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

Should you visit Porto or Playa del Ingles?

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 Playa del Ingles can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Porto or Playa del Ingles?

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.

Playa del Ingles

Translating to "Englishman's Beach," Playa del Ingles is a sea resort located on the south coast of the Gran Canaria island of Spain's Canary Islands. Since the 1960s it has been built up to accommodate tourists from around the world, especially from Europe. Some of the most popular attractions include an abundance of bars and clubs as well as beachside activities like swimming, surfing, scuba, and snorkeling.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Portugal, The Best 10-Day Tours in Portugal, The Best Contiki Tours to Spain, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Spain.


Which place is cheaper, Playa del Ingles 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 Playa del Ingles is €180. 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 Playa del Ingles in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Porto 65
    Playa del Ingles 93
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Porto 130
    Playa del Ingles 186
Compare Hotels in Porto and Playa del Ingles

Looking for a hotel in Porto or Playa del Ingles? 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 Playa del Ingles


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Porto 21
    Playa del Ingles 61

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 the Douro Valley : $218
  • Transfer from Porto Airport to / from Gerês: $128
  • Transfer Train/Bus station Campanhã to Porto City: $23
  • Transfer Porto: $32
  • Transfer Oporto - Aeroport / Up to 4 passengers: $27
  • Transfer From Porto To Lisbon: $283
  • Transfer Airport (OPO) - Porto Centro: $33
  • Tesla S Luxury Executive Porto Airport Transfer: $36
  • TRANSFER: AEROPORTO PORTO>VILA NOVA GAIA SEDAN: $48
  • Service Transfer Airport to Porto or Vila Nova de Gaia: $65
  • São Pedro to Sao Paulo Guarulhos Airport (GRU)-Departure Transfer: $80

Is it cheaper to fly into Porto or Playa del Ingles?

Prices for flights to both Playa del Ingles 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
    Playa del Ingles 49

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 in Downtown Porto: $37
  • Tastiest Calories Food Tour: $48
  • Bolhão Market and Codfish Tasting Guided Food Tour: $52
  • Porto Food Tour: Full Meal & Drinks: $56
  • Porto Food Tour - Do Eat Better Experience: $57
  • 3-Hour Food Tour: $68
  • Half-Day Food Tour: $68
  • Portuguese Craft Beer and Food Tour: $74
  • Semi - Private Oporto Food Tour: $74
  • Craft Beer & Food Tour in Porto: $75
  • Secret Food Tour: $77
  • Semi Private Oporto Fado Show with Dinner: $80

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Porto 25
    Playa del Ingles 33

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: $76
  • Ultimate Ribeira Walking Tour: $2.60
  • 1 Day Tour to Douro Valley from Porto: $207
  • 1.5-Hour Private Electric Tuk Tuk Sightseeing Tour Historic Porto: $26
  • 2 Hour Private Tuktuk Tour in Porto Douro to Left bank: $63
  • 2 Hour Private Tuktuk Tour in Porto to Monastery and Cellars: $81
  • 2 Hour Private Tuktuk Tour in Porto to Monastery and Cellars: $79
  • 3-Hour Cano-Rafting Tour on the Paiva River: $49
  • 3-Hour Electric Porto Bike Tour: $49
  • 3-Hour Porto Highlights on a Electric Bike Guided Tour: $48
  • 3-Hour Private Bike Tour Porto: $135
  • 3-Hour Walking Tour: Tiles of Porto: $30

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Porto 19
    Playa del Ingles 7.86

Sample the Local Flavors in Porto

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Porto:

  • Museu do Vitral Entry Ticket and Wine Tasting: $8.56
  • Guided City Pub Crawl with Club Entry: $13
  • Magic Train Tour and Port Wine Tastings: $15
  • Mysterious Pub Crawl Interactive City Discovery Game: $19
  • Pub Crawl with 5 Drinks: $19
  • Porto Pub Crawl With Unlimited Beer: $20
  • 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: $21
  • Classic Wine Tasting with GUIDED TOUR: $22
  • Pub Crawl Porto: $23


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Porto and Playa del Ingles, we can see that Playa del Ingles 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 Playa del Ingles would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Playa del Ingles 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 Playa del Ingles Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Porto or Playa del Ingles?

