🕷️ Crawler Inspector

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Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 115 (from laksa105)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa115.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical, ml_categories_json AS ml_categories_json, ml_types_json AS ml_types_json, ml_intent_types_json AS ml_intent_types_json, meta_language AS meta_language, attrs_author AS attrs_author, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(attrs_publish_time), 0) AS attrs_publish_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(attrs_original_publish_time), 0) AS attrs_original_publish_time, ifNull(attrs_is_republished, 0) AS attrs_is_republished, ifNull(attrs_nr_words, 0) AS attrs_nr_words, ifNull(attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words, 0) AS attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words, ifNull(body_ext_links_number, 0) AS body_ext_links_number, ifNull(body_int_links_number, 0) AS body_int_links_number, ifNull(meta_nofollow, 0) AS meta_nofollow, ifNull(meta_noarchive, 0) AS meta_noarchive, ifNull(props_was_rendered, 0) AS props_was_rendered, ifNull(src_redirect, \'\') AS src_redirect, ifNull(download_time_msec, 0) AS download_time_msec, ifNull(download_ttfb_msec, 0) AS download_ttfb_msec, ifNull(download_size, 0) AS download_size FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget/\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget/\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget\/","crawl_time":1777170736,"first_indexed_time":1628489087,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,neverendingfootsteps!www,\/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget\/ s443","src_root_hash":"17789643994333734315","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"The Cost of Travel in Portugal: My 2025 Budget Breakdown","meta_descriptions":["Portugal might just be one of the greatest countries in Europe. In fact, it took just two days for me to decide to uproot my nomadic life and move there."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Portugal might just be one of the greatest countries in Europe.\nIn fact, it took just two days for me to decide to\nuproot my nomadic life and move there\n. I’m not kidding: I rocked up in Lisbon for the first time back in 2016, fell deeply in love with the city, then began looking for an apartment two days later. I found my dream home after a month of searching, signed a lease, and the rest was history. I\nlove\nthis country.\nTo me, Portugal has it all. It’s home to a massively underrated food scene, welcoming locals, the most beautiful buildings, and fantastic weather. For a long time, it was overlooked in favour of its more popular neighbours like Italy, Spain, and France, but that’s not the case any more.\nWhile those extra tourists have caused\nsome\nprices to increase, especially since the pandemic, Portugal is still one of the more affordable countries in Western Europe — and especially when you travel outside of Lisbon and Porto. (Which you should, by the way, because Portugal has so much to offer outside of its two most famous cities.)\nI’ve been recording every single dollar, peso, and baht that I’ve spent on my travels since 2011 (I now have\nover 65 budget breakdowns on my site\n!), aiming to give you an accurate picture of how much you can expect to spend in every country around the world. Today, it’s Portugal’s turn and I’m so excited to start sharing.\nTiles and trams: the two things that Lisbon is most famous for!\nThe Cost of Accommodation in Portugal\nAs always with travel, it’s possible to cut your accommodation costs down to zero if you have the time and patience to seek out an offer.\nHow to Save Money on Accommodation in Portugal\nHousesitting\n exists in Portugal, and is a fantastic option if you’re looking to save money.\nThis is where you’ll take care of somebody’s house for free while they’re away, and often look after their pets, too. It’s best for long-term travellers or retirees, as you can’t pick and choose dates (they’ll obviously be based on the owner’s vacation dates) so you’ll need to have a lot of flexibility as to where you go and at what time of year.\nIf you\ndo\nhave that freedom, though, it’s a wonderful way to cut down your travel expenses, soak up some home comforts, and live like a local for a while. Some of my friends have even landed housesitting gigs for castles and chateaus in Europe! \nTrusted Housesitters\n is the best site for getting started with housesitting.\nI’m suspecting, though, that for most of you, you’re not interested in the free accommodation and just want somewhere clean, safe, and affordable to rest your head each night. If that’s the case, there are several options available for you.\nTypes of Accommodation in Portugal\nThe first of these are \nhostels\n. In Portugal, you’ll come across hostels all over the country, finding them on tiny islands, in large cities, and even in the national parks. They’re one of your best options for saving money.\nHostels in Portugal\n are on a par with the rest of major cities in Western Europe, and you can expect to spend around \n€25 a night for a dorm bed\n for a well-reviewed hostel in Lisbon, with the price increasing to slightly about\n€35 a night\nfor the absolute best of the best.\nWhen it comes to private rooms in hostels, you can expect to spend around \n€50 a night\n for a clean, basic room in a good location, so if you’re travelling with friends or with your partner, you may find it cheaper to grab some privacy over settling for two beds in a dorm room.\n€100 a night\nwill get you an exceptionally well-reviewed private room in a hostel.\nIf you’re an older traveller and put off by the thought of nights spent in hostels, you shouldn’t be! Private rooms are usually very quiet and clean, and most hostels are modern, safe, and centrally located. They tend to have a little more personality than generic hotels, and the staff are fantastic at offering kickass travel advice. As long as you check the reviews of any hostel before booking it to make sure nobody refers to it as a party hostel, you’re all good to make a booking there.\nI use \nHostelWorld\n to find the cheapest hostels, as they tend to have the greatest number of listings at the lowest prices.\nAnd, of course, there are always hotels, which again will usually start at around \n€50-€100 a night\n for a decent, clean, mid-range property in a central location. I always use \nBooking.com\n, as they have the most accommodation options for the cheapest prices — but more on that below.\nThere’s going to be no sugarcoating here: Portugal — and Lisbon, in particular — has been screwed over by the arrival of Airbnb.\nEssentially: landlords in Lisbon came to realise that if they listed their properties on Airbnb, they could make more money from tourists in\ntwo months\nthan they could from renting to locals year-round. And so began the slow transformation of Lisbon, in which locals — my friends — were forced out of their homes to make way for Airbnbs, and prices grew and grew and grew and grew.\nWhen the average salary for locals in Lisbon is just €1,000 a month and the average Airbnb apartments are listed at well over €2,000 a month, you find yourself with a city that’s packed full of short-stay tourists with many locals pushed out into the very outer suburbs.\nIt’s for this reason that I want to strongly recommend that you don’t use Airbnb while staying in Lisbon and Porto.\nMy modern, stylish hotel room at\nSapientia Boutique Hotel\nin Coimbra\nHere’s where I\ndo\nrecommend you stay:\nLisbon:\nWhen friends ask me where to stay in Lisbon, I always tell them my number one rule: you\nmust\nstay within a 20-minute walk of the city’s Time Out Market. If you’re inside that radius, you’ll be within walking distance of the majority of the tourist attractions. Outside of that? It’s going to be a pain in the ass.\nMy favourite neighbourhood in Lisbon is Principe Real, which is where I used to live. It’s easily the best area in the city — you’ve got tons of great restaurants and bars, peaceful parks to wander around, gorgeous buildings, great views over the city, and hardly any crowds because there’s close to no tourist attractions in this part of town. (But don’t worry — everything is still walkable from here.)\nIn terms of hotels in Principe Real, your best option is easily\nToctoctoc Lisboa\n, a lovely boutique hotel that comes in at\n€225 a night\nfor a deluxe room with garden views. This is where I always tell all of my friends and family to stay. Because is this the most gorgeous hotel ever? Yup! Seriously, the entire garden area is so beautiful. It’s in a great location but still super-quiet, has the most delicious breakfast, full of breads from the local bakery, and such tastefully-decorated rooms. It’s rated\n9.5 on Booking\n.\nPorto:\nWe stayed in\nRepublica 157 Guest House\n(\n€95 a night\n) during our most recent stay in Porto, and it was so lovely! It’s right in the heart of Porto but still super-quiet at night, with the sweetest owners who left treats in our room while we were out exploring and did all they could to ensure we had a great time in the city.\nCoimbra:\nSapientia Boutique Hotel\n(\n€188 a night\n): We stayed in this gorgeous hotel for my partner’s birthday and it was truly such a wonderful treat. It’s a literary-themed hotel, but not in a tacky way, with rooms named after famous authors, bedside lamps built from second-hand books, and minimalist decorations featuring quotes from famous works. On top of that, the staff were the\nbest\n, putting together a delicious breakfast, greeting us with free glasses of port and\npasteis de nata\n, and offering up free wine on the rooftop terrace each evening. This was definitely a splurge for me, but one of those times when it felt more than worth it.\nEvora:\nIf you love your food, I’m going to absolutely insist that you plan to spend at least a few days in Evora while you’re in Portugal. It’s easily accessible from Lisbon and the food scene is absolutely phenomenal. My partner and I splurged on this trip, too, and decided to stay in\nPousada Convento de Evora\nat a price of\n€216 a night\n. But what an incredible property: it’s an old converted monastery, located directly opposite a Roman temple, which makes for a particularly spectacular view each morning. With a swimming pool that’s perfect for cooling off in, lovely staff, and a large breakfast, this hotel made for the perfect romantic getaway.\nAverage Costs for Accommodation in Portugal\nIf you’re on a tight budget, you’ll be looking at around\n€15-25\na night for a dorm room in a hostel, or\n€50-100\na night for a private room.\nIf you’re on a mid-range budget, expect to spend around\n€100-150\na night for a well-reviewed, modern, centrally-located hotel.\nIf you’re willing to go all out and splurge, you’ll be looking at around\n€250 a night\nfor one of the best hotels in town.\nLisbon’s famous trams\nThe Cost of Transportation in Portugal\nWhen it comes to public transportation in Portugal, there’s plenty of ways to get around. In Lisbon and Porto, you’ll most likely find yourself not needing to use it at all, as most of the attractions are within walking distance of each other.\nEven while living in Lisbon, I took public transport about once every six months — and usually that’s hopping on a tram to avoid trekking up a particularly steep hill. That’s the one downside of getting around Lisbon by foot, by the way: it feels like every single street takes you up a steep incline and sometimes you just want to walk for five minutes without feeling like it’s a full-on workout.\nOh, and a word of warning: many of the streets in Lisbon are cobblestoned, so when it rains, it gets real slippery. A survey of elderly Lisbonites had them sharing their greatest fear in life\nis falling over on the city’s pavements\n. There’s a whole lot of people with fake hips in this city! Flip-flops are a definite no-no.\nI feel like I’m not really selling the whole you-should-walk-everywhere-in-Lisbon-thing to you?\nHere are the most common forms of transportation in Portugal: \nMetro and Tram (Lisbon and Porto)\n— Besides walking, one of my favorite ways to experience a city is by understanding their local metro system. Lisbon and Porto (plus Almada on the other side of the river to Lisbon) are the only cities that have one in the country, so if you don’t like to walk, you’ll probably make use of both during your explorations. \nIt’s usually easiest and cheaper to get a day pass if you plan on spending a day sightseeing in these cities. In Lisbon, a day pass on the public transportation system costs\n€6.80\n, or\n€10.80\nif you want to go further out to places like Sintra. In Porto, it’s\n€7.50\n.\nOf course, if you’ve seen any classic photos of Portugal, you’ll have probably noticed the famous, historic trams. These are traditional electric cars from a bygone era. Nowadays, they’re not so much a main method of getting around as they are an experience. I would recommend riding one early in the morning to avoid the midday tourist crowds. Number 28 is the iconic route: just be sure to watch your bags, as pickpockets are active on the trams. You can use your metro day pass or buy a one-way fare onboard for\n€3.10.\nTrain\n— You’ll be happy to hear that most cities and towns are connected by Portugal’s train system:\nComboios de Portugal\n. You’ll be even happier to know that train tickets in Portugal are fairly inexpensive. I’ve taken the train all over Portugal, from Lisbon to places like Coimbra, Evora, and Porto, and booking tickets is always a breeze. There are four different types of trains within Portugal’s network: \nRegional Trains (R) (Regionais):\nshorter distances, make lots of stops, and tend to be slower\nIntercity Trains (IC) (Intercidades):\nfor between major cities and towns; they make fewer stops, and tend to be faster\nAlfa Pendular (AP):\na high-speed train that goes the fastest, connects all the major cities, and runs the length of the entire country from north to south\nUrbanos (U):\nsubway systems within individual cities \nThe cost of a train depends on the date and time you’re traveling, and the type of train. To give you an idea of prices, here are some standard one-way train fares for the most popular routes. There are often also promo fares that give big discounts when booked in advance: I’ve grabbed one-way fares from Lisbon to Porto for as little as €10. \nLisbon to Porto\nIntercity: €26.85\nAlfa Pendular: €33.90\nLisbon to Faro\nIntercity: €25\nAlfa Pendular: €26.45\nPorto to Coimbra \nIntercity: €14.60\nAlfa Pendular: €18.70\nBus\n: Bus services in Portugal include both regional and local buses, as well international coaches — I took a coach from Porto to Madrid several years ago, and a local bus between Porto and Braga for a day trip, and both were comfortable, easy rides. There are frequent coach services between all Portuguese cities and a network of the national and several private bus companies covering most of Portugal. \nYou’ll usually have the option of either an express or slower bus service, and prices will vary according to distance, time, and company. Generally, fares will start at €5 but shouldn’t cost more than €20 for a journey. \nRedeExpressos\nis the largest bus company in the country, followed by\nRodonorte\n(which covers the north) and\nEva Transportes\n(which covers the south).\nPlane\n: Portugal is a small country, so I don’t recommend flying if you’re going to be travelling around the mainland — by the time you get to the airport and wait around for your flight and go through all of that hassle, you’d probably already be at your next destination if you’d gone by train. It takes just four hours to get from Lisbon to Porto on the train, for example.\nIf you’re going to be heading to Madeira or the Azores, flying is the only option. I use\nSkyscanner\nfor finding the cheapest flights, and you can expect to pay around €60 return from Lisbon to either Funchal (Madeira) or Ponta Delgada (the Azores).\nA photo from my food and wine trip to Evora, where you’ll find the best culinary scene in the country\nOne of my greatest joys to come from living in Portugal was the\nfood\n. Portuguese food is such an underrated cuisine and it’s one of my favourites in all of Europe. It’s so much more than just salted cod and sardines.\nOf course, there are\npasteis de nata\n— Portuguese egg tarts — if you know anything about Portuguese cuisines, it’s most likely that these little treats are absolutely delicious. Fun fact: if you go to an El Corte Ingles department store in Portugal and tell the information desk that you’re a tourist, they’ll gift you with a free tart and glass of port!\nIf you want to sample the best of the best, though, head to either Pastéis de Belém or Manteigaria — they’re popular for a reason. Expect to pay between\n€1\nand\n€1.50\nfor one pretty much anywhere in town.\nIf you want to eat local, head to a less-popular neighbourhoods and look for the signs advertising a\nprato do dia\n— you’ll usually pay around\n€10\nfor a three-course meal with a glass of wine and the food will be so fresh and tasty. It’s a great way to stay on budget while also eating well.\nAnother well-known dish from Portugal is the Francesinha, which is typically only found in Porto. It’s… um… a lot. It’s an enormous multi-layered sandwich filled with steak, sausages, and ham, that’s then covered in cheese, placed in a pool of tomato-based gravy, with fries swimming in the sauce and a fried egg on top. Yeah, it’s typically something that tourists only opt for once — and I recommend sharing one with somebody. You’ll pay around\n€10\nfor one in Porto and most likely be full for the rest of the day after finishing.\nIf you choose to visit Lisbon during June, and particular between the 12th and the 14th: you’re in luck! The sardine-themed festival of St. Anthony takes place in June and with it, comes a month-long celebration that sees the country devouring six sardines a second. The older neighbourhoods in Lisbon light up their grills, throw down their sardines, barbecue them up with a sprinkling of basil, and the city fills with smoke, music, and parties for one whole month. You’ll pay\n€1\nor so for a sardine sandwich and they’re a\nlot\ntastier than you’re thinking.\nThe two best places for food in Portugal is archipelago of\nthe Azores\nand inland town of\nEvora\n— I ate unbelievably well in both spots. The Azores has a sunny climate and fertile land, which means the islands are all sufficient and don’t need to import food from mainland Portugal in order to survive.\nThe most famous dish of the Azores — and one of my favourite meals — is \ncozido das furnas, \na stew that’s cooked inside a volcano! Some of my other food highlights from the islands included sampling the strong Azorean cheese, drinking as much high-quality Azorean wine as my body could handle, swooning over the juiciest pineapples of my life, and snacking on unusual seafood whenever I had the opportunity to. I averaged\n€5\nfor breakfast,\n€12\nfor lunch, and\n€15\nfor dinner while in was in the Azores. \nThe international food scene is fantastic in Lisbon, and if you’re keen to sample as much of it as possible, I recommend heading to Principe Real: the neighbourhood I can’t stop talking about. I chose to live there simply because it has some of the best food in the city. Some of my recommendations are Atalho Real, ZeroZero, Koppu Ramen, Lost In, A Cevicheria, Gin Lovers… Basically, walk down the main street in Principe Real and pick a place: every single eatery on this street is epic. You’ll get a main for\n€15-20\n, with a glass of wine or beer for\na couple of Euros\nextra.\nEvery time a friend or family member came to visit me in Lisbon, I took them to one of two places: the city’s Time Out Market or the streets of Principe Real. The former is always guaranteed to wow you; an enormous food hall — a higher-end food court — featuring stalls that are run by some of the best restaurants in the city. It’s a great way to sample some of the city’s favourite eateries without having to hop all over Lisbon to get to them. Plus, there’s so many options, you can satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. I recommend O Prego da Peixaria, Pizzeria ZeroZero, Miguel Castro e Silva, Croqueteria, and Ground Burger.\nWhat about drinks?\nWhen it comes to alcohol, you’re most likely thinking of Port and you’d be right to do so: port is a Portuguese fortified wine that’s absolutely delicious and can be found all over the country — expect to pay\na couple of Euros\nfor a glass in a restaurant or around\n€7-10\nfor a mid-range bottle in a supermarket. Oh, and if you think you don’t like port, I’d still recommend signing up for a tasting while you’re in Porto: it’s all\nso\ngood! I paid\n€20\nfor a tasting at Taylors in Porto, with an audio tour and two glasses of port to sample.\nIf you already know you love port, you’ll want to head to the Douro Valley, just outside of Porto, and spend a day or two winery-hopping around the region. I took a day trip out to the Douro while I was in town — amazing and so beautiful! — paying\n€124 for a full-day tour\nthat took us to two wineries and finished it all off with a river cruise.\nDon’t forget to try a cool glass of vinho verde for a couple of Euros while you’re in Portugal either! While the name translates to green wine, it’s actually a young wine, and can be white, red, or rose; some sparkling, some not. It’s great to drink on, hot sunny days either way!\nThe iconic photo of Porto: everybody comes away from the city with a shot from this viewpoint!\nThe Cost of Activities and Entrance Fees in Portugal  \nPortugal has tons to see and do, and plenty of day trips to fill your time with.\nOne of the best ways to enjoy cities such as Lisbon and Porto is having the day to walk around neighbourhoods aimlessly while window-shopping and stopping for food and drink breaks. On one of my first days in Lisbon, I took a walking tour with\nHi Lisbon Walking Tours\nto get a feel for my surroundings and to learn more about the history. In Porto, I jumped on a tour called\nThe Worst Tour\n(yes, really), that takes tourists on a tour of Porto’s most interesting abandoned buildings. It was so fun!\nA stand-out experience for me was taking a day trip from Lisbon to Sintra (45-minute train ride). Sintra is a charming, medieval town with fairytale castles, mansions, and gardens. It’s one of those places that lives up to the hype when you’re there — I felt like I had stepped right back a few centuries. King Consort Ferdinand II and his wife Queen Maria II of Portugal were the ones that transformed Sintra into a wonderland of European Gothic architecture in the 19th century, and it makes for such a beautiful scene.\nWithin Lisbon itself, there’s so much to keep you busy: the Lisbon Oceanarium, that’s ranked best in the world, the Lisbon flea market, which had some seriously cool treasures (held every Tuesday and Saturday), the decadent weekend brunch at the Four Seasons that’s a fabulous way to treat yourself, and the Lisbon tile museum, for those of you who can’t get enough of that Portuguese architecture.\nHere’s a breakdown of my favourite attractions in Portugal and their respective costs: \nPena Palace (Sintra)\n:\n€20\nNational Azulejo (tile) Museum (Lisbon)\n:\n€10\nLisbon Oceanarium\n:\n€25\nLisbon Castle entrance fee\n:\n€15\nJeronimos Monastery entrance (Belem\n):\n€12\nTorre de Belem entrance (Belem)\n:\n€15\nSanta Justa Lift, in Lisbon:\n€5.30\nLivraria Lello Bookstore fee (Porto)\n:\n€8, credited towards a book if you buy one\nThe Cost of Miscellaneous Expenses in Portugal\neSIM or SIM card:\nI made the switch to eSIMs a few years ago, and it’s a simple thing that’s greatly improved my travels.\nI hated having to spend my first few hours in a country wandering around trying to find a way to get connected. SIM cards are usually expensive at the airport (if they’re even available), but if I didn’t get it there, it was just such a hassle finding somewhere to buy one, dealing with language barriers and registration and scams and… well, it was time-consuming, frustrating, and not how I wanted to start my trip.\nThese days, I get an eSIM in advance from\naloSIM\ninstead. They sell local e-SIMs for travellers, so I just buy one for Portugal or wherever before I get there, and then just turn on my phone and be online before the plane’s even come to a halt. It’s worked flawlessly for me in over a dozen countries so far.\nI paid\n$10 (\n€\n9\n)\nfor 5GB of data for 30 days in Portugal\n. Readers of Never Ending Footsteps can get a 5% discount on aloSIM eSIMs by using the code\nFOOTSTEPS\n.\nIf you do want a physical SIM card though (maybe your phone is an older one that can’t use eSIMs), Portugal at least isn’t as bad as some countries when it comes to prices or effort. Vodafone has little kiosks in both Lisbon and Porto airports, and tourist SIMs with 10GB of data plus 500 texts or calling minutes costs\n€20\nfor 30 days.\nTravel insurance: \nI’m all about ensuring that every single one of my readers understands the importance of travel insurance. When you work in the travel industry, as I do, you’re inundated with news of destitute backpackers on GoFundMe who fell ill while travelling, didn’t have travel insurance, and now can’t afford the hundreds of thousands of dollars needed to be airlifted home for medical care. It happened to an old school friend of mine just last year. In short, if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel.\nTravel insurance\n will cover you if your flight is cancelled and you need to book a new one, if your luggage gets lost and you need to replace your belongings, if you suddenly get struck down by appendicitis and have to be hospitalised, or discover a family member has died while you’re overseas and need to get home immediately. If you fall seriously ill, your insurance will cover the costs to fly you home to receive medical treatment.\nI use \nSafetyWing\n as my travel insurance provider, and recommend them for trips to Portugal. They provide worldwide coverage, don’t require you to have a return ticket, and even allow you to buy coverage after you’ve left home. Finally, they have a clear, easy-to-understand pricing structure, which is always appreciated.\nA picturesque village on the islands of the Azores\nHow Much Does it Cost to Travel in Portugal? \nIt’s time to tally up all of my expenses to see my total travel costs! \nAccommodation: €100 per day\nTransportation: €5 per day\nFood\/drink: €40 per day\nActivities\/Entrance Fees: €20 per day\neSIM: €1 per day\nAverage amount spent in Portugal: €166 a day!\nThese prices should be about right for most people, but you’ll save quite a bit on accommodation if you’re part of a couple staying in budget or mid-range places, or are happy to stay in dorm rooms in hostels as a solo traveller.