Should you visit Portimao or Valencia?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Portimao and Valencia. 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.
Valencia
Valencia is a port city that sits on Spain's southeastern Orange Blossom coast, where the Turia River meets the Mediterranean Sea. As the nation's third-largest city, it is continually innovative in the arts and sciences with some futuristic architecture including a planetarium, oceanarium, and an interactive museum. The nightlife and daytime culture both thrive in their own ways, bustling with limitless opportunities for sight-seeing and entertainment. While the city is surrounded by fertile farmland, its center is a modern metropolis, skirted by beautiful beaches.
Which city is cheaper, Valencia 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 Valencia is €98. 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 Valencia 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.
A hotel room in Valencia is about €92 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
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.
On average, meal and food prices in Valencia cost around €32 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around €13.
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Food
Meals for one day
Portimao €36
Valencia €32
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Valencia
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Valencia.
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Traveling Spoon Spanish Tapas Private Online Cooking Class:
$27
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Traveling Spoon Sangria and Tapa Private Online Cooking Class:
$27
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Authentic Valencian Paella Cooking Class in a Traditional Farmhouse:
$84
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Authentic Valencian Paella Cooking Class:
$85
-
Spanish Night: Tapas Dinner and Flamenco Show:
$85
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Traditional Paella Cooking Class in Valencia:
$98
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Tapas Dinner and Flamenco Show in Valencia:
$100
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Valencia City Centre Food Tour:
$112
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Valencia Sunset Cruise with Dinner at the Beach:
$132
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Panoramic City Tour of Valencia with Paella Cooking Class:
$156
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Paella Cooking Class and Valencia Historical Walking Tour:
$168
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Paella Cooking Class and Flamenco Show with Tapas Dinner in Valencia:
$187
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.
The average price of local transportation around Valencia is €14 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Portimao
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Portimao:
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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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Faro Private Transfer to or from Portimão:
$44
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Faro Shared Transfer to or from Portimão:
$38
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Private Transfer from Hotel da Rocha to Faro (FAO) Airport:
$96
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Private Transfer from Portimao to Faro (FAO) Airport:
$96
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Transfer Portimão - Alamos Golf (Portimão) Pending:
$36
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Transfer Portimão - Alto Golf Pestana (Alvor):
$36
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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 - Alamos Golf (Portimão):
$36
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Transfer Praia da Rocha - Alto Golf Pestana (Alvor):
$36
Typical Local Transportation prices in Valencia
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Valencia:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Valencia
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Valencia:
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Private Airport Transfer: from Valencia Airport (VLC) to Valencia:
$23
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Private Airport Transfer: from Valencia to Valencia Airport (VLC):
$23
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Transfer in Taxi From Valencia Old City to VLC Airport:
$24
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Valencia to Valencia Airport (VLC) - Departure Private Van Transfer:
$26
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Private Arrival Transfer from Valencia Airport (VLC) to Valencia City Center:
$26
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Private Departure Transfer from Valencia City Center to Valencia Airport (VLC):
$26
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Valencia Private Arrival Transfer from Train Station to the City:
$32
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Valencia private departure transfer (CITY-TRAIN STATION):
$32
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Transfer Valencia Airport to downtown:
$36
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Private Transfer From/To Valencia Airport:
$39
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Valencia to Valencia Airport (VLC) - Departure Private Car Transfer:
$40
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Valencia Private Departure Transfer (HOTEL-PORT):
$40
Is it cheaper to fly into Portimao or Valencia?
Prices for flights to both Valencia 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.
Valencia's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around €23 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Tours and Activities in Portimao
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Portimao are as follows:
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2 Hours Portimão Walking Tour:
$20
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Benagil Caves Tours:
$25
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1 Hour - Express tour to Benagil Cave:
$28
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Tour to Benagil caves and others:
$31
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Morning Caves Expedition Tour from Portimao:
$35
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Benagil Boat Tour with Local Guide:
$35
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Benagil Caves Tour from Portimao:
$37
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Sunset Benagil Tour - relax your vacations:
$37
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Benagil Cave and Marinha Beach Boat Tour from Portimao:
$37
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2.5-Hour Cruise to Benagil Caves From Portimão:
$37
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Magical Benagil Cave Cruise:
$38
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Algarve Jeep Safari tours:
$38
Typical Entertainment prices in Valencia
Here are a few typical costs in Valencia for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in Valencia
Here are a few actual costs in Valencia for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Skip the Line: Valencia Silk Museum Ticket Entrance:
$7.46
-
San Nicolas de Bari Church Entrance Ticket:
$7.96
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360 Virtual tour of Ancient Valencia:
$14
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Valencia Family Tour:
$14
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Valencia Street Art Walking Tour:
$15
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Online tour, discover Valencia from your home:
$15
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Modernism Walking Tour of Valencia:
$15
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Valencia City of Arts Full-Day Combined Tickets:
$15
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24, 48, 72-Hour Valencia Tourist Card:
$18
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Historical Walking Tour:
$18
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Fallas tour:
$19
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Valencia Guided City Tour:
$19
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.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Valencia may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €16 per day on alcoholic beverages.
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 Valencia
Also in Valencia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Walking Tour in Valencia and wine tasting:
$42
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Private wine tasting with snacks in the historic centre of Valencia:
$66
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Valencia Wine Tasting Tour and Tapas:
$87
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Valencia City of Arts & Sciences Tour with Rooftop Wine Tasting and Tapas:
$106
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Valencia Wine Tour Wineries in Utiel Requena:
$137
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Valencia Wine Tour with Tasting and Lunch:
$173
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Private Wine Tour with Wine Tasting and Full Lunch:
$180
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Utiel Requena Day Trip - Ecologic Olive Oil And Wine Tasting:
$187
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Utiel Requena Day Trip - Ecologic Olive Oil And Wine Tasting - PRIVATE TOUR:
$267
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Accessible Private, Accessible Wine Tour with Lunch:
$381
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Gastronomical Private Tour of Valencia with Wine Tasting:
$423
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Portimao and Valencia, we can see that Portimao is more expensive. And not only is Valencia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Valencia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Valencia 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 Valencia.
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