Budget · Lisbon · Portugal
Lisbon on a budget
What a trip to Lisbon really costs, and where the savings are.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Stefan Bethke, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Lisbon is moderately priced for most international visitors. Budget roughly $65–$110 per person per day on a tight budget, $150–$260 mid-range and $400–$1,000 for luxury, excluding flights. Hotel prices are usually lowest in January–February and November.
Key facts
- Budget traveller
- $65–$110 a day
- Mid-range
- $150–$260 a day
- Luxury
- $400–$1,000 a day
- Local currency
- EUR
- Free sights
- 5
Daily budget and trip cost
AMZBooking estimates per person in US dollars, excluding flights, reviewed October 2026. Accommodation is the biggest variable; prices rise in peak months.
| Style | Per day | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $65–$110 | $195–$330 | $325–$550 | $455–$770 |
| Mid-range | $150–$260 | $450–$780 | $750–$1,300 | $1,050–$1,820 |
| Luxury | $400–$1,000 | $1,200–$3,000 | $2,000–$5,000 | $2,800–$7,000 |
Typical prices
Approximate prices in Lisbon, October 2026. They change; use them for planning, not as quotes.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Metro ride with a rechargeable card | about €1.80–€2 |
| Tram ticket bought on board | about €3–€3.50 |
| Pastel de nata | about €1.20–€1.60 |
| Espresso (bica) at the counter | about €0.80–€1.50 |
| Tasca lunch, dish of the day | about €10–€15 |
| Glass of house wine | about €3–€6 |
| Fado dinner | about €40–€70 per person |
| Major monument ticket | about €10–€20 |
Money-saving tips
- Use a rechargeable transport card instead of paying on board trams and funiculars, where tickets cost much more.
- Eat the prato do dia at lunchtime in tascas for the best-value meals in the city.
- Miradouros, the Alfama lanes, Praça do Comércio and the MAAT roof walkway are all free.
- Send back couvert starters you do not want; they are charged if eaten.
- The Lisboa Card pays off only if you combine several paid sights with transport, including the train to Sintra, on the same days.
- Visit between November and March, outside holidays and conferences, for the lowest hotel rates.
Free things to do
- Praça do Comércio and Rua Augusta Arch — The royal palace stood here until the 1755 earthquake; its replacement is a vast arcaded square opening onto the Tagus, with the equestrian statue of King José I and the Cais das Colunas steps leading into the river.
- Alfama, the Sé and Santa Luzia — A walk down from the castle passes the Miradouro de Santa Luzia, with its tiled walls and bougainvillea, and the Portas do Sol terrace, then descends through stairways and alleys to the fortress-like Sé, Lisbon's 12th-century cathedral.
- Miradouro da Senhora do Monte — The highest of Lisbon's central viewpoints looks across the castle, the Baixa and the river to the 25 de Abril Bridge, under pine trees beside a small chapel.
- LX Factory — A 19th-century industrial complex under the 25 de Abril Bridge has been turned into a creative quarter of restaurants, bars, design shops and studios.
- Parque das Nações and the riverside cable car — The former Expo 98 site is a modern riverside district with Santiago Calatrava's Oriente station, the 12-km Vasco da Gama Bridge on the horizon and a cable car gliding above the water's edge.
Where to stay on a budget
$$ · Best for nightlife, budget and solo travellers
Bairro Alto
A 16th-century grid of narrow streets that turns into one big street bar at night
$$ · Best for quiet stays, budget and couples
Graça
Hilltop residential quarter with two of the city's best viewpoints
Eating well for less
- Bifana — Snack bars and tascas throughout the city; look for counters where workers stand and eat at lunchtime.
- Steak sandwich — Cervejarias, cafés and snack bars across Lisbon.
Getting around for less
Pay-as-you-go transport card
A rechargeable card bought at metro stations, loaded with credit that works on the metro, Carris buses and trams, funiculars and some ferries.
24-hour ticket
Unlimited travel for 24 hours on the metro and Carris buses, trams, funiculars and the Santa Justa Lift, with versions that add suburban trains.
Lisboa Card
Combines public transport, including trains to Sintra and Cascais, with entry to sights such as Jerónimos and Belém Tower for 24, 48 or 72 hours; worth it only for busy sightseeing days.
Questions travellers ask
+How much does a trip to Lisbon cost?
About $750–$1,300 per person for five days mid-range, excluding flights (estimate), or $325–$550 on a tight budget.
+Is Lisbon expensive?
It is moderately priced for international visitors. Use a rechargeable transport card instead of paying on board trams and funiculars, where tickets cost much more.
+How much money do I need per day in Lisbon?
Roughly $65–$110 on a budget and $150–$260 mid-range (estimates).
+When are hotel prices lowest in Lisbon?
Usually in January–February and November.