\nHave you been to Portugal? How much did you spend while you were in town?","attrs_markdown":"- [Home](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/)\n- [About](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/about-lauren\/)\n  - [About Lauren Juliff](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/about-lauren\/)\n  - [Where I’ve Been](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/where-ive-been\/)\n  - [Lauren in The Media](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/lauren-media\/)\n- [Blog](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/archive\/)\n- [Destinations](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/travel-guides\/)\n- [Travel Expense Reports](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/travel-expenses\/)\n- [How to Start a Travel Blog](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/how-to-start-a-travel-blog\/)\n\n[Facebook](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Neverendingfootsteps \"Facebook\")   [Twitter](https:\/\/twitter.com\/nefootsteps \"Twitter\")\n\n[![Never Ending Footsteps](https:\/\/sp-ao.shortpixel.ai\/client\/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_3000,h_600\/https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Copy-of-Copy-of-Untitled-1.png)![Never Ending Footsteps](data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%203000%20600%22%3E%3C\/svg%3E)](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/)\n\n- [Africa](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/africa\/)\n- [Asia](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/asia\/)\n- [Central America](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/central-america\/)\n- [Europe](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/europe\/)\n- [The Middle East](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/the-middle-east\/)\n- [South America](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/south-america\/)\n- [Oceania](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/oceania\/)\n- [United States](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/united-states\/)\n\n[Europe](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/europe\/ \"View all posts in Europe\")[Portugal](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/portugal\/ \"View all posts in Portugal\")[Travel Expenses](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/travel-expenses\/ \"View all posts in Travel Expenses\")\n\n# The Cost of Travel in Portugal: My 2025 Budget Breakdown\n***\n[Lauren Juliff](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/about-lauren\/ \"Posts by Lauren Juliff\")\n\nNovember 28, 2025\n\n\\|\n\nPortugal might just be one of the greatest countries in Europe.\n\nIn fact, it took just two days for me to decide to [uproot my nomadic life and move there](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/why-i-moved-to-lisbon-portugal\/). I’m not kidding: I rocked up in Lisbon for the first time back in 2016, fell deeply in love with the city, then began looking for an apartment two days later. I found my dream home after a month of searching, signed a lease, and the rest was history. I *love* this country.\n\nTo me, Portugal has it all. It’s home to a massively underrated food scene, welcoming locals, the most beautiful buildings, and fantastic weather. For a long time, it was overlooked in favour of its more popular neighbours like Italy, Spain, and France, but that’s not the case any more.\n\nWhile those extra tourists have caused *some* prices to increase, especially since the pandemic, Portugal is still one of the more affordable countries in Western Europe — and especially when you travel outside of Lisbon and Porto. (Which you should, by the way, because Portugal has so much to offer outside of its two most famous cities.)\n\nI’ve been recording every single dollar, peso, and baht that I’ve spent on my travels since 2011 (I now have [over 65 budget breakdowns on my site](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/travel-expenses\/)!), aiming to give you an accurate picture of how much you can expect to spend in every country around the world. Today, it’s Portugal’s turn and I’m so excited to start sharing.\n\n![Tram rolling down a typical street in Lisbon, with cobbled streets and pavements, and brightly-coloured tiles on many of the houses](https:\/\/sp-ao.shortpixel.ai\/client\/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_1500,h_1000\/https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Typical-Lisbon-street.jpg)\n\nTiles and trams: the two things that Lisbon is most famous for\\!\n## The Cost of Accommodation in Portugal\nAs always with travel, it’s possible to cut your accommodation costs down to zero if you have the time and patience to seek out an offer.\n\n### How to Save Money on Accommodation in Portugal\n**Housesitting** exists in Portugal, and is a fantastic option if you’re looking to save money.\n\nThis is where you’ll take care of somebody’s house for free while they’re away, and often look after their pets, too. It’s best for long-term travellers or retirees, as you can’t pick and choose dates (they’ll obviously be based on the owner’s vacation dates) so you’ll need to have a lot of flexibility as to where you go and at what time of year.\n\nIf you *do* have that freedom, though, it’s a wonderful way to cut down your travel expenses, soak up some home comforts, and live like a local for a while. Some of my friends have even landed housesitting gigs for castles and chateaus in Europe! [Trusted Housesitters](https:\/\/trustedhousesitters.pxf.io\/XxQxey) is the best site for getting started with housesitting.\n\nI’m suspecting, though, that for most of you, you’re not interested in the free accommodation and just want somewhere clean, safe, and affordable to rest your head each night. If that’s the case, there are several options available for you.\n\n### Types of Accommodation in Portugal\nThe first of these are **hostels**. In Portugal, you’ll come across hostels all over the country, finding them on tiny islands, in large cities, and even in the national parks. They’re one of your best options for saving money.\n\n[Hostels in Portugal](https:\/\/prf.hn\/click\/camref:1011l33bd) are on a par with the rest of major cities in Western Europe, and you can expect to spend around **€25 a night for a dorm bed** for a well-reviewed hostel in Lisbon, with the price increasing to slightly about **€35 a night** for the absolute best of the best.\n\nWhen it comes to private rooms in hostels, you can expect to spend around **€50 a night** for a clean, basic room in a good location, so if you’re travelling with friends or with your partner, you may find it cheaper to grab some privacy over settling for two beds in a dorm room. **€100 a night** will get you an exceptionally well-reviewed private room in a hostel.\n\nIf you’re an older traveller and put off by the thought of nights spent in hostels, you shouldn’t be! Private rooms are usually very quiet and clean, and most hostels are modern, safe, and centrally located. They tend to have a little more personality than generic hotels, and the staff are fantastic at offering kickass travel advice. As long as you check the reviews of any hostel before booking it to make sure nobody refers to it as a party hostel, you’re all good to make a booking there.\n\nI use [HostelWorld](https:\/\/prf.hn\/click\/camref:1011l33bd) to find the cheapest hostels, as they tend to have the greatest number of listings at the lowest prices.\n\n![Close-up of the corner of a house in Lisbon, with brightly-coloured tiles on part of one wall, and washing hanging on one of the balconies](https:\/\/sp-ao.shortpixel.ai\/client\/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_1500,h_1000\/https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Lisbon-windows-with-laundry.jpg)\n\n![Close-up of the corner of a house in Lisbon, with brightly-coloured tiles on part of one wall, and washing hanging on one of the balconies](data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%201500%201000%22%3E%3C\/svg%3E)\n\nAnd, of course, there are always hotels, which again will usually start at around **€50-€100 a night** for a decent, clean, mid-range property in a central location. I always use [Booking.com](https:\/\/www.booking.com\/index.html?aid=1514105&label=paris), as they have the most accommodation options for the cheapest prices — but more on that below.\n\nThere’s going to be no sugarcoating here: Portugal — and Lisbon, in particular — has been screwed over by the arrival of Airbnb.\n\nEssentially: landlords in Lisbon came to realise that if they listed their properties on Airbnb, they could make more money from tourists in *two months* than they could from renting to locals year-round. And so began the slow transformation of Lisbon, in which locals — my friends — were forced out of their homes to make way for Airbnbs, and prices grew and grew and grew and grew.\n\nWhen the average salary for locals in Lisbon is just €1,000 a month and the average Airbnb apartments are listed at well over €2,000 a month, you find yourself with a city that’s packed full of short-stay tourists with many locals pushed out into the very outer suburbs.\n\nIt’s for this reason that I want to strongly recommend that you don’t use Airbnb while staying in Lisbon and Porto.\n\n![](https:\/\/sp-ao.shortpixel.ai\/client\/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_1500,h_1000\/https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Sapientia-Boutique-Hotel-Coimbra.jpg)\n\n![](data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%201500%201000%22%3E%3C\/svg%3E)\n\nMy modern, stylish hotel room at [Sapientia Boutique Hotel](https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/pt\/sapientia-boutique.en.html?aid=1514105&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&label=portugal) in Coimbra\n\nHere’s where I *do* recommend you stay:\n\n**Lisbon:** When friends ask me where to stay in Lisbon, I always tell them my number one rule: you *must* stay within a 20-minute walk of the city’s Time Out Market. If you’re inside that radius, you’ll be within walking distance of the majority of the tourist attractions. Outside of that? It’s going to be a pain in the ass.\n\nMy favourite neighbourhood in Lisbon is Principe Real, which is where I used to live. It’s easily the best area in the city — you’ve got tons of great restaurants and bars, peaceful parks to wander around, gorgeous buildings, great views over the city, and hardly any crowds because there’s close to no tourist attractions in this part of town. (But don’t worry — everything is still walkable from here.)\n\nIn terms of hotels in Principe Real, your best option is easily [Toctoctoc Lisboa](https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/pt\/toctoctoc-lisboa.en.html?aid=1514105&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&label=portugal), a lovely boutique hotel that comes in at **€225 a night** for a deluxe room with garden views. This is where I always tell all of my friends and family to stay. Because is this the most gorgeous hotel ever? Yup! Seriously, the entire garden area is so beautiful. It’s in a great location but still super-quiet, has the most delicious breakfast, full of breads from the local bakery, and such tastefully-decorated rooms. It’s rated [9\\.5 on Booking](https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/pt\/toctoctoc-lisboa.en.html?aid=1514105&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&label=portugal).\n\n**Porto:** We stayed in [Republica 157 Guest House](https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/pt\/157-republica.en.html?aid=1514105&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&label=portugal) (**€95 a night**) during our most recent stay in Porto, and it was so lovely! It’s right in the heart of Porto but still super-quiet at night, with the sweetest owners who left treats in our room while we were out exploring and did all they could to ensure we had a great time in the city.\n\n**Coimbra:** [Sapientia Boutique Hotel](https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/pt\/sapientia-boutique.en.html?aid=1514105&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&label=portugal) (**€188 a night**): We stayed in this gorgeous hotel for my partner’s birthday and it was truly such a wonderful treat. It’s a literary-themed hotel, but not in a tacky way, with rooms named after famous authors, bedside lamps built from second-hand books, and minimalist decorations featuring quotes from famous works. On top of that, the staff were the *best*, putting together a delicious breakfast, greeting us with free glasses of port and *pasteis de nata*, and offering up free wine on the rooftop terrace each evening. This was definitely a splurge for me, but one of those times when it felt more than worth it.\n\n**Evora:** If you love your food, I’m going to absolutely insist that you plan to spend at least a few days in Evora while you’re in Portugal. It’s easily accessible from Lisbon and the food scene is absolutely phenomenal. My partner and I splurged on this trip, too, and decided to stay in [Pousada Convento de Evora](https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/pt\/pousada-dos-loios.en.html?aid=1514105&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&label=portugal) at a price of **€216 a night**. But what an incredible property: it’s an old converted monastery, located directly opposite a Roman temple, which makes for a particularly spectacular view each morning. With a swimming pool that’s perfect for cooling off in, lovely staff, and a large breakfast, this hotel made for the perfect romantic getaway.\n\n### Average Costs for Accommodation in Portugal\nIf you’re on a tight budget, you’ll be looking at around **€15-25** a night for a dorm room in a hostel, or **€50-100** a night for a private room.\n\nIf you’re on a mid-range budget, expect to spend around **€100-150** a night for a well-reviewed, modern, centrally-located hotel.\n\nIf you’re willing to go all out and splurge, you’ll be looking at around **€250 a night** for one of the best hotels in town.\n\n![A tram in Lisbon at night, with graffiti on the front and lit up inside as it climbs up a steep cobbled street](https:\/\/sp-ao.shortpixel.ai\/client\/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_2000,h_1496\/https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/lisbon6.jpg)\n\n![A tram in Lisbon at night, with graffiti on the front and lit up inside as it climbs up a steep cobbled street](data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%202000%201496%22%3E%3C\/svg%3E)\n\nLisbon’s famous trams\n## The Cost of Transportation in Portugal\nWhen it comes to public transportation in Portugal, there’s plenty of ways to get around. In Lisbon and Porto, you’ll most likely find yourself not needing to use it at all, as most of the attractions are within walking distance of each other.\n\nEven while living in Lisbon, I took public transport about once every six months — and usually that’s hopping on a tram to avoid trekking up a particularly steep hill. That’s the one downside of getting around Lisbon by foot, by the way: it feels like every single street takes you up a steep incline and sometimes you just want to walk for five minutes without feeling like it’s a full-on workout.\n\nOh, and a word of warning: many of the streets in Lisbon are cobblestoned, so when it rains, it gets real slippery. A survey of elderly Lisbonites had them sharing their greatest fear in life [is falling over on the city’s pavements](https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2018-10-23\/injuries-aside-lisbon-loves-its-mosaic-sidewalks). There’s a whole lot of people with fake hips in this city! Flip-flops are a definite no-no.\n\n*I feel like I’m not really selling the whole you-should-walk-everywhere-in-Lisbon-thing to you?*\n\nHere are the most common forms of transportation in Portugal:\n\n**Metro and Tram (Lisbon and Porto)** — Besides walking, one of my favorite ways to experience a city is by understanding their local metro system. Lisbon and Porto (plus Almada on the other side of the river to Lisbon) are the only cities that have one in the country, so if you don’t like to walk, you’ll probably make use of both during your explorations.\n\nIt’s usually easiest and cheaper to get a day pass if you plan on spending a day sightseeing in these cities. In Lisbon, a day pass on the public transportation system costs **€6.80**, or **€10.80** if you want to go further out to places like Sintra. In Porto, it’s **€7.50**.\n\nOf course, if you’ve seen any classic photos of Portugal, you’ll have probably noticed the famous, historic trams. These are traditional electric cars from a bygone era. Nowadays, they’re not so much a main method of getting around as they are an experience. I would recommend riding one early in the morning to avoid the midday tourist crowds. Number 28 is the iconic route: just be sure to watch your bags, as pickpockets are active on the trams. You can use your metro day pass or buy a one-way fare onboard for **€3.10.**\n\n**Train** — You’ll be happy to hear that most cities and towns are connected by Portugal’s train system: [Comboios de Portugal](https:\/\/www.cp.pt\/passageiros\/en). You’ll be even happier to know that train tickets in Portugal are fairly inexpensive. I’ve taken the train all over Portugal, from Lisbon to places like Coimbra, Evora, and Porto, and booking tickets is always a breeze. There are four different types of trains within Portugal’s network:\n\n- **Regional Trains (R) (Regionais):** shorter distances, make lots of stops, and tend to be slower\n- **Intercity Trains (IC) (Intercidades):** for between major cities and towns; they make fewer stops, and tend to be faster\n- **Alfa Pendular (AP):** a high-speed train that goes the fastest, connects all the major cities, and runs the length of the entire country from north to south\n- **Urbanos (U):** subway systems within individual cities\n\nThe cost of a train depends on the date and time you’re traveling, and the type of train. To give you an idea of prices, here are some standard one-way train fares for the most popular routes. There are often also promo fares that give big discounts when booked in advance: I’ve grabbed one-way fares from Lisbon to Porto for as little as €10.\n\n- **Lisbon to Porto**\n  - Intercity: €26.85\n  - Alfa Pendular: €33.90\n\n- **Lisbon to Faro**\n  - Intercity: €25\n  - Alfa Pendular: €26.45\n\n- **Porto to Coimbra**\n  - Intercity: €14.60\n  - Alfa Pendular: €18.70\n\n**Bus**: Bus services in Portugal include both regional and local buses, as well international coaches — I took a coach from Porto to Madrid several years ago, and a local bus between Porto and Braga for a day trip, and both were comfortable, easy rides. There are frequent coach services between all Portuguese cities and a network of the national and several private bus companies covering most of Portugal.\n\nYou’ll usually have the option of either an express or slower bus service, and prices will vary according to distance, time, and company. Generally, fares will start at €5 but shouldn’t cost more than €20 for a journey.\n\n[RedeExpressos](https:\/\/rede-expressos.pt\/pt) is the largest bus company in the country, followed by [Rodonorte](https:\/\/www.rodonorte.pt\/pt\/) (which covers the north) and [Eva Transportes](http:\/\/eva-bus.com\/) (which covers the south).\n\n**Plane**: Portugal is a small country, so I don’t recommend flying if you’re going to be travelling around the mainland — by the time you get to the airport and wait around for your flight and go through all of that hassle, you’d probably already be at your next destination if you’d gone by train. It takes just four hours to get from Lisbon to Porto on the train, for example.\n\nIf you’re going to be heading to Madeira or the Azores, flying is the only option. I use [Skyscanner](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/link\/skyscanner\/) for finding the cheapest flights, and you can expect to pay around €60 return from Lisbon to either Funchal (Madeira) or Ponta Delgada (the Azores).\n\n![Meat, cheese, pastries, and fruit on a wooden tasting platter, sitting on a checked tablecloth](https:\/\/sp-ao.shortpixel.ai\/client\/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_1500,h_1000\/https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/DSC02857-e1484132397574.jpg)\n\n![Meat, cheese, pastries, and fruit on a wooden tasting platter, sitting on a checked tablecloth](data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%201500%201000%22%3E%3C\/svg%3E)\n\nA photo from my food and wine trip to Evora, where you’ll find the best culinary scene in the country\n## The Cost of Food in Portugal\nOne of my greatest joys to come from living in Portugal was the *food*. Portuguese food is such an underrated cuisine and it’s one of my favourites in all of Europe. It’s so much more than just salted cod and sardines.\n\nOf course, there are *pasteis de nata* — Portuguese egg tarts — if you know anything about Portuguese cuisines, it’s most likely that these little treats are absolutely delicious. Fun fact: if you go to an El Corte Ingles department store in Portugal and tell the information desk that you’re a tourist, they’ll gift you with a free tart and glass of port\\!\n\nIf you want to sample the best of the best, though, head to either Pastéis de Belém or Manteigaria — they’re popular for a reason. Expect to pay between **€1** and **€1.50** for one pretty much anywhere in town.\n\nIf you want to eat local, head to a less-popular neighbourhoods and look for the signs advertising a *prato do dia* — you’ll usually pay around **€10** for a three-course meal with a glass of wine and the food will be so fresh and tasty. It’s a great way to stay on budget while also eating well.\n\nAnother well-known dish from Portugal is the Francesinha, which is typically only found in Porto. It’s… um… a lot. It’s an enormous multi-layered sandwich filled with steak, sausages, and ham, that’s then covered in cheese, placed in a pool of tomato-based gravy, with fries swimming in the sauce and a fried egg on top. Yeah, it’s typically something that tourists only opt for once — and I recommend sharing one with somebody. You’ll pay around **€10** for one in Porto and most likely be full for the rest of the day after finishing.\n\nIf you choose to visit Lisbon during June, and particular between the 12th and the 14th: you’re in luck! The sardine-themed festival of St. Anthony takes place in June and with it, comes a month-long celebration that sees the country devouring six sardines a second. The older neighbourhoods in Lisbon light up their grills, throw down their sardines, barbecue them up with a sprinkling of basil, and the city fills with smoke, music, and parties for one whole month. You’ll pay **€1** or so for a sardine sandwich and they’re a *lot* tastier than you’re thinking.\n\nThe two best places for food in Portugal is archipelago of *the Azores* and inland town of *Evora* — I ate unbelievably well in both spots. The Azores has a sunny climate and fertile land, which means the islands are all sufficient and don’t need to import food from mainland Portugal in order to survive.\n\nThe most famous dish of the Azores — and one of my favourite meals — is *cozido das furnas,* a stew that’s cooked inside a volcano! Some of my other food highlights from the islands included sampling the strong Azorean cheese, drinking as much high-quality Azorean wine as my body could handle, swooning over the juiciest pineapples of my life, and snacking on unusual seafood whenever I had the opportunity to. I averaged **€5** for breakfast, **€12** for lunch, and **€15** for dinner while in was in the Azores.\n\nThe international food scene is fantastic in Lisbon, and if you’re keen to sample as much of it as possible, I recommend heading to Principe Real: the neighbourhood I can’t stop talking about. I chose to live there simply because it has some of the best food in the city. Some of my recommendations are Atalho Real, ZeroZero, Koppu Ramen, Lost In, A Cevicheria, Gin Lovers… Basically, walk down the main street in Principe Real and pick a place: every single eatery on this street is epic. You’ll get a main for **€15-20**, with a glass of wine or beer for **a couple of Euros** extra.\n\nEvery time a friend or family member came to visit me in Lisbon, I took them to one of two places: the city’s Time Out Market or the streets of Principe Real. The former is always guaranteed to wow you; an enormous food hall — a higher-end food court — featuring stalls that are run by some of the best restaurants in the city. It’s a great way to sample some of the city’s favourite eateries without having to hop all over Lisbon to get to them. Plus, there’s so many options, you can satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. I recommend O Prego da Peixaria, Pizzeria ZeroZero, Miguel Castro e Silva, Croqueteria, and Ground Burger.\n\n*What about drinks?*\n\nWhen it comes to alcohol, you’re most likely thinking of Port and you’d be right to do so: port is a Portuguese fortified wine that’s absolutely delicious and can be found all over the country — expect to pay **a couple of Euros** for a glass in a restaurant or around **€7-10** for a mid-range bottle in a supermarket. Oh, and if you think you don’t like port, I’d still recommend signing up for a tasting while you’re in Porto: it’s all *so* good! I paid **€20** for a tasting at Taylors in Porto, with an audio tour and two glasses of port to sample.\n\nIf you already know you love port, you’ll want to head to the Douro Valley, just outside of Porto, and spend a day or two winery-hopping around the region. I took a day trip out to the Douro while I was in town — amazing and so beautiful! — paying [€124 for a full-day tour](https:\/\/www.getyourguide.com\/porto-l151\/porto-genuine-douro-wine-tour-w-lunch-river-cruise-t86657\/?partner_id=5OA45ES&utm_medium=online_publisher&placement=content-middle&mkt_cmp=true) that took us to two wineries and finished it all off with a river cruise.\n\nDon’t forget to try a cool glass of vinho verde for a couple of Euros while you’re in Portugal either! While the name translates to green wine, it’s actually a young wine, and can be white, red, or rose; some sparkling, some not. It’s great to drink on, hot sunny days either way\\!\n\n![Expansive view over the top of a two-level suspension bridge in Porto, Portugal, with a river underneath and many red-roofed buildings climbing up the slopes of the hillside opposite.](https:\/\/sp-ao.shortpixel.ai\/client\/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_1500,h_1000\/https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Porto-bridge-view.jpg)\n\n![Expansive view over the top of a two-level suspension bridge in Porto, Portugal, with a river underneath and many red-roofed buildings climbing up the slopes of the hillside opposite.](data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%201500%201000%22%3E%3C\/svg%3E)\n\nThe iconic photo of Porto: everybody comes away from the city with a shot from this viewpoint\\!\n## The Cost of Activities and Entrance Fees in Portugal\nPortugal has tons to see and do, and plenty of day trips to fill your time with.\n\nOne of the best ways to enjoy cities such as Lisbon and Porto is having the day to walk around neighbourhoods aimlessly while window-shopping and stopping for food and drink breaks. On one of my first days in Lisbon, I took a walking tour with [Hi Lisbon Walking Tours](https:\/\/www.hilisbonwalkingtours.com\/free-tours-lisbon) to get a feel for my surroundings and to learn more about the history. In Porto, I jumped on a tour called [The Worst Tour](https:\/\/theworsttours.weebly.com\/) (yes, really), that takes tourists on a tour of Porto’s most interesting abandoned buildings. It was so fun\\!\n\nA stand-out experience for me was taking a day trip from Lisbon to Sintra (45-minute train ride). Sintra is a charming, medieval town with fairytale castles, mansions, and gardens. It’s one of those places that lives up to the hype when you’re there — I felt like I had stepped right back a few centuries. King Consort Ferdinand II and his wife Queen Maria II of Portugal were the ones that transformed Sintra into a wonderland of European Gothic architecture in the 19th century, and it makes for such a beautiful scene.\n\nWithin Lisbon itself, there’s so much to keep you busy: the Lisbon Oceanarium, that’s ranked best in the world, the Lisbon flea market, which had some seriously cool treasures (held every Tuesday and Saturday), the decadent weekend brunch at the Four Seasons that’s a fabulous way to treat yourself, and the Lisbon tile museum, for those of you who can’t get enough of that Portuguese architecture.\n\nHere’s a breakdown of my favourite attractions in Portugal and their respective costs:\n\n- [Pena Palace (Sintra)](https:\/\/www.getyourguide.com\/sintra-l99\/pena-palace-park-skip-the-line-entrance-ticket-t79596\/?partner_id=5OA45ES&utm_medium=online_publisher&placement=content-middle&mkt_cmp=true): **€20**\n- [National Azulejo (tile) Museum (Lisbon)](https:\/\/www.museunacionaldoazulejo.pt\/en\/bilhetes): **€10**\n- [Lisbon Oceanarium](https:\/\/www.getyourguide.com\/lisbon-l42\/oceanario-de-lisboa-aquarium-ticket-t38079\/?partner_id=5OA45ES&utm_medium=online_publisher&placement=content-middle&mkt_cmp=true): **€25**\n- [Lisbon Castle entrance fee](https:\/\/castelodesaojorge.pt\/en\/): **€15**\n- [Jeronimos Monastery entrance (Belem](https:\/\/mmp.bymeoblueticket.pt\/Evento?IdEvento=14759)): **€12**\n- [Torre de Belem entrance (Belem)](https:\/\/www.museusemonumentos.pt\/en\/museus-e-monumentos\/torre-de-belem): **€15**\n- Santa Justa Lift, in Lisbon: **€5.30**\n- [Livraria Lello Bookstore fee (Porto)](https:\/\/www.livrarialello.pt\/en\/home): **€8, credited towards a book if you buy one**\n## The Cost of Miscellaneous Expenses in Portugal\n**eSIM or SIM card:** I made the switch to eSIMs a few years ago, and it’s a simple thing that’s greatly improved my travels.