Fair prices in Πορτογαλία — what things really cost

Buy online for a timed slot to skip a long queue. A combined ticket with Belem Tower can save money if you plan to enter both on the same day.

The Metro connects directly to the airport and is the cheapest way into town. Buy a reusable transport card, which lowers the per-ride cost across the network.

A rechargeable card gives you cheaper fares on the Metro, buses, trams and funiculars than paying the driver in cash on board. A day pass pays off if you ride often.

The custard tart is cheap and everywhere. The most famous bakery at Belem has long queues, but excellent versions cost little at ordinary neighbourhood pastelarias.

Eat a street back from the main squares and viewpoints for better prices. A prato do dia lunch is good value, and grilled fish and petiscos are local staples.

An espresso, a bica, at the counter is very cheap. Sitting at a terrace table on a famous square costs more for the same coffee.

The airport is close to the centre, so a legitimate metered taxi is not expensive. Insist on the meter, or use a ride-hailing app, and be aware of a small luggage supplement.

The Aerobus (SAM) shuttle runs roughly hourly between the airport and central Funchal hotels and is a cheap, comfortable option with luggage space. Pay the driver in cash and keep your ticket; the last departure is in the evening, so check the timetable for late flights.

A metered or fixed-fare taxi from the airport to central Funchal is quick and convenient, especially in a group or with luggage. Expect a small extra charge per bag. A ride-hailing app like Bolt is often cheaper if you have data, as it shows the price before you book.

Horarios do Funchal orange buses cover the city cheaply; a single ticket bought on board costs a couple of euros, and a rechargeable Giro card is cheaper still for several rides. Useful for the botanical garden and seafront, though hills mean some sights are still a climb.

A return ticket on the Funchal-Monte cable car is the standard choice if you are not taking the toboggan. If you do plan to slide down, buy only a one-way up and factor in transport from Livramento back to the centre afterwards.

A sit-down meal of fresh fish or espetada at a mid-range restaurant is good value away from the seafront strip. Look for busy local places in the back streets, and note the couvert (bread, olives, spreads) brought to the table is charged if you eat it.

Poncha, the island's rum, honey and lemon drink, is cheap and served in bars across Funchal, best whipped fresh to order. It is deceptively strong, so pace yourself. A traditional poncha bar in the old town charges a fair price; harbourside terraces cost more.

Espetada, skewered beef grilled on a laurel stick and served hanging over the table, is a Madeiran classic, usually sold by weight or per skewer with bolo do caco and fries. It is filling and good value; a plain grill house inland beats a tourist restaurant on the promenade for both price and taste.

Buy a timed ticket online rather than queuing at the door. The ticket price is redeemable against a book inside, so if you plan to buy one the visit effectively costs little or nothing.

Most Gaia lodges charge for a guided tour that ends with two or three tastings. Compare a couple, book online for a slot, and expect premium and vintage tastings to cost more than the basic tour.

Metro Line E (Purple) runs directly from the airport to the centre and is the cheapest way in. Buy a reusable Andante card, which is a little cheaper per ride than single paper tickets.

A rechargeable Andante card gives cheaper zoned fares on the Metro and STCP buses than paper singles. A day pass pays off quickly if you hop around the hills and across to Gaia.

Porto's hearty layered sandwich is filling and good value a street or two back from the Ribeira. Prices near the river run higher for a smaller version, so head inland to a classic cafe or tasca.

An espresso, a bica, at the counter is very cheap. Sitting at a terrace table on a famous square or by the river costs more for the same coffee.

The short six-bridges cruise is sold by many operators at similar prices at the Ribeira and Gaia quays. Compare the boards, and be clear it is the short local loop, not a longer Douro Valley day trip.

Buy a timed ticket online in advance, as they sell out in peak season and the queue at the gate is long. A park-only ticket is cheaper if you only want the gardens and the outside of the palace.

Buy from the official site for the standard price; some resellers charge noticeably more. Go early to have the Initiation Well and tunnels to yourself before the tour groups arrive.

The suburban train from Rossio or Oriente is by far the cheapest way in, far better value than a taxi or tour. Use a rechargeable Navegante card and avoid the mid-morning rush for a seat.

The 434 tourist bus links the station, the Moorish Castle and Pena Palace on a one-way loop. A day ticket is worth it over singles, but in peak times walking down or a tuk-tuk can beat the long bus queues.

The almond travesseiro and the local queijada are cheap and best eaten fresh at a village bakery such as Piriquita. Expect a short queue at the famous shop; nearby bakeries are quicker and just as good.

Tuk-tuks wait near the station and town to run you up the hills. Agree a clear total price and route before setting off, confirm whether it is per person or per group, and compare with the cheap 434 bus.

Eat a street back from the National Palace and the main tourist run for better prices. Check the menu and couvert charge before sitting, as the busiest central spots mark up ordinary dishes.