A Travel Price Comparison for Italy Urbino vs. Portofino for Couples, Food, Nightlife, and Old Town

Should you visit Urbino or Portofino?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Urbino and Portofino 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.

Urbino

Urbino is a undiscovered, authentic, and laid back town. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping.

Portofino

Portofino is a exclusive, luxurious, and glamorous seaside village. With plenty of activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. As it offers a special and quaint atmosphere, visitors come from all over to experience this destination. It's also popular because of the nightlife, food, and beaches.

Urbino and Portofino: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Urbino or Portofino?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Portofino. Although Urbino and Portofino are both popular with visitors, Portofino has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Portofino is more popular for its nightlife, resorts, beaches, historical sights, hiking, shopping, small town charm, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Urbino is known for its museums. Portofino is more touristy than Urbino and is popular for its picturesque harbor, high end shopping, strikingly blue waters, and popularity with superyachts. It is also home to its scenic harbor. Urbino is popular for its Renaissance walls, historic center, and authentic atmosphere.

Its scenic harbor

How is Urbino different from Portofino?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Urbino or Portofino?

Urbino is a popular place for its sights and museums. However, Portofino is a mediocre seaside village for its museums and history.

Urbino offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. 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.

While most people don't head to Portofino specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. The village is mostly about soaking up the atmosphere, but you can also visit sights such as Sun Church of St. George and Cervara Abbey.

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

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Urbino and Portofino can be difficult as they are each excellent in their own way.

Urbino has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. 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.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Portofino makes for a great culinary experience. Located by the sea, you'll enjoy tons of great seafood here. Make sure you try the mussels, swordfish, and salt cod.

Is Urbino or Portofino Better for Nightlife?

Portofino 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 Portofino for the nightlife scene. Most of the nightlife is found around Piazzetta (Oliveri Square) and Molo Umberto I. Happy hours (aperitivo) start around 5pm or 6pm and then as the evening continues, the party often moves to Paraggi Beach.

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 Urbino or Portofino Better for Resorts?

Portofino is an amazing seaside village to visit for its luxury resorts. However, Urbino is not a resort destination.

Portofino is a world class resort vacation destination. Known for it's exclusive luxury, there are a number of high end resorts in the area. Popular options include Splendido, Sublimis Boutique Hotel, and Grand Hotel Miramare.

Urbino is not a resort destination.

Is Urbino or Portofino Better for Beaches?

Portofino is a seaside village with good options for the beach. However, Urbino is not a beach destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Portofino. Like much of the Italian coast, the beaches in the area are dramatic and beautiful. They're also rocky and pebbly and can get a bit crowded during the summer months.

Urbino is not a beach destination.

Is Urbino or Portofino Better for its Old Town?

Portofino 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.

Portofino is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. Despite evolving into a famous resort town, Portofino still holds on to its fishing village charm.

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 Urbino or Portofino Better for Hiking?

Portofino is great for hiking. However, Urbino is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors go to Portofino for the hiking trails. There are many beautiful hikes and treks along the coastline that pass by scenic landscapes and breathtaking views.

Urbino is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Urbino or Portofino?

Portofino is great for its shopping areas. Also, Urbino is not as popular, but is still a nice town for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Portofino. The quaint cobblestone streets are lined with high end boutiques that target the opulent jet-setter crowd that frequents Portofino. Much of the shopping is around Martiri dell'Olivetta Square.

Urbino is a great destination for shopping. You'll find galleries, book shops, and jewelry stores around town that are fun to pop into.

Is Urbino or Portofino Better for Families?

Neither Urbino nor Portofino are considered to be the most family-friendly destination.

For families, Urbino is not always the best place to visit. 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.

Portofino is not the most family-friendly destination. The town has a picturesque setting and some beautiful pebbly beaches. It's fun for kids to run around the town, explore by kayak, or play in the waters edge.

Is Urbino or Portofino Better for Couples?

Portofino is an amazing seaside village to visit for couples. Also, Urbino is not as popular, but is still a nice town for romance.

Portofino is a great seaside village for couples, as it has plenty to offer. Set beautifully against the ocean's edge, this famous Italian town makes for a truly romantic holiday. Ogle the mega yachts in the harbor and then wander the charming streets while you soak in the atmosphere.

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 Urbino or Portofino Better for Students?

Urbino is notable for students. However, Portofino is not popular with students.

Urbino is a very popular town for students and younger travelers. 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.

Portofino is not popular with students.

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

Urbino and Portofino both offer decent public transit to get you around.

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

Public transit is generally limited in Portofino. The closet train stations are Santa Margherita Ligure and Camogli. You can catch a bus from the Santa Margherita train station. There are also some ferry options.

Is Urbino or Portofino a more walkable city?

Portofino is an amazing seaside village to visit for its ease of walking around. Also, Urbino is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its walkability.

Portofino is a very easy seaside village to get around on foot. It's easy to walk around the village and then explore the countryside on one of the nearby trails.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Portofino or Urbino?

How long in Urbino or Portofino?

In either Urbino or Portofino, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Portofino than Urbino because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Urbino, and 2-5 days is enough time in Portofino.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Portofino 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 Portofino.

One day in Urbino or Portofino?

You'll find shopping and museums around the town of Urbino. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Urbino has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Portofino might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. Hikers are also drawn to this area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Urbino or Portofino?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the undiscovered destination of Urbino. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Portofino is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Urbino or Portofino?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the historic town of Urbino. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Portofino. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Urbino or Portofino?

Urbino is a popular choice for travelers. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Portofino is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. This seaside village offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Italy, The Best Bicycle Tours in Italy, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Italy, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Italy.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Urbino or Portofino?

Urbino has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Portofino. When comparing the sizes of Urbino and Portofino, 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.