\n\nI hated having to spend my first few hours in a country wandering around trying to find a way to get connected. SIM cards are usually expensive at the airport (if they’re even available), but if I didn’t get it there, it was just such a hassle finding somewhere to buy one, dealing with language barriers and registration and scams and… well, it was time-consuming, frustrating, and not how I wanted to start my trip.\n\nThese days, I get an eSIM in advance from [aloSIM](https:\/\/alosim.com\/portugal-esim\/?uid=664&oid=3&affid=110) instead. They sell local e-SIMs for travellers, so I just buy one for Portugal or wherever before I get there, and then just turn on my phone and be online before the plane’s even come to a halt. It’s worked flawlessly for me in over a dozen countries so far.\n\nI paid **\\$10 (**€**9**) [for 5GB of data for 30 days in Portugal](https:\/\/alosim.com\/portugal-esim\/?uid=664&oid=3&affid=110). Readers of Never Ending Footsteps can get a 5% discount on aloSIM eSIMs by using the code *FOOTSTEPS*.\n\nIf you do want a physical SIM card though (maybe your phone is an older one that can’t use eSIMs), Portugal at least isn’t as bad as some countries when it comes to prices or effort. Vodafone has little kiosks in both Lisbon and Porto airports, and tourist SIMs with 10GB of data plus 500 texts or calling minutes costs **€20** for 30 days.\n\n**Travel insurance:** I’m all about ensuring that every single one of my readers understands the importance of travel insurance. When you work in the travel industry, as I do, you’re inundated with news of destitute backpackers on GoFundMe who fell ill while travelling, didn’t have travel insurance, and now can’t afford the hundreds of thousands of dollars needed to be airlifted home for medical care. It happened to an old school friend of mine just last year. In short, if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel.\n\n[Travel insurance](https:\/\/safetywing.com\/nomad-insurance\/?referenceID=NEFOOTSTEPS&campaign=portugal-budget&utm_source=NEFOOTSTEPS&utm_medium=Ambassador) will cover you if your flight is cancelled and you need to book a new one, if your luggage gets lost and you need to replace your belongings, if you suddenly get struck down by appendicitis and have to be hospitalised, or discover a family member has died while you’re overseas and need to get home immediately. If you fall seriously ill, your insurance will cover the costs to fly you home to receive medical treatment.\n\nI use [SafetyWing](https:\/\/safetywing.com\/nomad-insurance\/?referenceID=NEFOOTSTEPS&campaign=portugal-budget&utm_source=NEFOOTSTEPS&utm_medium=Ambassador) as my travel insurance provider, and recommend them for trips to Portugal. They provide worldwide coverage, don’t require you to have a return ticket, and even allow you to buy coverage after you’ve left home. Finally, they have a clear, easy-to-understand pricing structure, which is always appreciated.\n\n![Looking over an oceanside town on the island of Sao Miguel in the Azores, with many red-roofed houses.](https:\/\/sp-ao.shortpixel.ai\/client\/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_1500,h_1000\/https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Ocean-town-in-Sao-Miguel-the-Azores.jpg)\n\n![Looking over an oceanside town on the island of Sao Miguel in the Azores, with many red-roofed houses.](data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%201500%201000%22%3E%3C\/svg%3E)\n\nA picturesque village on the islands of the Azores\n## How Much Does it Cost to Travel in Portugal?\nIt’s time to tally up all of my expenses to see my total travel costs\\!\n\n- **Accommodation: €100 per day**\n- **Transportation: €5 per day**\n- **Food\/drink: €40 per day**\n- **Activities\/Entrance Fees: €20 per day**\n- **eSIM: €1 per day**\n\n**Average amount spent in Portugal: €166 a day\\!**\n\nThese prices should be about right for most people, but you’ll save quite a bit on accommodation if you’re part of a couple staying in budget or mid-range places, or are happy to stay in dorm rooms in hostels as a solo traveller.\n\n***Have you been to Portugal? How much did you spend while you were in town?***\n\n**Related Articles on Portugal**  \n  \n🇵🇹 [After 70 Countries, Why I Moved to Lisbon, Portugal](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/why-i-moved-to-lisbon-portugal\/)  \n💚 [The Best Things to Do in Lisbon, Portugal](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/things-to-do-lisbon-portugal\/)  \n❤️ [28 Best Things to Do in Porto, Portugal](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/things-to-do-porto-portugal\/)  \n🏝 [13 Reasons to Plan a Trip to the Azores](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/why-visit-sao-miguel-the-azores\/)  \n🏚 [Exploring the Abandoned Monte Palace Hotel in Sao Miguel](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/monte-palace-abandoned-hotel-azores\/)\n\nAbout the author\n\n#### Lauren Juliff\nLauren Juliff is a published author and travel expert who founded Never Ending Footsteps in 2011. She has spent over 12 years travelling the world, sharing in-depth advice from more than 100 countries across six continents.  \n   \n Lauren's travel advice has been featured in publications like the BBC, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Cosmopolitan, and her work is read by 200,000 readers each month. Her travel memoir can be found in bookstores across the planet.\n\n[Read more about Lauren](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/about-lauren\/ \"Read more about Lauren\")\n\n### Related Posts\n![](https:\/\/sp-ao.shortpixel.ai\/client\/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_225,h_125\/https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Bus-in-Ksamil-225x125.jpg)\n\n![](data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%20225%20125%22%3E%3C\/svg%3E)\n##### [Traveling Albania By Bus: Everything You Need to Know](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/albania-bus-travel-guide\/)\n\n![](https:\/\/sp-ao.shortpixel.ai\/client\/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_225,h_125\/https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Prizren-Stone-Bridge-225x125.jpg)\n\n![](data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%20225%20125%22%3E%3C\/svg%3E)\n##### [In Which I Attempt to Take a Day Trip to Kosovo](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/day-trip-tirana-prizren-by-bus\/)\n\n![](https:\/\/sp-ao.shortpixel.ai\/client\/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_225,h_125\/https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Himare-Beach-Albania-225x125.jpg)\n\n![](data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%20225%20125%22%3E%3C\/svg%3E)\n##### [How to Spend 10 Days in Albania](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/albania-itinerary\/)\n\n![](https:\/\/sp-ao.shortpixel.ai\/client\/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_225,h_125\/https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/girl-on-woolacombe-beach-225x125.jpg)\n\n![](data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%20225%20125%22%3E%3C\/svg%3E)\n##### [How to Pack for the South West Coast Path](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/south-west-coast-path-packing-list\/)\n\n![](https:\/\/sp-ao.shortpixel.ai\/client\/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_225,h_125\/https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Berat-Albania-225x125.jpg)\n\n![](data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%20225%20125%22%3E%3C\/svg%3E)\n##### [The Cost of Travel in Albania: My Detailed Budget Breakdown](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/cost-of-travel-albania-budget\/)\n\n![](https:\/\/sp-ao.shortpixel.ai\/client\/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_225,h_125\/https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Hagia-Sophia-Grand-Mosque-interior-Istanbul-225x125.jpg)\n\n![](data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%20225%20125%22%3E%3C\/svg%3E)\n##### [How to Spend Three Magical Days in Istanbul](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/istanbul-turkey-itinerary\/)\n\n### 33 Comments\n1. Mona\n   \n   September 1, 2021\n   \n   [Reply](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget\/#comment-420889)\n   \n   I love these Portugal guides! I can really sense your passion for the country in your writing and it makes me want to go to see why you love it so much. It’s an added bonus that it’s so affordable in comparison to other places in Western Europe\\!\n   - [Lauren Juliff](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/about-lauren\/)\n     \n     February 11, 2026\n     \n     [Reply](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget\/#comment-480651)\n     \n     Ah, that’s the biggest type of compliment I could receive, Mona, so thank you! I hope you do make it to Portugal, as it’s genuinely one of my favourite countries in all of Europe.\n2. Darius\n   \n   January 29, 2022\n   \n   [Reply](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget\/#comment-433088)\n   \n   This is very helpful. Portugal is becoming so popular these days. I hope the prices don’t go up\\!\n   - [Lauren Juliff](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/about-lauren\/)\n     \n     February 11, 2026\n     \n     [Reply](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget\/#comment-480652)\n     \n     I think it’s inevitable, as every country is struggle with cost of living crises post-pandemic, but so far, Portugal is remaining inexpensive relative to other Western European countries.\n3. Viktor\n   \n   March 25, 2022\n   \n   [Reply](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget\/#comment-437407)\n   \n   You estimated travel cost for one or two persons together?\n   - Anonymous\n     \n     October 16, 2024\n     \n     [Reply](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget\/#comment-467163)\n     \n     :) for two, I think since if you travel solo properly stay at hostel then\n     - [Lauren Juliff](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/about-lauren\/)\n       \n       October 18, 2024\n       \n       [Reply](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget\/#comment-467226)\n       \n       That is a wild comment, Anonymous! You can travel solo “properly” without staying in a hostel! After 15 years of full-time travel, I’ve definitely graduated from staying in hostels, but I’m not sure there’s many people out there who would describe me as not travelling properly :-)\n   - [Lauren Juliff](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/about-lauren\/)\n     \n     February 11, 2026\n     \n     [Reply](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget\/#comment-480653)\n     \n     The cost is per person.\n4. Clinton Thacker\n   \n   March 29, 2022\n   \n   [Reply](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget\/#comment-437619)\n   \n   Awesome article! I, too, love Portugal since I visited with my daughter’s high school trip five years ago. I returned with my wife to Cascais in 2022, then again a few weeks ago (March 2025) to Leiria and Lisbon. Now I’ve spent the last half hour googling Toctoctoc Hotel and Sapientia Hotel in Coimbra, and Evora, dreaming of our next visit! Sure hope I can squeeze in another trip or two before I get much older! Thanks so much for the suggestions!! -Clinton T. from USA\n   - Clinton T.\n     \n     March 29, 2022\n     \n     [Reply](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget\/#comment-437620)\n     \n     …and Yes, travel costs… taxis, buses, Metro and trains, are very reasonable\\!\n   - [Lauren Juliff](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/about-lauren\/)\n     \n     February 11, 2026\n     \n     [Reply](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget\/#comment-480654)\n     \n     Ah, isn’t it such a wonderful country to explore, Clinton? :-) I hope you make it back for many more visits in the near future.\n5. elza potts\n   \n   September 24, 2022\n   \n   [Reply](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget\/#comment-440197)\n   \n   Hi the hotel toctoctoc lisbon is not available on the dates that we are going this december.. is there another hotel you can recommend for us? this is our 1st time to go and want to maybe go live there. any lawyer you can recommend to us in case we love it and need to find information how to go live there since we are US citizens.  \n    I love your website and all the info you provide.  \n    Thank you.\n   - [Lauren Juliff](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/about-lauren\/)\n     \n     September 24, 2022\n     \n     [Reply](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget\/#comment-440207)\n     \n     Anywhere in the Principe Real neighbourhood would be a great location — you can search using a map on Booking.\n     \n     Unfortunately, I don’t have any lawyers to recommend, as I was an EU citizen when I moved to Portugal, so didn’t need a visa. But best of luck with your scouting mission and hope you fall as hard for Lisbon as I did! :-)\n6. Rick\n   \n   March 12, 2023\n   \n   [Reply](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget\/#comment-436524)\n   \n   Would the average costs per day be a lot different in 2026?\n   - [Lauren Juliff](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/about-lauren\/)\n     \n     March 12, 2023\n     \n     [Reply](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget\/#comment-436540)\n     \n     Yep! I’ve already updated the prices for 2026, and always update these budget breakdowns every 3-6 months to make sure the numbers are accurate :-)\n7. Janis\n   \n   February 8, 2024\n   \n   [Reply](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget\/#comment-455892)\n   \n   Is it difficult to travel in Alentejo without a car? How would you recommend seeing that area?\n   - [Lauren Juliff](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/about-lauren\/)\n     \n     February 8, 2024\n     \n     [Reply](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget\/#comment-455909)\n     \n     Actually no! We didn’t have a car in Portugal and were able to get around just fine. We mostly used the train and found it took us to all of the destinations we wanted to see in Alentejo. There are buses, too, which are also easy to use.\n8. tamsen donker\n   \n   March 17, 2024\n   \n   [Reply](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget\/#comment-457797)\n   \n   Just in the beginning stages of hopefully planning a trip to surprise my daughter when she graduates high school in June. I don’t know if I can afford it and hoped to spend a bunch of time at the beach as I imagine that’s cheaper than shopping 😆 Any great beaches you could recommend? I’d the weather good there in June or should i plan for September instead?\n   - [Lauren Juliff](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/about-lauren\/)\n     \n     February 11, 2026\n     \n     [Reply](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget\/#comment-480655)\n     \n     Head straight to the Algarve, Tamsen, as that’s where all the best beaches are. I’d say June or September would be perfect, actually, as they’re both outside of the school holidays, and have warm weather without being scorching hot. I based myself in Tavira when I was last in the Algarve and absolutely loved it.\n9. Lana Anderson\n   \n   May 5, 2024\n   \n   [Reply](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget\/#comment-460681)\n   \n   A lot of great information. Thank you. What time of the year is best to travel to Portugal?\n   - [Lauren Juliff](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/about-lauren\/)\n     \n     May 10, 2024\n     \n     [Reply](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget\/#comment-461122)\n     \n     I really like May, June, September, and October! I would try to avoid July\/August and the colder winter months.\n10. Sheryl\n    \n    September 5, 2024\n    \n    [Reply](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget\/#comment-465400)\n    \n    Hi, We are coming from NZ and travelling thru Spain then spending a few weeks in Portugal. We shall be flying from Lisbon to Bordeaux and I have yet to book our flights..Can you recommend an airline to use please.\n    - [Lauren Juliff](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/about-lauren\/)\n      \n      February 11, 2026\n      \n      [Reply](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget\/#comment-480656)\n      \n      I’d just head to Skyscanner and choose whichever airline has the best timing. TAP is Portugal’s national airline, though, and generally a pretty good option.\n11. Wendy Young\n    \n    October 24, 2024\n    \n    [Reply](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget\/#comment-467398)\n    \n    Hi Lauren! Thank you so much for your amazing insight into Portugal and sharing it with your readers! My mother’s side of the family originated in the Azores and Portugal, so I am starting to plan a trip there for May of next year. My question is this: Since it is our first visit and we, although seniors, have not traveled much, would you suggest going it on our own or with a tour group like EFTours or GoAheadTours? My sense is that we will actually see more and experience more on our own, but what are your thoughts? Thank you so much\\!\n    - [Lauren Juliff](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/about-lauren\/)\n      \n      October 29, 2024\n      \n      [Reply](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget\/#comment-467630)\n      \n      Oh, how amazing! The Azores, and the mainland, are both so wonderful. They’re both very easy to travel around independently, and almost everybody you’ll encounter will speak English, so I would recommend travelling on your own. It’s definitely not necessary to take a tour, as it is so simple to explore and you can ask anybody for help if you need it.\n12. Liza\n    \n    October 25, 2024\n    \n    [Reply](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget\/#comment-467432)\n    \n    We are considering a trip for our family of 4 (2 kids under 12 yo) to Lisbon\/sintra\/cascais for 4 days and 3 days in Algarve in March 2025.\n    \n    We are trying to do it on a tight budget. We will buy groceries to have for bkst and snacks each day. Is it possible to get a decent meal for 10 euros\/person for lunch and dinner? Any recommendations near Alfama district?\n    - [Lauren Juliff](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/about-lauren\/)\n      \n      October 29, 2024\n      \n      [Reply](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget\/#comment-467629)\n      \n      Yes! Go for Velha Gaiteira or Tiles Bar — both have options for €10 or less. At lunchtime, look for restaurants offering “Prato do dia”, which are daily specials! They’re usually €8-€12 and include soup, main meal, dessert, and wine. They’re such good value for money\\!\n13. Oki\n    \n    February 3, 2025\n    \n    [Reply](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget\/#comment-473322)\n    \n    Hey Lauren! Just stumbled upon your blog and it’s excellent. I’m taking the month of May off and trying to decide where to go and Portugal was pretty high on the list. This has definitely helped me get a great idea of what to expect. Since you’ve lived (or still live?) here, how easy is it to make friends and how welcoming are people to travelers? I’ll be traveling solo so that’s a big point of interest to me in picking a spot. Thanks so much\\!\n    - [Lauren Juliff](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/about-lauren\/)\n      \n      February 11, 2026\n      \n      [Reply](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget\/#comment-480657)\n      \n      Hey Oki! My advice is to head to the Facebook groups, as there’s lots of meet ups for immigrants in Lisbon. I found it easy to make friends with other foreigners, but trickier to make friends with locals, as they usually already had their own friends.\n14. Lynette\n    \n    December 20, 2025\n    \n    [Reply](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget\/#comment-480283)\n    \n    Hi Lauren,  \n     I’m heading to Portugal in a couple weeks and just trying to figure out how much cash (€) to bring? Half the internet says everything is card now and the other half seems to think I’ll need at least 1000 for two weeks\\!  \n     Thanks so much\\!\n    - [Lauren Juliff](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/about-lauren\/)\n      \n      February 11, 2026\n      \n      [Reply](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget\/#comment-480658)\n      \n      Hi Lynette, I would just get €100 out of the ATM to carry with you in case of emergencies, but otherwise expect to pay for almost everything with card. You definitely don’t need €1000! But ATMs are everywhere, so just take money out as and when you need it.\n15. Lola\n    \n    April 6, 2026\n    \n    [Reply](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget\/#comment-481745)\n    \n    Hello Lynette,  \n     I would be travelling to Cascais and Sintra with a family of four in May, 2026. We’ve booked a rental car during a our trip cause we want to do a road trip to the Algarve. Is this a good idea? Also, would we be able to load up our cash into a local bank card? Using our Canadian Visa cards are quite expensive on foreign travel. And using cash helps to keep spending disciplined, if you know what I mean. Thank you.\n    - [Lauren Juliff](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/about-lauren\/)\n      \n      April 18, 2026\n      \n      [Reply](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget\/#comment-481832)\n      \n      Hi Lola! Yep, renting a car is a good idea, as it’s quite tricky to see the best bits of the Algarve via public transport, so a car will make things much easier.\n      \n      For your other question, were you asking if you could open up a bank account with a Portuguese bank? You won’t be able to do this if you’re not a Portuguese resident (you need to be able to show proof of address, a Portuguese tax ID, and proof of Portuguese employment to open an account, like you would in Canada). Even if you could, I wouldn’t recommend spending several hours of your holiday sitting in a bank filling out forms then having to wait days for the card to be mailed to you\\!\n      \n      Instead, I’d recommend opening a Wise account, and using that while you’re in Portugal — that’s what most people (myself included) do. It has the best exchange rate from CAD to EUR, and is quick and easy to set-up. The country is pretty cashless, so most places will expect you to pay with card (although will usually accept cash).\n### Leave a reply [Cancel reply](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget\/#respond)\n\n## Meet Lauren Juliff\n![Lauren Juliff at Australia's 12 Apostles at sunset](https:\/\/sp-ao.shortpixel.ai\/client\/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_1024,h_768\/https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Lauren-Juliff-12-Apostles-sunset-copy-2-1024x768.jpg)\n\n![Lauren Juliff at Australia's 12 Apostles at sunset](data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%201024%20768%22%3E%3C\/svg%3E)\n\nHi! My name's Lauren and I'm the founder of Never Ending Footsteps. I'm here to help you explore this planet safely, adventurously, and affordably.\n\nIt was back in 2011 when I quit my job to travel the world. Thirteen years, 100 countries, and one successful travel blog later, I'm still going.\n\nThis website is the result of tens of thousands of hours of my own, personal on-the-ground research. I pay for all my travels myself, don't take sponsored trips, travel anonymously, and refuse to touch AI; all to ensure my recommendations are ones you can trust.\n\n[My Full Story](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/about-lauren\/)\n\n## Where I've Been\n![](https:\/\/sp-ao.shortpixel.ai\/client\/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_1188,h_726\/https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Screenshot-2024-07-24-at-09.34.24.png)\n\n![](data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%201188%20726%22%3E%3C\/svg%3E)\n\n[![](https:\/\/a.impactradius-go.com\/display-ad\/18144-2264464)![](data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%20300%20600%22%3E%3C\/svg%3E)](https:\/\/trustedhousesitters.pxf.io\/c\/1244584\/2264464\/18144?subId1=BA2)\n\n![](https:\/\/imp.pxf.io\/i\/1244584\/2264464\/18144)\n\n![](data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%20210%20140%22%3E%3C\/svg%3E)\n\n## About\n- [About Lauren](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/about-lauren\/)\n- [Blog](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/blog\/)\n- [Frequently Asked Questions](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/faq\/)\n- [Where I've Been](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/where-ive-been\/)\n- [Contact Form](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/contact-us\/)\n- [Privacy Policy](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/privacy-policy\/)\n\n## Currently Trending\n- [How to Spend Two Weeks in Japan](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/two-week-itinerary-japan\/)\n- [How to Start a Travel Blog](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/how-to-start-a-travel-blog\/)\n- [How I Overcame a Fear of Flying](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/how-i-overcame-my-fear-of-flying\/)\n- [How to See Bora Bora on a Budget](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/bora-bora-on-a-budget\/)\n- [How to Spend Three Days in Delhi](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/three-days-new-delhi-itinerary\/)\n- [The Ultimate Guide to the Taj Mahal](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/taj-mahal-guide\/)\n\n## Latest Articles\n- [What's it Like to Travel in Kuwait?](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/things-to-do-kuwait\/)\n- [The Cost of Travel in Mauritius](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/cost-of-travel-mauritius-budget\/)\n- [The Cost of Travel in Singapore](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/cost-of-travel-singapore-budget\/)\n- [The Ultimate Guide to Iguazu Falls](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/iguazu-falls-guide-argentina-brazil\/)\n- [30 Things to Do in Melbourne](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/things-to-do-melbourne-australia\/)\n- [How to Spend a Week in Mauritius](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/mauritius-itinerary\/)\n\nCopyright Lauren Juliff © 2010-2026 All rights reserved.