Which place is cheaper, Puerto del Carmen or Taormina?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Taormina or Puerto del Carmen?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Taormina and Puerto del Carmen can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Taormina or Puerto del Carmen?
Taormina
A quaint hillside town on the eastern side of Sicily, Taormina is arguably one of the most popular tourist resorts on the island. It's peak season is the months of July and August when Italian and European tourists alike flock to the beaches. During this time it can be crowded and hot, but if you visit during the spring or fall months you might find the crowds slightly less and the weather more comfortable. The town is popular with package tours, which stay at the beach resorts around Giardini Naxos to the south or Letojanni to the north.
Puerto del Carmen
Located on the south-eastern coast of the Canary Island of Lanzarote, Puerto del Carmen is a popular resort area best known for its high concentration of bars, pubs, restaurants, and clubs. By day, visitors frequent the beaches for swimming, sunbathing, windsurfing, and other watersports - and by night, they flock to enjoy the live music and drinks of the area's thriving nightlife.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Italy, The Best Walking Tours in Italy, The Best 3-Day Tours from Madrid, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Madrid.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTaormina €108Puerto del Carmen €173
The average daily cost (per person) in Taormina is €108, while the average daily cost in Puerto del Carmen is €173. 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 Taormina and Puerto del Carmen in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTaormina €70Puerto del Carmen €98
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTaormina €140Puerto del Carmen €196
Compare Hotels in Taormina and Puerto del Carmen
Looking for a hotel in Taormina or Puerto del Carmen? 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.
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: Taormina Hotel Prices and Puerto del Carmen Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Taormina €4.29Puerto del Carmen €39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Taormina
Also for Taormina, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Roundtrip Transfer from Messina: $41
- Sicily Catania Airport: Bus Transfer to and from Taormina: $7.49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto del Carmen
Also for Puerto del Carmen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Lanzarote : Parasailing activity with hotel transfer: $102
Is it cheaper to fly into Taormina or Puerto del Carmen?
Prices for flights to both Puerto del Carmen and Taormina 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
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Food Meals for one dayTaormina €33Puerto del Carmen €51
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Taormina €11Puerto del Carmen €17
Tours and Activities in Taormina
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Taormina.
- 5 Hours Private Tour of Taormina from Messina: $606
- From Catania or Agrigento and Piazza Armerina Tour: $743
- From Catania: Guided Tour of Mount Etna and Taormina: $57
- From Catania: Guided Tour of Taormina and Castelmola: $106
- Sicily: Best of Taormina and Castelmola Private Tour: $213
- Small Group Sicily Food & Wine Lovers Tour: 8 Days: $2,668
- Small Group Tour of Sicily Highlights: 8 Days: $2,668
- Taormina & Castelmola: Shore tour from Messina cruise port: $428
- Taormina Walking Tour & Ancient theather Private or shared: $588
- Taormina private tour: $160
- Taormina. Highlights Tour with Isolabella and Castelmola: $267
- Tour Messina Taormina Castelmola: $150
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTaormina €8.57Puerto del Carmen €60
Sample the Local Flavors in Taormina
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Taormina:
- Mt Etna Private guided walking Tour with Wine Tasting: $181
- Catania: Mt. Etna Private Tour with Food and Wine Tasting: $299
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Taormina and Puerto del Carmen, we can see that Puerto del Carmen is more expensive. And not only is Taormina much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Taormina would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Taormina 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 Puerto del Carmen would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto del Carmen than you might in Taormina.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Taormina Expensive? and Is Puerto del Carmen Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Taormina or Puerto del Carmen?
Puerto del Carmen has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Taormina. When comparing the sizes of Taormina and Puerto del Carmen, 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.