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

Should you visit Madeira Islands or Porto?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Madeira Islands and Porto 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.

Where Should I go: Madeira Islands or Porto?

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.

Porto

Porto is the second largest city in Portugal. It is also the capital of the Northern Region and a hub for commercial and industrial activity. The city is not as large as you might expect, with a population of only about 300,000 residents, but the metropolitan area has a population of about 2.5 million. This includes nearby cities such as Gaia, Matosinhos, Maia and Gondomar.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Portugal, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Portugal, The Best Bicycle Tours in Portugal, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Portugal.


Which place is cheaper, Porto or Madeira Islands?

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 Madeira Islands is €117, while the average daily cost in Porto is €160. 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 Madeira Islands and Porto in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Madeira Islands 52
    Porto 72
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Madeira Islands 104
    Porto 144
Compare Hotels in Madeira Islands and Porto

Looking for a hotel in Madeira Islands or Porto? 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 Madeira Islands


Hotels in Porto


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: Madeira Islands Hotel Prices and Porto Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Madeira Islands 9.87
    Porto 21

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Porto

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

  • Transfer:Porto City to Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport(OPO): $22
  • Transfer from porto airport to Porto city (or return): $117
  • Transfer Taxi Service Porto , Gaia , Airport , Train , Bus , Ship: $63
  • Transfer Porto Centro to Airport (OPO): $41
  • Transfer Oporto - Aeroport / Up to 4 passengers: $29
  • Transfer Airport (OPO) - Porto Centro: $47
  • Private transfer from Santiago de Compostela to Oporto: $544
  • Private transfer from Oporto to Lisbon or Lisbon to Oporto: $265
  • Private airport transfers from Porto to various cities.: $18
  • Private Transfer: Porto to Porto Airport OPO by Business Car: $83
  • Private Transfer: Porto Airport OPO to Porto in Business Car: $83
  • Private Transfer to Porto from Tarouca: $133

Is it cheaper to fly into Madeira Islands or Porto?

Prices for flights to both Porto and Madeira Islands 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
    Madeira Islands 55
    Porto 63

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Porto

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

  • Pastel de Nata Cooking Class with Porto Wine (Sé do Porto): $41
  • Vegan Pastel de Nata Cooking Class with Port Wine: $41
  • Pastel de Nata Cooking Class with Porto Wine (Lapa): $41
  • Taste of the Ocean Authentic Porto Seafood Tour: $83
  • Authentic Porto Small Group Food Tour with Local Tastings: $87
  • Aveiro Private Cooking Experience (for vacation rental guests): $88
  • Small Group Porto Food Tour Traditional Taverns and Local Dishes: $88
  • Craft Beer & Food Tour in Porto by Taste Porto (since 2013): $88
  • Authentic Porto Food Tour + Traditional Restaurant Stop: $88
  • Porto Food Tour: $88
  • Shopping, cooking and eating together at my home in Porto: $88
  • Private Walking Food Tour with Tastings: $94

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Madeira Islands 15
    Porto 25

Tours and Activities in Porto

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

  • 1 Day Tour to Douro Valley from Porto: $224
  • 3-Hour Guided Walking Tour of Porto: $33
  • 3-Hour Porto Highlights on a Electric Bike Guided Tour: $52
  • 3-Hour Porto Jewish Heritage Walking Tour with Local Guide: $35
  • 3D Fun Art Museum Porto Ticket: $15
  • 3h30 tour in Porto by Tuk Tuk: $116
  • 4 Hour Blissful Wave Experience at Maceda Haven: $83
  • 50-Minute Private Douro River Cruise with Panoramic Views: $24
  • 516 Arouca Bridge & Paiva Walkways Tour with Lunch from Porto: $136
  • 516 Arouca Bridge, Paiva Walkways and Aveiro Tour: $136
  • AVEIRO COSTA NOVA AND COIMBRA Private Tour from Porto: $227
  • Alianca Underground Museum Experience: $218

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Madeira Islands 16
    Porto 19

Sample the Local Flavors in Porto

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Porto:

  • Porto Pub Crawl With Unlimited Beer: $21
  • Porto:Pub Crawl 4Bars,8Drinks,Games & VIP Club Entry: $21
  • Chocolate and Wine Tasting Activity in Matosinhos Portugal: $25
  • Poças Guided Visit and Wine Tasting of 3 Port Wines: $27
  • Poças Guided Visit and Port Wine Tasting with Pastel de Nata: $27
  • Poças Guided Visit and Wine Tasting of 2 DOC Douro & 1 Port Wine: $27
  • Premium wine tasting at Quinta das Arcas: $28
  • Classic Wine Tasting with GUIDED TOUR: $29
  • Cellar Tour, Port Wine Tasting & Fado Show at Fonseca: $29
  • Taylor's Port Cellars Visit & Port Wine Tasting: $29
  • Porto Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour with Wine tasting & Night tour: $32
  • Authentic Oporto Walking Tour with Wine Tasting: $33


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


Which has a larger population, Madeira Islands or Porto?

Porto has a larger population, and is about 4% larger than the population of Madeira Islands. When comparing the sizes of Madeira Islands and Porto, 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.