\n\n[Facebook](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Neverendingfootsteps \"Facebook\")   [Twitter](https:\/\/twitter.com\/nefootsteps \"Twitter\")\n\n### MENU\n- [Home](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/)\n- [About Lauren](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/about-lauren\/)\n- [Where I’ve Been](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/where-ive-been\/)\n- [Blog archives](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/archive\/)\n- [Articles about Africa](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/africa\/)\n- [Articles about Asia](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/asia\/)\n- [Articles about Europe](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/europe\/)\n- [Articles about the Caribbean](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/the-caribbean\/)\n- [Articles about Central America](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/central-america\/)\n- [Articles about the Middle East](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/the-middle-east\/)\n- [Articles about Oceania](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/oceania\/)\n- [Articles about North America](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/north-america\/)\n- [Articles about South America](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/south-america\/)\n- [Travel expense reports](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/travel-expenses\/)\n- [Travel itineraries](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/travel-itineraries\/)\n- [What’s it like to travel in?](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/whats-it-like-in\/)\n- [How to start a successful travel blog](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/how-to-start-a-travel-blog\/)\n\nBack","attrs_readable_markdown":"Portugal might just be one of the greatest countries in Europe.\n\nIn fact, it took just two days for me to decide to [uproot my nomadic life and move there](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/why-i-moved-to-lisbon-portugal\/). I’m not kidding: I rocked up in Lisbon for the first time back in 2016, fell deeply in love with the city, then began looking for an apartment two days later. I found my dream home after a month of searching, signed a lease, and the rest was history. I *love* this country.\n\nTo me, Portugal has it all. It’s home to a massively underrated food scene, welcoming locals, the most beautiful buildings, and fantastic weather. For a long time, it was overlooked in favour of its more popular neighbours like Italy, Spain, and France, but that’s not the case any more.\n\nWhile those extra tourists have caused *some* prices to increase, especially since the pandemic, Portugal is still one of the more affordable countries in Western Europe — and especially when you travel outside of Lisbon and Porto. (Which you should, by the way, because Portugal has so much to offer outside of its two most famous cities.)\n\nI’ve been recording every single dollar, peso, and baht that I’ve spent on my travels since 2011 (I now have [over 65 budget breakdowns on my site](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/travel-expenses\/)!), aiming to give you an accurate picture of how much you can expect to spend in every country around the world. Today, it’s Portugal’s turn and I’m so excited to start sharing.\n\n![Tram rolling down a typical street in Lisbon, with cobbled streets and pavements, and brightly-coloured tiles on many of the houses](https:\/\/sp-ao.shortpixel.ai\/client\/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_1500,h_1000\/https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Typical-Lisbon-street.jpg)\n\nTiles and trams: the two things that Lisbon is most famous for\\!\n## The Cost of Accommodation in Portugal\nAs always with travel, it’s possible to cut your accommodation costs down to zero if you have the time and patience to seek out an offer.\n\n### How to Save Money on Accommodation in Portugal\n**Housesitting** exists in Portugal, and is a fantastic option if you’re looking to save money.\n\nThis is where you’ll take care of somebody’s house for free while they’re away, and often look after their pets, too. It’s best for long-term travellers or retirees, as you can’t pick and choose dates (they’ll obviously be based on the owner’s vacation dates) so you’ll need to have a lot of flexibility as to where you go and at what time of year.\n\nIf you *do* have that freedom, though, it’s a wonderful way to cut down your travel expenses, soak up some home comforts, and live like a local for a while. Some of my friends have even landed housesitting gigs for castles and chateaus in Europe! [Trusted Housesitters](https:\/\/trustedhousesitters.pxf.io\/XxQxey) is the best site for getting started with housesitting.\n\nI’m suspecting, though, that for most of you, you’re not interested in the free accommodation and just want somewhere clean, safe, and affordable to rest your head each night. If that’s the case, there are several options available for you.\n\n### Types of Accommodation in Portugal\nThe first of these are **hostels**. In Portugal, you’ll come across hostels all over the country, finding them on tiny islands, in large cities, and even in the national parks. They’re one of your best options for saving money.\n\n[Hostels in Portugal](https:\/\/prf.hn\/click\/camref:1011l33bd) are on a par with the rest of major cities in Western Europe, and you can expect to spend around **€25 a night for a dorm bed** for a well-reviewed hostel in Lisbon, with the price increasing to slightly about **€35 a night** for the absolute best of the best.\n\nWhen it comes to private rooms in hostels, you can expect to spend around **€50 a night** for a clean, basic room in a good location, so if you’re travelling with friends or with your partner, you may find it cheaper to grab some privacy over settling for two beds in a dorm room. **€100 a night** will get you an exceptionally well-reviewed private room in a hostel.\n\nIf you’re an older traveller and put off by the thought of nights spent in hostels, you shouldn’t be! Private rooms are usually very quiet and clean, and most hostels are modern, safe, and centrally located. They tend to have a little more personality than generic hotels, and the staff are fantastic at offering kickass travel advice. As long as you check the reviews of any hostel before booking it to make sure nobody refers to it as a party hostel, you’re all good to make a booking there.\n\nI use [HostelWorld](https:\/\/prf.hn\/click\/camref:1011l33bd) to find the cheapest hostels, as they tend to have the greatest number of listings at the lowest prices.\n\n![Close-up of the corner of a house in Lisbon, with brightly-coloured tiles on part of one wall, and washing hanging on one of the balconies](https:\/\/sp-ao.shortpixel.ai\/client\/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_1500,h_1000\/https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Lisbon-windows-with-laundry.jpg)\n\nAnd, of course, there are always hotels, which again will usually start at around **€50-€100 a night** for a decent, clean, mid-range property in a central location. I always use [Booking.com](https:\/\/www.booking.com\/index.html?aid=1514105&label=paris), as they have the most accommodation options for the cheapest prices — but more on that below.\n\nThere’s going to be no sugarcoating here: Portugal — and Lisbon, in particular — has been screwed over by the arrival of Airbnb.\n\nEssentially: landlords in Lisbon came to realise that if they listed their properties on Airbnb, they could make more money from tourists in *two months* than they could from renting to locals year-round. And so began the slow transformation of Lisbon, in which locals — my friends — were forced out of their homes to make way for Airbnbs, and prices grew and grew and grew and grew.\n\nWhen the average salary for locals in Lisbon is just €1,000 a month and the average Airbnb apartments are listed at well over €2,000 a month, you find yourself with a city that’s packed full of short-stay tourists with many locals pushed out into the very outer suburbs.\n\nIt’s for this reason that I want to strongly recommend that you don’t use Airbnb while staying in Lisbon and Porto.\n\n![](https:\/\/sp-ao.shortpixel.ai\/client\/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_1500,h_1000\/https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Sapientia-Boutique-Hotel-Coimbra.jpg)\n\nMy modern, stylish hotel room at [Sapientia Boutique Hotel](https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/pt\/sapientia-boutique.en.html?aid=1514105&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&label=portugal) in Coimbra\n\nHere’s where I *do* recommend you stay:\n\n**Lisbon:** When friends ask me where to stay in Lisbon, I always tell them my number one rule: you *must* stay within a 20-minute walk of the city’s Time Out Market. If you’re inside that radius, you’ll be within walking distance of the majority of the tourist attractions. Outside of that? It’s going to be a pain in the ass.\n\nMy favourite neighbourhood in Lisbon is Principe Real, which is where I used to live. It’s easily the best area in the city — you’ve got tons of great restaurants and bars, peaceful parks to wander around, gorgeous buildings, great views over the city, and hardly any crowds because there’s close to no tourist attractions in this part of town. (But don’t worry — everything is still walkable from here.)\n\nIn terms of hotels in Principe Real, your best option is easily [Toctoctoc Lisboa](https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/pt\/toctoctoc-lisboa.en.html?aid=1514105&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&label=portugal), a lovely boutique hotel that comes in at **€225 a night** for a deluxe room with garden views. This is where I always tell all of my friends and family to stay. Because is this the most gorgeous hotel ever? Yup! Seriously, the entire garden area is so beautiful. It’s in a great location but still super-quiet, has the most delicious breakfast, full of breads from the local bakery, and such tastefully-decorated rooms. It’s rated [9\\.5 on Booking](https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/pt\/toctoctoc-lisboa.en.html?aid=1514105&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&label=portugal).\n\n**Porto:** We stayed in [Republica 157 Guest House](https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/pt\/157-republica.en.html?aid=1514105&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&label=portugal) (**€95 a night**) during our most recent stay in Porto, and it was so lovely! It’s right in the heart of Porto but still super-quiet at night, with the sweetest owners who left treats in our room while we were out exploring and did all they could to ensure we had a great time in the city.\n\n**Coimbra:** [Sapientia Boutique Hotel](https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/pt\/sapientia-boutique.en.html?aid=1514105&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&label=portugal) (**€188 a night**): We stayed in this gorgeous hotel for my partner’s birthday and it was truly such a wonderful treat. It’s a literary-themed hotel, but not in a tacky way, with rooms named after famous authors, bedside lamps built from second-hand books, and minimalist decorations featuring quotes from famous works. On top of that, the staff were the *best*, putting together a delicious breakfast, greeting us with free glasses of port and *pasteis de nata*, and offering up free wine on the rooftop terrace each evening. This was definitely a splurge for me, but one of those times when it felt more than worth it.\n\n**Evora:** If you love your food, I’m going to absolutely insist that you plan to spend at least a few days in Evora while you’re in Portugal. It’s easily accessible from Lisbon and the food scene is absolutely phenomenal. My partner and I splurged on this trip, too, and decided to stay in [Pousada Convento de Evora](https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/pt\/pousada-dos-loios.en.html?aid=1514105&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&label=portugal) at a price of **€216 a night**. But what an incredible property: it’s an old converted monastery, located directly opposite a Roman temple, which makes for a particularly spectacular view each morning. With a swimming pool that’s perfect for cooling off in, lovely staff, and a large breakfast, this hotel made for the perfect romantic getaway.\n\n### Average Costs for Accommodation in Portugal\nIf you’re on a tight budget, you’ll be looking at around **€15-25** a night for a dorm room in a hostel, or **€50-100** a night for a private room.\n\nIf you’re on a mid-range budget, expect to spend around **€100-150** a night for a well-reviewed, modern, centrally-located hotel.\n\nIf you’re willing to go all out and splurge, you’ll be looking at around **€250 a night** for one of the best hotels in town.\n\n![A tram in Lisbon at night, with graffiti on the front and lit up inside as it climbs up a steep cobbled street](https:\/\/sp-ao.shortpixel.ai\/client\/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_2000,h_1496\/https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/lisbon6.jpg)\n\nLisbon’s famous trams\n## The Cost of Transportation in Portugal\nWhen it comes to public transportation in Portugal, there’s plenty of ways to get around. In Lisbon and Porto, you’ll most likely find yourself not needing to use it at all, as most of the attractions are within walking distance of each other.\n\nEven while living in Lisbon, I took public transport about once every six months — and usually that’s hopping on a tram to avoid trekking up a particularly steep hill. That’s the one downside of getting around Lisbon by foot, by the way: it feels like every single street takes you up a steep incline and sometimes you just want to walk for five minutes without feeling like it’s a full-on workout.\n\nOh, and a word of warning: many of the streets in Lisbon are cobblestoned, so when it rains, it gets real slippery. A survey of elderly Lisbonites had them sharing their greatest fear in life [is falling over on the city’s pavements](https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2018-10-23\/injuries-aside-lisbon-loves-its-mosaic-sidewalks). There’s a whole lot of people with fake hips in this city! Flip-flops are a definite no-no.\n\n*I feel like I’m not really selling the whole you-should-walk-everywhere-in-Lisbon-thing to you?*\n\nHere are the most common forms of transportation in Portugal:\n\n**Metro and Tram (Lisbon and Porto)** — Besides walking, one of my favorite ways to experience a city is by understanding their local metro system. Lisbon and Porto (plus Almada on the other side of the river to Lisbon) are the only cities that have one in the country, so if you don’t like to walk, you’ll probably make use of both during your explorations.\n\nIt’s usually easiest and cheaper to get a day pass if you plan on spending a day sightseeing in these cities. In Lisbon, a day pass on the public transportation system costs **€6.80**, or **€10.80** if you want to go further out to places like Sintra. In Porto, it’s **€7.50**.\n\nOf course, if you’ve seen any classic photos of Portugal, you’ll have probably noticed the famous, historic trams. These are traditional electric cars from a bygone era. Nowadays, they’re not so much a main method of getting around as they are an experience. I would recommend riding one early in the morning to avoid the midday tourist crowds. Number 28 is the iconic route: just be sure to watch your bags, as pickpockets are active on the trams. You can use your metro day pass or buy a one-way fare onboard for **€3.10.**\n\n**Train** — You’ll be happy to hear that most cities and towns are connected by Portugal’s train system: [Comboios de Portugal](https:\/\/www.cp.pt\/passageiros\/en). You’ll be even happier to know that train tickets in Portugal are fairly inexpensive. I’ve taken the train all over Portugal, from Lisbon to places like Coimbra, Evora, and Porto, and booking tickets is always a breeze. There are four different types of trains within Portugal’s network:\n\n- **Regional Trains (R) (Regionais):** shorter distances, make lots of stops, and tend to be slower\n- **Intercity Trains (IC) (Intercidades):** for between major cities and towns; they make fewer stops, and tend to be faster\n- **Alfa Pendular (AP):** a high-speed train that goes the fastest, connects all the major cities, and runs the length of the entire country from north to south\n- **Urbanos (U):** subway systems within individual cities\n\nThe cost of a train depends on the date and time you’re traveling, and the type of train. To give you an idea of prices, here are some standard one-way train fares for the most popular routes. There are often also promo fares that give big discounts when booked in advance: I’ve grabbed one-way fares from Lisbon to Porto for as little as €10.\n\n- **Lisbon to Porto**\n  - Intercity: €26.85\n  - Alfa Pendular: €33.90\n\n- **Lisbon to Faro**\n  - Intercity: €25\n  - Alfa Pendular: €26.45\n\n- **Porto to Coimbra**\n  - Intercity: €14.60\n  - Alfa Pendular: €18.70\n\n**Bus**: Bus services in Portugal include both regional and local buses, as well international coaches — I took a coach from Porto to Madrid several years ago, and a local bus between Porto and Braga for a day trip, and both were comfortable, easy rides. There are frequent coach services between all Portuguese cities and a network of the national and several private bus companies covering most of Portugal.\n\nYou’ll usually have the option of either an express or slower bus service, and prices will vary according to distance, time, and company. Generally, fares will start at €5 but shouldn’t cost more than €20 for a journey.\n\n[RedeExpressos](https:\/\/rede-expressos.pt\/pt) is the largest bus company in the country, followed by [Rodonorte](https:\/\/www.rodonorte.pt\/pt\/) (which covers the north) and [Eva Transportes](http:\/\/eva-bus.com\/) (which covers the south).\n\n**Plane**: Portugal is a small country, so I don’t recommend flying if you’re going to be travelling around the mainland — by the time you get to the airport and wait around for your flight and go through all of that hassle, you’d probably already be at your next destination if you’d gone by train. It takes just four hours to get from Lisbon to Porto on the train, for example.\n\nIf you’re going to be heading to Madeira or the Azores, flying is the only option. I use [Skyscanner](https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/link\/skyscanner\/) for finding the cheapest flights, and you can expect to pay around €60 return from Lisbon to either Funchal (Madeira) or Ponta Delgada (the Azores).\n\n![Meat, cheese, pastries, and fruit on a wooden tasting platter, sitting on a checked tablecloth](https:\/\/sp-ao.shortpixel.ai\/client\/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_1500,h_1000\/https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/DSC02857-e1484132397574.jpg)\n\nA photo from my food and wine trip to Evora, where you’ll find the best culinary scene in the country\n\nOne of my greatest joys to come from living in Portugal was the *food*. Portuguese food is such an underrated cuisine and it’s one of my favourites in all of Europe. It’s so much more than just salted cod and sardines.\n\nOf course, there are *pasteis de nata* — Portuguese egg tarts — if you know anything about Portuguese cuisines, it’s most likely that these little treats are absolutely delicious. Fun fact: if you go to an El Corte Ingles department store in Portugal and tell the information desk that you’re a tourist, they’ll gift you with a free tart and glass of port\\!\n\nIf you want to sample the best of the best, though, head to either Pastéis de Belém or Manteigaria — they’re popular for a reason. Expect to pay between **€1** and **€1.50** for one pretty much anywhere in town.\n\nIf you want to eat local, head to a less-popular neighbourhoods and look for the signs advertising a *prato do dia* — you’ll usually pay around **€10** for a three-course meal with a glass of wine and the food will be so fresh and tasty. It’s a great way to stay on budget while also eating well.\n\nAnother well-known dish from Portugal is the Francesinha, which is typically only found in Porto. It’s… um… a lot. It’s an enormous multi-layered sandwich filled with steak, sausages, and ham, that’s then covered in cheese, placed in a pool of tomato-based gravy, with fries swimming in the sauce and a fried egg on top. Yeah, it’s typically something that tourists only opt for once — and I recommend sharing one with somebody. You’ll pay around **€10** for one in Porto and most likely be full for the rest of the day after finishing.\n\nIf you choose to visit Lisbon during June, and particular between the 12th and the 14th: you’re in luck! The sardine-themed festival of St. Anthony takes place in June and with it, comes a month-long celebration that sees the country devouring six sardines a second. The older neighbourhoods in Lisbon light up their grills, throw down their sardines, barbecue them up with a sprinkling of basil, and the city fills with smoke, music, and parties for one whole month. You’ll pay **€1** or so for a sardine sandwich and they’re a *lot* tastier than you’re thinking.\n\nThe two best places for food in Portugal is archipelago of *the Azores* and inland town of *Evora* — I ate unbelievably well in both spots. The Azores has a sunny climate and fertile land, which means the islands are all sufficient and don’t need to import food from mainland Portugal in order to survive.\n\nThe most famous dish of the Azores — and one of my favourite meals — is *cozido das furnas,* a stew that’s cooked inside a volcano! Some of my other food highlights from the islands included sampling the strong Azorean cheese, drinking as much high-quality Azorean wine as my body could handle, swooning over the juiciest pineapples of my life, and snacking on unusual seafood whenever I had the opportunity to. I averaged **€5** for breakfast, **€12** for lunch, and **€15** for dinner while in was in the Azores.\n\nThe international food scene is fantastic in Lisbon, and if you’re keen to sample as much of it as possible, I recommend heading to Principe Real: the neighbourhood I can’t stop talking about. I chose to live there simply because it has some of the best food in the city. Some of my recommendations are Atalho Real, ZeroZero, Koppu Ramen, Lost In, A Cevicheria, Gin Lovers… Basically, walk down the main street in Principe Real and pick a place: every single eatery on this street is epic. You’ll get a main for **€15-20**, with a glass of wine or beer for **a couple of Euros** extra.\n\nEvery time a friend or family member came to visit me in Lisbon, I took them to one of two places: the city’s Time Out Market or the streets of Principe Real. The former is always guaranteed to wow you; an enormous food hall — a higher-end food court — featuring stalls that are run by some of the best restaurants in the city. It’s a great way to sample some of the city’s favourite eateries without having to hop all over Lisbon to get to them. Plus, there’s so many options, you can satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. I recommend O Prego da Peixaria, Pizzeria ZeroZero, Miguel Castro e Silva, Croqueteria, and Ground Burger.\n\n*What about drinks?*\n\nWhen it comes to alcohol, you’re most likely thinking of Port and you’d be right to do so: port is a Portuguese fortified wine that’s absolutely delicious and can be found all over the country — expect to pay **a couple of Euros** for a glass in a restaurant or around **€7-10** for a mid-range bottle in a supermarket. Oh, and if you think you don’t like port, I’d still recommend signing up for a tasting while you’re in Porto: it’s all *so* good! I paid **€20** for a tasting at Taylors in Porto, with an audio tour and two glasses of port to sample.\n\nIf you already know you love port, you’ll want to head to the Douro Valley, just outside of Porto, and spend a day or two winery-hopping around the region. I took a day trip out to the Douro while I was in town — amazing and so beautiful! — paying [€124 for a full-day tour](https:\/\/www.getyourguide.com\/porto-l151\/porto-genuine-douro-wine-tour-w-lunch-river-cruise-t86657\/?partner_id=5OA45ES&utm_medium=online_publisher&placement=content-middle&mkt_cmp=true) that took us to two wineries and finished it all off with a river cruise.\n\nDon’t forget to try a cool glass of vinho verde for a couple of Euros while you’re in Portugal either! While the name translates to green wine, it’s actually a young wine, and can be white, red, or rose; some sparkling, some not. It’s great to drink on, hot sunny days either way\\!\n\n![Expansive view over the top of a two-level suspension bridge in Porto, Portugal, with a river underneath and many red-roofed buildings climbing up the slopes of the hillside opposite.](https:\/\/sp-ao.shortpixel.ai\/client\/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_1500,h_1000\/https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Porto-bridge-view.jpg)\n\nThe iconic photo of Porto: everybody comes away from the city with a shot from this viewpoint\\!\n## The Cost of Activities and Entrance Fees in Portugal\nPortugal has tons to see and do, and plenty of day trips to fill your time with.\n\nOne of the best ways to enjoy cities such as Lisbon and Porto is having the day to walk around neighbourhoods aimlessly while window-shopping and stopping for food and drink breaks. On one of my first days in Lisbon, I took a walking tour with [Hi Lisbon Walking Tours](https:\/\/www.hilisbonwalkingtours.com\/free-tours-lisbon) to get a feel for my surroundings and to learn more about the history. In Porto, I jumped on a tour called [The Worst Tour](https:\/\/theworsttours.weebly.com\/) (yes, really), that takes tourists on a tour of Porto’s most interesting abandoned buildings. It was so fun\\!\n\nA stand-out experience for me was taking a day trip from Lisbon to Sintra (45-minute train ride). Sintra is a charming, medieval town with fairytale castles, mansions, and gardens. It’s one of those places that lives up to the hype when you’re there — I felt like I had stepped right back a few centuries. King Consort Ferdinand II and his wife Queen Maria II of Portugal were the ones that transformed Sintra into a wonderland of European Gothic architecture in the 19th century, and it makes for such a beautiful scene.\n\nWithin Lisbon itself, there’s so much to keep you busy: the Lisbon Oceanarium, that’s ranked best in the world, the Lisbon flea market, which had some seriously cool treasures (held every Tuesday and Saturday), the decadent weekend brunch at the Four Seasons that’s a fabulous way to treat yourself, and the Lisbon tile museum, for those of you who can’t get enough of that Portuguese architecture.\n\nHere’s a breakdown of my favourite attractions in Portugal and their respective costs:\n\n- [Pena Palace (Sintra)](https:\/\/www.getyourguide.com\/sintra-l99\/pena-palace-park-skip-the-line-entrance-ticket-t79596\/?partner_id=5OA45ES&utm_medium=online_publisher&placement=content-middle&mkt_cmp=true): **€20**\n- [National Azulejo (tile) Museum (Lisbon)](https:\/\/www.museunacionaldoazulejo.pt\/en\/bilhetes): **€10**\n- [Lisbon Oceanarium](https:\/\/www.getyourguide.com\/lisbon-l42\/oceanario-de-lisboa-aquarium-ticket-t38079\/?partner_id=5OA45ES&utm_medium=online_publisher&placement=content-middle&mkt_cmp=true): **€25**\n- [Lisbon Castle entrance fee](https:\/\/castelodesaojorge.pt\/en\/): **€15**\n- [Jeronimos Monastery entrance (Belem](https:\/\/mmp.bymeoblueticket.pt\/Evento?IdEvento=14759)): **€12**\n- [Torre de Belem entrance (Belem)](https:\/\/www.museusemonumentos.pt\/en\/museus-e-monumentos\/torre-de-belem): **€15**\n- Santa Justa Lift, in Lisbon: **€5.30**\n- [Livraria Lello Bookstore fee (Porto)](https:\/\/www.livrarialello.pt\/en\/home): **€8, credited towards a book if you buy one**\n## The Cost of Miscellaneous Expenses in Portugal\n**eSIM or SIM card:** I made the switch to eSIMs a few years ago, and it’s a simple thing that’s greatly improved my travels.\n\nI hated having to spend my first few hours in a country wandering around trying to find a way to get connected. SIM cards are usually expensive at the airport (if they’re even available), but if I didn’t get it there, it was just such a hassle finding somewhere to buy one, dealing with language barriers and registration and scams and… well, it was time-consuming, frustrating, and not how I wanted to start my trip.\n\nThese days, I get an eSIM in advance from [aloSIM](https:\/\/alosim.com\/portugal-esim\/?uid=664&oid=3&affid=110) instead. They sell local e-SIMs for travellers, so I just buy one for Portugal or wherever before I get there, and then just turn on my phone and be online before the plane’s even come to a halt. It’s worked flawlessly for me in over a dozen countries so far.\n\nI paid **\\$10 (**€**9**) [for 5GB of data for 30 days in Portugal](https:\/\/alosim.com\/portugal-esim\/?uid=664&oid=3&affid=110). Readers of Never Ending Footsteps can get a 5% discount on aloSIM eSIMs by using the code *FOOTSTEPS*.\n\nIf you do want a physical SIM card though (maybe your phone is an older one that can’t use eSIMs), Portugal at least isn’t as bad as some countries when it comes to prices or effort. Vodafone has little kiosks in both Lisbon and Porto airports, and tourist SIMs with 10GB of data plus 500 texts or calling minutes costs **€20** for 30 days.\n\n**Travel insurance:** I’m all about ensuring that every single one of my readers understands the importance of travel insurance. When you work in the travel industry, as I do, you’re inundated with news of destitute backpackers on GoFundMe who fell ill while travelling, didn’t have travel insurance, and now can’t afford the hundreds of thousands of dollars needed to be airlifted home for medical care. It happened to an old school friend of mine just last year. In short, if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel.\n\n[Travel insurance](https:\/\/safetywing.com\/nomad-insurance\/?referenceID=NEFOOTSTEPS&campaign=portugal-budget&utm_source=NEFOOTSTEPS&utm_medium=Ambassador) will cover you if your flight is cancelled and you need to book a new one, if your luggage gets lost and you need to replace your belongings, if you suddenly get struck down by appendicitis and have to be hospitalised, or discover a family member has died while you’re overseas and need to get home immediately. If you fall seriously ill, your insurance will cover the costs to fly you home to receive medical treatment.\n\nI use [SafetyWing](https:\/\/safetywing.com\/nomad-insurance\/?referenceID=NEFOOTSTEPS&campaign=portugal-budget&utm_source=NEFOOTSTEPS&utm_medium=Ambassador) as my travel insurance provider, and recommend them for trips to Portugal. They provide worldwide coverage, don’t require you to have a return ticket, and even allow you to buy coverage after you’ve left home. Finally, they have a clear, easy-to-understand pricing structure, which is always appreciated.\n\n![Looking over an oceanside town on the island of Sao Miguel in the Azores, with many red-roofed houses.](https:\/\/sp-ao.shortpixel.ai\/client\/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_1500,h_1000\/https:\/\/www.neverendingfootsteps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Ocean-town-in-Sao-Miguel-the-Azores.jpg)\n\nA picturesque village on the islands of the Azores\n## How Much Does it Cost to Travel in Portugal?\nIt’s time to tally up all of my expenses to see my total travel costs\\!\n\n- **Accommodation: €100 per day**\n- **Transportation: €5 per day**\n- **Food\/drink: €40 per day**\n- **Activities\/Entrance Fees: €20 per day**\n- **eSIM: €1 per day**\n\n**Average amount spent in Portugal: €166 a day\\!**\n\nThese prices should be about right for most people, but you’ll save quite a bit on accommodation if you’re part of a couple staying in budget or mid-range places, or are happy to stay in dorm rooms in hostels as a solo traveller.\n\n***Have you been to Portugal? 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The Cost of Travel in Portugal: My 2025 Budget Breakdown

