Which place is cheaper, Azores or Lake Garda?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Lake Garda or Azores?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Lake Garda or Azores? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Lake Garda or Azores?
Lake Garda
As a gentle Mediterranean wind touches your skin, the aromatic fragrances of olive and lemon trees fill the air. Surrounded by lush gardens and Italian architecture in its ancient tans and beiges, you look to the horizon and find a paradise before your eyes: a shimmering lake, misty mountaintops, and a clear blue sky. Lake Garda is a popular holiday destination for locals of the Lombardy region and tourists alike. It has been shown that about 7% of Italy's tourists head straight for these gleaming blue shores. The largest lake in Italy, Lake Garda is located about halfway in between Brescia and Verona and between Venezia and Milano. Because it is surrounded by several different districts - Lombardy, Trentino, Alto, and the Veneto - Lake Garda is a culmination of culture that attracts cosmopolitan crowds. The lake is an ancient natural treasure Italy holds dear, with documents referring to Lake Garda dating as far back as the eighteenth century. The name "Garda" comes from the Germanic word "warda," which means "place of guard." Whether you are staying at one of the many luxurious resorts in Riva del Garda or are simply getting a pedicure in spa town Sirmione, Lake Garda continues to preserve its elegance and sophistication throughout the years.
Azores
The Azores are a group of nine volcanic islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Portugal. Although the islands were created through volcanic activity, there is far less activity now, making the Azores the perfect beach escape. Most people speak Portuguese, or a dialect of it, with English spoken primarily by those in the tourism industry.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Italy, The Best Contiki Tours to Italy, The Best Tours for Seniors to Portugal, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Portugal.
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Lake Garda Prices
Italy PricesAzores Prices
Portugal Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLake Garda €197Azores €163
The average daily cost (per person) in Lake Garda is €197, while the average daily cost in Azores is €163. 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 Lake Garda and Azores in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLake Garda €84Azores €67
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLake Garda €168Azores €134
Compare Hotels in Lake Garda and Azores
Looking for a hotel in Lake Garda or Azores? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lake Garda €66Azores €30
Is it cheaper to fly into Lake Garda or Azores?
Prices for flights to both Azores and Lake Garda 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 dayLake Garda €72Azores €74
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lake Garda
For Lake Garda, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Class: Fresh Pasta Course with Wines at Lake Garda: $94
- 3.5 Hours Fresh Pasta and Tiramisù Cooking Class with Meal : $95
- Dining Experience at a local's Home in Cecina with Show Cooking: $102
- Canevin Cooking Class a Typical italian meal with dessert: $113
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lake Garda €30Azores €22
Tours and Activities in Lake Garda
For Lake Garda, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Beekeeping Farm Tour and Tasting Experience in Lazise: $47
- Bardolino: Vineyard Tour with Wine, Olive Oil & Food Tasting: $42
- Best of Sirmione with Boat Tour and Grotte di Catullo : $113
- Boat Tour of the Islands of Lake Garda with Aperitif: $84
- Dolomites Full-Day Tour from Lake Garda: $87
- Dolomites Full-day Tour from Lake Garda: $89
- From Verona Full-Day Tour: $76
- From Tignale, Beginner-Friendly Canyoning Tour: $90
- Full-Day Lake Garda Tour: Bus & Public Boat with Guide: $87
- Full-Day Self-Guided Garda Scooter Tour from Riva del Garda: $155
- Full-Day Self-Guided Garda Vespa Tour departing at Salò: $155
- Garda Lake: Canyoning Adventure Tour: $117
Tours and Activities in Azores
For Azores, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Madeira: Group and Private Tea Drinking Experiences: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLake Garda €19Azores €9.64
Sample the Local Flavors in Lake Garda
Also in Lake Garda, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Wine Tasting with Local Food in Lazise Countryside: $38
- Wine Tasting and Tour of Lugana Wines in Sirmione: $39
- Vineyards Tour and Wine Tasting: $46
- Lazise: Biodynamic Farm Tour and Natural Wine Tasting: $49
- Wine Tasting in Historical Center of Lazise: $50
- Garda Hills Wine Tour and Tasting: $50
- Winery Tour and Wine Tasting in Valpolicella: $58
- Valdadige: Winery Tour with 4 Wine Tastings: $58
- Art Experience with Food and Wine Tasting in Lazise: $58
- Valpolicella: Winery Tour with Picnic and Wine Tasting: $76
- Lazise: Bike Tour and Wine Tasting: $99
- E-Bike Tour and wine tasting in Lazise Countryside: $100
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lake Garda and Azores, we can see that Lake Garda is more expensive. And not only is Azores much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Azores would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Azores 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 Lake Garda would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lake Garda than you might in Azores.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lake Garda Expensive? and Is Azores Expensive?.
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.