A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Phuket vs. Porto for Food, Nightlife, Backpackers, and Families

Should you visit Phuket or Porto?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Phuket or Porto, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Phuket

Phuket is a energetic, party-hard, and stunning resort island. Phuket is a gorgeous place to visit. Other reasons to visit include beaches, shopping, and nightlife. See Phuket travel costs.

Porto

Porto is a cosmopolitan, dynamic, and historic port city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. The beauty of Porto is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Porto travel costs.

Phuket and Porto: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Phuket or Porto?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Porto than Phuket. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Porto is very popular for its museums and attractions, food, historical sights, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Phuket attracts visitors for its nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, and beaches. Phuket is more touristy than Porto and is popular for its long sandy beaches, wild nightlife, colorful resorts, and easy access to day tours. Porto is famous for its authentic old town and the local port wine. It is also well known for Cais da Ribeira.

How is Phuket different from Porto?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Porto and Phuket. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Phuket or Porto?

Porto is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. However, Phuket does not have museums and landmarks.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Porto can be an interesting and educational experience. With such a long history, there are many landmarks and sights in the city. Popular attractions include the Clérigos Tower, Palácio da Bolsa, and Igreja de São Francisco.

Phuket does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Phuket or Porto? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Porto is an amazing port city to visit for its restaurant scene. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Porto is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. The area's cuisine combines the ocean setting with the agriculture of the surrounding area, so you'll enjoy both seafood dishes as well as fresh meats and vegetables. The area is also famous for its Port wines and red wines. There are plenty of cellar tours as well was waterfront seafood restaurants to choose from.

Phuket has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. Because it served as an international port for so long, food around the island has many international influences. For the most authentic local food, head into Phuket Town. Many dishes include seafood, but there are also chicken curries and noodle soup. Like elsewhere in Thailand, the food can be quite spicy but because the island is so touristy, they're accustomed to people asking for "no spice."

Is Phuket or Porto Better for Nightlife?

Phuket is very popular for nightlife. Also, Porto is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for nightlife and partying.

Phuket is a party destination, and you'll find plenty of activity all night long. The island has a long running reputation as a party destination and it lives up to expectations. The biggest party area is Patong, particularly around Bangla Road, but even in Kata and Karon, it's hard to escape the party atmosphere.

Porto offers plenty to do in the evening. This city comes to life in the evening, particularly on weekends when locals and tourists alike flock to the many bars, restaurants, and nightclubs.

Is Phuket or Porto Better for Resorts?

Phuket is very popular for its luxury resorts. However, Porto is not a resort destination.

If you're looking for a fantastic resort destination, Phuket is a perfect choice. It's easy accessibility and larger size make this the premiere resort destination in Thailand. There are five star resorts, family-friendly resorts, and everything in between. Many people use the island as a base for exploring other nearby islands. Any resort or tour company can arrange excursions or activities for guests.

Porto is not a resort destination.

Is Phuket or Porto Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Phuket is a great resort island for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Porto is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

There is a nice variety of marine life that makes scuba diving and snorkeling great in Phuket. You can dive and snorkel year round, but the visibility is usually best between November and May. There are countless boat tours available and the easy accessibility make this a good base for snorkeling and diving. Many areas are overrun with tourists though, so it'll be hard to find a quiet, undisturbed location.

Porto is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Phuket or Porto Better for Beaches?

Phuket is very popular for its beaches. However, Porto is not a beach destination.

With world-famous beaches, Phuket is a very popular vacation destination. The island has more than 30 beaches to choose from, ranging from party hard areas to a few quieter gems in more remote locations. The area became a world-famous destination because of its white sand beaches and crystal clear waters, and the beaches will not disappoint, even if development has taken over the island.

Porto is not a beach destination.

Is Phuket or Porto Better for its Old Town?

Porto is a great destination for its old town. However, Phuket does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to Porto to see the historical old town. Known as Porto Ribeira, the city's historic district is the most visited part of the town. It begins on the banks of the River Douro and climbs into the hills behind it.

Phuket does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Phuket or Porto?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Porto and Phuket.

Phuket offers some nice shopping areas. Shopping malls offer a range of stores, air conditioning, and fixed prices while markets have more local items and unique souvenirs. There are also galleries and other souvenir shops all over the island.

Porto has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. The city has both your standard shopping mall stores as well as local vendors and boutique shops.

Is Phuket or Porto More Beautiful?

Porto is a great destination for its scenery and beauty. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for its scenery and beauty.

The beauty of Porto is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. The city sits beautifully on the water and it has a charming atmosphere.

Phuket offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It is a mix of beautiful beaches and tourist crowds. The island is very developed with a combination of 5 star hotels, souvenir shops, and tour companies. Because of the many excursions leaving from the island, many visitors find it a makes a good base for exploring the area.

Is Phuket or Porto Better for Families?

Porto is a great destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Porto is a very kid-friendly port city. The city has several cool museums including the interactive museum - The World of Discoveries. There are also parks, playgrounds, zoos, and aquariums that you can explore. For families that enjoy being outside, this is a great city. Kids will enjoy spotting street art, riding the funicular, and taking a cellar tour. If the kids need a break from the city, head to the beach for the day.

Phuket offers lots of family activities. Many people visit this island with kids because it has beautiful beaches and tons of activities including water sports, water parks, and amusement areas. The island is filled with a diversity of tourists, so you'll encounter a number of areas with party-hard atmospheres, but there are also tons of family-friendly resorts to choose from as well.

