Are you planning a trip to Portugal, one of the friendliest cities in Western Europe?
Then, you might be wondering what your Lisbon travel costs will be for flights, accommodation, food, public transport, and more.
Lisbon is one of the least expensive cities, but that does not mean it is as cheap as it used to be. Still, when visiting Lisbon on a budget, you can get value for money in this sunny city.
But what can you expect to pay?
But what can you expect to pay?
1) Expect to spend per day: $50 – $210
2) Expect to spend per night on the hotel: $19 – $300
3) Expect to spend on flights round trip: $250 – $729
You can also skip right to the calculator if you want an estimate tailored for your trip.
Cost of Flights to Lisbon
Are you planning a visit to the stunning city of Lisbon? Booking your flight is a crucial part of your trip. Flight prices can fluctuate based on various factors, such as the time and location of booking. To help you plan, I’ve gathered some approximate costs to give you an estimated overview.
| Lisbon Flight Costs | Round-Trip Ticket |
| New York City, USA | $249 – $729 |
| London, UK | ยฃ50 – ยฃ200 |
| Sydney, Australia | AUD 1,000 – AUD 1,500 |
| Tokyo, Japan | ยฅ60,000 – ยฅ120,000 |
| Johannesburg, South Africa | ZAR 7,000 – ZAR 12,000 |
Lisbon Costs: Accommodation
Now that you have booked the most important thing, flights, your next step is to find accommodation. The best part is that you can find budget-friendly options from backpackers to luxury. Here, you see the approximate costs for all budget types.
| Lisbon Hotels | Cost of Accommodation/Daily Cost |
| Budget Accommodations | โฌ18-โฌ30 |
| Mid-Range Accommodation | โฌ75 to โฌ150 |
| Luxury Accommodations | โฌ350 to โฌ900 |
For a budget backpacker, you can find several hostels and budget hotels with shared amenities that offer great value.
Alternatively, you can find accommodation, including private bathrooms, comfortable beds, and complimentary breakfast.
While your luxury options provide the best amenities, there are accommodation costs to suit the budget of luxury seekers.
Hot Tip๐ฅ: The best option is to book a place that does not require a deposit, which helps when plans change.
Tips to Find Budget-Friendly Options
- Book in Advance: It’s advisable to book your accommodation well ahead of your travel dates to avoid price increases, especially during peak tourist season.
- Consider off-peak travel: Plan your visit to Lisbon in the shoulder seasons (spring and fall) when there are fewer tourists and prices are generally lower.
- Location: Stay in a neighborhood just outside the city center for more affordable prices while within a reasonable distance of the main attractions. Consider the cost of transport as well.
- Use comparison sites: Utilize comparison websites to check prices across various accommodations to find the best deals and value for your budget.
Lisbon Travel Cost Calculator
Affordable Options: Food and Drinks
Lisbon has a diverse food scene, and finding affordable options in this dynamic city is not impossible. You can choose from international and Portuguese foods. Prices for meals and bottled water are also available.
The Cost of a Meal in Lisbon
| Traditional Restaurants | Price for a Meal |
| Continental Breakfast/Coffee | โฌ5-7 |
| Lunch Portuguese Dishes | โฌ8-12 |
| Dinner/ Three-Course Meal | โฌ15-20 |
| Michelin-Starred Restaurants | โฌ60-100 |
Worthy Note: The cost of food varies from one visitor to another, as the above are typical estimates. Alternatively, you can check out some budget restaurants or visit the street food scene to enjoy a meal for โฌ2-5.
Cost of Beverages
Lisbon is known to have some of the best beer and wine ๐ท scenes and is worth checking out. Still, you can easily forget to check these prices on a tight budget. So, what can you expect to pay? Let’s find out:
| Beverage Costs | Bottle/Glass |
| Wine/Local Supermarket | โฌ5-7 |
| Beer/Pint Local Bar/Supermarket | โฌ3-4/โฌ1-2 |
| Cocktails | โฌ7-10 |
| Happy Hour/5 pm to 8 pm | Varies in Price |
| Coffee/Local Cafe/Fancier Coffee | โฌ1.50-2.50/โฌ3-5 |
Common Costs For Transport
Here is a breakdown of the public transportation costs you can expect while visiting:
- Lisbon Airport transfer to accommodation in the city center, for example, Baixa, includes a luggage surcharge of โฌ12 to โฌ15
- Lisbon Airport to the Baixa district via Metro a single ticket costs โฌ1.80
- Taking a tram from Baixa to Belem district, a single ticket costs โฌ3
- A journey from Baixa to Belem by bus for a single ticket costs โฌ2
- You can take a Bolt/Uber ride from Baixa to Belem for โฌ5.20 for four people
- The 24-hour unlimited public transport ticket, which offers exceptional value for money, costs โฌ6.80 and includes the Metro, buses, Elevador de Santa Justa, and trams.
- Taking the train to Sintra for the best day trip can cost โฌ2.30/โฌ4.60 for a single/return ticket.
Hot Tip๐ฅ: Ride-hailing apps like Bolt and Uber are affordable in Lisbon for most journeys. They are an easy way to travel between different districts.
The Bolt fares are a bit cheaper, around 15%, but Uber’s standards are better. I recommend installing the Bolt/Uber app before your trip to Lisbon.
Tips to Keep Lisbon Transportation Costs Down
- Consider purchasing the Lisboa Card, which provides unlimited travel on Lisbon’s public transport system and discounts on various attractions. The card is available for different durations; a 24-hour ticket costs โฌ20, and a 72-hour ticket costs โฌ42.
- For longer stays in Lisbon, consider the Navegante Card. This reusable card costs โฌ0.50 and can be loaded with single tickets, a daily pass, or zapping credit. It can be used on metros, buses, and trams at a discounted rate compared to the pay-as-you-go price.
