A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Porto vs. Leiden for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Porto or Leiden?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Porto and Leiden can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Porto or Leiden?

Porto

Porto is the second largest city in Portugal. It is also the capital of the Northern Region and a hub for commercial and industrial activity. The city is not as large as you might expect, with a population of only about 300,000 residents, but the metropolitan area has a population of about 2.5 million. This includes nearby cities such as Gaia, Matosinhos, Maia and Gondomar.

Leiden

Leiden is a city in the province of South Holland. It is south of the Netherlands capital, Amsterdam, and has a population of about 190,000. It is known for its university, museums, markets, and of course, canals. Leiden University is the oldest university in the Netherlands and is a sister school of Oxford, which is England's oldest university.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Portugal, The Best 10-Day Tours in Portugal, The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam.


Which place is cheaper, Leiden or Porto?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Porto is €126, while the average daily cost in Leiden is €133. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Porto and Leiden in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Porto 65
    Leiden 78
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Porto 130
    Leiden 156
Compare Hotels in Porto and Leiden

Looking for a hotel in Porto or Leiden? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Porto


Hotels in Leiden


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Porto Hotel Prices and Leiden Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Porto 21
    Leiden 26

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Porto

Also for Porto, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Porto APT-HTL (OPO): $39
  • Transfer from Porto to Coimbra visiting Aveiro, half day: $154
  • Transfer from Porto Airport to / from Gerês: $129
  • Transfer Train/Bus station Campanhã to Porto City: $23
  • Transfer Porto Centro to Airport (OPO): $39
  • Transfer Porto: $33
  • Transfer Oporto - Aeroport / Up to 4 passengers: $27
  • Transfer From Porto To Lisbon: $286
  • Transfer Airport (OPO) - Porto Centro: $33
  • Tesla S Luxury Executive Porto Airport Transfer: $36
  • Surf Experience with Transfer to Matosinhos - All Levels: $55
  • Service Transfer Airport to Porto or Vila Nova de Gaia: $66

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leiden

Also for Leiden, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Zero Emission Tesla Taxi Transfer from Leiden Area to the Airport: $94

Is it cheaper to fly into Porto or Leiden?

Prices for flights to both Leiden and Porto 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Porto 36
    Leiden 39

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Porto

For Porto, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Pastel de Nata Cooking Class with Local Wine: $38
  • Tastiest Calories Food Tour: $49
  • Bolhão Market and Codfish Tasting Guided Food Tour: $53
  • Porto Food Tour: Full Meal & Drinks: $57
  • Half-Day Food Tour: $69
  • 3-Hour Food Tour: $69
  • Immersive Food Tour Experience: $71
  • Semi - Private Oporto Food Tour: $71
  • Oporto Food Tour Immersive Experience with +12 Tastings: $72
  • Portuguese Craft Beer and Food Tour: $75
  • Semi Private Oporto Fado Show with Dinner: $76
  • Semi Private Oporto Fado Show with Dinner: $77

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Porto 25
    Leiden 17

Tours and Activities in Porto

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Porto.

  • 4 Hour Blissful Wave Experience at Maceda Haven: $77
  • 1 Day Tour to Douro Valley from Porto: $209
  • 1 Hour Port Wine Class with Tasting in Touriga, Portugal: $55
  • 1.5-Hour Private Electric Tuk Tuk Sightseeing Tour Historic Porto: $26
  • 19th Century metal portrait an unique experience Porto-Portugal : $64
  • 2 Hour Private Tuktuk Tour in Porto to Monastery and Cellars: $160
  • 2-Hour Walking Tour in Two Banks of Porto: $33
  • 2-Hours of Porto Sunset Segway Tour - Guided Experience: $59
  • 2-hour Private Tour (1 to 6 people) on the Douro River with a local: $155
  • 3 Hour Porto Essential Private Tour: $50
  • 3 Hour Tuktuk Tour in Porto: $99
  • 3-Hour Best of Porto Segway Tour - Guided Experience: $76

Tours and Activities in Leiden

For Leiden, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 90 minutes Walking tour and Escape room in Leiden: $27
  • Discover Leiden with a self-guided Outside Escape city game tour!: $28
  • Dutch Windmills & Polder Walking Tour: $33
  • Half-Day Private Guided Tour in Leiden: $165
  • Highlights Walking Tour in Leiden with Audio and GPS Guide: $6.12
  • Historical Private Tour with Local Guide: $274
  • Historical Private Tour with Local Guide: $270
  • Leiden City Tour with Live guide in Netherlands: $42
  • Escape Tour - Self-Guided Citygame: $33
  • Guided City Canal Cruise: $14
  • Hortus Botanicus Entry Ticket: $9.77
  • Murder Crime Game Self-Guided Interactive City Tour: $75

