A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Porto vs. Munich for Food, Nightlife, Backpackers, and Attractions

Should you visit Porto or Munich?

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 Munich can help you decide which place is right for you.

Porto

Porto is a cosmopolitan, dynamic, and historic port city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Munich

Munich is a high energy, multicultural, and economically thriving city. It's an amazing and huge city with tons of activities and things to do. Other reasons to visit include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Porto and Munich: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Porto or Munich?

You'll generally find more things to do in Munich than Porto. Munich is bigger than Porto, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Munich is better known for its nightlife, music, shopping, and big city activities, while Porto is more popular for its food, historical sights, and impressive beauty. Porto is well known for its authentic old town and the local port wine. Munich is well known for its beer halls (particularly during Oktoberfest), its historic buildings and its castles. Also, Munich is famous for The Nymphenburg Palace.

How is Porto different from Munich?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Munich and Porto. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Porto or Munich?

Spend time exploring the excellent sights and museums in either Porto or Munich.

Many visitors head to Porto specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. With such a long history, there are many landmarks and sights in the city. Popular attractions include the Clérigos Tower, Palácio da Bolsa, and Igreja de São Francisco.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Munich can be an interesting and educational experience. Famous sights include the Old Town Hall in Marienplatz, Nymphenburg Palace, and the Munich Residenz.

Is the Food Better in Porto or Munich? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Porto is a must-visit destination for its restaurant scene. Also, Munich is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Porto is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. The area's cuisine combines the ocean setting with the agriculture of the surrounding area, so you'll enjoy both seafood dishes as well as fresh meats and vegetables. The area is also famous for its Port wines and red wines. There are plenty of cellar tours as well was waterfront seafood restaurants to choose from.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Munich. Bavaria has some of the best food in Germany. Popular dishes include schnitzel, weisswurst and spätzel.

Is Porto or Munich Better for Nightlife?

Munich is very popular for nightlife. Also, Porto is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for nightlife and partying.

Munich is a party destination, and you'll find plenty of activity all night long. The city has a young and vibrant population that keep the nightlife scene active and fun. There are many bars and clubs around town, but the city is also famous for Oktoberfest during the months of September and October.

Porto offers plenty to do in the evening. This city comes to life in the evening, particularly on weekends when locals and tourists alike flock to the many bars, restaurants, and nightclubs.

Is Porto or Munich Better for Music?

Munich is very popular for live music. However, Porto is not a live music destination.

Munich is known as a music capital around the world. The city is known for its music festivals, large concerts, and small venues that are diverse enough that there is something for everyone.

Porto is not a live music destination.

Is Porto or Munich Better for its Old Town?

Porto is well known for its historic old town charm. However, Munich does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to Porto to see the historical old town. Known as Porto Ribeira, the city's historic district is the most visited part of the town. It begins on the banks of the River Douro and climbs into the hills behind it.

Munich does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Porto or Munich?

Munich is very popular for shopping. Also, Porto is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its shopping opportunities.

People travel from around the world to go shopping in Munich. There are many pedestrian areas and shopping centers where you can find everything from luxury items to bargain finds.

Porto offers some nice shopping areas. The city has both your standard shopping mall stores as well as local vendors and boutique shops.

Is Porto or Munich Better for Families?

You'll find excellent kid-friendly activities in either Porto or Munich.

Porto is a very family-friendly destination. The city has several cool museums including the interactive museum - The World of Discoveries. There are also parks, playgrounds, zoos, and aquariums that you can explore. For families that enjoy being outside, this is a great city. Kids will enjoy spotting street art, riding the funicular, and taking a cellar tour. If the kids need a break from the city, head to the beach for the day.

Munich is a very kid-friendly port city. Popular kid activities include going to the top of Stadium Roof at Olympic Park, checking out the movie sets at Filmstadt, and taking a paddle boat ride in the city park.

Is Porto or Munich Better for Couples?

Both Porto and Munich are excellent destinations to visit as a couple.

Porto is a great port city if you're traveling as a couple. You can visit the palaces, enjoy shopping, or dine in a nice Portuguese restaurant. Take a cellar tour and sample port then catch a ride on the funicular. This city has plenty for couples to do on a romantic getaway.

Munich is a very popular place to visit for couples. Couples enjoy exploring the palaces around the city, visiting the Roman baths at Müller's Volksbad, and checking out the many great restaurants around town.

Is Porto or Munich Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Porto and Munich are terrific places to visit.

Many backpackers frequent Porto. By combining world-class activities with affordability, this city has become a popular stop off for backpackers in the area.