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Portugal might just be one of the greatest countries in Europe. In fact, it took just two days for me to decide to uproot my nomadic life and move there.

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Portugal might just be one of the greatest countries in Europe. In fact, it took just two days for me to decide to uproot my nomadic life and move there . I’m not kidding: I rocked up in Lisbon for the first time back in 2016, fell deeply in love with the city, then began looking for an apartment two days later. I found my dream home after a month of searching, signed a lease, and the rest was history. I love this country. To me, Portugal has it all. It’s home to a massively underrated food scene, welcoming locals, the most beautiful buildings, and fantastic weather. For a long time, it was overlooked in favour of its more popular neighbours like Italy, Spain, and France, but that’s not the case any more. While those extra tourists have caused some prices to increase, especially since the pandemic, Portugal is still one of the more affordable countries in Western Europe — and especially when you travel outside of Lisbon and Porto. (Which you should, by the way, because Portugal has so much to offer outside of its two most famous cities.) I’ve been recording every single dollar, peso, and baht that I’ve spent on my travels since 2011 (I now have over 65 budget breakdowns on my site !), aiming to give you an accurate picture of how much you can expect to spend in every country around the world. Today, it’s Portugal’s turn and I’m so excited to start sharing. Tiles and trams: the two things that Lisbon is most famous for! The Cost of Accommodation in Portugal As always with travel, it’s possible to cut your accommodation costs down to zero if you have the time and patience to seek out an offer. How to Save Money on Accommodation in Portugal Housesitting exists in Portugal, and is a fantastic option if you’re looking to save money. This is where you’ll take care of somebody’s house for free while they’re away, and often look after their pets, too. It’s best for long-term travellers or retirees, as you can’t pick and choose dates (they’ll obviously be based on the owner’s vacation dates) so you’ll need to have a lot of flexibility as to where you go and at what time of year. If you do have that freedom, though, it’s a wonderful way to cut down your travel expenses, soak up some home comforts, and live like a local for a while. Some of my friends have even landed housesitting gigs for castles and chateaus in Europe! Trusted Housesitters is the best site for getting started with housesitting. I’m suspecting, though, that for most of you, you’re not interested in the free accommodation and just want somewhere clean, safe, and affordable to rest your head each night. If that’s the case, there are several options available for you. Types of Accommodation in Portugal The first of these are hostels . In Portugal, you’ll come across hostels all over the country, finding them on tiny islands, in large cities, and even in the national parks. They’re one of your best options for saving money. Hostels in Portugal are on a par with the rest of major cities in Western Europe, and you can expect to spend around €25 a night for a dorm bed for a well-reviewed hostel in Lisbon, with the price increasing to slightly about €35 a night for the absolute best of the best. When it comes to private rooms in hostels, you can expect to spend around €50 a night for a clean, basic room in a good location, so if you’re travelling with friends or with your partner, you may find it cheaper to grab some privacy over settling for two beds in a dorm room. €100 a night will get you an exceptionally well-reviewed private room in a hostel. If you’re an older traveller and put off by the thought of nights spent in hostels, you shouldn’t be! Private rooms are usually very quiet and clean, and most hostels are modern, safe, and centrally located. They tend to have a little more personality than generic hotels, and the staff are fantastic at offering kickass travel advice. As long as you check the reviews of any hostel before booking it to make sure nobody refers to it as a party hostel, you’re all good to make a booking there. I use HostelWorld to find the cheapest hostels, as they tend to have the greatest number of listings at the lowest prices. And, of course, there are always hotels, which again will usually start at around €50-€100 a night for a decent, clean, mid-range property in a central location. I always use Booking.com , as they have the most accommodation options for the cheapest prices — but more on that below. There’s going to be no sugarcoating here: Portugal — and Lisbon, in particular — has been screwed over by the arrival of Airbnb. Essentially: landlords in Lisbon came to realise that if they listed their properties on Airbnb, they could make more money from tourists in two months than they could from renting to locals year-round. And so began the slow transformation of Lisbon, in which locals — my friends — were forced out of their homes to make way for Airbnbs, and prices grew and grew and grew and grew. When the average salary for locals in Lisbon is just €1,000 a month and the average Airbnb apartments are listed at well over €2,000 a month, you find yourself with a city that’s packed full of short-stay tourists with many locals pushed out into the very outer suburbs. It’s for this reason that I want to strongly recommend that you don’t use Airbnb while staying in Lisbon and Porto. My modern, stylish hotel room at Sapientia Boutique Hotel in Coimbra Here’s where I do recommend you stay: Lisbon: When friends ask me where to stay in Lisbon, I always tell them my number one rule: you must stay within a 20-minute walk of the city’s Time Out Market. If you’re inside that radius, you’ll be within walking distance of the majority of the tourist attractions. Outside of that? It’s going to be a pain in the ass. My favourite neighbourhood in Lisbon is Principe Real, which is where I used to live. It’s easily the best area in the city — you’ve got tons of great restaurants and bars, peaceful parks to wander around, gorgeous buildings, great views over the city, and hardly any crowds because there’s close to no tourist attractions in this part of town. (But don’t worry — everything is still walkable from here.) In terms of hotels in Principe Real, your best option is easily Toctoctoc Lisboa , a lovely boutique hotel that comes in at €225 a night for a deluxe room with garden views. This is where I always tell all of my friends and family to stay. Because is this the most gorgeous hotel ever? Yup! Seriously, the entire garden area is so beautiful. It’s in a great location but still super-quiet, has the most delicious breakfast, full of breads from the local bakery, and such tastefully-decorated rooms. It’s rated 9.5 on Booking . Porto: We stayed in Republica 157 Guest House ( €95 a night ) during our most recent stay in Porto, and it was so lovely! It’s right in the heart of Porto but still super-quiet at night, with the sweetest owners who left treats in our room while we were out exploring and did all they could to ensure we had a great time in the city. Coimbra: Sapientia Boutique Hotel ( €188 a night ): We stayed in this gorgeous hotel for my partner’s birthday and it was truly such a wonderful treat. It’s a literary-themed hotel, but not in a tacky way, with rooms named after famous authors, bedside lamps built from second-hand books, and minimalist decorations featuring quotes from famous works. On top of that, the staff were the best , putting together a delicious breakfast, greeting us with free glasses of port and pasteis de nata , and offering up free wine on the rooftop terrace each evening. This was definitely a splurge for me, but one of those times when it felt more than worth it. Evora: If you love your food, I’m going to absolutely insist that you plan to spend at least a few days in Evora while you’re in Portugal. It’s easily accessible from Lisbon and the food scene is absolutely phenomenal. My partner and I splurged on this trip, too, and decided to stay in Pousada Convento de Evora at a price of €216 a night . But what an incredible property: it’s an old converted monastery, located directly opposite a Roman temple, which makes for a particularly spectacular view each morning. With a swimming pool that’s perfect for cooling off in, lovely staff, and a large breakfast, this hotel made for the perfect romantic getaway. Average Costs for Accommodation in Portugal If you’re on a tight budget, you’ll be looking at around €15-25 a night for a dorm room in a hostel, or €50-100 a night for a private room. If you’re on a mid-range budget, expect to spend around €100-150 a night for a well-reviewed, modern, centrally-located hotel. If you’re willing to go all out and splurge, you’ll be looking at around €250 a night for one of the best hotels in town. Lisbon’s famous trams The Cost of Transportation in Portugal When it comes to public transportation in Portugal, there’s plenty of ways to get around. In Lisbon and Porto, you’ll most likely find yourself not needing to use it at all, as most of the attractions are within walking distance of each other. Even while living in Lisbon, I took public transport about once every six months — and usually that’s hopping on a tram to avoid trekking up a particularly steep hill. That’s the one downside of getting around Lisbon by foot, by the way: it feels like every single street takes you up a steep incline and sometimes you just want to walk for five minutes without feeling like it’s a full-on workout. Oh, and a word of warning: many of the streets in Lisbon are cobblestoned, so when it rains, it gets real slippery. A survey of elderly Lisbonites had them sharing their greatest fear in life is falling over on the city’s pavements . There’s a whole lot of people with fake hips in this city! Flip-flops are a definite no-no. I feel like I’m not really selling the whole you-should-walk-everywhere-in-Lisbon-thing to you? Here are the most common forms of transportation in Portugal: Metro and Tram (Lisbon and Porto) — Besides walking, one of my favorite ways to experience a city is by understanding their local metro system. Lisbon and Porto (plus Almada on the other side of the river to Lisbon) are the only cities that have one in the country, so if you don’t like to walk, you’ll probably make use of both during your explorations. It’s usually easiest and cheaper to get a day pass if you plan on spending a day sightseeing in these cities. In Lisbon, a day pass on the public transportation system costs €6.80 , or €10.80 if you want to go further out to places like Sintra. In Porto, it’s €7.50 . Of course, if you’ve seen any classic photos of Portugal, you’ll have probably noticed the famous, historic trams. These are traditional electric cars from a bygone era. Nowadays, they’re not so much a main method of getting around as they are an experience. I would recommend riding one early in the morning to avoid the midday tourist crowds. Number 28 is the iconic route: just be sure to watch your bags, as pickpockets are active on the trams. You can use your metro day pass or buy a one-way fare onboard for €3.10. Train — You’ll be happy to hear that most cities and towns are connected by Portugal’s train system: Comboios de Portugal . You’ll be even happier to know that train tickets in Portugal are fairly inexpensive. I’ve taken the train all over Portugal, from Lisbon to places like Coimbra, Evora, and Porto, and booking tickets is always a breeze. There are four different types of trains within Portugal’s network: Regional Trains (R) (Regionais): shorter distances, make lots of stops, and tend to be slower Intercity Trains (IC) (Intercidades): for between major cities and towns; they make fewer stops, and tend to be faster Alfa Pendular (AP): a high-speed train that goes the fastest, connects all the major cities, and runs the length of the entire country from north to south Urbanos (U): subway systems within individual cities The cost of a train depends on the date and time you’re traveling, and the type of train. To give you an idea of prices, here are some standard one-way train fares for the most popular routes. There are often also promo fares that give big discounts when booked in advance: I’ve grabbed one-way fares from Lisbon to Porto for as little as €10. Lisbon to Porto Intercity: €26.85 Alfa Pendular: €33.90 Lisbon to Faro Intercity: €25 Alfa Pendular: €26.45 Porto to Coimbra Intercity: €14.60 Alfa Pendular: €18.70 Bus : Bus services in Portugal include both regional and local buses, as well international coaches — I took a coach from Porto to Madrid several years ago, and a local bus between Porto and Braga for a day trip, and both were comfortable, easy rides. There are frequent coach services between all Portuguese cities and a network of the national and several private bus companies covering most of Portugal. You’ll usually have the option of either an express or slower bus service, and prices will vary according to distance, time, and company. Generally, fares will start at €5 but shouldn’t cost more than €20 for a journey. RedeExpressos is the largest bus company in the country, followed by Rodonorte (which covers the north) and Eva Transportes (which covers the south). Plane : Portugal is a small country, so I don’t recommend flying if you’re going to be travelling around the mainland — by the time you get to the airport and wait around for your flight and go through all of that hassle, you’d probably already be at your next destination if you’d gone by train. It takes just four hours to get from Lisbon to Porto on the train, for example. If you’re going to be heading to Madeira or the Azores, flying is the only option. I use Skyscanner for finding the cheapest flights, and you can expect to pay around €60 return from Lisbon to either Funchal (Madeira) or Ponta Delgada (the Azores). A photo from my food and wine trip to Evora, where you’ll find the best culinary scene in the country One of my greatest joys to come from living in Portugal was the food . Portuguese food is such an underrated cuisine and it’s one of my favourites in all of Europe. It’s so much more than just salted cod and sardines. Of course, there are pasteis de nata — Portuguese egg tarts — if you know anything about Portuguese cuisines, it’s most likely that these little treats are absolutely delicious. Fun fact: if you go to an El Corte Ingles department store in Portugal and tell the information desk that you’re a tourist, they’ll gift you with a free tart and glass of port! If you want to sample the best of the best, though, head to either Pastéis de Belém or Manteigaria — they’re popular for a reason. Expect to pay between €1 and €1.50 for one pretty much anywhere in town. If you want to eat local, head to a less-popular neighbourhoods and look for the signs advertising a prato do dia — you’ll usually pay around €10 for a three-course meal with a glass of wine and the food will be so fresh and tasty. It’s a great way to stay on budget while also eating well. Another well-known dish from Portugal is the Francesinha, which is typically only found in Porto. It’s… um… a lot. It’s an enormous multi-layered sandwich filled with steak, sausages, and ham, that’s then covered in cheese, placed in a pool of tomato-based gravy, with fries swimming in the sauce and a fried egg on top. Yeah, it’s typically something that tourists only opt for once — and I recommend sharing one with somebody. You’ll pay around €10 for one in Porto and most likely be full for the rest of the day after finishing. If you choose to visit Lisbon during June, and particular between the 12th and the 14th: you’re in luck! The sardine-themed festival of St. Anthony takes place in June and with it, comes a month-long celebration that sees the country devouring six sardines a second. The older neighbourhoods in Lisbon light up their grills, throw down their sardines, barbecue them up with a sprinkling of basil, and the city fills with smoke, music, and parties for one whole month. You’ll pay €1 or so for a sardine sandwich and they’re a lot tastier than you’re thinking. The two best places for food in Portugal is archipelago of the Azores and inland town of Evora — I ate unbelievably well in both spots. The Azores has a sunny climate and fertile land, which means the islands are all sufficient and don’t need to import food from mainland Portugal in order to survive. The most famous dish of the Azores — and one of my favourite meals — is cozido das furnas, a stew that’s cooked inside a volcano! Some of my other food highlights from the islands included sampling the strong Azorean cheese, drinking as much high-quality Azorean wine as my body could handle, swooning over the juiciest pineapples of my life, and snacking on unusual seafood whenever I had the opportunity to. I averaged €5 for breakfast, €12 for lunch, and €15 for dinner while in was in the Azores. The international food scene is fantastic in Lisbon, and if you’re keen to sample as much of it as possible, I recommend heading to Principe Real: the neighbourhood I can’t stop talking about. I chose to live there simply because it has some of the best food in the city. Some of my recommendations are Atalho Real, ZeroZero, Koppu Ramen, Lost In, A Cevicheria, Gin Lovers… Basically, walk down the main street in Principe Real and pick a place: every single eatery on this street is epic. You’ll get a main for €15-20 , with a glass of wine or beer for a couple of Euros extra. Every time a friend or family member came to visit me in Lisbon, I took them to one of two places: the city’s Time Out Market or the streets of Principe Real. The former is always guaranteed to wow you; an enormous food hall — a higher-end food court — featuring stalls that are run by some of the best restaurants in the city. It’s a great way to sample some of the city’s favourite eateries without having to hop all over Lisbon to get to them. Plus, there’s so many options, you can satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. I recommend O Prego da Peixaria, Pizzeria ZeroZero, Miguel Castro e Silva, Croqueteria, and Ground Burger. What about drinks? When it comes to alcohol, you’re most likely thinking of Port and you’d be right to do so: port is a Portuguese fortified wine that’s absolutely delicious and can be found all over the country — expect to pay a couple of Euros for a glass in a restaurant or around €7-10 for a mid-range bottle in a supermarket. Oh, and if you think you don’t like port, I’d still recommend signing up for a tasting while you’re in Porto: it’s all so good! I paid €20 for a tasting at Taylors in Porto, with an audio tour and two glasses of port to sample. If you already know you love port, you’ll want to head to the Douro Valley, just outside of Porto, and spend a day or two winery-hopping around the region. I took a day trip out to the Douro while I was in town — amazing and so beautiful! — paying €124 for a full-day tour that took us to two wineries and finished it all off with a river cruise. Don’t forget to try a cool glass of vinho verde for a couple of Euros while you’re in Portugal either! While the name translates to green wine, it’s actually a young wine, and can be white, red, or rose; some sparkling, some not. It’s great to drink on, hot sunny days either way! The iconic photo of Porto: everybody comes away from the city with a shot from this viewpoint! The Cost of Activities and Entrance Fees in Portugal Portugal has tons to see and do, and plenty of day trips to fill your time with. One of the best ways to enjoy cities such as Lisbon and Porto is having the day to walk around neighbourhoods aimlessly while window-shopping and stopping for food and drink breaks. On one of my first days in Lisbon, I took a walking tour with Hi Lisbon Walking Tours to get a feel for my surroundings and to learn more about the history. In Porto, I jumped on a tour called The Worst Tour (yes, really), that takes tourists on a tour of Porto’s most interesting abandoned buildings. It was so fun! A stand-out experience for me was taking a day trip from Lisbon to Sintra (45-minute train ride). Sintra is a charming, medieval town with fairytale castles, mansions, and gardens. It’s one of those places that lives up to the hype when you’re there — I felt like I had stepped right back a few centuries. King Consort Ferdinand II and his wife Queen Maria II of Portugal were the ones that transformed Sintra into a wonderland of European Gothic architecture in the 19th century, and it makes for such a beautiful scene. Within Lisbon itself, there’s so much to keep you busy: the Lisbon Oceanarium, that’s ranked best in the world, the Lisbon flea market, which had some seriously cool treasures (held every Tuesday and Saturday), the decadent weekend brunch at the Four Seasons that’s a fabulous way to treat yourself, and the Lisbon tile museum, for those of you who can’t get enough of that Portuguese architecture. Here’s a breakdown of my favourite attractions in Portugal and their respective costs: Pena Palace (Sintra) : €20 National Azulejo (tile) Museum (Lisbon) : €10 Lisbon Oceanarium : €25 Lisbon Castle entrance fee : €15 Jeronimos Monastery entrance (Belem ): €12 Torre de Belem entrance (Belem) : €15 Santa Justa Lift, in Lisbon: €5.30 Livraria Lello Bookstore fee (Porto) : €8, credited towards a book if you buy one The Cost of Miscellaneous Expenses in Portugal eSIM or SIM card: I made the switch to eSIMs a few years ago, and it’s a simple thing that’s greatly improved my travels. I hated having to spend my first few hours in a country wandering around trying to find a way to get connected. SIM cards are usually expensive at the airport (if they’re even available), but if I didn’t get it there, it was just such a hassle finding somewhere to buy one, dealing with language barriers and registration and scams and… well, it was time-consuming, frustrating, and not how I wanted to start my trip. These days, I get an eSIM in advance from aloSIM instead. They sell local e-SIMs for travellers, so I just buy one for Portugal or wherever before I get there, and then just turn on my phone and be online before the plane’s even come to a halt. It’s worked flawlessly for me in over a dozen countries so far. I paid $10 ( € 9 ) for 5GB of data for 30 days in Portugal . Readers of Never Ending Footsteps can get a 5% discount on aloSIM eSIMs by using the code FOOTSTEPS . If you do want a physical SIM card though (maybe your phone is an older one that can’t use eSIMs), Portugal at least isn’t as bad as some countries when it comes to prices or effort. Vodafone has little kiosks in both Lisbon and Porto airports, and tourist SIMs with 10GB of data plus 500 texts or calling minutes costs €20 for 30 days. Travel insurance: I’m all about ensuring that every single one of my readers understands the importance of travel insurance. When you work in the travel industry, as I do, you’re inundated with news of destitute backpackers on GoFundMe who fell ill while travelling, didn’t have travel insurance, and now can’t afford the hundreds of thousands of dollars needed to be airlifted home for medical care. It happened to an old school friend of mine just last year. In short, if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel. Travel insurance will cover you if your flight is cancelled and you need to book a new one, if your luggage gets lost and you need to replace your belongings, if you suddenly get struck down by appendicitis and have to be hospitalised, or discover a family member has died while you’re overseas and need to get home immediately. If you fall seriously ill, your insurance will cover the costs to fly you home to receive medical treatment. I use SafetyWing as my travel insurance provider, and recommend them for trips to Portugal. They provide worldwide coverage, don’t require you to have a return ticket, and even allow you to buy coverage after you’ve left home. Finally, they have a clear, easy-to-understand pricing structure, which is always appreciated. A picturesque village on the islands of the Azores How Much Does it Cost to Travel in Portugal? It’s time to tally up all of my expenses to see my total travel costs! Accommodation: €100 per day Transportation: €5 per day Food/drink: €40 per day Activities/Entrance Fees: €20 per day eSIM: €1 per day Average amount spent in Portugal: €166 a day! These prices should be about right for most people, but you’ll save quite a bit on accommodation if you’re part of a couple staying in budget or mid-range places, or are happy to stay in dorm rooms in hostels as a solo traveller. Have you been to Portugal? How much did you spend while you were in town?