Porto has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Playa del Ingles. When comparing the sizes of Porto and Playa del Ingles, 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 Playa del Ingles?

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 Playa del Ingles in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Porto and Playa del Ingles. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Porto this time of year.

Porto is around the same temperature as Playa del Ingles in the summer. The daily temperature in Porto averages around 21°C (69°F) in July, and Playa del Ingles fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Playa del Ingles this time of the year. In Porto, it's very sunny this time of the year. Porto usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Playa del Ingles during summer. Porto gets 308 hours of sunny skies, while Playa del Ingles receives 293 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Porto usually receives more rain than Playa del Ingles. Porto gets 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 0 mm (0 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Porto 21°C (69°F) 
    Playa del Ingles 22°C (72°F)

Should I visit Porto or Playa del Ingles in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Porto as well as Playa del Ingles. Many travelers come to Porto for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Porto is cooler than Playa del Ingles. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Porto in October average around 17°C (62°F), and Playa del Ingles averages at about 23°C (73°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa del Ingles. In the autumn, Porto often gets less sunshine than Playa del Ingles. Porto gets 184 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa del Ingles receives 213 hours of full sun.

Porto receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Porto usually gets more rain in October than Playa del Ingles. Porto gets 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Porto 17°C (62°F) 
    Playa del Ingles 23°C (73°F)

Should I visit Porto or Playa del Ingles in the Winter?

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

In January, Porto is generally much colder than Playa del Ingles. Daily temperatures in Porto average around 10°C (50°F), and Playa del Ingles fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

Porto usually receives less sunshine than Playa del Ingles during winter. Porto gets 124 hours of sunny skies, while Playa del Ingles receives 187 hours of full sun in the winter.

It's quite rainy in Porto. In January, Porto usually receives more rain than Playa del Ingles. Porto gets 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Porto 10°C (50°F) 
    Playa del Ingles 17°C (63°F)

Should I visit Porto or Playa del Ingles in the Spring?

Both Playa del Ingles and Porto during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Porto for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.

Porto is cooler than Playa del Ingles in the spring. The daily temperature in Porto averages around 14°C (56°F) in April, and Playa del Ingles fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

In Playa del Ingles, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Porto. In the spring, Porto often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Playa del Ingles. Porto gets 217 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa del Ingles receives 225 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Porto. Porto usually gets more rain in April than Playa del Ingles. Porto gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Porto 14°C (56°F) 
    Playa del Ingles 19°C (66°F)

Typical Weather for Playa del Ingles and Porto

Porto Playa del Ingles
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 10°C (50°F) 171 mm (6.7 in) 17°C (63°F) 17 mm (0.7 in)
Feb 11°C (51°F) 169 mm (6.7 in) 17°C (63°F) 22 mm (0.9 in)
Mar 12°C (54°F) 112 mm (4.4 in) 18°C (64°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Apr 14°C (56°F) 112 mm (4.4 in) 19°C (66°F) 6 mm (0.2 in)
May 16°C (60°F) 89 mm (3.5 in) 20°C (68°F) 2 mm (0.1 in)
Jun 19°C (66°F) 53 mm (2.1 in) 21°C (70°F) 0 mm (0 in)
Jul 21°C (69°F) 16 mm (0.6 in) 22°C (72°F) 0 mm (0 in)
Aug 20°C (69°F) 22 mm (0.9 in) 24°C (75°F) 0 mm (0 in)
Sep 20°C (67°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 24°C (75°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
Oct 17°C (62°F) 131 mm (5.2 in) 23°C (73°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Nov 13°C (55°F) 152 mm (6 in) 21°C (70°F) 21 mm (0.8 in)
Dec 11°C (51°F) 176 mm (6.9 in) 19°C (66°F) 21 mm (0.8 in)