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Porto 19
    Leiden 26

Sample the Local Flavors in Porto

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Porto:

  • Museu do Vitral Entry Ticket and Wine Tasting: $8.69
  • Museu do Vitral Entry Ticket with Wine Tasting: $8.81
  • Magic Train Tour and Port Wine Tastings: $15
  • Guided City Pub Crawl with Club Entry: $20
  • Pub Crawl with 5 Drinks: $20
  • Mysterious Pub Crawl Interactive City Discovery Game: $20
  • Porto Pub Crawl With Unlimited Beer: $20
  • Pub Crawl Porto Live night: $21
  • Pub Crawl with Shots and Drinking Games: $21
  • Poças: Guided Tour & Port Wine Tasting with Pastel de Nata: $21
  • Poças Guided Visit and Port Wine Tasting with Pastel de Nata: $21
  • Rooftop Fado concert, Port wine tasting, Portuguese tart: $22

Sample the Local Flavors in Leiden

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Leiden:

  • Leiden Private Self-Guided Pub Crawl Pub Quiz: $22
  • Leiden Private Self Guided Pub Crawl: $22


When comparing the travel costs between Porto and Leiden, we can see that Leiden 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.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Porto Expensive? and Is Leiden Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Porto or Leiden?

Porto has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Leiden. When comparing the sizes of Porto and Leiden, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.


When is the best time to visit Porto or Leiden?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Porto or Leiden in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Porto and Leiden. The summer months attract visitors to Porto because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Porto is generally a little warmer than Leiden. Daily temperatures in Porto average around 21°C (69°F), and Leiden fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Leiden this time of the year. In Porto, it's very sunny this time of the year. Porto usually receives more sunshine than Leiden during summer. Porto gets 308 hours of sunny skies, while Leiden receives 204 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Porto usually receives less rain than Leiden. Porto gets 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Porto 21°C (69°F) 
    Leiden 17°C (62°F)

Should I visit Porto or Leiden in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Porto as well as Leiden. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Porto this time of year.

Porto is much warmer than Leiden in the autumn. The daily temperature in Porto averages around 17°C (62°F) in October, and Leiden fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

In the autumn, Porto often gets more sunshine than Leiden. Porto gets 184 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leiden receives 99 hours of full sun.

Porto receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Porto usually gets more rain in October than Leiden. Porto gets 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Porto 17°C (62°F) 
    Leiden 11°C (51°F)

Should I visit Porto or Leiden in the Winter?

Both Leiden and Porto are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Porto for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Leiden can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Porto is much warmer than Leiden. Typically, the winter temperatures in Porto in January average around 10°C (50°F), and Leiden averages at about 2°C (36°F).

Porto usually receives more sunshine than Leiden during winter. Porto gets 124 hours of sunny skies, while Leiden receives 46 hours of full sun in the winter.

It's quite rainy in Porto. In January, Porto usually receives more rain than Leiden. Porto gets 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Porto 10°C (50°F) 
    Leiden 2°C (36°F)

Should I visit Porto or Leiden in the Spring?

Both Leiden and Porto during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Porto in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.

In April, Porto is generally much warmer than Leiden. Daily temperatures in Porto average around 14°C (56°F), and Leiden fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

It's quite sunny in Porto. In the spring, Porto often gets more sunshine than Leiden. Porto gets 217 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leiden receives 166 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Porto. Porto usually gets more rain in April than Leiden. Porto gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Porto 14°C (56°F) 
    Leiden 8°C (46°F)

Typical Weather for Leiden and Porto

Porto Leiden
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 10°C (50°F) 171 mm (6.7 in) 2°C (36°F) 66 mm (2.6 in)
Feb 11°C (51°F) 169 mm (6.7 in) 3°C (37°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Mar 12°C (54°F) 112 mm (4.4 in) 5°C (41°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)
Apr 14°C (56°F) 112 mm (4.4 in) 8°C (46°F) 52 mm (2 in)
May 16°C (60°F) 89 mm (3.5 in) 12°C (54°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Jun 19°C (66°F) 53 mm (2.1 in) 15°C (59°F) 68 mm (2.7 in)
Jul 21°C (69°F) 16 mm (0.6 in) 17°C (62°F) 75 mm (3 in)
Aug 20°C (69°F) 22 mm (0.9 in) 17°C (62°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Sep 20°C (67°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 14°C (57°F) 67 mm (2.6 in)
Oct 17°C (62°F) 131 mm (5.2 in) 11°C (51°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)
Nov 13°C (55°F) 152 mm (6 in) 6°C (43°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Dec 11°C (51°F) 176 mm (6.9 in) 3°C (38°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)