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

Should you visit Porto or Urbino?

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

Porto

Porto is a dynamic, historic, and cultural port city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Urbino

Urbino is a historic, undiscovered, and authentic town. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food.

Porto and Urbino: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Porto or Urbino?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Porto than Urbino, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Porto is more touristy than Urbino and is known for its authentic old town and the local port wine. Also, Porto is famous for Cais da Ribeira. Urbino is well known for its Renaissance walls, historic center, and authentic atmosphere.

How is Porto different from Urbino?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Urbino 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 Urbino?

Porto is great for its historical sights. Also, Urbino is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its sights and museums.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Porto. 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.

Urbino is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. At the heart of the city are its historical sights. The cathedral is worth a visit, as is The Ducal Palace, but for most visitors, simply soaking up the town's atmosphere is the best experience.

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

Porto is an amazing port city to visit for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Urbino is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Many restaurants in Porto have been singled out for their culinary prowess. 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.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Urbino makes for a great culinary experience. The city's history has influenced its cuisine. Traditional foods include cornbread, truffles, and meat sausage. While these options aren't as common today, you can still find them if you seek them out.

Is Porto or Urbino Better for Nightlife?

Porto is great for its evening party scene. Also, Urbino is not as popular, but is still a nice town for nightlife.

Many people head to Porto for the nightlife scene. This city comes to life in the evening, particularly on weekends when locals and tourists alike flock to the many bars, restaurants, and nightclubs.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Urbino. Because of the large student population, there are usually some fun activities going on at night. You'll find some good bars around town that are fun to hang out at.

Is Porto or Urbino Better for its Old Town?

Porto is great for its historic old town charm. Also, Urbino is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its historic old town.

Porto is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. 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.

Many visitors go to Urbino to see the historical old town. The historic center feels a bit undiscovered by Italian standards. There are stone houses and the town is built on a steep hill, giving it a beautiful setting.

Is the Shopping Better in Porto or Urbino?

If you're looking to go shopping, Porto and Urbino both offer plenty of notable spots.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Porto. The city has both your standard shopping mall stores as well as local vendors and boutique shops.

Urbino offers some nice shopping areas. You'll find galleries, book shops, and jewelry stores around town that are fun to pop into.

Is Porto or Urbino Better for Families?

Porto is great for its kid-friendly activities. However, Urbino is not a good destination for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Porto. 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.

Urbino is not the most family-friendly destination. The city is filled with history and architecture, which may be lost on the kids. There are the classic Italian restaurants which is a favorite among kids and adults alike.

Is Porto or Urbino Better for Couples?

Both Porto and Urbino are superb 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.

Urbino is a very popular place to visit for couples. This walled city is fun to explore and can make for a great romantic stop. The city is walled and has many historical buildings which couples will enjoy learning about together.

Is Porto or Urbino Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Porto is an amazing port city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Urbino is not a good destination for backpackers.

A large number of backpackers visit Porto, as it is a very popular port city for budget travelers. By combining world-class activities with affordability, this city has become a popular stop off for backpackers in the area.

Urbino is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not well known by backpackers and there are a very limited number of hostels in the area.

Is Porto or Urbino Better for Students?

For students, both Porto and Urbino are superb places to visit.

Porto is very popular with students. The city has a number of good research programs and study abroad opportunities that attract international students from around the world.

Urbino is a great port city to visit as a student. The student population is a large part of this small city. University students are usually happy and enjoy many activities and outings into the surrounding area.

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

Porto is great for times when you don't have a car. However, Urbino is not a good destination for its public transit.

Many visitors use the public transit system in Porto. 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.

Public transit is generally limited in Urbino. The town is accessible by bus but not by train.

Is Porto or Urbino a more walkable city?

Porto is great for its ease of walking around. Also, Urbino is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its walkability.

Porto is a very walkable destination. 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.

Urbino is somewhat walkable. Many parts of the city are easy to explore on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Urbino or Porto?

How long in Porto or Urbino?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Porto or Urbino to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Porto than Urbino because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Porto, and 1-2 days is enough time in Urbino.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Porto than Urbino 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 Porto.

One day in Porto or Urbino?

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 Urbino, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this authentic destination offers. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

A weekend in Porto or Urbino?

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 Urbino. 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 Urbino?

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.

Urbino is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Urbino. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Porto or Urbino?

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 food and shopping around the historic destination of Urbino. 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 2-Week Tours in Italy, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Italy.

When comparing the travel costs between Porto and Urbino, we can see that Porto 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 Urbino Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Porto or Urbino?

Porto has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Urbino. When comparing the sizes of Porto and Urbino, 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 Urbino?

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 Urbino in the Summer?

Both Urbino and Porto are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Porto for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Urbino in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Porto is generally cooler than Urbino. Daily temperatures in Porto average around 21°C (69°F), and Urbino fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

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

Should I visit Porto or Urbino in the Autumn?

Both Urbino and Porto during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Porto in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, most visitors come to Urbino for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

Porto is a little warmer than Urbino in the autumn. The daily temperature in Porto averages around 17°C (62°F) in October, and Urbino fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Porto. Porto usually gets more rain in October than Urbino. Porto gets 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Urbino receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Porto or Urbino in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Porto and Urbino. Most visitors come to Porto for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Urbino because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Urbino can be very cold. In the winter, Porto is much warmer than Urbino. Typically, the winter temperatures in Porto in January average around 10°C (50°F), and Urbino averages at about 3°C (37°F).

Porto gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Porto usually receives more rain than Urbino. Porto gets 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Urbino receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Porto or Urbino in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Porto as well as Urbino. The spring months attract visitors to Porto because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Additionally, the natural beauty are the main draw to Urbino this time of year.

In April, Porto is generally a little warmer than Urbino. Daily temperatures in Porto average around 14°C (56°F), and Urbino fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

Porto receives a lot of rain in the spring. Porto usually gets more rain in April than Urbino. Porto gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Urbino receives 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Urbino and Porto