Comparison · Barcelona vs Lisbon · Spain / Portugal
Barcelona vs Lisbon
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Choose Barcelona for Sagrada Família and Gaudí architecture; choose Lisbon for Pastel de nata and Tram 28. Lisbon is generally less expensive, and the two are about 1,006 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 1,006 km
- Less expensive
- Lisbon
- Best time for Barcelona
- May–June and September–October
- Best time for Lisbon
- April–June and September–October
Side by side
| Barcelona | Lisbon | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Spain | Portugal |
| Known for | Sagrada Família, Gaudí architecture and Gothic Quarter | Pastel de nata, Tram 28 and Fado |
| Best time to visit | May–June and September–October | April–June and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $180–$300 | $150–$260 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 29°C (84°F) | August, 29°C (84°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 15°C (59°F) | January, 15°C (59°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 7 | 5 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 6 |
| Beaches | Barceloneta | Carcavelos |
| Airports | BCN, GRO, REU | LIS |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Barcelona for…
Sagrada Família and Gaudí architecture. Barcelona combines a medieval core — the Gothic Quarter and El Born — with the grid of the 19th-century Eixample, where Antoni Gaudí and his contemporaries built the Sagrada Família, Casa Batlló and La Pedrera. The Mediterranean runs along the city's eastern…
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Choose Lisbon for…
Pastel de nata and Tram 28. Lisbon climbs seven hills above the wide Tagus estuary, a short train ride from Atlantic beaches. The flat Baixa grid, rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake, links the medieval lanes of Alfama and the castle with Chiado and the bar streets of Bairro Alto, while…
Top sights compared
| # | Barcelona | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sagrada Família | Jerónimos Monastery |
| 2 | Park Güell | Belém Tower |
| 3 | Casa Batlló | São Jorge Castle |
| 4 | Casa Milà (La Pedrera) | Alfama, the Sé and Santa Luzia |
| 5 | Gothic Quarter walk | Tram 28 |
Food compared
| Barcelona | Lisbon |
|---|---|
| Bread with tomato | Custard tart |
| Patatas bravas | Bacalhau à Brás |
| Bomba | Grilled sardines |
| Black rice | Bifana |
Which is cheaper?
Lisbon is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $150–$260 per person there, against $180–$300 in Barcelona (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Lisbon on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 1,006 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 9 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Barcelona or Lisbon cheaper?
Lisbon is usually less expensive: about $150–$260 a day mid-range against $180–$300 (estimates).
+Is Barcelona or Lisbon better for a first trip?
Pick Barcelona for Sagrada Família and Gaudí architecture, or Lisbon for Pastel de nata and Tram 28.
+How far is Barcelona from Lisbon?
About 1,006 km in a straight line.