Should you visit Portimao or Aveiro?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Portimao and Aveiro. We’ll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget. So, let's dig into it.
Portimao
The second biggest city in the Alrgarve region of Portugal, Portimao sits on the coast where the Arade River meets the Atlantic Ocean. It is renowned for its fresh fish restaurants and is also a popular destination for beachgoers at the Praia da Rocha to the south of the city.
Aveiro
Aveiro has great canals that are lined by houses. Because of this ambiance, the town has earned its nickname the "Portuguese Venice." While it's similar, don't put too much into the name. The town is also known for it's colorful boats, referred to as moliceiros, that ride along the canals and under the bridges.
While the canals are lovely, most visitors actually come for the beaches. Aveiro's beaches are known for their clean and pristine sand. The shore is referred to as the Silver Coast, and has comfortably warm water, which is another major draw to the area.
Aveiro is comfortable year around because it's winters are mild and warm and its summer is somewhat cool. The winter months get the most rain and the summer is usually the driest. If you're there during the fall and winter, the winds will be strong making it the best time for surfing, sailing, and other water sports.
Which city is cheaper, Aveiro or Portimao?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Portimao is €121, while the average daily cost in Aveiro is €64. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Portimao and Aveiro in more detail.
Accommodation
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about €124 for a double occupancy room in Portimao.
For a normal double-occupancy room in Aveiro, €74 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Aveiro, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is €37, such as in a hostel.
Food
The price of a meal in Portimao can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is €36 per person, and a typical meal will cost around €14 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
Food in Aveiro costs travelers about €22 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
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Food
Meals for one day
Portimao €36
Aveiro €22
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Portimao
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Portimao.
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Portimão - Food Tour:
$96
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around €30 per day to get around in Portimao.
Aveiro's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend €6.86 per person, per day on transportation in Aveiro.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Portimao
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Portimao:
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Private Transfer from Portimao to Faro (FAO) Airport:
$96
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Private Transfer from Hotel da Rocha to Faro (FAO) Airport:
$96
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Airport Transfer:
$94
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Faro Airport Private Transfer to or from Portimão/Praia da Rocha:
$88
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Transfer Praia da Rocha - Balaia Golf (Albufeira):
$66
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Transfer Portimão - Balaia Golf (Albufeira):
$62
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Transfer Portimão - Boavista Golf (Lagos):
$52
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Transfer Praia da Rocha - Boavista Golf (Lagos):
$52
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Faro Private Transfer to or from Portimão:
$44
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Faro Shared Transfer to or from Portimão:
$38
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Transfer Portimão - Alamos Golf (Portimão) Pending:
$36
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Transfer Praia da Rocha - Alamos Golf (Portimão):
$36
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aveiro
Also for Aveiro, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Porto Private Transfer to or from Aveiro:
$46
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Aveiro Private Transfer to Porto:
$51
Is it cheaper to fly into Portimao or Aveiro?
Prices for flights to both Aveiro and Portimao 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.
Entertainment
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around €33 per person, per day in Portimao. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Aveiro can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around €6.86 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Tours and Activities in Portimao
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Portimao are as follows:
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1 Hour - Express tour to Benagil Cave:
$28
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2 Hours Portimão Walking Tour:
$20
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2.5-Hour Cruise to Benagil Caves From Portimão:
$37
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2h30min Private Benagil Caves Tour & Snorkeing & Cliff-jumping with Lots of fun!:
$373
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Afternoon Sailing and Caves Tour from Portimao:
$44
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Algarve Coastline Tour from Portimao jeep and boat tour:
$75
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Algarve Jeep Safari tours:
$38
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Benagil & Marinha Boat Tour:
$44
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Benagil - Private Tour with Captain - Algarve Cave Captain:
$348
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Benagil Boat Tour with Local Guide:
$35
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Benagil Cave and Marinha Beach Boat Tour from Portimao:
$37
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Benagil Caves Tour & Snorkeling & Cliff-jumping - lots of fun and adventure:
$50
Tours and Activities in Aveiro
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Aveiro.
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Classic Aveiro City Tour by Bike:
$31
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Aveiro Atlantic Tour - Natural Reserve - Barra Beach - Costa Nova:
$50
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Photo tour/workshop in the beautiful and biodiverse Freita mountains:
$68
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Bairrada Wine Experience:
$75
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Anew Tour in Aveiro ( porto ) Half day:
$101
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Aveiro and Ílhavo Tour from Porto with River Cruise:
$103
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Half Day in Aveiro - Private Tour:
$199
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Coimbra & Aveiro - Private Tour:
$323
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Half Day Aveiro and Costa Nova Small-Group Tour with River Cruise from Porto:
$405
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Full Day Aveiro and Coimbra Small-Group Tour from Porto with River Cruise:
$496
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Full Day Porto to Lisbon with Aveiro, Fátima and Óbidos - Private Tour:
$1,177
Alcohol
The average person spends about €24 on alcoholic beverages in Portimao per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Aveiro, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is €14.
Sample the Local Flavors in Portimao
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Portimao:
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Portimão & Carvoeiro: Algarve Wine Tour in a VW T2 Van:
$57
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Algarve Wine Tour of Two Wine Estates:
$72
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Algarve wine tour of two wine estates and lunch at hystorical town of Silves:
$112
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Algarve Wine Tour and Mountain Discovery With Lunch at Mountain Top:
$144
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Alentejo Wine Tour from the Algarve:
$207
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Portimao and Aveiro, we can see that Portimao is more expensive. And not only is Aveiro much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Aveiro would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Aveiro 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 Portimao would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Portimao than you might in Aveiro.
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