What are the most affordable cities to visit in Portugal? Here's the top 25
Portugal has been one of the hottest destinations in Europe this year for American travelers.
They are being lured by the country’s affordable prices, stunning beaches, historic sites, rich culture, great gastronomy, and nice weather.
But if you’re planning to visit Portugal on a budget, a new study conducted by Porto Travel Guide might come in handy before you make your travel arrangements. Their experts have rated the most affordable cities to visit in Portugal for a short break based on travels factors, such as flight and hotel cost, and the price of restaurant meals.
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“Portugal has proven to be a popular tourist destination over the past year, with 348,000 Google searches for ‘portugal holidays’ worldwide over the past 12 months on average,” said Flavio Bastos, editor at Porto Travel Guide.
Fafe, a rural town in northwest Portugal, was found to be the most budget-friendly city. Oliveira de Azeméis in the district of Aveiro and Vila Nova de Famalicão in the Braga district came in second and third place, respectively.
Ovar, also in the Aveiro district, took fourth place, while Amarante in the Minho region took fifth place.
To reach this conclusion, experts at Porto Travel Guide analyzed online data for 104 Portuguese cities. They calculated the cost of flights, hotels, local travel, dining out and groceries for each city, then creating an ‘affordability’ score out of 100 for each city.
“Affordable travel and accommodation costs for many of these hidden gems mean that tourists can experience the vibrant culture that the country has to offer, all without breaking the bank,” Bastos said. “Shorter breaks are also becoming more appealing among holidaymakers, given the cost-of-living crisis, and many of these Portuguese cities make for an affordable weekend getaway for those on a budget.”
Flights, hotel, and car rental prices used in the study were obtained from Skyscanner.com. Flight dates were arbitrarily chosen from Nov. 2, 2023 to Nov. 5, 2023 to represent a long weekend.
Fafe, a land of tall granite hills not far from Portugal’s birthplace
Fafe ranked as the most affordable city to visit in Portugal with an affordability score of 87.91 out of 100. It scored highly for the cost of eating out at an inexpensive restaurant, with the lowest price being $4.35 per person, and offering hotel prices for as little as $13 a night in some locations.
A land of tall granite hills, with a deep forest and vineyards, Fafe is located only nine miles away from Guimarães, the birthplace of Portugal, and its historic town center, which has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Fafe has a lake, golf course, waterpark, hiking trails, winery, and several Iron Age archaeological sites.
One of the area’s main attractions is Casa do Penedo, which was built from four large boulders that serve as the foundation, walls and ceiling of the house.
There’s also the Barragem Queimadela, a dam and reservoir wrapped in forest, where visitors can enjoy a swim at the small beach, navigate the woodland trails around the shore or take it easy on the grassy banks.
Nearby excavations at the Castro de Santo Ovídio archaeological site have revealed houses, roads and other architectural elements giving an insight into the urban development of the Santo Ovídio hill fort, which was presumably inhabited between the 1st century BC and the 1st century AC, making this settlement a great place for studying the Megalithic period in Northwest Iberian Peninsula.
Oliveira de Azeméis boasts a rich architectural and natural heritage
Oliveira de Azeméis came in second place with an affordability score of 87.85 out of 100. It shares the lowest hotel price of $13 a night with Fafe, but offers cheaper one-way local transport tickets at $1.31. However, its lowest prices for taxi tariffs and restaurant meals are a little more expensive.
One of the places worth visiting is the molinological theme park, a space that takes advantage of the existing water mills in the region. The space offers a ‘living’ museum of the structures of bread making and cereal milling, an activity in the region for more than 200 years.
The La Salette Park, a recreation and green space, is another place worth visiting. Other nearby attractions are the Oliveira de Azeméis Church which has a late-Mannerist design from the beginning of the 18th century, and Ferreira de Castro House, former home of the writer José Maria Ferreira de Castro.
Vila Nova de Famalicão, a charming town nestled in the heart of Northern Portugal
Vila Nova de Famalicão came in third place with an affordability score of 87.6 out of 100. Whilst it is slightly more expensive to eat out here, it has the lowest price hotel rooms in the top ten at just $9 a night. The city also has the cheapest one-way local transport tickets so far, starting at just $1.04.
Home to internationally renowned companies in the textile, footwear and other sectors, Vila Nova de Famalicão benefits from the beauty of a green landscape, marked by hills and valleys. Its identity is reinforced by traditions, festivities, arts such as basketry, pottery and carving, as well as traditional dishes and a rich historical heritage reflected in the numerous museums and cultural spaces spread throughout the city.
The area has many popular attractions, including Park of Sinçães, Bacia do Ave Textile Industry Museum and Portuguese Colonial War Museum.
Ovar, a city full of enchanting charms
Ovar ranks fourth on the list with an affordability score of 87.55 out of 100. The lowest price hotel rooms start at $14 a night and it shares the same one-way transport ticket price as Oliveira de Azeméis at $1.31. Options for eating out or buying local food are both relatively inexpensive.
Home to one of the most famous Carnaval (Mardi Gras) celebrations in Portugal, Ovar offers some unique things to do and nice places to explore, including the Furadouro Beach, São Pedro de Maceda Beach, Barrinha de Esmoriz Walkways, and Buçaquinho Park.
Visitors can stroll along pristine beaches with stunning Atlantic views or explore the downtown area in search of museums and boutiques. It’s easy to lose oneself in the city’s remarkable architecture blending traditional Portuguese designs and modern influences or indulge in mouthwatering gastronomic delights.
Amarante, a picturesque gateway
Amarante ranks in fifth place with an affordability score of 87.33 out of 100. Whilst its lowest hotel room price comes in at $18 a night, it has extremely cheap starting taxi tariffs at $0.95 and all the local food and drink is notably low priced, such as $1.17 for a pint of domestic beer.
Given its location between the Vinho Verde wine region and the Douro Valley, Amarante is a popular stop-off for wine tasting tours.
Nestled in verdant landscapes, it serves as a picturesque gateway. It has many popular attractions, including the São Gonçalo Bridge, Amarante Water Park, Municipal Museum Amadeo de Souza Cardoso, and colorful historical buildings in its medieval neighborhood.
Amarante has been part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network under the category of City of Music since 2017.
What other cities made the top 25?
Also ranked among the top 25 most affordable cities to visit in Portugal are:
6. Ermesinde
7. Santa Maria da Feira
8. Santo Tirso
9. Viseu
10. Braga
11. Rio Tinto
12. Vizela
13. Trofa
14. Barcelos
15.Lamego
16. Guarda
17. Figueira da Foz
18. Esposende
19. Vila Real
20. Maia
21. Fundão
22. Passos de Ferreira
23. Paredes
24. Mangualde
25. Gondomar
For more information about the Porto Travel Guide’s study, visit https://porto.travel
This article originally appeared on The Herald News: What are the most affordable cities to visit in Portugal? Here's a list