Should you visit Portimao or Lisbon?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Portimao and Lisbon. 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.
Lisbon
Portugal's capital city of Lisbon continues to grow in popularity as a travel destination. The cultural scene has come to life in recent years and the city itself is stunningly beautiful. It sits on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and is made up of hills that create a dramatic and scenic layout. The city has many white-bleached limestone buildings, narrow alleyways, and a laidback charm that appeals to visitors.
Which city is cheaper, Lisbon 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 Lisbon is €103. 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 Lisbon 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 €92 in Lisbon For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
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 Lisbon travelers spend around €33 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
Lisbon €33
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 Lisbon
For Lisbon, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lisbon
For Lisbon, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Wine & Dine Food Tour:
$22
-
History and Flavors Half-Day Food Tour:
$29
-
Virtual Portuguese Cooking Lesson:
$31
-
Live Online Cooking Class from Pastel de Nata with Filipa:
$39
-
Live Fado & Alfama Tour with Traditional Dinner:
$40
-
Bohemian dinner party on a beautiful rooftop near the coast:
$42
-
3-Hour Self-Guided Locals' Food Tour:
$48
-
The magic of Pasteis de Nata cooking class in Lisbon:
$53
-
Bitemojo Self Guided Food Tour New To Lisbon:
$54
-
2-Hour Pastel de Nata Cooking Class:
$55
-
Zero-Waste Cooking Workshop:
$56
-
Withlocals Your Way: Lisbon Personalised Private Food Tour:
$56
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.
Lisbon'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 €19 per person, per day on transportation in Lisbon.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Portimao
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Portimao:
-
Transfer Praia da Rocha - Boavista Golf (Lagos):
$52
-
Transfer Praia da Rocha - Balaia Golf (Albufeira):
$66
-
Transfer Praia da Rocha - Alto Golf Pestana (Alvor):
$36
-
Transfer Praia da Rocha - Alamos Golf (Portimão):
$36
-
Transfer Portimão - Boavista Golf (Lagos):
$52
-
Transfer Portimão - Balaia Golf (Albufeira):
$62
-
Transfer Portimão - Alto Golf Pestana (Alvor):
$36
-
Transfer Portimão - Alamos Golf (Portimão) Pending:
$36
-
Private Transfer from Portimao to Faro (FAO) Airport:
$96
-
Private Transfer from Hotel da Rocha to Faro (FAO) Airport:
$96
-
Faro Shared Transfer to or from Portimão:
$38
-
Faro Private Transfer to or from Portimão:
$44
Typical Local Transportation prices in Lisbon
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Lisbon:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lisbon
Also for Lisbon, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Lisbon Shared Transfer: To or From the Airport:
$11
-
Lisbon Private Transfer to Airport:
$11
-
Lisbon Airport Shared Departure Transfer:
$11
-
Lisbon Airport Shared Arrival Transfer:
$11
-
Lisbon Private Transfer: To or From the Airport:
$11
-
Private Transfer To or From Lisbon Airport:
$11
-
Shared Transfer Between Airport and City Hotels:
$11
-
Lisbon Shared Arrival Transfer from Airport, Train or Port:
$11
-
Lisbon Shared Departure Transfer to Airport, Train or Port:
$11
-
Lisbon Airport Arrival Shared Transfer:
$11
-
Lisbon Airport Shared Departure Transfer:
$11
-
Lisbon Airport: Shared Arrival and Departure Transfers:
$12
Is it cheaper to fly into Portimao or Lisbon?
Prices for flights to both Lisbon 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 Lisbon can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around €19 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:
-
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 Lisbon
For Lisbon, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
Lisbon Downtown Tour - The Perfect Introduction to the City:
$1.24
-
Rua Augusta Arch Admission Ticket:
$3.03
-
Lisbon Historical Walking Tour:
$3.11
-
Rua Augusta Arch Admission Ticket:
$3.41
-
Contemporary Park of Nations Walking Audio Tour by VoiceMap:
$5.48
-
The Soul of Alfama Self-guided Audio Tour by VoiceMap Lisbon:
$5.99
-
Museu Coleção Berardo Admission Ticket:
$6.22
-
Street Art Virtual Tour in Lisbon:
$6.22
-
Skip the Line: Pilar 7 Bridge Experience Admission Ticket:
$6.22
-
Lisboa Story Centre: 1-Day Admission Ticket:
$7.96
-
Lisboa Story Centre Admission Ticket:
$8.09
-
Lisboa Story Centre: 1-Day Admission Ticket:
$8.48
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.
Typically, people visiting Lisbon spend on average €14 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
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
-
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 Lisbon
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Lisbon:
-
Lisbon Pub Crawl:
$17
-
Lisbon Pub Crawl with Free Drinks:
$18
-
Lisbon Pub Crawl:
$18
-
Lisbon 4-Hour Pub Crawl:
$18
-
Alternative Pub Crawl with a Local Guide:
$28
-
3-Hour Portuguese History & Flavors Food & Wine Tour:
$30
-
Portuguese Wine Tasting and Cheese Lunch:
$44
-
From Half-Day Wine Tasting Tour:
$50
-
Christ the King and Arrábida Small-Group Tour with Wine Tasting from Lisbon:
$58
-
From Private Wine Tour with Setúbal & Arrábida:
$61
-
Sintra: Full-Day Tour from Lisbon with Wine Tasting:
$64
-
Private Full-Day Arrábida Park and Wine Tour:
$67
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Portimao and Lisbon, we can see that Portimao is more expensive. And not only is Lisbon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Lisbon would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lisbon 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 Lisbon.
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