A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Setubal vs. Hvar for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Setubal or Hvar?

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 Setubal and Hvar can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Setubal or Hvar?

Setubal

Setubal is a busy working port and major commercial fishing center. Setubal is a city that has always had a close connection to the seas, and this is celebrated along the newly rejuvenated waterfront, which encompasses the colorful fishing harbor, the popular urban park and the Troia Peninsula ferry terminal. Within the charming historic center is a maze of narrow alleys, hidden plazas, and family-owned shops, along with Portugal's largest fish market. Setubal is primarily an industrial city, but is situated in a region of immense beauty; to the east is the stunning Serra da Arrabida, to the north is historic Palmela, while to the south are the paradise beaches of the Troia Peninsula. Setubal may not be a conventional holiday destination, but there is a surprising amount to see and do within the city and the surrounding region.

Hvar

Hvar is a Croatian island full of mountains, vegetation, beaches, vineyards, shops, restaurants, and also people! Hvar Town is the main city on the island, but there are many other small villages throughout. The best time to visit Hvar is between May and September, although keep in mind it can get busy during this period.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Portugal, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Portugal, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Croatia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Croatia.


Which place is cheaper, Hvar or Setubal?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Setubal is €123, while the average daily cost in Hvar is €102. 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 Setubal and Hvar in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Setubal 59
    Hvar 38
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Setubal 118
    Hvar 76
Compare Hotels in Setubal and Hvar

Looking for a hotel in Setubal or Hvar? 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 Setubal


Hotels in Hvar


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: Setubal Hotel Prices and Hvar Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Setubal 54
    Hvar 47

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Setubal

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

  • Boat Transfer to Ribeiro do Cavalo Beach with Return: $22
  • Transfer Sesimbra to Lisbon Airport: $82
  • Paragliding experience near Lisbon with transfers from Lisbon: $148
  • Transfers (Lisbon - Évora) / (Évora - Lisbon): $197

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hvar

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hvar:

  • Speedboat Transfer from Hvar Town to Split Airport: $535

Is it cheaper to fly into Setubal or Hvar?

Prices for flights to both Hvar and Setubal 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
    Setubal 35
    Hvar 38

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hvar

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Hvar.

  • Hvar Charming Abandoned Village Small Group Tour and Local Dinner: $180
  • Hvar Hidden Gems Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $187
  • Hvar Hidden Gems Small Group Half Day Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $202
  • Hvar Abandoned Village Tour with Local Dinner: $214
  • Private Hvar Wine Tasting Tour with Traditional Dinner: $234
  • Food Tour: Traditional Flavours and Food Sampling on Hvar: $262
  • The Best of Hvar in a Day with Wine tasting and Local Dinner: $273
  • Hvar Small Group Wine Tour and Authentic Dalmatian Dinner: $273

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Setubal 12
    Hvar 7.48

Tours and Activities in Setubal

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

  • Evora Highlights Walking Tour Audio and GPS Guided: $7.59
  • Évora Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.84
  • Museu Nacional Frei Manuel do Cenáculo: E-ticket with Audio: $17
  • Boat Tour - Arrábida Coves: $38
  • Kayak tour from Sesimbra to Ribeira do Cavalo Beach, passing through the caves: $38
  • Half-Day Kayak Tour in Sesimbra: $38
  • Setúbal: Dolphin-Watching Boat Tour: $40
  • Arrábida: Rock Climbing Experience: $43
  • Évora Private Walking Tour, By Local Guide: $44
  • Small Group Kayak Tour along Sesimbra - Arrábida Natural Park: $44
  • Tour to the caves of Sesimbra: $44
  • 4x4 Tour to the Wonders of Cabo Espichel : $49

Tours and Activities in Hvar

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Hvar are as follows:

  • BLUE CAVE & 5 islands tour from Hvar: $98
  • 1-Hour Battle Archery Game in Hvar Adventure Park: $22
  • 1-Hour Private Paintball Adventure in Park Hvar Jelsa: $23
  • 3-Hour Lavender Tour from Hvar: $150
  • Adventurous Blue and Green Cave group tour: $86
  • Back to the Roots - Ancient Island Interactive Experience: $141
  • Beach bar Laganini and Hula Hula half-day Private Boat Tour: $918
  • Blue & Green cave tour with yacht from town Hvar: $229
  • Blue Cave & Vis Island speedboat tour from Hvar: $109
  • Blue Cave and Pakleni Islands group Tour from Hvar: $107
  • Blue cave group tour with swimming and snorkelling from Hvar: $76
  • Blue cave tour with speed boat from town Hvar: $196

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Setubal 10
    Hvar 9.18

Sample the Local Flavors in Setubal

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Setubal:

  • Jeep Tour through Arrábida Azeitão and Wine Tasting: $56
  • Monsaraz and Wine Tasting Tour from Évora: $71
  • Alentejo Wine Tour from Évora: $76
  • Sesimbra: Half-Day Tour to Arrabida with Wine Tasting: $106
  • Wine Tour, discovering the famous Setúbal Moscatel: $137
  • Private Full Day Evora & Alentejo Wine Tour from Lisbon : $152
  • Private Wine Tour from Lisbon to Arrábida: Wine & Cheese Tasting: $170

Sample the Local Flavors in Hvar

Also in Hvar, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Hvar Wine Tasting Experience: $118
  • Hvar Wine tasting small group experience: $131
  • Private Hvar Wine Tasting Tour : $142
  • Wine Tasting Tour: $157
  • Chocolate and Wine Tasting Small Group Tour from Hvar: $175


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

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


Which is Bigger, Setubal or Hvar?

Setubal has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Hvar. When comparing the sizes of Setubal and Hvar, 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 Setubal or Hvar?

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 Setubal or Hvar in the Summer?

Both Hvar and Setubal during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, many visitors come to Hvar in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Setubal is cooler than Hvar. Typically, the summer temperatures in Setubal in July average around 23°C (73°F), and Hvar averages at about 26°C (80°F).

In Hvar, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Setubal. In the summer, Setubal often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Hvar. Setubal gets 352 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hvar receives 345 hours of full sun.

Setubal usually gets less rain in July than Hvar. Setubal gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Hvar receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Setubal 23°C (73°F) 
    Hvar 26°C (80°F)

Should I visit Setubal or Hvar in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Setubal and Hvar. Also, most visitors come to Hvar for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In October, Setubal is generally around the same temperature as Hvar. Daily temperatures in Setubal average around 19°C (66°F), and Hvar fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Hvar this time of the year. In Setubal, it's very sunny this time of the year. Setubal usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Hvar during autumn. Setubal gets 213 hours of sunny skies, while Hvar receives 200 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Setubal usually receives around the same amount of rain as Hvar. Setubal gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Hvar receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Setubal 19°C (66°F) 
    Hvar 18°C (64°F)

Should I visit Setubal or Hvar in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Setubal as well as Hvar. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Hvar because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Setubal is a little warmer than Hvar in the winter. The daily temperature in Setubal averages around 12°C (53°F) in January, and Hvar fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).

In the winter, Setubal often gets more sunshine than Hvar. Setubal gets 144 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hvar receives 128 hours of full sun.

Setubal receives a lot of rain in the winter. Setubal usually gets more rain in January than Hvar. Setubal gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Hvar receives 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Setubal 12°C (53°F) 
    Hvar 8°C (47°F)

Should I visit Setubal or Hvar in the Spring?

Both Hvar and Setubal are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Hvar this time of year.

In the spring, Setubal is around the same temperature as Hvar. Typically, the spring temperatures in Setubal in April average around 16°C (60°F), and Hvar averages at about 15°C (59°F).

It's quite sunny in Hvar. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Setubal. Setubal usually receives more sunshine than Hvar during spring. Setubal gets 235 hours of sunny skies, while Hvar receives 212 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Setubal usually receives around the same amount of rain as Hvar. Setubal gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Hvar receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Setubal 16°C (60°F) 
    Hvar 15°C (59°F)

Typical Weather for Hvar and Setubal

Setubal Hvar
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 12°C (53°F) 110 mm (4.3 in) 8°C (47°F) 83 mm (3.3 in)
Feb 13°C (55°F) 111 mm (4.4 in) 9°C (48°F) 68 mm (2.7 in)
Mar 14°C (58°F) 69 mm (2.7 in) 11°C (52°F) 75 mm (3 in)
Apr 16°C (60°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 15°C (59°F) 66 mm (2.6 in)
May 18°C (64°F) 39 mm (1.5 in) 20°C (67°F) 56 mm (2.2 in)
Jun 21°C (69°F) 21 mm (0.8 in) 23°C (74°F) 51 mm (2 in)
Jul 23°C (73°F) 5 mm (0.2 in) 26°C (80°F) 28 mm (1.1 in)
Aug 23°C (74°F) 6 mm (0.2 in) 26°C (79°F) 50 mm (2 in)
Sep 22°C (72°F) 26 mm (1 in) 22°C (72°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Oct 19°C (66°F) 80 mm (3.1 in) 18°C (64°F) 79 mm (3.1 in)
Nov 15°C (59°F) 114 mm (4.5 in) 13°C (56°F) 108 mm (4.3 in)
Dec 12°C (54°F) 108 mm (4.3 in) 10°C (49°F) 100 mm (3.9 in)