited Drinks, Shots & V.I.P Club Entry: $20
1-Hour Portuguese Wine Tasting Session: $20
Lisbon Pub Crawl: $21
Guided Port Wine Tasting Apéritif/Digestif: $25
Port Wine Tasting Apéritif/Digestif at Portuguese Wine Bar: $25
Lisbon Wine Tasting: $26
Beer Tasting in a Classic Brewery: $26
Catamaran Luxury Sunset and Wine Tour: $37
Tipsy Tour Fun Bar Crawl with a Local Guide: $40
Tipsy Tour Fun Bar Crawl in Lisbon with Local Guide: $41

How are these travel costs calculated?

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lisbon and Madeira Islands, we can see that Lisbon is more expensive. And not only is Madeira Islands much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Madeira Islands would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Madeira Islands 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 Madeira Islands.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lisbon Expensive? and Is Madeira Islands Expensive?.

Which has a larger population, Lisbon or Madeira Islands?

Lisbon has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Madeira Islands. When comparing the sizes of Lisbon and Madeira Islands, 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.

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

Should you visit Lisbon or Madeira Islands?

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

Where Should I go: Lisbon or Madeira Islands?

Lisbon

Madeira Islands

Which place is cheaper, Madeira Islands or Lisbon?

Accommodation

Compare Hotels in Lisbon and Madeira Islands

Local Transportation

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lisbon

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lisbon

Is it cheaper to fly into Lisbon or Madeira Islands?

Food

Typical Food Prices in Lisbon

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lisbon

Entertainment

Tours and Activities in Lisbon

Alcohol

Sample the Local Flavors in Lisbon

Which has a larger population, Lisbon or Madeira Islands?

Related Articles for Lisbon

Related Articles for Madeira Islands

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

Should you visit Lisbon or Madeira Islands?

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

Where Should I go: Lisbon or Madeira Islands?

Lisbon

Madeira Islands

Which place is cheaper, Madeira Islands or Lisbon?

Accommodation

Compare Hotels in Lisbon and Madeira Islands

Local Transportation

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lisbon

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lisbon

Is it cheaper to fly into Lisbon or Madeira Islands?

Food

Typical Food Prices in Lisbon

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lisbon

Entertainment

Tours and Activities in Lisbon

Alcohol

Sample the Local Flavors in Lisbon

Which has a larger population, Lisbon or Madeira Islands?

Related Articles for Lisbon

Related Articles for Madeira Islands

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