How Much Does a Trip to Portugal Cost? (2026 Prices)

How much does a trip to Portugal cost? It’s still one of the best-value destinations in Western Europe, though Lisbon and the Algarve in summer are pricier than they used to be. Here’s a realistic daily budget for 2026, with typical prices for food, transport, sights and accommodation.

Quick answer: budget roughly €60–90 a day on a shoestring (hostels, lunch specials, public transport), €150–250 a day mid-range (a good hotel, restaurant meals, a tour or two), and €350+ for luxury, per person sharing a room. Summer, Lisbon and the Algarve cost more; winter and the interior cost less.

What drives the cost

Accommodation is the biggest part of any Portugal budget, and it swings hugely with the season. A hotel room in Lisbon or on the Algarve in August can cost twice what it does in February. Food, coffee and public transport stay cheap all year. So the simplest way to cut your bill is to travel outside July and August, and to spend some nights away from the big two cities.

Typical prices in 2026

These are typical prices to help you plan. They change, so check official websites for sights and transport before you go.

Food and drink

• Espresso (bica) at the counter: about €1. See the coffee guide.
• Pastel de nata: about €1.30–1.60
• Prato do dia (lunch special): often around €10–15
• Dinner for two with wine: about €40–70 in a mid-range restaurant
• Small beer: about €2–3
• Cocktail at a rooftop bar: about €10–22
• Bottle of good local wine in a supermarket: often under €10

Transport

• Lisbon metro or bus with navegante “zapping”: under €2 a trip; 24-hour Carris and metro pass about €7.25
• Tram 28 ticket bought on board: about €3.30, so load your card instead
• Train Lisbon–Sintra: a few euros each way
• Train Lisbon–Porto: about €28 on the Intercidades in second class and about €36 in standard class on the faster Alfa Pendular, with first class costing more and early promo fares much less. See Lisbon to Porto by train.
• Uber across Lisbon: often €8–15, but app fares can surge at busy times, and since September 2026 there has been no cap on surge pricing.
• Taxis: a new national tariff in 2026 has a €2 flag fall plus a charge per kilometre and per minute. Luggage supplements were scrapped, but a small fee for calling a cab remains. See Uber vs Bolt vs taxi.
• Lisbon airport taxis: from 15 October 2026, fixed fares into the city of about €16 or €19 by day and €20 or €23 at night and at weekends, depending on the district, with luggage included.
• Tolls Lisbon–Porto: about €25 each way. The Algarve’s A22 has been toll-free since January 2025. See Portugal tolls explained.
• Fuel: prices change weekly and are usually higher than in Spain. Supermarket petrol stations are often cheaper than motorway service areas.

Sights

• São Jorge Castle: about €17 (€14 for over-65s and €8.50 for 13 to 25-year-olds)
• Jerónimos cloister: about €18 (the church is free)
• Belém Tower: reopened in May 2026 with timed entry; about €15
• Pena Palace: Essential Visit €20, for a set date and time
• Quinta da Regaleira: about €20, with 30-minute timed slots
• Oceanário: about €25.50 to €30 for an adult, cheapest in the afternoon
• Clérigos Tower (Porto): under €10; Livraria Lello: about €8 to €10, taken off the price if you buy a book
• Lisboa Card: about €31 for 24 hours. See is the Lisboa Card worth it?

Tours

• Douro Valley day tour: about €115–200
• Sintra small-group day trip: about €65–95
• Lisbon food tour: about €85–135
• Benagil boat trip: from about €15–35

Accommodation (per night)

• Hostel dorm: about €20–45; private hostel room €60–100
• Mid-range hotel: about €100–200
• Luxury hotel: €250+ (much more in summer)
• Tourist tax: Lisbon charges €4 per person per night (up to seven nights, under-13s free) and Porto €3, with a rise to €4 under review in September 2026. Many other towns charge a smaller amount. You usually pay it at check-in or check-out.

Sample daily budgets

• Budget (€60–90): hostel, café breakfast, prato do dia lunch, supermarket picnic, public transport, free sights.
• Mid-range (€150–250): a 3–4 star hotel, restaurant meals, a couple of paid sights, an occasional tour or Uber.
• Luxury (€350+): boutique or five-star hotels, fine dining, private tours and transfers.

Example: a mid-range week for two

Three nights in Lisbon, three in Porto and a day in Sintra, with a mid-range hotel, two restaurant meals a day, the train between the cities, a few sights and one Douro tour, will usually land somewhere around €2,000–3,000 for the couple, before flights. In August, add more for the hotels; in winter, take some off.

Cheaper and pricier regions

• Pricier: Lisbon, the Algarve in summer, Cascais, Comporta and Madeira’s top hotels.
• Cheaper: the Alentejo, the Centro region (Coimbra, Aveiro, Viseu) and the north outside Porto. Meals and rooms can be noticeably cheaper.

How to save

• Travel off-season: November to March (outside the holidays) is much cheaper.
• Eat the prato do dia at lunch.
• Stand at the counter: coffee and snacks cost less than at a table.
• Say no to the couvert (bread, olives and butter) if you don’t want it, as you’ll be charged for what you eat.
• Book trains early for promo fares.
• Use free days: some national monuments and museums are free for residents on certain days, but not usually for tourists, so check before you plan around it.
• Ask about discounts: many sights have cheaper tickets for young people and over-65s, and CP trains give over-65s up to 50% off. Carry ID.
• Enjoy the free stuff: see free things in Lisbon and in Porto.
• Pay in euros and avoid high-fee ATMs. See money in Portugal.

FAQ

How much does a week in Portugal cost?

At mid-range prices of €150–250 a day, allow roughly €1,050–1,750 per person for seven days, before flights. On a tight budget, about €420–630 is possible.

Is the tourist tax included in the room price?

Usually not. Lisbon (€4) and Porto (€3) charge it per person per night, and you normally pay it at the hotel, so check your booking.

What is the cheapest time to visit?

November to March, outside Christmas, New Year and big event weeks such as Web Summit in Lisbon, when hotel prices are at their lowest.

Do you need cash in Portugal?

Cards work almost everywhere, but carry a little cash for small cafés, markets and the odd cash-only ticket office.

More: Portugal on a budget, the best time to visit Portugal and Portugal vs Italy.

See also: what’s changed in Portugal for 2026 and Portugal’s tourist tax by city.

Prices and details change, so please double-check before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Tell us in the groups.