Is Phuket or Porto Better for Couples?

Phuket and Porto are both excellent to visit as a couple.

Couples visit Phuket frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. The island is filled with beautiful beaches and plenty of activities for all travel styles. It's a tourist and party mecca in Thailand with many resorts and restaurants to choose from.

Porto is a great resort island if you're traveling as a couple. You can visit the palaces, enjoy shopping, or dine in a nice Portuguese restaurant. Take a cellar tour and sample port then catch a ride on the funicular. This city has plenty for couples to do on a romantic getaway.

Is Phuket or Porto Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Porto is an amazing port city to visit for backpackers. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers and budget travelers come from all over the world to visit Porto. By combining world-class activities with affordability, this city has become a popular stop off for backpackers in the area.

Phuket is a good resort island to visit for backpackers. It has a long history as a party island with expensive prices and hordes of tourists. While it gets its share of backpackers, many visitors complain about the lack of authenticity and prefer to spend their time elsewhere.

Is Phuket or Porto Better for Students?

Porto is a great destination for students. However, Phuket is not popular with students.

Porto is a great port city to visit as a student. The city has a number of good research programs and study abroad opportunities that attract international students from around the world.

Phuket is not popular with students.

Is Phuket or Porto Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Porto is a great destination for its public transit. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

The public transit in Porto can get you around easily. There is a metro system as well as a bus system. While the metro system does have six lines, most stations aren't close to the tourist attractions, so it likely won't be that helpful to visitors.

While Phuket offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. Tuk tuks, buses, and motorbike taxis are all available on the island. The buses are usually Songtaew, which have open air seating areas.

Is Phuket or Porto a more walkable city?

Porto is a great destination for its high level of walkability. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.

Porto is a very walkable port city. The city center is very compact with most of the sights within a short walk of each other. The area is also very hilly, so getting from place to place can require a bit of effort.

Phuket is a somewhat walkable resort island. Most of the hotels and resorts are walking distance to the beach and many resort areas are small enough to be explored on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Phuket Worth Visiting? and Is Porto Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Porto or Phuket?

How long in Phuket or Porto?

In either Phuket or Porto, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Phuket than Porto because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Phuket, and 2-5 days is enough time in Porto.

Families should spend more time in Porto than Phuket. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Porto, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Porto than Phuket. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Porto that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Porto than Phuket 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 Porto.

One day in Phuket or Porto?

In Phuket, many people enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping that this activity-filled destination offers. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. This resort island offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

Porto is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Phuket or Porto?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Phuket. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Porto is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the food, as that's what most people do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Phuket or Porto?

Phuket is a fun place to experience. In Phuket, many people enjoy the nightlife and food that this destination offers. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. This would be the perfect place to spend five days, as it has just the right amount of activities.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Porto. Don't miss the food, as that's what most people do. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Phuket or Porto?

In Phuket, many people enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling that this stunning destination offers. Plenty of people spend one week in the area when traveling. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is often enough time to do most activities.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the historic big city of Porto. This port city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Portugal, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Portugal.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Phuket and Porto, we can see that Porto is more expensive. And not only is Phuket much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Phuket is in Asia and Porto is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Phuket would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Phuket 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 Phuket.

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

Which is Bigger, Phuket or Porto?

Porto has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Phuket. When comparing the sizes of Phuket 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.

When is the best time to visit Phuket or Porto?

Porto has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Phuket experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Phuket or Porto in the Summer?

Both Porto and Phuket during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Phuket because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Porto because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Phuket is generally a little warmer than Porto. Daily temperatures in Phuket average around 28°C (82°F), and Porto fluctuates around 21°C (69°F).

In Porto, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Phuket. In the summer, Phuket often gets less sunshine than Porto. Phuket gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Porto receives 308 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Phuket. Phuket usually gets more rain in July than Porto. Phuket gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while Porto receives 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Phuket or Porto in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Phuket and Porto. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Phuket year-round. Also, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Porto this time of year.

Phuket is much warmer than Porto in the autumn. The daily temperature in Phuket averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Porto fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).

Phuket usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Porto during autumn. Phuket gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Porto receives 184 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Porto receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Phuket gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Phuket usually receives more rain than Porto. Phuket gets 304 mm (12 in) of rain, while Porto receives 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn. December to March in Phuket is the dry season. Also, June to October is the rainy season in Phuket.

Should I visit Phuket or Porto in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Phuket as well as Porto. Phuket attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Porto for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, Phuket is much warmer than Porto. Typically, the winter temperatures in Phuket in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Porto averages at about 10°C (50°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Phuket this time of the year. In the winter, Phuket often gets more sunshine than Porto. Phuket gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Porto receives 124 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Porto. Phuket usually gets less rain in January than Porto. Phuket gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Porto receives 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, December to March in Phuket is the dry season.

Should I visit Phuket or Porto in the Spring?

Both Porto and Phuket are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Phuket throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Porto in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.

In April, Phuket is generally much warmer than Porto. Daily temperatures in Phuket average around 29°C (84°F), and Porto fluctuates around 14°C (56°F).

It's quite sunny in Porto. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Phuket. Phuket usually receives more sunshine than Porto during spring. Phuket gets 249 hours of sunny skies, while Porto receives 217 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Porto. It's quite rainy in Phuket. In April, Phuket usually receives around the same amount of rain as Porto. Phuket gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Porto receives 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the spring. The rainy season in Phuket is June to October.

Typical Weather for Porto and Phuket