Backpackers and budget travelers come from all over the world to visit Munich. The city has many fun hostels that often host events and activities for guests. It's easy to meet other backpackers and take advantage of the nightlife around town.

Is Porto or Munich Better for Students?

Munich is very popular for its student-friendly activities. Also, Porto is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for students.

Students come from all over the world to visit Munich. The city is an economic hub for both Germany and Europe, so it attracts employees from around the world. There are many wonderful university programs, including a great business school in town. The city's multicultural setting makes it great for international students.

Porto is a great port city to visit as a student. The city has a number of good research programs and study abroad opportunities that attract international students from around the world.

Is Porto or Munich Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Munich is very popular for times when you don't have a car. Also, Porto is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its public transit.

Munich has an effecient and thorough public transportation system which can take you anywhere in the city. Transit options include a subway (U-Bahn), suburban trains (S-Bahn), trams, and buses.

Porto has some very good public transit options. There is a metro system as well as a bus system. While the metro system does have six lines, most stations aren't close to the tourist attractions, so it likely won't be that helpful to visitors.

Is Porto or Munich a more walkable city?

Porto and Munich are excellent when it comes to walkability.

Porto is very walkable. The city center is very compact with most of the sights within a short walk of each other. The area is also very hilly, so getting from place to place can require a bit of effort.

Munich is a very walkable port city. While walking tours are a great way to explore, the city is quite large so you'll want to take public transit as well.

For even more information, also check out Is Porto Worth Visiting? and Is Munich Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Munich or Porto?

How long in Porto or Munich?

In either Porto or Munich, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. In our opinion, Munich has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Munich than Porto. However, 2-5 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in Porto than Munich. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Porto, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Munich than Porto. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Munich that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Munich than Porto if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Munich.

One day in Porto or Munich?

Porto is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

In Munich, many people enjoy the live music and food that this high energy big city offers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

A weekend in Porto or Munich?

Porto is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the food, as that's what most people do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Munich. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Five days in Porto or Munich?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Porto. Don't miss the food, as that's what most people do. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Munich is a fun place to experience. In Munich, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this big city destination offers. This would be the perfect place to spend five days, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A week in Porto or Munich?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the dynamic big city of Porto. This port city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the bustling big city of Munich. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Portugal, The Best 10-Day Tours in Portugal, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Germany, and The Best Walking Tours in Germany.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Porto and Munich, we can see that Munich is more expensive. And not only is Porto much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Porto would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Porto 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 Munich would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Munich than you might in Porto.

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

Which is Bigger, Porto or Munich?

Munich has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Porto. When comparing the sizes of Porto and Munich, 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 Munich?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Porto or Munich in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Porto as well as Munich. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Porto this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Munich for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Porto is generally around the same temperature as Munich. Daily temperatures in Porto average around 21°C (69°F), and Munich fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Munich. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Porto this time of the year. In the summer, Porto often gets more sunshine than Munich. Porto gets 308 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Munich receives 242 hours of full sun.

Porto usually gets less rain in July than Munich. Porto gets 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Munich receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Porto or Munich in the Autumn?

Both Munich and Porto are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Porto for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, many visitors come to Munich in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.

Porto is much warmer than Munich in the autumn. The daily temperature in Porto averages around 17°C (62°F) in October, and Munich fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

Porto usually receives more sunshine than Munich during autumn. Porto gets 184 hours of sunny skies, while Munich receives 115 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Porto. In October, Porto usually receives more rain than Munich. Porto gets 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Munich receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Porto or Munich in the Winter?

Both Munich and Porto during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Porto in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, most visitors come to Munich for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Munich can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Porto is much warmer than Munich. Typically, the winter temperatures in Porto in January average around 10°C (50°F), and Munich averages at about -1°C (31°F).

In the winter, Porto often gets more sunshine than Munich. Porto gets 124 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Munich receives 30 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Porto. Porto usually gets more rain in January than Munich. Porto gets 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Munich receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Porto or Munich in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Porto and Munich. Most visitors come to Porto for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Munich because of the activities around the city.

In April, Porto is generally a little warmer than Munich. Daily temperatures in Porto average around 14°C (56°F), and Munich fluctuates around 11°C (53°F).

In Porto, it's very sunny this time of the year. Porto usually receives more sunshine than Munich during spring. Porto gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while Munich receives 172 hours of full sun in the spring.

Porto gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Porto usually receives more rain than Munich. Porto gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Munich receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Munich and Porto