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- [Home](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/) - [About](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/about-lauren/) - [About Lauren Juliff](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/about-lauren/) - [Where I’ve Been](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/where-ive-been/) - [Lauren in The Media](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/lauren-media/) - [Blog](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/archive/) - [Destinations](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/travel-guides/) - [Travel Expense Reports](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/travel-expenses/) - [How to Start a Travel Blog](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/how-to-start-a-travel-blog/) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/Neverendingfootsteps "Facebook") [Twitter](https://twitter.com/nefootsteps "Twitter") [![Never Ending Footsteps](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_3000,h_600/https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Copy-of-Copy-of-Untitled-1.png)![Never Ending Footsteps](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%203000%20600%22%3E%3C/svg%3E)](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/) - [Africa](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/africa/) - [Asia](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/asia/) - [Central America](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/central-america/) - [Europe](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/europe/) - [The Middle East](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/the-middle-east/) - [South America](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/south-america/) - [Oceania](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/oceania/) - [United States](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/united-states/) [Europe](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/europe/ "View all posts in Europe")[Portugal](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/portugal/ "View all posts in Portugal")[Travel Expenses](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/travel-expenses/ "View all posts in Travel Expenses") # The Cost of Travel in Portugal: My 2025 Budget Breakdown *** [Lauren Juliff](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/about-lauren/ "Posts by Lauren Juliff") November 28, 2025 \| Portugal might just be one of the greatest countries in Europe. In fact, it took just two days for me to decide to [uproot my nomadic life and move there](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/why-i-moved-to-lisbon-portugal/). I’m not kidding: I rocked up in Lisbon for the first time back in 2016, fell deeply in love with the city, then began looking for an apartment two days later. I found my dream home after a month of searching, signed a lease, and the rest was history. I *love* this country. To me, Portugal has it all. It’s home to a massively underrated food scene, welcoming locals, the most beautiful buildings, and fantastic weather. For a long time, it was overlooked in favour of its more popular neighbours like Italy, Spain, and France, but that’s not the case any more. While those extra tourists have caused *some* prices to increase, especially since the pandemic, Portugal is still one of the more affordable countries in Western Europe — and especially when you travel outside of Lisbon and Porto. (Which you should, by the way, because Portugal has so much to offer outside of its two most famous cities.) I’ve been recording every single dollar, peso, and baht that I’ve spent on my travels since 2011 (I now have [over 65 budget breakdowns on my site](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/travel-expenses/)!), aiming to give you an accurate picture of how much you can expect to spend in every country around the world. Today, it’s Portugal’s turn and I’m so excited to start sharing. ![Tram rolling down a typical street in Lisbon, with cobbled streets and pavements, and brightly-coloured tiles on many of the houses](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_1500,h_1000/https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Typical-Lisbon-street.jpg) Tiles and trams: the two things that Lisbon is most famous for\! ## The Cost of Accommodation in Portugal As always with travel, it’s possible to cut your accommodation costs down to zero if you have the time and patience to seek out an offer. ### How to Save Money on Accommodation in Portugal **Housesitting** exists in Portugal, and is a fantastic option if you’re looking to save money. This is where you’ll take care of somebody’s house for free while they’re away, and often look after their pets, too. It’s best for long-term travellers or retirees, as you can’t pick and choose dates (they’ll obviously be based on the owner’s vacation dates) so you’ll need to have a lot of flexibility as to where you go and at what time of year. If you *do* have that freedom, though, it’s a wonderful way to cut down your travel expenses, soak up some home comforts, and live like a local for a while. Some of my friends have even landed housesitting gigs for castles and chateaus in Europe! [Trusted Housesitters](https://trustedhousesitters.pxf.io/XxQxey) is the best site for getting started with housesitting. I’m suspecting, though, that for most of you, you’re not interested in the free accommodation and just want somewhere clean, safe, and affordable to rest your head each night. If that’s the case, there are several options available for you. ### Types of Accommodation in Portugal The first of these are **hostels**. In Portugal, you’ll come across hostels all over the country, finding them on tiny islands, in large cities, and even in the national parks. They’re one of your best options for saving money. [Hostels in Portugal](https://prf.hn/click/camref:1011l33bd) are on a par with the rest of major cities in Western Europe, and you can expect to spend around **€25 a night for a dorm bed** for a well-reviewed hostel in Lisbon, with the price increasing to slightly about **€35 a night** for the absolute best of the best. When it comes to private rooms in hostels, you can expect to spend around **€50 a night** for a clean, basic room in a good location, so if you’re travelling with friends or with your partner, you may find it cheaper to grab some privacy over settling for two beds in a dorm room. **€100 a night** will get you an exceptionally well-reviewed private room in a hostel. If you’re an older traveller and put off by the thought of nights spent in hostels, you shouldn’t be! Private rooms are usually very quiet and clean, and most hostels are modern, safe, and centrally located. They tend to have a little more personality than generic hotels, and the staff are fantastic at offering kickass travel advice. As long as you check the reviews of any hostel before booking it to make sure nobody refers to it as a party hostel, you’re all good to make a booking there. I use [HostelWorld](https://prf.hn/click/camref:1011l33bd) to find the cheapest hostels, as they tend to have the greatest number of listings at the lowest prices. ![Close-up of the corner of a house in Lisbon, with brightly-coloured tiles on part of one wall, and washing hanging on one of the balconies](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_1500,h_1000/https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Lisbon-windows-with-laundry.jpg) ![Close-up of the corner of a house in Lisbon, with brightly-coloured tiles on part of one wall, and washing hanging on one of the balconies](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%201500%201000%22%3E%3C/svg%3E) And, of course, there are always hotels, which again will usually start at around **€50-€100 a night** for a decent, clean, mid-range property in a central location. I always use [Booking.com](https://www.booking.com/index.html?aid=1514105&label=paris), as they have the most accommodation options for the cheapest prices — but more on that below. There’s going to be no sugarcoating here: Portugal — and Lisbon, in particular — has been screwed over by the arrival of Airbnb. Essentially: landlords in Lisbon came to realise that if they listed their properties on Airbnb, they could make more money from tourists in *two months* than they could from renting to locals year-round. And so began the slow transformation of Lisbon, in which locals — my friends — were forced out of their homes to make way for Airbnbs, and prices grew and grew and grew and grew. When the average salary for locals in Lisbon is just €1,000 a month and the average Airbnb apartments are listed at well over €2,000 a month, you find yourself with a city that’s packed full of short-stay tourists with many locals pushed out into the very outer suburbs. It’s for this reason that I want to strongly recommend that you don’t use Airbnb while staying in Lisbon and Porto. ![](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_1500,h_1000/https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Sapientia-Boutique-Hotel-Coimbra.jpg) ![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%201500%201000%22%3E%3C/svg%3E) My modern, stylish hotel room at [Sapientia Boutique Hotel](https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/sapientia-boutique.en.html?aid=1514105&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&label=portugal) in Coimbra Here’s where I *do* recommend you stay: **Lisbon:** When friends ask me where to stay in Lisbon, I always tell them my number one rule: you *must* stay within a 20-minute walk of the city’s Time Out Market. If you’re inside that radius, you’ll be within walking distance of the majority of the tourist attractions. Outside of that? It’s going to be a pain in the ass. My favourite neighbourhood in Lisbon is Principe Real, which is where I used to live. It’s easily the best area in the city — you’ve got tons of great restaurants and bars, peaceful parks to wander around, gorgeous buildings, great views over the city, and hardly any crowds because there’s close to no tourist attractions in this part of town. (But don’t worry — everything is still walkable from here.) In terms of hotels in Principe Real, your best option is easily [Toctoctoc Lisboa](https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/toctoctoc-lisboa.en.html?aid=1514105&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&label=portugal), a lovely boutique hotel that comes in at **€225 a night** for a deluxe room with garden views. This is where I always tell all of my friends and family to stay. Because is this the most gorgeous hotel ever? Yup! Seriously, the entire garden area is so beautiful. It’s in a great location but still super-quiet, has the most delicious breakfast, full of breads from the local bakery, and such tastefully-decorated rooms. It’s rated [9\.5 on Booking](https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/toctoctoc-lisboa.en.html?aid=1514105&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&label=portugal). **Porto:** We stayed in [Republica 157 Guest House](https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/157-republica.en.html?aid=1514105&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&label=portugal) (**€95 a night**) during our most recent stay in Porto, and it was so lovely! It’s right in the heart of Porto but still super-quiet at night, with the sweetest owners who left treats in our room while we were out exploring and did all they could to ensure we had a great time in the city. **Coimbra:** [Sapientia Boutique Hotel](https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/sapientia-boutique.en.html?aid=1514105&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&label=portugal) (**€188 a night**): We stayed in this gorgeous hotel for my partner’s birthday and it was truly such a wonderful treat. It’s a literary-themed hotel, but not in a tacky way, with rooms named after famous authors, bedside lamps built from second-hand books, and minimalist decorations featuring quotes from famous works. On top of that, the staff were the *best*, putting together a delicious breakfast, greeting us with free glasses of port and *pasteis de nata*, and offering up free wine on the rooftop terrace each evening. This was definitely a splurge for me, but one of those times when it felt more than worth it. **Evora:** If you love your food, I’m going to absolutely insist that you plan to spend at least a few days in Evora while you’re in Portugal. It’s easily accessible from Lisbon and the food scene is absolutely phenomenal. My partner and I splurged on this trip, too, and decided to stay in [Pousada Convento de Evora](https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/pousada-dos-loios.en.html?aid=1514105&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&label=portugal) at a price of **€216 a night**. But what an incredible property: it’s an old converted monastery, located directly opposite a Roman temple, which makes for a particularly spectacular view each morning. With a swimming pool that’s perfect for cooling off in, lovely staff, and a large breakfast, this hotel made for the perfect romantic getaway. ### Average Costs for Accommodation in Portugal If you’re on a tight budget, you’ll be looking at around **€15-25** a night for a dorm room in a hostel, or **€50-100** a night for a private room. If you’re on a mid-range budget, expect to spend around **€100-150** a night for a well-reviewed, modern, centrally-located hotel. If you’re willing to go all out and splurge, you’ll be looking at around **€250 a night** for one of the best hotels in town. ![A tram in Lisbon at night, with graffiti on the front and lit up inside as it climbs up a steep cobbled street](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_2000,h_1496/https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/lisbon6.jpg) ![A tram in Lisbon at night, with graffiti on the front and lit up inside as it climbs up a steep cobbled street](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%202000%201496%22%3E%3C/svg%3E) Lisbon’s famous trams ## The Cost of Transportation in Portugal When it comes to public transportation in Portugal, there’s plenty of ways to get around. In Lisbon and Porto, you’ll most likely find yourself not needing to use it at all, as most of the attractions are within walking distance of each other. Even while living in Lisbon, I took public transport about once every six months — and usually that’s hopping on a tram to avoid trekking up a particularly steep hill. That’s the one downside of getting around Lisbon by foot, by the way: it feels like every single street takes you up a steep incline and sometimes you just want to walk for five minutes without feeling like it’s a full-on workout. Oh, and a word of warning: many of the streets in Lisbon are cobblestoned, so when it rains, it gets real slippery. A survey of elderly Lisbonites had them sharing their greatest fear in life [is falling over on the city’s pavements](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-23/injuries-aside-lisbon-loves-its-mosaic-sidewalks). There’s a whole lot of people with fake hips in this city! Flip-flops are a definite no-no. *I feel like I’m not really selling the whole you-should-walk-everywhere-in-Lisbon-thing to you?* Here are the most common forms of transportation in Portugal: **Metro and Tram (Lisbon and Porto)** — Besides walking, one of my favorite ways to experience a city is by understanding their local metro system. Lisbon and Porto (plus Almada on the other side of the river to Lisbon) are the only cities that have one in the country, so if you don’t like to walk, you’ll probably make use of both during your explorations. It’s usually easiest and cheaper to get a day pass if you plan on spending a day sightseeing in these cities. In Lisbon, a day pass on the public transportation system costs **€6.80**, or **€10.80** if you want to go further out to places like Sintra. In Porto, it’s **€7.50**. Of course, if you’ve seen any classic photos of Portugal, you’ll have probably noticed the famous, historic trams. These are traditional electric cars from a bygone era. Nowadays, they’re not so much a main method of getting around as they are an experience. I would recommend riding one early in the morning to avoid the midday tourist crowds. Number 28 is the iconic route: just be sure to watch your bags, as pickpockets are active on the trams. You can use your metro day pass or buy a one-way fare onboard for **€3.10.** **Train** — You’ll be happy to hear that most cities and towns are connected by Portugal’s train system: [Comboios de Portugal](https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en). You’ll be even happier to know that train tickets in Portugal are fairly inexpensive. I’ve taken the train all over Portugal, from Lisbon to places like Coimbra, Evora, and Porto, and booking tickets is always a breeze. There are four different types of trains within Portugal’s network: - **Regional Trains (R) (Regionais):** shorter distances, make lots of stops, and tend to be slower - **Intercity Trains (IC) (Intercidades):** for between major cities and towns; they make fewer stops, and tend to be faster - **Alfa Pendular (AP):** a high-speed train that goes the fastest, connects all the major cities, and runs the length of the entire country from north to south - **Urbanos (U):** subway systems within individual cities The cost of a train depends on the date and time you’re traveling, and the type of train. To give you an idea of prices, here are some standard one-way train fares for the most popular routes. There are often also promo fares that give big discounts when booked in advance: I’ve grabbed one-way fares from Lisbon to Porto for as little as €10. - **Lisbon to Porto** - Intercity: €26.85 - Alfa Pendular: €33.90 - **Lisbon to Faro** - Intercity: €25 - Alfa Pendular: €26.45 - **Porto to Coimbra** - Intercity: €14.60 - Alfa Pendular: €18.70 **Bus**: Bus services in Portugal include both regional and local buses, as well international coaches — I took a coach from Porto to Madrid several years ago, and a local bus between Porto and Braga for a day trip, and both were comfortable, easy rides. There are frequent coach services between all Portuguese cities and a network of the national and several private bus companies covering most of Portugal. You’ll usually have the option of either an express or slower bus service, and prices will vary according to distance, time, and company. Generally, fares will start at €5 but shouldn’t cost more than €20 for a journey. [RedeExpressos](https://rede-expressos.pt/pt) is the largest bus company in the country, followed by [Rodonorte](https://www.rodonorte.pt/pt/) (which covers the north) and [Eva Transportes](http://eva-bus.com/) (which covers the south). **Plane**: Portugal is a small country, so I don’t recommend flying if you’re going to be travelling around the mainland — by the time you get to the airport and wait around for your flight and go through all of that hassle, you’d probably already be at your next destination if you’d gone by train. It takes just four hours to get from Lisbon to Porto on the train, for example. If you’re going to be heading to Madeira or the Azores, flying is the only option. I use [Skyscanner](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/link/skyscanner/) for finding the cheapest flights, and you can expect to pay around €60 return from Lisbon to either Funchal (Madeira) or Ponta Delgada (the Azores). ![Meat, cheese, pastries, and fruit on a wooden tasting platter, sitting on a checked tablecloth](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_1500,h_1000/https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/DSC02857-e1484132397574.jpg) ![Meat, cheese, pastries, and fruit on a wooden tasting platter, sitting on a checked tablecloth](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%201500%201000%22%3E%3C/svg%3E) A photo from my food and wine trip to Evora, where you’ll find the best culinary scene in the country ## The Cost of Food in Portugal One of my greatest joys to come from living in Portugal was the *food*. Portuguese food is such an underrated cuisine and it’s one of my favourites in all of Europe. It’s so much more than just salted cod and sardines. Of course, there are *pasteis de nata* — Portuguese egg tarts — if you know anything about Portuguese cuisines, it’s most likely that these little treats are absolutely delicious. Fun fact: if you go to an El Corte Ingles department store in Portugal and tell the information desk that you’re a tourist, they’ll gift you with a free tart and glass of port\! If you want to sample the best of the best, though, head to either Pastéis de Belém or Manteigaria — they’re popular for a reason. Expect to pay between **€1** and **€1.50** for one pretty much anywhere in town. If you want to eat local, head to a less-popular neighbourhoods and look for the signs advertising a *prato do dia* — you’ll usually pay around **€10** for a three-course meal with a glass of wine and the food will be so fresh and tasty. It’s a great way to stay on budget while also eating well. Another well-known dish from Portugal is the Francesinha, which is typically only found in Porto. It’s… um… a lot. It’s an enormous multi-layered sandwich filled with steak, sausages, and ham, that’s then covered in cheese, placed in a pool of tomato-based gravy, with fries swimming in the sauce and a fried egg on top. Yeah, it’s typically something that tourists only opt for once — and I recommend sharing one with somebody. You’ll pay around **€10** for one in Porto and most likely be full for the rest of the day after finishing. If you choose to visit Lisbon during June, and particular between the 12th and the 14th: you’re in luck! The sardine-themed festival of St. Anthony takes place in June and with it, comes a month-long celebration that sees the country devouring six sardines a second. The older neighbourhoods in Lisbon light up their grills, throw down their sardines, barbecue them up with a sprinkling of basil, and the city fills with smoke, music, and parties for one whole month. You’ll pay **€1** or so for a sardine sandwich and they’re a *lot* tastier than you’re thinking. The two best places for food in Portugal is archipelago of *the Azores* and inland town of *Evora* — I ate unbelievably well in both spots. The Azores has a sunny climate and fertile land, which means the islands are all sufficient and don’t need to import food from mainland Portugal in order to survive. The most famous dish of the Azores — and one of my favourite meals — is *cozido das furnas,* a stew that’s cooked inside a volcano! Some of my other food highlights from the islands included sampling the strong Azorean cheese, drinking as much high-quality Azorean wine as my body could handle, swooning over the juiciest pineapples of my life, and snacking on unusual seafood whenever I had the opportunity to. I averaged **€5** for breakfast, **€12** for lunch, and **€15** for dinner while in was in the Azores. The international food scene is fantastic in Lisbon, and if you’re keen to sample as much of it as possible, I recommend heading to Principe Real: the neighbourhood I can’t stop talking about. I chose to live there simply because it has some of the best food in the city. Some of my recommendations are Atalho Real, ZeroZero, Koppu Ramen, Lost In, A Cevicheria, Gin Lovers… Basically, walk down the main street in Principe Real and pick a place: every single eatery on this street is epic. You’ll get a main for **€15-20**, with a glass of wine or beer for **a couple of Euros** extra. Every time a friend or family member came to visit me in Lisbon, I took them to one of two places: the city’s Time Out Market or the streets of Principe Real. The former is always guaranteed to wow you; an enormous food hall — a higher-end food court — featuring stalls that are run by some of the best restaurants in the city. It’s a great way to sample some of the city’s favourite eateries without having to hop all over Lisbon to get to them. Plus, there’s so many options, you can satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. I recommend O Prego da Peixaria, Pizzeria ZeroZero, Miguel Castro e Silva, Croqueteria, and Ground Burger. *What about drinks?* When it comes to alcohol, you’re most likely thinking of Port and you’d be right to do so: port is a Portuguese fortified wine that’s absolutely delicious and can be found all over the country — expect to pay **a couple of Euros** for a glass in a restaurant or around **€7-10** for a mid-range bottle in a supermarket. Oh, and if you think you don’t like port, I’d still recommend signing up for a tasting while you’re in Porto: it’s all *so* good! I paid **€20** for a tasting at Taylors in Porto, with an audio tour and two glasses of port to sample. If you already know you love port, you’ll want to head to the Douro Valley, just outside of Porto, and spend a day or two winery-hopping around the region. I took a day trip out to the Douro while I was in town — amazing and so beautiful! — paying [€124 for a full-day tour](https://www.getyourguide.com/porto-l151/porto-genuine-douro-wine-tour-w-lunch-river-cruise-t86657/?partner_id=5OA45ES&utm_medium=online_publisher&placement=content-middle&mkt_cmp=true) that took us to two wineries and finished it all off with a river cruise. Don’t forget to try a cool glass of vinho verde for a couple of Euros while you’re in Portugal either! While the name translates to green wine, it’s actually a young wine, and can be white, red, or rose; some sparkling, some not. It’s great to drink on, hot sunny days either way\! ![Expansive view over the top of a two-level suspension bridge in Porto, Portugal, with a river underneath and many red-roofed buildings climbing up the slopes of the hillside opposite.](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_1500,h_1000/https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Porto-bridge-view.jpg) ![Expansive view over the top of a two-level suspension bridge in Porto, Portugal, with a river underneath and many red-roofed buildings climbing up the slopes of the hillside opposite.