Comparison · Bordeaux vs Porto · France / Portugal
Bordeaux vs Porto
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Mariette, Public domain
Quick answer
Choose Bordeaux for Wine and Place de la Bourse; choose Porto for Port wine, Ribeira, lower day-to-day costs and beaches. Porto is generally less expensive, and the two are about 771 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 771 km
- Less expensive
- Porto
- Best time for Bordeaux
- May–June and September–October
- Best time for Porto
- May–June and September–October
Side by side
| Bordeaux | Porto | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | France | Portugal |
| Known for | Wine, Place de la Bourse and Miroir d'Eau | Port wine, Ribeira and Dom Luís I Bridge |
| Best time to visit | May–June and September–October | May–June and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $170–$280 | $120–$210 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Affordable |
| Warmest month | July, 27°C (81°F) | July, 25°C (77°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 10°C (50°F) | January, 14°C (57°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 10 | 8 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | Praia de Matosinhos |
| Airports | BOD | OPO |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Bordeaux for…
Wine and Place de la Bourse. Bordeaux curves along a crescent bend of the Garonne known as the Port of the Moon, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2007 lined with pale 18th-century limestone façades. The compact centre runs from Place de la Bourse and its Miroir d'Eau to the Grand…
Choose Porto for…
Port wine, Ribeira, lower day-to-day costs and beaches. Porto climbs steeply up the north bank of the Douro river near its mouth on the Atlantic. The UNESCO-listed historic centre runs from the riverside Ribeira quarter up to São Bento station and the Clérigos Tower, while across the Dom Luís I bridge in Vila…
Top sights compared
| # | Bordeaux | Porto |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Place de la Bourse and Miroir d'Eau | Ribeira waterfront |
| 2 | La Cité du Vin | Dom Luís I Bridge |
| 3 | Cathédrale Saint-André and Tour Pey-Berland | Port-wine lodges in Vila Nova de Gaia |
| 4 | Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux | Livraria Lello |
| 5 | Esplanade des Quinconces | Clérigos Church and Tower |
Food compared
| Bordeaux | Porto |
|---|---|
| Canelé | Francesinha |
| Entrecôte à la bordelaise | Tripe Porto style |
| Arcachon oysters | Roast pork sandwich |
| Lamprey Bordeaux-style | Bacalhau à Gomes de Sá |
Which is cheaper?
Porto is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $120–$210 per person there, against $170–$280 in Bordeaux (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Porto on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 771 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 9 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Bordeaux or Porto cheaper?
Porto is usually less expensive: about $120–$210 a day mid-range against $170–$280 (estimates).
+Is Bordeaux or Porto better for a first trip?
Pick Bordeaux for Wine and Place de la Bourse, or Porto for Port wine, Ribeira, lower day-to-day costs and beaches.
+How far is Bordeaux from Porto?
About 771 km in a straight line.