Should you visit Portimao or Faro?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Portimao and Faro. 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.
Faro
Faro (or sometimes Faros) is the capital city of the scenic Algarve Region of Portugal, located at the edge of the Ria Formosa National Park. This is a fantastic place to experience the beauty, culture, and traditions of Portugal in laid back atmosphere, away from the hustle and bustle of the larger cities. Faro offers everything from ancient architecture to beautiful beaches all while being surrounded by the natural beauty of the Algarve Region.
Which city is cheaper, Faro 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 Faro is €130. 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 Faro 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.
The prices for places to stay in Faro can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is €59, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around €118.
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.
Faro food costs typically run travelers around €41 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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Food
Meals for one day
Portimao €36
Faro €41
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.
To get around in Faro, the average visitor spends €6.90 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
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 Faro
Also for Faro, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Faro Airport Transfer Service:
$3.72
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Shared Arrival Transfer: Faro Airport to Algarve Hotels:
$8.62
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Faro Shared Transfer to Vilamoura:
$11
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Faro Private Transfer: To or From the Airport:
$11
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Private Arrival Transfer Faro Airport to Faro City:
$11
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Private Departure Transfer from Faro City to Faro Airport:
$11
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Faro Shared Arrival Transfer to Albufeira:
$14
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Faro Private Transfer to Vilamoura:
$15
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Faro Private Transfer to Albufeira:
$16
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Faro Shared Arrival Transfer to Armação de Pêra:
$16
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Private Airport Transfer: Faro Airport (FAO) to Faro:
$17
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Private Airport Transfer: from Faro to Faro Airport (FAO):
$17
Is it cheaper to fly into Portimao or Faro?
Prices for flights to both Faro 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.
In Faro, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average €56 per person, per day.
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 Faro
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Faro.
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Horse Experience For Children: Lead Rein Riding:
$3.72
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Birds and Nature Catamaran Tour from Faro:
$19
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Speed Boat Tour - Ria Formosa:
$32
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Algarve: Animaris Desert Island & Ria Formosa Day Tour:
$36
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Ria Formosa Natural Park Boat Cruise from Faro:
$37
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Birdwatching Boat Tour in Ria Formosa:
$38
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Small-Group Tour in Faro Islands:
$40
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Private Speed Boat Tour:
$45
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Stand Up Paddle tour, Ria Formosa:
$46
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Amoreira River Kayak Tour:
$50
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Amoreira River Stand Up Paddle Tour:
$50
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Ingrina to Barranco Grottos Kayak Tour:
$50
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.
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Faro
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Faro:
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Traditional Portuguese Guitar performance with Exhibition Museum & Wine Tasting:
$21
When comparing the travel costs between Portimao and Faro, we can see that Faro is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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