- You can also travel to the city on foot, a cost-effective way to explore. Lisbon is compact, with many major attractions located within proximity. Walking saves money and provides an immersive experience of the city’s vibrant streets and charming neighborhoods.
Things to Do in Lisbon: Entrance Fees
Over the years, the fees at famous tourist attractions have increased, and you will spend a fortune if you want to visit them all on a tight budget. Here are the famous places:
- Lisbon Castle: Average price for adults and youth aged 13-25 – โฌ25/โฌ7.50
- Jeronimos Monastery: Average price โฌ10
- Lisbon Oceanarium: Adult/child aged between 3-12 costs โฌ22/โฌ15
- Palacio da Pena in Sintra: Adult/youth aged 6-17 costs โฌ14/โฌ12
- Torre de Belem: โฌ6
- Museu Nacional do Azulejo: โฌ5
- Joining a 3-hour walking tour costs a tip of โฌ10
- Take a 60-minute Tuk-Tuk ride around Lisbon for three people plus a tip โฌ60 to โฌ70
- Getting on the hop-on-hop-off bus or tram with a 48-hour ticket costs for adults/youth aged 11-16 around โฌ36/โฌ27
- A full-day trip to Cascais and Sintra can cost you โฌ65
Another thing worth noting is that medicine in Lisbon is costly, and bringing your own on the trip is best. Furthermore, ensure you have travel insurance to cover medical costs.
Still, while these attractions can cost a lot, there are free things you can do in Lisbon if you spend a lot on accommodation and flights.
Recommended Daily Budget in Lisbon
On average, as a solo traveler, depending on where you stay, you can expect to pay โฌ194, as seen here:
| Average Daily Budget in Lisbon | Cost |
|---|---|
| Accommodation Costs (Solo Travel) | โฌ70 |
| Local Transportation | โฌ24 |
| Food | โฌ42 |
| Entertainment | โฌ24 |
| Tips and Handouts | โฌ2 – 7 |
| Alcohol | โฌ9 – 27 |
Planning On Going To Lisbon?
I’ve created a trip planner where you enter the number of days you’re going and what activities you want to do.
Based on your input, you then get an entire vacation planned with ideas.
Tips and Hints to Save Lisbon Travel Costs
When planning your trip, the above are the average costs you can expect to pay when using public transportation, food, tourist attractions, and accommodation. Here are some tips to help you save on travel expenses.
- Book your flights in advance to save on costs, especially for low-cost airlines. Their prices increase closer to the departure date, and booking early enough gives you access to the cheapest flight.
- Book your accommodation in advance, as the best budget hotels sell out fast, and last-minute deals are rare. Many accommodation options are available, but they become expensive during peak season.
- You can expect to pay for expensive meals in the famous tourist districts compared to finding a street food vendor or visiting a restaurant in the hidden streets. Ensure to check the menu before you sit down.
- I recommend you enjoy your main meal at lunchtime to avoid expensive meals as you can find fixed-priced menus called Prato do Dia, the menu of the day.
- Lastly, you can save on expensive meals by visiting shopping centers and food courts, which are ideal for a quick lunch or brunch.
- Furthermore, instead of spending a fortune at museums, explore the wide range of street art available throughout the city.
- Also, invest in a Lisboa Card or Navegante to save on public transportation and entrance fees to the main attractions.
Typical 3-Day Trip Costs For Budget Travelers
Here is a cost-effective trip planner for a 3-day itinerary with a stay in Lisbon costing around โฌ377 per person.
Next, you will see a cost breakdown for a trip reflecting a mid-price tourist. Yet, costs can increase if you want to visit every attraction, eat at the best Lisbon restaurants, and party all night.
Here are the best things to do in Lisbon In September 2024
I’ll send you a list of the best things to do in September and every month moving forward from today.
It’ll be based on my personal experience of living and traveling around Lisbon for years. I’m sharing a lot of hidden gems. ๐ต๐น
- 3 x Breakfast that equals 3 x โฌ7 coming to a total cost of โฌ21
- 2 x Lunch that equals 3 x โฌ10 coming to a total of โฌ30
- 3 x Dinner that equals 3 x โฌ37 coming to a total of โฌ111
- Cape and pastries 3 x โฌ1.50 equals โฌ9
- 6 x coffees at โฌ1.20 equals โฌ7.20
- 6L of water that is 18 bottles x โฌ0.50 equals โฌ9 or save costs by refilling your bottle at the water fountains available for free as the water is drinkable
- Uber/Bolt fares in the city 4 x โฌ5 equals โฌ20
- Taxi fares to Lisbon city center and back to the airport 2 x โฌ15 equals โฌ30, or check out these budget options instead.
- Two days of public transport tickets at โฌ6.80 equals โฌ13.20
- Enjoying a big night out enjoy 7 x beer/wine โฌ4 equals โฌ28
- Add evening drinks for the other two nights at a total of 8 x โฌ4 equals โฌ32
- Join a free walking tour with a tip of โฌ10
- Entrance fees to the Castle โฌ26, Jeronimos Monastery โฌ10, Belem Tower โฌ6 and a Fado performance โฌ15
Wrap-Up: Lisbon Travel Cost
While some attractions can be expensive, there are free things you can do in Lisbon to keep your budget in check.
For instance, you can stroll through the charming neighborhoods of Alfama, Graรงa, and Bairro Alto or visit the Miradouro da Senhora do Monte for a scenic view of the city.
Additionally, you can explore the city’s street art scene or visit the iconic Praรงa do Comรฉrcio, Lisbon’s largest square.
With some planning, you can easily enjoy a budget-friendly trip to Lisbon while still experiencing all this vibrant city has to offer.
