Portugal on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Portugal is a good budget destination if you avoid the most central hotels. A realistic minimum is about €82 per person per day: bed €35, food €25, sights €12 and transport €10.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | €35 | €75 | €150 |
| Food & drink | €25 | €45 | €85 |
| Sights & tickets | €12 | €25 | €45 |
| Local transport | €10 | €20 | €40 |
| Per person, per day | €82 | €165 | €320 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Portugal day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Miradouros (viewpoints) such as Santa Luzia and São Pedro de Alcântara in Lisbon
- Walking Alfama's lanes and Praça do Comércio
- Free amateur fado in small Alfama houses such as Tasca do Chico (buy a drink)
- The top deck of Porto's Dom Luís I bridge at sunset
- São Bento station's azulejo hall
- LX Factory in Lisbon (browsing)
Cheap eats
- Pastel de nata: about €1.20-1.50
- Bifana (pork sandwich): about €3-5
- Prato do dia in a tasca: about €10-14
- Grilled sardines in June festival stalls: about €6-10 a plate
- Francesinha in Porto: about €12-16 (enough for a full meal)
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in guesthouses and hostels in Lisbon's Anjos and Porto's Bolhão, close to the metro, at about €70-110 for a double. Both cities have excellent hostels with dorm beds for less.
Getting around cheaply
Use Viva Viagem and Andante cards on the metro (about €1.80-2 a ride). From Lisbon Airport, the metro reaches the centre in 25 minutes; from Porto Airport, metro line E takes 30 minutes. CP trains between the cities are cheap booked early.
A sample budget day
- Morning: Alfama lanes and Miradouro de Santa Luzia (free)
- Lunch: prato do dia in a tasca (about €12)
- Afternoon: Belém by tram 15 and a pastel de nata (about €5 with transport)
- Evening: free fado at a small Alfama house with a drink (about €5)
- Total: about €82 including a shared room
More ways to save
- Visit Sintra on a weekday and choose one or two palaces rather than all.
- Picnic with supermarket bread, cheese and wine on a viewpoint.
- Walk Porto's centre and use the Guindais funicular only for the steepest climb.
- Travel between cities on regional or IC trains rather than the Alfa Pendular if cheaper.
- Choose the Algarve in May or October for low prices and warm sea.
- Ask for 'água da torneira' (tap water) in restaurants.
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Common questions
How much do I need per day in Portugal on a budget?
About €82 per person with a shared budget room, lunch menus and public transport.
What is the cheapest way to travel from Lisbon to Porto?
CP trains booked ahead or long-distance buses; the train takes about 2h50.
Is Sintra worth it on a budget?
Yes: the train costs under €3 each way, and choosing one palace keeps it affordable.