Should you visit Portimao or Funchal?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Portimao and Funchal. 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.
Funchal
Funchal is the capital city of the autonomous region of Madeira on the island of Madeira. The city is located to the south between the cities of Santa Cruz and Camara de Lobos. It is actually named for the fennel plant which grows liberally on the island. The city was most significant as a shipping center between the 15th and 17th centuries. Today it has a population of over 100,000 people and is, arguably, one of the most picturesque cities in Portugal. It's appeal as a tourist destination has made it the leading Portuguese port for cruise line dockings.
Which city is cheaper, Funchal 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 Funchal is €75. 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 Funchal 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.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about €82 in Funchal For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
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.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Funchal than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend €7.95 on transportation in Funchal on average per day.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Portimao
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Portimao:
-
Private Transfer from Portimao to Faro (FAO) Airport:
$96
-
Private Transfer from Hotel da Rocha to Faro (FAO) Airport:
$96
-
Airport Transfer:
$94
-
Faro Airport Private Transfer to or from Portimão/Praia da Rocha:
$88
-
Transfer Praia da Rocha - Balaia Golf (Albufeira):
$66
-
Transfer Portimão - Balaia Golf (Albufeira):
$62
-
Transfer Portimão - Boavista Golf (Lagos):
$52
-
Transfer Praia da Rocha - Boavista Golf (Lagos):
$52
-
Faro Private Transfer to or from Portimão:
$44
-
Faro Shared Transfer to or from Portimão:
$38
-
Transfer Portimão - Alamos Golf (Portimão) Pending:
$36
-
Transfer Praia da Rocha - Alamos Golf (Portimão):
$36
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Funchal
Also for Funchal, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Madeira: Funchal Shared Transfer to or from Airport:
$11
-
One-Way Private Transfer from Madeira Airport to Funchal or Monte:
$14
-
Madeira: Private Transfer to or from Palheiro Golf or Choupana:
$15
-
Madeira: Private Transfer to or from Camara de Lobos:
$15
-
Funchal Shared Departure Transfer:
$18
-
Madeira Private Transfer: To/From Funchal Airport:
$18
-
Funchal Shared Arrival Transfer:
$18
-
Private Airport Transfer: from Funchal to Madeira Airport (FNC):
$19
-
Madeira Airport Round Trip Shuttle Transfers Service:
$19
-
Madeira Airport Private Transfers Service To Funchal:
$21
-
Funchal Private Transfers Service to Madeira Airport:
$22
-
Private Service Airport Transfer:
$25
Is it cheaper to fly into Portimao or Funchal?
Prices for flights to both Funchal 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.
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.
In Funchal travelers spend around €25 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Portimao €36
Funchal €25
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Portimao
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Portimao.
-
Portimão - Food Tour:
$96
Typical Food prices in Funchal
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Funchal:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Funchal
For Funchal, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Madeira Evening Tour with Dinner and Performance:
$44
-
Madeira Nights Tour - Dinner and Show:
$45
-
“Petiscos” cooking experience & Market Tour:
$70
-
Madeira Sunset by 4x4 with Dinner from Funchal:
$70
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 expenses in Funchal, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of €12 per day, per person.
Tours and Activities in Portimao
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Portimao are as follows:
-
1 Hour - Express tour to Benagil Cave:
$28
-
2 Hours Portimão Walking Tour:
$20
-
2.5-Hour Cruise to Benagil Caves From Portimão:
$37
-
2h30min Private Benagil Caves Tour & Snorkeing & Cliff-jumping with Lots of fun!:
$373
-
Afternoon Sailing and Caves Tour from Portimao:
$44
-
Algarve Coastline Tour from Portimao jeep and boat tour:
$75
-
Algarve Jeep Safari tours:
$38
-
Benagil & Marinha Boat Tour:
$44
-
Benagil - Private Tour with Captain - Algarve Cave Captain:
$348
-
Benagil Boat Tour with Local Guide:
$35
-
Benagil Cave and Marinha Beach Boat Tour from Portimao:
$37
-
Benagil Caves Tour & Snorkeling & Cliff-jumping - lots of fun and adventure:
$50
Tours and Activities in Funchal
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Funchal.
-
Funchal Jesuits' College Tour:
$6.38
-
3d Fun Art Museum Ticket:
$11
-
Historical Walking Tour:
$15
-
Wine and Sugar Walking Tour:
$16
-
The Mysteries of Funchal Walking Tour:
$16
-
Old Funchal Walking Tour:
$16
-
Funchal Hop-On Hop-Off Tour:
$17
-
Câmara de Lobos Hop-On Hop-Off Tour:
$17
-
Camara de Lobos and Funchal Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour:
$19
-
São Tiago fortress tour:
$20
-
Funchal Hop-On Hop-Off Tour 3 in 1:
$21
-
Madeira Valley of the Nuns Tour:
$21
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 Funchal, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is €13.
Sample the Local Flavors in Portimao
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Portimao:
-
Portimão & Carvoeiro: Algarve Wine Tour in a VW T2 Van:
$57
-
Algarve Wine Tour of Two Wine Estates:
$72
-
Algarve wine tour of two wine estates and lunch at hystorical town of Silves:
$112
-
Algarve Wine Tour and Mountain Discovery With Lunch at Mountain Top:
$144
-
Alentejo Wine Tour from the Algarve:
$207
Sample the Local Flavors in Funchal
Also in Funchal, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Funchal City Tour with Madeira Wine Tasting:
$15
-
Half Day Traditions and Enchanting Valleys - Eira do Serrado, Curral das Freiras, Monte, Madeira Wine Tasting:
$49
-
Skywalk & Professional Wine Tasting and Vineyards Tour in Open Roof 4x4:
$60
-
Shore Excursion: Private Madeira Tour & Wine Tasting:
$94
-
Cabo Girão Skywalk+Vineyards+Wine Tasting Tour in Open Roof 4x4+Dolphin Watching:
$98
-
Full-Day Madeira Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch:
$166
-
Madeira wine tasting and sightseeing private tour from Funchal:
$534
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Portimao and Funchal, we can see that Portimao is more expensive. And not only is Funchal much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Funchal would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Funchal 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 Funchal.
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