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%201500%201000%22%3E%3C/svg%3E) The iconic photo of Porto: everybody comes away from the city with a shot from this viewpoint\! ## The Cost of Activities and Entrance Fees in Portugal Portugal has tons to see and do, and plenty of day trips to fill your time with. One of the best ways to enjoy cities such as Lisbon and Porto is having the day to walk around neighbourhoods aimlessly while window-shopping and stopping for food and drink breaks. On one of my first days in Lisbon, I took a walking tour with [Hi Lisbon Walking Tours](https://www.hilisbonwalkingtours.com/free-tours-lisbon) to get a feel for my surroundings and to learn more about the history. In Porto, I jumped on a tour called [The Worst Tour](https://theworsttours.weebly.com/) (yes, really), that takes tourists on a tour of Porto’s most interesting abandoned buildings. It was so fun\! A stand-out experience for me was taking a day trip from Lisbon to Sintra (45-minute train ride). Sintra is a charming, medieval town with fairytale castles, mansions, and gardens. It’s one of those places that lives up to the hype when you’re there — I felt like I had stepped right back a few centuries. King Consort Ferdinand II and his wife Queen Maria II of Portugal were the ones that transformed Sintra into a wonderland of European Gothic architecture in the 19th century, and it makes for such a beautiful scene. Within Lisbon itself, there’s so much to keep you busy: the Lisbon Oceanarium, that’s ranked best in the world, the Lisbon flea market, which had some seriously cool treasures (held every Tuesday and Saturday), the decadent weekend brunch at the Four Seasons that’s a fabulous way to treat yourself, and the Lisbon tile museum, for those of you who can’t get enough of that Portuguese architecture. Here’s a breakdown of my favourite attractions in Portugal and their respective costs: - [Pena Palace (Sintra)](https://www.getyourguide.com/sintra-l99/pena-palace-park-skip-the-line-entrance-ticket-t79596/?partner_id=5OA45ES&utm_medium=online_publisher&placement=content-middle&mkt_cmp=true): **€20** - [National Azulejo (tile) Museum (Lisbon)](https://www.museunacionaldoazulejo.pt/en/bilhetes): **€10** - [Lisbon Oceanarium](https://www.getyourguide.com/lisbon-l42/oceanario-de-lisboa-aquarium-ticket-t38079/?partner_id=5OA45ES&utm_medium=online_publisher&placement=content-middle&mkt_cmp=true): **€25** - [Lisbon Castle entrance fee](https://castelodesaojorge.pt/en/): **€15** - [Jeronimos Monastery entrance (Belem](https://mmp.bymeoblueticket.pt/Evento?IdEvento=14759)): **€12** - [Torre de Belem entrance (Belem)](https://www.museusemonumentos.pt/en/museus-e-monumentos/torre-de-belem): **€15** - Santa Justa Lift, in Lisbon: **€5.30** - [Livraria Lello Bookstore fee (Porto)](https://www.livrarialello.pt/en/home): **€8, credited towards a book if you buy one** ## The Cost of Miscellaneous Expenses in Portugal **eSIM or SIM card:** I made the switch to eSIMs a few years ago, and it’s a simple thing that’s greatly improved my travels. I hated having to spend my first few hours in a country wandering around trying to find a way to get connected. SIM cards are usually expensive at the airport (if they’re even available), but if I didn’t get it there, it was just such a hassle finding somewhere to buy one, dealing with language barriers and registration and scams and… well, it was time-consuming, frustrating, and not how I wanted to start my trip. These days, I get an eSIM in advance from [aloSIM](https://alosim.com/portugal-esim/?uid=664&oid=3&affid=110) instead. They sell local e-SIMs for travellers, so I just buy one for Portugal or wherever before I get there, and then just turn on my phone and be online before the plane’s even come to a halt. It’s worked flawlessly for me in over a dozen countries so far. I paid **\$10 (**€**9**) [for 5GB of data for 30 days in Portugal](https://alosim.com/portugal-esim/?uid=664&oid=3&affid=110). Readers of Never Ending Footsteps can get a 5% discount on aloSIM eSIMs by using the code *FOOTSTEPS*. If you do want a physical SIM card though (maybe your phone is an older one that can’t use eSIMs), Portugal at least isn’t as bad as some countries when it comes to prices or effort. Vodafone has little kiosks in both Lisbon and Porto airports, and tourist SIMs with 10GB of data plus 500 texts or calling minutes costs **€20** for 30 days. **Travel insurance:** I’m all about ensuring that every single one of my readers understands the importance of travel insurance. When you work in the travel industry, as I do, you’re inundated with news of destitute backpackers on GoFundMe who fell ill while travelling, didn’t have travel insurance, and now can’t afford the hundreds of thousands of dollars needed to be airlifted home for medical care. It happened to an old school friend of mine just last year. In short, if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel. [Travel insurance](https://safetywing.com/nomad-insurance/?referenceID=NEFOOTSTEPS&campaign=portugal-budget&utm_source=NEFOOTSTEPS&utm_medium=Ambassador) will cover you if your flight is cancelled and you need to book a new one, if your luggage gets lost and you need to replace your belongings, if you suddenly get struck down by appendicitis and have to be hospitalised, or discover a family member has died while you’re overseas and need to get home immediately. If you fall seriously ill, your insurance will cover the costs to fly you home to receive medical treatment. I use [SafetyWing](https://safetywing.com/nomad-insurance/?referenceID=NEFOOTSTEPS&campaign=portugal-budget&utm_source=NEFOOTSTEPS&utm_medium=Ambassador) as my travel insurance provider, and recommend them for trips to Portugal. They provide worldwide coverage, don’t require you to have a return ticket, and even allow you to buy coverage after you’ve left home. Finally, they have a clear, easy-to-understand pricing structure, which is always appreciated. ![Looking over an oceanside town on the island of Sao Miguel in the Azores, with many red-roofed houses.](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_1500,h_1000/https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Ocean-town-in-Sao-Miguel-the-Azores.jpg) ![Looking over an oceanside town on the island of Sao Miguel in the Azores, with many red-roofed houses.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%201500%201000%22%3E%3C/svg%3E) A picturesque village on the islands of the Azores ## How Much Does it Cost to Travel in Portugal? It’s time to tally up all of my expenses to see my total travel costs\! - **Accommodation: €100 per day** - **Transportation: €5 per day** - **Food/drink: €40 per day** - **Activities/Entrance Fees: €20 per day** - **eSIM: €1 per day** **Average amount spent in Portugal: €166 a day\!** These prices should be about right for most people, but you’ll save quite a bit on accommodation if you’re part of a couple staying in budget or mid-range places, or are happy to stay in dorm rooms in hostels as a solo traveller. ***Have you been to Portugal? How much did you spend while you were in town?*** **Related Articles on Portugal** 🇵🇹 [After 70 Countries, Why I Moved to Lisbon, Portugal](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/why-i-moved-to-lisbon-portugal/) 💚 [The Best Things to Do in Lisbon, Portugal](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/things-to-do-lisbon-portugal/) ❤️ [28 Best Things to Do in Porto, Portugal](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/things-to-do-porto-portugal/) 🏝 [13 Reasons to Plan a Trip to the Azores](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/why-visit-sao-miguel-the-azores/) 🏚 [Exploring the Abandoned Monte Palace Hotel in Sao Miguel](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/monte-palace-abandoned-hotel-azores/) About the author #### Lauren Juliff Lauren Juliff is a published author and travel expert who founded Never Ending Footsteps in 2011. She has spent over 12 years travelling the world, sharing in-depth advice from more than 100 countries across six continents. Lauren's travel advice has been featured in publications like the BBC, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Cosmopolitan, and her work is read by 200,000 readers each month. Her travel memoir can be found in bookstores across the planet. 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Mona September 1, 2021 [Reply](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget/#comment-420889) I love these Portugal guides! I can really sense your passion for the country in your writing and it makes me want to go to see why you love it so much. It’s an added bonus that it’s so affordable in comparison to other places in Western Europe\! - [Lauren Juliff](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/about-lauren/) February 11, 2026 [Reply](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget/#comment-480651) Ah, that’s the biggest type of compliment I could receive, Mona, so thank you! I hope you do make it to Portugal, as it’s genuinely one of my favourite countries in all of Europe. 2. Darius January 29, 2022 [Reply](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget/#comment-433088) This is very helpful. Portugal is becoming so popular these days. I hope the prices don’t go up\! - [Lauren Juliff](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/about-lauren/) February 11, 2026 [Reply](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget/#comment-480652) I think it’s inevitable, as every country is struggle with cost of living crises post-pandemic, but so far, Portugal is remaining inexpensive relative to other Western European countries. 3. Viktor March 25, 2022 [Reply](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget/#comment-437407) You estimated travel cost for one or two persons together? - Anonymous October 16, 2024 [Reply](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget/#comment-467163) :) for two, I think since if you travel solo properly stay at hostel then - [Lauren Juliff](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/about-lauren/) October 18, 2024 [Reply](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget/#comment-467226) That is a wild comment, Anonymous! You can travel solo “properly” without staying in a hostel! After 15 years of full-time travel, I’ve definitely graduated from staying in hostels, but I’m not sure there’s many people out there who would describe me as not travelling properly :-) - [Lauren Juliff](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/about-lauren/) February 11, 2026 [Reply](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget/#comment-480653) The cost is per person. 4. Clinton Thacker March 29, 2022 [Reply](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget/#comment-437619) Awesome article! I, too, love Portugal since I visited with my daughter’s high school trip five years ago. I returned with my wife to Cascais in 2022, then again a few weeks ago (March 2025) to Leiria and Lisbon. Now I’ve spent the last half hour googling Toctoctoc Hotel and Sapientia Hotel in Coimbra, and Evora, dreaming of our next visit! Sure hope I can squeeze in another trip or two before I get much older! Thanks so much for the suggestions!! -Clinton T. from USA - Clinton T. March 29, 2022 [Reply](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget/#comment-437620) …and Yes, travel costs… taxis, buses, Metro and trains, are very reasonable\! - [Lauren Juliff](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/about-lauren/) February 11, 2026 [Reply](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget/#comment-480654) Ah, isn’t it such a wonderful country to explore, Clinton? :-) I hope you make it back for many more visits in the near future. 5. elza potts September 24, 2022 [Reply](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget/#comment-440197) Hi the hotel toctoctoc lisbon is not available on the dates that we are going this december.. is there another hotel you can recommend for us? this is our 1st time to go and want to maybe go live there. any lawyer you can recommend to us in case we love it and need to find information how to go live there since we are US citizens. I love your website and all the info you provide. Thank you. - [Lauren Juliff](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/about-lauren/) September 24, 2022 [Reply](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget/#comment-440207) Anywhere in the Principe Real neighbourhood would be a great location — you can search using a map on Booking. Unfortunately, I don’t have any lawyers to recommend, as I was an EU citizen when I moved to Portugal, so didn’t need a visa. But best of luck with your scouting mission and hope you fall as hard for Lisbon as I did! :-) 6. Rick March 12, 2023 [Reply](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget/#comment-436524) Would the average costs per day be a lot different in 2026? - [Lauren Juliff](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/about-lauren/) March 12, 2023 [Reply](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget/#comment-436540) Yep! I’ve already updated the prices for 2026, and always update these budget breakdowns every 3-6 months to make sure the numbers are accurate :-) 7. Janis February 8, 2024 [Reply](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget/#comment-455892) Is it difficult to travel in Alentejo without a car? How would you recommend seeing that area? - [Lauren Juliff](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/about-lauren/) February 8, 2024 [Reply](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget/#comment-455909) Actually no! We didn’t have a car in Portugal and were able to get around just fine. We mostly used the train and found it took us to all of the destinations we wanted to see in Alentejo. There are buses, too, which are also easy to use. 8. tamsen donker March 17, 2024 [Reply](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget/#comment-457797) Just in the beginning stages of hopefully planning a trip to surprise my daughter when she graduates high school in June. I don’t know if I can afford it and hoped to spend a bunch of time at the beach as I imagine that’s cheaper than shopping 😆 Any great beaches you could recommend? I’d the weather good there in June or should i plan for September instead? - [Lauren Juliff](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/about-lauren/) February 11, 2026 [Reply](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget/#comment-480655) Head straight to the Algarve, Tamsen, as that’s where all the best beaches are. I’d say June or September would be perfect, actually, as they’re both outside of the school holidays, and have warm weather without being scorching hot. I based myself in Tavira when I was last in the Algarve and absolutely loved it. 9. Lana Anderson May 5, 2024 [Reply](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget/#comment-460681) A lot of great information. Thank you. What time of the year is best to travel to Portugal? - [Lauren Juliff](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/about-lauren/) May 10, 2024 [Reply](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget/#comment-461122) I really like May, June, September, and October! I would try to avoid July/August and the colder winter months. 10. Sheryl September 5, 2024 [Reply](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget/#comment-465400) Hi, We are coming from NZ and travelling thru Spain then spending a few weeks in Portugal. We shall be flying from Lisbon to Bordeaux and I have yet to book our flights..Can you recommend an airline to use please. - [Lauren Juliff](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/about-lauren/) February 11, 2026 [Reply](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget/#comment-480656) I’d just head to Skyscanner and choose whichever airline has the best timing. TAP is Portugal’s national airline, though, and generally a pretty good option. 11. Wendy Young October 24, 2024 [Reply](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget/#comment-467398) Hi Lauren! Thank you so much for your amazing insight into Portugal and sharing it with your readers! My mother’s side of the family originated in the Azores and Portugal, so I am starting to plan a trip there for May of next year. My question is this: Since it is our first visit and we, although seniors, have not traveled much, would you suggest going it on our own or with a tour group like EFTours or GoAheadTours? My sense is that we will actually see more and experience more on our own, but what are your thoughts? Thank you so much\! - [Lauren Juliff](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/about-lauren/) October 29, 2024 [Reply](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget/#comment-467630) Oh, how amazing! The Azores, and the mainland, are both so wonderful. They’re both very easy to travel around independently, and almost everybody you’ll encounter will speak English, so I would recommend travelling on your own. It’s definitely not necessary to take a tour, as it is so simple to explore and you can ask anybody for help if you need it. 12. Liza October 25, 2024 [Reply](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget/#comment-467432) We are considering a trip for our family of 4 (2 kids under 12 yo) to Lisbon/sintra/cascais for 4 days and 3 days in Algarve in March 2025. We are trying to do it on a tight budget. We will buy groceries to have for bkst and snacks each day. Is it possible to get a decent meal for 10 euros/person for lunch and dinner? Any recommendations near Alfama district? - [Lauren Juliff](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/about-lauren/) October 29, 2024 [Reply](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget/#comment-467629) Yes! Go for Velha Gaiteira or Tiles Bar — both have options for €10 or less. At lunchtime, look for restaurants offering “Prato do dia”, which are daily specials! They’re usually €8-€12 and include soup, main meal, dessert, and wine. They’re such good value for money\! 13. Oki February 3, 2025 [Reply](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget/#comment-473322) Hey Lauren! Just stumbled upon your blog and it’s excellent. I’m taking the month of May off and trying to decide where to go and Portugal was pretty high on the list. This has definitely helped me get a great idea of what to expect. Since you’ve lived (or still live?) here, how easy is it to make friends and how welcoming are people to travelers? I’ll be traveling solo so that’s a big point of interest to me in picking a spot. Thanks so much\! - [Lauren Juliff](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/about-lauren/) February 11, 2026 [Reply](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget/#comment-480657) Hey Oki! My advice is to head to the Facebook groups, as there’s lots of meet ups for immigrants in Lisbon. I found it easy to make friends with other foreigners, but trickier to make friends with locals, as they usually already had their own friends. 14. Lynette December 20, 2025 [Reply](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget/#comment-480283) Hi Lauren, I’m heading to Portugal in a couple weeks and just trying to figure out how much cash (€) to bring? Half the internet says everything is card now and the other half seems to think I’ll need at least 1000 for two weeks\! Thanks so much\! - [Lauren Juliff](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/about-lauren/) February 11, 2026 [Reply](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget/#comment-480658) Hi Lynette, I would just get €100 out of the ATM to carry with you in case of emergencies, but otherwise expect to pay for almost everything with card. You definitely don’t need €1000! But ATMs are everywhere, so just take money out as and when you need it. 15. Lola April 6, 2026 [Reply](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget/#comment-481745) Hello Lynette, I would be travelling to Cascais and Sintra with a family of four in May, 2026. We’ve booked a rental car during a our trip cause we want to do a road trip to the Algarve. Is this a good idea? Also, would we be able to load up our cash into a local bank card? Using our Canadian Visa cards are quite expensive on foreign travel. And using cash helps to keep spending disciplined, if you know what I mean. Thank you. - [Lauren Juliff](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/about-lauren/) April 18, 2026 [Reply](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget/#comment-481832) Hi Lola! Yep, renting a car is a good idea, as it’s quite tricky to see the best bits of the Algarve via public transport, so a car will make things much easier. For your other question, were you asking if you could open up a bank account with a Portuguese bank? You won’t be able to do this if you’re not a Portuguese resident (you need to be able to show proof of address, a Portuguese tax ID, and proof of Portuguese employment to open an account, like you would in Canada). Even if you could, I wouldn’t recommend spending several hours of your holiday sitting in a bank filling out forms then having to wait days for the card to be mailed to you\! Instead, I’d recommend opening a Wise account, and using that while you’re in Portugal — that’s what most people (myself included) do. It has the best exchange rate from CAD to EUR, and is quick and easy to set-up. The country is pretty cashless, so most places will expect you to pay with card (although will usually accept cash). ### Leave a reply [Cancel reply](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/cost-of-travel-portugal-budget/#respond) ## Meet Lauren Juliff ![Lauren Juliff at Australia's 12 Apostles at sunset](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_1024,h_768/https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Lauren-Juliff-12-Apostles-sunset-copy-2-1024x768.jpg) ![Lauren Juliff at Australia's 12 Apostles at sunset](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%201024%20768%22%3E%3C/svg%3E) Hi! My name's Lauren and I'm the founder of Never Ending Footsteps. I'm here to help you explore this planet safely, adventurously, and affordably. It was back in 2011 when I quit my job to travel the world. Thirteen years, 100 countries, and one successful travel blog later, I'm still going. 