Should you visit Portimao or Valletta?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Portimao and Valletta. 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.
Valletta
A harbor city and the capital city of the island of Malta, Valletta dates back to the 16th-century with a preserved architectural heritage that earned the city a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is best known for its museums, palaces, and churches.
Which city is cheaper, Valletta 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 Valletta is €114. 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 Valletta 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.
Travelers usually pay around €128 for a double occupancy room in Valletta If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end 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.
Food in Valletta costs travelers about €35 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
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Food
Meals for one day
Portimao €36
Valletta €35
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 Valletta
For Valletta, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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The Valletta Food Tour Experience:
$156
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.
Valletta'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 Valletta.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Portimao
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Portimao:
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Transfer Praia da Rocha - Boavista Golf (Lagos):
$52
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Transfer Praia da Rocha - Balaia Golf (Albufeira):
$66
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Transfer Praia da Rocha - Alto Golf Pestana (Alvor):
$36
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Transfer Praia da Rocha - Alamos Golf (Portimão):
$36
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Transfer Portimão - Boavista Golf (Lagos):
$52
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Transfer Portimão - Balaia Golf (Albufeira):
$62
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Transfer Portimão - Alto Golf Pestana (Alvor):
$36
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Transfer Portimão - Alamos Golf (Portimão) Pending:
$36
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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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Faro Shared Transfer to or from Portimão:
$38
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Faro Private Transfer to or from Portimão:
$44
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Valletta
Also for Valletta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Round-trip Shuttle Bus Transfers from Malta Airport to Your Hotel in Malta:
$13
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Private Departure Transfer from Valletta City Center to Malta Airport:
$13
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Private Airport Transfer: Valletta/Sliema/St. Julian to Malta Int. Airport (MLA):
$14
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Private Airport Transfer: Malta Int. Airport (MLA) to Valletta/Sliema/St. Julian:
$14
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Private Airport Transfer: Malta International Airport (MLA) to St. Paul's Bay:
$18
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Private Airport Round-Trip Transfer: Malta Airport to Valletta City Center:
$27
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Malta Airport Arrival Transfer (Airport to Saint Julian's Hotels or Address):
$37
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Airport transfers to all locations in Malta (Private Groups or Families):
$40
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Private Transfer from Malta Luqa Airport to Cirkewwa Ferry:
$47
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Private Airport Transfer: Malta International Airport (MLA) to Valletta:
$68
Is it cheaper to fly into Portimao or Valletta?
Prices for flights to both Valletta 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 Valletta can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around €21 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:
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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 Valletta
For Valletta, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Valletta City Walking Tour:
$19
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The Original Valletta Walking Tour:
$19
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Valletta City Walking Tour with St. John's Co-Cathedral:
$22
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Valletta Small Group Tour of Must See Sites with a Native Guide:
$24
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Malta By Night Open-Top Bus Tour Including 1-Hour Mdina Stop:
$24
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Malta's Panoramic South Hop On Hop Off Tour:
$25
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Blue Grotto and Sunday Market at Marsaxlokk Fishing Village Tour:
$35
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Gozo Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Tour:
$37
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Valletta Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$40
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Half Day Tour of Valletta Malta's Capital City:
$53
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Valletta (UNESCO) guided tour including St John's Co-Cathedral, Malta Experience:
$55
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Mosta Crafts Village Mdina and Valletta Full Day Tour:
$66
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 Valletta spend on average €18 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
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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
When comparing the travel costs between Portimao and Valletta, 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.
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