Should you visit Portimao or Palma de Mallorca?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Portimao and Palma de Mallorca. 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.
Palma de Mallorca
Palma de Mallorca is a resort city and capital of the Spanish island, Mallorca, in the western Mediterranean. It is home to landmarks like Gothic cathedrals and medieval fortresses, but is also host to sandy beaches where the city meets the sea in a backdrop of surrounding mountains. Amidst the city itself you will find it easy to get lost in the charm of cobbled lanes, busy markets, boutiques, and historic courtyards.
Which city is cheaper, Palma de Mallorca 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 Palma de Mallorca is €111. 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 Palma de Mallorca 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 Palma de Mallorca can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is €56, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around €112.
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.
Palma de Mallorca food costs typically run travelers around €36 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.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Portimao €36
Palma de Mallorca €36
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 Palma de Mallorca
For Palma de Mallorca, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Palma de Mallorca
For Palma de Mallorca, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Show Cooking Paella:
$124
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 Palma de Mallorca, the average visitor spends €20 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:
-
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 Palma de Mallorca
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Palma de Mallorca are as follows:
-
Taxi Ride
€6.80
-
Bus Ride
€1.25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Palma de Mallorca
Also for Palma de Mallorca, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Private Airport Transfer: Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI) to Palma de Mallorca:
$24
-
Palma de Mallorca Half Day Sightseeing Tour with Transfers:
$26
-
Private Transfer: Palma to Palma de Mallorca International Airport (PMI):
$48
-
Private Transfer: Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI) to Palma:
$48
-
Private Departure Transfer from Palma de Mallorca to Palma de Mallorca Terminal:
$50
-
Arrival Transfer from Palma de Mallorca Airport PMI to Palma in Private Car:
$69
-
Arrival Private Transfer Palma de Mallorca Airport PMI to Palma by Business Car:
$73
-
Arrival Transfer from Palma de Mallorca Airport PMI to Palma in Private Van:
$73
-
Transfer from Palma Airport (Majorca) to Magaluf (Any Hotel):
$83
-
Arrival Private Transfers : Mallorca Airport PMI to Palma in Business Car:
$84
-
Private Transfers from Palma de Mallorca Airport PMI to Palma in Business Car:
$90
-
Arrival Private Transfer Palma de Mallorca Airport PMI to Palma by Luxury Car:
$101
Is it cheaper to fly into Portimao or Palma de Mallorca?
Prices for flights to both Palma de Mallorca 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 Palma de Mallorca, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average €27 per person, per day.
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 Palma de Mallorca
For Palma de Mallorca, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
Alcudia Open Bus City Tour in Mallorca:
$21
-
Palma de Mallorca Sightseeing Day Tour:
$24
-
Palma de Mallorca Segway Ninebot Tour:
$56
-
Express Tour to Drach Caves and Portocristo:
$60
-
Segway Old Town Tour in Alcudia:
$77
-
Segway Lake Tour in Alcudia:
$77
-
Santa Ponsa: 3-Hour Scuba Diving Tour:
$77
-
Mallorca Coasteering Adventure:
$79
-
Small-Group Serra de Tramuntana Canyoning Experience in Mallorca:
$100
-
Classic Tour of Mallorca on Convertible Car:
$118
-
Bellver Castle Private Tour and Surrounding Highlights:
$158
-
Palma: Shopping Tour Experience w/ your Personal Shopper:
$194
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 Palma de Mallorca spend on average €24 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:
-
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
Typical Alcohol prices in Palma de Mallorca
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Palma de Mallorca are as follows:
Sample the Local Flavors in Palma de Mallorca
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Palma de Mallorca:
When comparing the travel costs between Portimao and Palma de Mallorca, we can see that Portimao 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.
Related Articles for Portimao
Related Articles for Palma de Mallorca