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Portugal might just be one of the greatest countries in Europe. In fact, it took just two days for me to decide to [uproot my nomadic life and move there](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/why-i-moved-to-lisbon-portugal/). I’m not kidding: I rocked up in Lisbon for the first time back in 2016, fell deeply in love with the city, then began looking for an apartment two days later. I found my dream home after a month of searching, signed a lease, and the rest was history. I *love* this country. To me, Portugal has it all. It’s home to a massively underrated food scene, welcoming locals, the most beautiful buildings, and fantastic weather. For a long time, it was overlooked in favour of its more popular neighbours like Italy, Spain, and France, but that’s not the case any more. While those extra tourists have caused *some* prices to increase, especially since the pandemic, Portugal is still one of the more affordable countries in Western Europe — and especially when you travel outside of Lisbon and Porto. (Which you should, by the way, because Portugal has so much to offer outside of its two most famous cities.) I’ve been recording every single dollar, peso, and baht that I’ve spent on my travels since 2011 (I now have [over 65 budget breakdowns on my site](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/travel-expenses/)!), aiming to give you an accurate picture of how much you can expect to spend in every country around the world. Today, it’s Portugal’s turn and I’m so excited to start sharing. ![Tram rolling down a typical street in Lisbon, with cobbled streets and pavements, and brightly-coloured tiles on many of the houses](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_1500,h_1000/https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Typical-Lisbon-street.jpg) Tiles and trams: the two things that Lisbon is most famous for\! ## The Cost of Accommodation in Portugal As always with travel, it’s possible to cut your accommodation costs down to zero if you have the time and patience to seek out an offer. ### How to Save Money on Accommodation in Portugal **Housesitting** exists in Portugal, and is a fantastic option if you’re looking to save money. This is where you’ll take care of somebody’s house for free while they’re away, and often look after their pets, too. It’s best for long-term travellers or retirees, as you can’t pick and choose dates (they’ll obviously be based on the owner’s vacation dates) so you’ll need to have a lot of flexibility as to where you go and at what time of year. If you *do* have that freedom, though, it’s a wonderful way to cut down your travel expenses, soak up some home comforts, and live like a local for a while. Some of my friends have even landed housesitting gigs for castles and chateaus in Europe! [Trusted Housesitters](https://trustedhousesitters.pxf.io/XxQxey) is the best site for getting started with housesitting. I’m suspecting, though, that for most of you, you’re not interested in the free accommodation and just want somewhere clean, safe, and affordable to rest your head each night. If that’s the case, there are several options available for you. ### Types of Accommodation in Portugal The first of these are **hostels**. In Portugal, you’ll come across hostels all over the country, finding them on tiny islands, in large cities, and even in the national parks. They’re one of your best options for saving money. [Hostels in Portugal](https://prf.hn/click/camref:1011l33bd) are on a par with the rest of major cities in Western Europe, and you can expect to spend around **€25 a night for a dorm bed** for a well-reviewed hostel in Lisbon, with the price increasing to slightly about **€35 a night** for the absolute best of the best. When it comes to private rooms in hostels, you can expect to spend around **€50 a night** for a clean, basic room in a good location, so if you’re travelling with friends or with your partner, you may find it cheaper to grab some privacy over settling for two beds in a dorm room. **€100 a night** will get you an exceptionally well-reviewed private room in a hostel. If you’re an older traveller and put off by the thought of nights spent in hostels, you shouldn’t be! Private rooms are usually very quiet and clean, and most hostels are modern, safe, and centrally located. They tend to have a little more personality than generic hotels, and the staff are fantastic at offering kickass travel advice. As long as you check the reviews of any hostel before booking it to make sure nobody refers to it as a party hostel, you’re all good to make a booking there. I use [HostelWorld](https://prf.hn/click/camref:1011l33bd) to find the cheapest hostels, as they tend to have the greatest number of listings at the lowest prices. ![Close-up of the corner of a house in Lisbon, with brightly-coloured tiles on part of one wall, and washing hanging on one of the balconies](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_1500,h_1000/https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Lisbon-windows-with-laundry.jpg) And, of course, there are always hotels, which again will usually start at around **€50-€100 a night** for a decent, clean, mid-range property in a central location. I always use [Booking.com](https://www.booking.com/index.html?aid=1514105&label=paris), as they have the most accommodation options for the cheapest prices — but more on that below. There’s going to be no sugarcoating here: Portugal — and Lisbon, in particular — has been screwed over by the arrival of Airbnb. Essentially: landlords in Lisbon came to realise that if they listed their properties on Airbnb, they could make more money from tourists in *two months* than they could from renting to locals year-round. And so began the slow transformation of Lisbon, in which locals — my friends — were forced out of their homes to make way for Airbnbs, and prices grew and grew and grew and grew. When the average salary for locals in Lisbon is just €1,000 a month and the average Airbnb apartments are listed at well over €2,000 a month, you find yourself with a city that’s packed full of short-stay tourists with many locals pushed out into the very outer suburbs. It’s for this reason that I want to strongly recommend that you don’t use Airbnb while staying in Lisbon and Porto. ![](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_1500,h_1000/https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Sapientia-Boutique-Hotel-Coimbra.jpg) My modern, stylish hotel room at [Sapientia Boutique Hotel](https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/sapientia-boutique.en.html?aid=1514105&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&label=portugal) in Coimbra Here’s where I *do* recommend you stay: **Lisbon:** When friends ask me where to stay in Lisbon, I always tell them my number one rule: you *must* stay within a 20-minute walk of the city’s Time Out Market. If you’re inside that radius, you’ll be within walking distance of the majority of the tourist attractions. Outside of that? It’s going to be a pain in the ass. My favourite neighbourhood in Lisbon is Principe Real, which is where I used to live. It’s easily the best area in the city — you’ve got tons of great restaurants and bars, peaceful parks to wander around, gorgeous buildings, great views over the city, and hardly any crowds because there’s close to no tourist attractions in this part of town. (But don’t worry — everything is still walkable from here.) In terms of hotels in Principe Real, your best option is easily [Toctoctoc Lisboa](https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/toctoctoc-lisboa.en.html?aid=1514105&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&label=portugal), a lovely boutique hotel that comes in at **€225 a night** for a deluxe room with garden views. This is where I always tell all of my friends and family to stay. Because is this the most gorgeous hotel ever? Yup! Seriously, the entire garden area is so beautiful. It’s in a great location but still super-quiet, has the most delicious breakfast, full of breads from the local bakery, and such tastefully-decorated rooms. It’s rated [9\.5 on Booking](https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/toctoctoc-lisboa.en.html?aid=1514105&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&label=portugal). **Porto:** We stayed in [Republica 157 Guest House](https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/157-republica.en.html?aid=1514105&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&label=portugal) (**€95 a night**) during our most recent stay in Porto, and it was so lovely! It’s right in the heart of Porto but still super-quiet at night, with the sweetest owners who left treats in our room while we were out exploring and did all they could to ensure we had a great time in the city. **Coimbra:** [Sapientia Boutique Hotel](https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/sapientia-boutique.en.html?aid=1514105&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&label=portugal) (**€188 a night**): We stayed in this gorgeous hotel for my partner’s birthday and it was truly such a wonderful treat. It’s a literary-themed hotel, but not in a tacky way, with rooms named after famous authors, bedside lamps built from second-hand books, and minimalist decorations featuring quotes from famous works. On top of that, the staff were the *best*, putting together a delicious breakfast, greeting us with free glasses of port and *pasteis de nata*, and offering up free wine on the rooftop terrace each evening. This was definitely a splurge for me, but one of those times when it felt more than worth it. **Evora:** If you love your food, I’m going to absolutely insist that you plan to spend at least a few days in Evora while you’re in Portugal. It’s easily accessible from Lisbon and the food scene is absolutely phenomenal. My partner and I splurged on this trip, too, and decided to stay in [Pousada Convento de Evora](https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/pousada-dos-loios.en.html?aid=1514105&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&label=portugal) at a price of **€216 a night**. But what an incredible property: it’s an old converted monastery, located directly opposite a Roman temple, which makes for a particularly spectacular view each morning. With a swimming pool that’s perfect for cooling off in, lovely staff, and a large breakfast, this hotel made for the perfect romantic getaway. ### Average Costs for Accommodation in Portugal If you’re on a tight budget, you’ll be looking at around **€15-25** a night for a dorm room in a hostel, or **€50-100** a night for a private room. If you’re on a mid-range budget, expect to spend around **€100-150** a night for a well-reviewed, modern, centrally-located hotel. If you’re willing to go all out and splurge, you’ll be looking at around **€250 a night** for one of the best hotels in town. ![A tram in Lisbon at night, with graffiti on the front and lit up inside as it climbs up a steep cobbled street](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_2000,h_1496/https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/lisbon6.jpg) Lisbon’s famous trams ## The Cost of Transportation in Portugal When it comes to public transportation in Portugal, there’s plenty of ways to get around. In Lisbon and Porto, you’ll most likely find yourself not needing to use it at all, as most of the attractions are within walking distance of each other. Even while living in Lisbon, I took public transport about once every six months — and usually that’s hopping on a tram to avoid trekking up a particularly steep hill. That’s the one downside of getting around Lisbon by foot, by the way: it feels like every single street takes you up a steep incline and sometimes you just want to walk for five minutes without feeling like it’s a full-on workout. Oh, and a word of warning: many of the streets in Lisbon are cobblestoned, so when it rains, it gets real slippery. A survey of elderly Lisbonites had them sharing their greatest fear in life [is falling over on the city’s pavements](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-23/injuries-aside-lisbon-loves-its-mosaic-sidewalks). There’s a whole lot of people with fake hips in this city! Flip-flops are a definite no-no. *I feel like I’m not really selling the whole you-should-walk-everywhere-in-Lisbon-thing to you?* Here are the most common forms of transportation in Portugal: **Metro and Tram (Lisbon and Porto)** — Besides walking, one of my favorite ways to experience a city is by understanding their local metro system. Lisbon and Porto (plus Almada on the other side of the river to Lisbon) are the only cities that have one in the country, so if you don’t like to walk, you’ll probably make use of both during your explorations. It’s usually easiest and cheaper to get a day pass if you plan on spending a day sightseeing in these cities. In Lisbon, a day pass on the public transportation system costs **€6.80**, or **€10.80** if you want to go further out to places like Sintra. In Porto, it’s **€7.50**. Of course, if you’ve seen any classic photos of Portugal, you’ll have probably noticed the famous, historic trams. These are traditional electric cars from a bygone era. Nowadays, they’re not so much a main method of getting around as they are an experience. I would recommend riding one early in the morning to avoid the midday tourist crowds. Number 28 is the iconic route: just be sure to watch your bags, as pickpockets are active on the trams. You can use your metro day pass or buy a one-way fare onboard for **€3.10.** **Train** — You’ll be happy to hear that most cities and towns are connected by Portugal’s train system: [Comboios de Portugal](https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en). You’ll be even happier to know that train tickets in Portugal are fairly inexpensive. I’ve taken the train all over Portugal, from Lisbon to places like Coimbra, Evora, and Porto, and booking tickets is always a breeze. There are four different types of trains within Portugal’s network: - **Regional Trains (R) (Regionais):** shorter distances, make lots of stops, and tend to be slower - **Intercity Trains (IC) (Intercidades):** for between major cities and towns; they make fewer stops, and tend to be faster - **Alfa Pendular (AP):** a high-speed train that goes the fastest, connects all the major cities, and runs the length of the entire country from north to south - **Urbanos (U):** subway systems within individual cities The cost of a train depends on the date and time you’re traveling, and the type of train. To give you an idea of prices, here are some standard one-way train fares for the most popular routes. There are often also promo fares that give big discounts when booked in advance: I’ve grabbed one-way fares from Lisbon to Porto for as little as €10. - **Lisbon to Porto** - Intercity: €26.85 - Alfa Pendular: €33.90 - **Lisbon to Faro** - Intercity: €25 - Alfa Pendular: €26.45 - **Porto to Coimbra** - Intercity: €14.60 - Alfa Pendular: €18.70 **Bus**: Bus services in Portugal include both regional and local buses, as well international coaches — I took a coach from Porto to Madrid several years ago, and a local bus between Porto and Braga for a day trip, and both were comfortable, easy rides. There are frequent coach services between all Portuguese cities and a network of the national and several private bus companies covering most of Portugal. You’ll usually have the option of either an express or slower bus service, and prices will vary according to distance, time, and company. Generally, fares will start at €5 but shouldn’t cost more than €20 for a journey. [RedeExpressos](https://rede-expressos.pt/pt) is the largest bus company in the country, followed by [Rodonorte](https://www.rodonorte.pt/pt/) (which covers the north) and [Eva Transportes](http://eva-bus.com/) (which covers the south). **Plane**: Portugal is a small country, so I don’t recommend flying if you’re going to be travelling around the mainland — by the time you get to the airport and wait around for your flight and go through all of that hassle, you’d probably already be at your next destination if you’d gone by train. It takes just four hours to get from Lisbon to Porto on the train, for example. If you’re going to be heading to Madeira or the Azores, flying is the only option. I use [Skyscanner](https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/link/skyscanner/) for finding the cheapest flights, and you can expect to pay around €60 return from Lisbon to either Funchal (Madeira) or Ponta Delgada (the Azores). ![Meat, cheese, pastries, and fruit on a wooden tasting platter, sitting on a checked tablecloth](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_1500,h_1000/https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/DSC02857-e1484132397574.jpg) A photo from my food and wine trip to Evora, where you’ll find the best culinary scene in the country One of my greatest joys to come from living in Portugal was the *food*. Portuguese food is such an underrated cuisine and it’s one of my favourites in all of Europe. It’s so much more than just salted cod and sardines. Of course, there are *pasteis de nata* — Portuguese egg tarts — if you know anything about Portuguese cuisines, it’s most likely that these little treats are absolutely delicious. Fun fact: if you go to an El Corte Ingles department store in Portugal and tell the information desk that you’re a tourist, they’ll gift you with a free tart and glass of port\! If you want to sample the best of the best, though, head to either Pastéis de Belém or Manteigaria — they’re popular for a reason. Expect to pay between **€1** and **€1.50** for one pretty much anywhere in town. If you want to eat local, head to a less-popular neighbourhoods and look for the signs advertising a *prato do dia* — you’ll usually pay around **€10** for a three-course meal with a glass of wine and the food will be so fresh and tasty. It’s a great way to stay on budget while also eating well. Another well-known dish from Portugal is the Francesinha, which is typically only found in Porto. It’s… um… a lot. It’s an enormous multi-layered sandwich filled with steak, sausages, and ham, that’s then covered in cheese, placed in a pool of tomato-based gravy, with fries swimming in the sauce and a fried egg on top. Yeah, it’s typically something that tourists only opt for once — and I recommend sharing one with somebody. You’ll pay around **€10** for one in Porto and most likely be full for the rest of the day after finishing. If you choose to visit Lisbon during June, and particular between the 12th and the 14th: you’re in luck! The sardine-themed festival of St. Anthony takes place in June and with it, comes a month-long celebration that sees the country devouring six sardines a second. The older neighbourhoods in Lisbon light up their grills, throw down their sardines, barbecue them up with a sprinkling of basil, and the city fills with smoke, music, and parties for one whole month. You’ll pay **€1** or so for a sardine sandwich and they’re a *lot* tastier than you’re thinking. The two best places for food in Portugal is archipelago of *the Azores* and inland town of *Evora* — I ate unbelievably well in both spots. The Azores has a sunny climate and fertile land, which means the islands are all sufficient and don’t need to import food from mainland Portugal in order to survive. The most famous dish of the Azores — and one of my favourite meals — is *cozido das furnas,* a stew that’s cooked inside a volcano! Some of my other food highlights from the islands included sampling the strong Azorean cheese, drinking as much high-quality Azorean wine as my body could handle, swooning over the juiciest pineapples of my life, and snacking on unusual seafood whenever I had the opportunity to. I averaged **€5** for breakfast, **€12** for lunch, and **€15** for dinner while in was in the Azores. The international food scene is fantastic in Lisbon, and if you’re keen to sample as much of it as possible, I recommend heading to Principe Real: the neighbourhood I can’t stop talking about. I chose to live there simply because it has some of the best food in the city. Some of my recommendations are Atalho Real, ZeroZero, Koppu Ramen, Lost In, A Cevicheria, Gin Lovers… Basically, walk down the main street in Principe Real and pick a place: every single eatery on this street is epic. You’ll get a main for **€15-20**, with a glass of wine or beer for **a couple of Euros** extra. Every time a friend or family member came to visit me in Lisbon, I took them to one of two places: the city’s Time Out Market or the streets of Principe Real. The former is always guaranteed to wow you; an enormous food hall — a higher-end food court — featuring stalls that are run by some of the best restaurants in the city. It’s a great way to sample some of the city’s favourite eateries without having to hop all over Lisbon to get to them. Plus, there’s so many options, you can satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. I recommend O Prego da Peixaria, Pizzeria ZeroZero, Miguel Castro e Silva, Croqueteria, and Ground Burger. *What about drinks?* When it comes to alcohol, you’re most likely thinking of Port and you’d be right to do so: port is a Portuguese fortified wine that’s absolutely delicious and can be found all over the country — expect to pay **a couple of Euros** for a glass in a restaurant or around **€7-10** for a mid-range bottle in a supermarket. Oh, and if you think you don’t like port, I’d still recommend signing up for a tasting while you’re in Porto: it’s all *so* good! I paid **€20** for a tasting at Taylors in Porto, with an audio tour and two glasses of port to sample. If you already know you love port, you’ll want to head to the Douro Valley, just outside of Porto, and spend a day or two winery-hopping around the region. I took a day trip out to the Douro while I was in town — amazing and so beautiful! — paying [€124 for a full-day tour](https://www.getyourguide.com/porto-l151/porto-genuine-douro-wine-tour-w-lunch-river-cruise-t86657/?partner_id=5OA45ES&utm_medium=online_publisher&placement=content-middle&mkt_cmp=true) that took us to two wineries and finished it all off with a river cruise. Don’t forget to try a cool glass of vinho verde for a couple of Euros while you’re in Portugal either! While the name translates to green wine, it’s actually a young wine, and can be white, red, or rose; some sparkling, some not. It’s great to drink on, hot sunny days either way\! ![Expansive view over the top of a two-level suspension bridge in Porto, Portugal, with a river underneath and many red-roofed buildings climbing up the slopes of the hillside opposite.](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_1500,h_1000/https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Porto-bridge-view.jpg) The iconic photo of Porto: everybody comes away from the city with a shot from this viewpoint\! ## The Cost of Activities and Entrance Fees in Portugal Portugal has tons to see and do, and plenty of day trips to fill your time with. One of the best ways to enjoy cities such as Lisbon and Porto is having the day to walk around neighbourhoods aimlessly while window-shopping and stopping for food and drink breaks. On one of my first days in Lisbon, I took a walking tour with [Hi Lisbon Walking Tours](https://www.hilisbonwalkingtours.com/free-tours-lisbon) to get a feel for my surroundings and to learn more about the history. In Porto, I jumped on a tour called [The Worst Tour](https://theworsttours.weebly.com/) (yes, really), that takes tourists on a tour of Porto’s most interesting abandoned buildings. It was so fun\! A stand-out experience for me was taking a day trip from Lisbon to Sintra (45-minute train ride). Sintra is a charming, medieval town with fairytale castles, mansions, and gardens. It’s one of those places that lives up to the hype when you’re there — I felt like I had stepped right back a few centuries. King Consort Ferdinand II and his wife Queen Maria II of Portugal were the ones that transformed Sintra into a wonderland of European Gothic architecture in the 19th century, and it makes for such a beautiful scene. Within Lisbon itself, there’s so much to keep you busy: the Lisbon Oceanarium, that’s ranked best in the world, the Lisbon flea market, which had some seriously cool treasures (held every Tuesday and Saturday), the decadent weekend brunch at the Four Seasons that’s a fabulous way to treat yourself, and the Lisbon tile museum, for those of you who can’t get enough of that Portuguese architecture. Here’s a breakdown of my favourite attractions in Portugal and their respective costs: - [Pena Palace (Sintra)](https://www.getyourguide.com/sintra-l99/pena-palace-park-skip-the-line-entrance-ticket-t79596/?partner_id=5OA45ES&utm_medium=online_publisher&placement=content-middle&mkt_cmp=true): **€20** - [National Azulejo (tile) Museum (Lisbon)](https://www.museunacionaldoazulejo.pt/en/bilhetes): **€10** - [Lisbon Oceanarium](https://www.getyourguide.com/lisbon-l42/oceanario-de-lisboa-aquarium-ticket-t38079/?partner_id=5OA45ES&utm_medium=online_publisher&placement=content-middle&mkt_cmp=true): **€25** - [Lisbon Castle entrance fee](https://castelodesaojorge.pt/en/): **€15** - [Jeronimos Monastery entrance (Belem](https://mmp.bymeoblueticket.pt/Evento?IdEvento=14759)): **€12** - [Torre de Belem entrance (Belem)](https://www.museusemonumentos.pt/en/museus-e-monumentos/torre-de-belem): **€15** - Santa Justa Lift, in Lisbon: **€5.30** - [Livraria Lello Bookstore fee (Porto)](https://www.livrarialello.pt/en/home): **€8, credited towards a book if you buy one** ## The Cost of Miscellaneous Expenses in Portugal **eSIM or SIM card:** I made the switch to eSIMs a few years ago, and it’s a simple thing that’s greatly improved my travels. I hated having to spend my first few hours in a country wandering around trying to find a way to get connected. SIM cards are usually expensive at the airport (if they’re even available), but if I didn’t get it there, it was just such a hassle finding somewhere to buy one, dealing with language barriers and registration and scams and… well, it was time-consuming, frustrating, and not how I wanted to start my trip. These days, I get an eSIM in advance from [aloSIM](https://alosim.com/portugal-esim/?uid=664&oid=3&affid=110) instead. They sell local e-SIMs for travellers, so I just buy one for Portugal or wherever before I get there, and then just turn on my phone and be online before the plane’s even come to a halt. It’s worked flawlessly for me in over a dozen countries so far. I paid **\$10 (**€**9**) [for 5GB of data for 30 days in Portugal](https://alosim.com/portugal-esim/?uid=664&oid=3&affid=110). Readers of Never Ending Footsteps can get a 5% discount on aloSIM eSIMs by using the code *FOOTSTEPS*. If you do want a physical SIM card though (maybe your phone is an older one that can’t use eSIMs), Portugal at least isn’t as bad as some countries when it comes to prices or effort. Vodafone has little kiosks in both Lisbon and Porto airports, and tourist SIMs with 10GB of data plus 500 texts or calling minutes costs **€20** for 30 days. **Travel insurance:** I’m all about ensuring that every single one of my readers understands the importance of travel insurance. When you work in the travel industry, as I do, you’re inundated with news of destitute backpackers on GoFundMe who fell ill while travelling, didn’t have travel insurance, and now can’t afford the hundreds of thousands of dollars needed to be airlifted home for medical care. It happened to an old school friend of mine just last year. In short, if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel. [Travel insurance](https://safetywing.com/nomad-insurance/?referenceID=NEFOOTSTEPS&campaign=portugal-budget&utm_source=NEFOOTSTEPS&utm_medium=Ambassador) will cover you if your flight is cancelled and you need to book a new one, if your luggage gets lost and you need to replace your belongings, if you suddenly get struck down by appendicitis and have to be hospitalised, or discover a family member has died while you’re overseas and need to get home immediately. If you fall seriously ill, your insurance will cover the costs to fly you home to receive medical treatment. I use [SafetyWing](https://safetywing.com/nomad-insurance/?referenceID=NEFOOTSTEPS&campaign=portugal-budget&utm_source=NEFOOTSTEPS&utm_medium=Ambassador) as my travel insurance provider, and recommend them for trips to Portugal. They provide worldwide coverage, don’t require you to have a return ticket, and even allow you to buy coverage after you’ve left home. Finally, they have a clear, easy-to-understand pricing structure, which is always appreciated. ![Looking over an oceanside town on the island of Sao Miguel in the Azores, with many red-roofed houses.](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_1500,h_1000/https://www.neverendingfootsteps.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Ocean-town-in-Sao-Miguel-the-Azores.jpg) A picturesque village on the islands of the Azores ## How Much Does it Cost to Travel in Portugal? It’s time to tally up all of my expenses to see my total travel costs\! - **Accommodation: €100 per day** - **Transportation: €5 per day** - **Food/drink: €40 per day** - **Activities/Entrance Fees: €20 per day** - **eSIM: €1 per day** **Average amount spent in Portugal: €166 a day\!** These prices should be about right for most people, but you’ll save quite a bit on accommodation if you’re part of a couple staying in budget or mid-range places, or are happy to stay in dorm rooms in hostels as a solo traveller. ***Have you been to Portugal? How much did you spend while you were in town?***

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Lauren Juliff

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