Is Portugal Expensive To Visit? Travel Costs And Budgets

We’ll begin with the excellent news: Portugal is a small nation and one of the vital reasonably priced international locations in Western Europe. Now we have simply returned from our third time in Portugal and have a good suggestion what the prices of visiting this nation are proper now. It’s a fascinating nation of cliff-laden coastlines, with sea caves like Benagil and picturesque village surroundings lower than an hour inland. And that’s all earlier than even serious about its hearty delicacies, which is filled with scrumptious pastries and seafood dishes.

As a complete, Portugal just isn’t costly to go to, particularly when in comparison with different European international locations. However if you wish to get monetary savings even additional, there are particular methods to take action. Whether or not you select to remain in main cities or a distant village close to the Algarve, this information will present you what to anticipate to pay when visiting Portugal. Most significantly, it can make it easier to stretch your treasured {dollars} additional to have an much more unbelievable expertise for much less cash.

Is It Costly to Go to Portugal?

As we’ve simply stated, Portugal just isn’t one of many stereotypical costly international locations in Europe. Certain, you get the same old peak season charges, particularly in vacationer hotspots. However, total, Portugal is nice for these on a price range. It has such a laidback journey type that it naturally encourages decrease costs. You may have gorgeous landscapes and gorgeous seashores; chances are high you’ll be lapping up nature for nothing greater than public transportation prices at most.

Don’t simply take our phrase for it, although. How a lot it prices so that you can go to Portugal depends upon your private preferences. Listed here are the totally different classes and their prices per journey type that it’s best to price range for.

Price of Lodging

Portugal has a terrific choice of lodging and a strong vacationer infrastructure. The primary factor to notice is that it has areas of condensed tourism, which principally sit alongside its shoreline, whereas inland areas, particularly across the Spanish border, are almost empty of mainstream guests.

Bigger cities like Lisbon and Porto provide wider decisions in lodging sorts, with many mid-range properties and even hostels. Extra distant areas have extra B&Bs and trip leases. Prices differ relying on location, with demand being the issue that the majority spikes costs.

Needless to say for distant areas and trip leases, you’ll seemingly require automobile leases at an additional value. Lodging location would possibly look like one thing you possibly can skimp on to save cash, however in actuality, it usually shifts the fee elsewhere – both to public transportation or automobile rental. So be sure to incorporate these extra bills into your lodging selection when choosing the place to remain in Portugal. Personal properties within the countryside are typically remoted, and with European bushfires, it’s sensible to have a strong technique of impartial transport. Nonetheless, we’ll cowl that value extra in our “transportation in Portugal” part.

One other factor to recollect is that peak seasons get busy, I imply actually busy, and lodging sells out rapidly on the primary vacationer routes. You must all the time goal to guide prematurely, particularly for summer season journey dates or to tremendous widespread locations like Porto, Faro, Albufeira, or Lisbon. The very last thing you need is to get lumped with costlier lodging since you took your candy time reserving. The very best offers go quick – be that due to location, lodging high quality, or worth for cash.

Lodging is your largest journey expense when visiting Portugal, so it fairly actually pays to do your analysis. We’ll evaluate the main lodging sorts and provide you with an concept of what you will get in your buck.

Lodging Sorts

Now that you simply perceive all about tourism and lodging in Portugal, we’ve acquired a extra sensible, numbers-based breakdown of the place to remain. We all know that price range shapes the place you select to remain when touring. Right here’s what you possibly can anticipate for every price range stage when visiting Portugal.

Price range: $40 a Evening

Portugal has two ranges of low-cost lodging: hostels and price range lodges. We’ll deal with every of those individually, however as a normal rule, you possibly can anticipate to pay round $50-60 per evening for lodges. Whereas in case you’re on a very tight price range, you possibly can wangle hostel stays for round $20-30. Name it a contented common of round $40 per evening.

Hostel stays usually contain dormitory rooms and shared amenities like kitchens. That is nice for assembly new folks and saving cash on consuming out. Should you’re a little bit of an introvert, you possibly can nonetheless reserve personal rooms at many hostels in Portugal; simply anticipate to pay increased costs, such as you’d spend on an inexpensive lodge room.

Listed here are just a few examples of hostels with dorm room costs:

Price range lodges are higher for many who need their very own house and don’t thoughts consuming out. You get comfy however primary rooms and get monetary savings for extra thrilling issues, like sightseeing.

Listed here are just a few examples of price range lodges:

Mid Vary: $100 a Evening

Portugal is overflowing with mid-range lodges, particularly in widespread vacationer locations. Should you evaluate mid-range costs with extra price range choices, you’ll discover a tough estimate of round double the worth. As a normal rule, for mid-range costs, you get extra centrally positioned lodging with extra tastefully embellished rooms and cozy facilities. Suppose espresso machines and classy furnishings quite than plain mattress and bedside desk designs.

Listed here are just a few examples of mid-range properties throughout Portugal:

Luxurious: $300 a Evening

The sky’s the restrict right here, however begin with tough estimates of round $180 to $400 per evening, as you possibly can usually snag a terrific deal in case you journey on low season dates. Name it a contented common of $300 per evening. Should you’re blissful to pay more cash, although, luxurious lodges can rapidly rise to above $400 and even $500 an evening—particularly in case you’re touring in Porto or Lisbon.

As a normal rule, although, you will get the ball steadily rolling for luxurious lodging when you pay over $180 an evening. Listed here are just a few examples:

Price of Transportation in Portugal

Should you take a metropolis break to Portugal, we received’t lie; no public transport is important. Should you keep central, you’ll be inside strolling distance of all the most important sights. That is nice in peak season, because it means you don’t should pay something or put up with all of the queues and cramped seating areas. Portuguese cities are actually simply accessible.

Even in case you keep within the metropolis outskirts, you’ll at most take one of many native buses, Metro, or prepare companies—all of which value round 2 {dollars} per one-way journey. So, total, in case you select a metropolis break, price range round just a few {dollars} a day for transportation in Portugal.

These staying for every week or extra in Portugal, as an alternative of a brief metropolis break, ought to take into account public transport. How it’s best to get throughout Portugal varies relying in your itinerary. For example, many individuals visiting Portugal cut up every week between Lisbon and Porto. On this case, you should purchase a prepare ticket to journey between the 2. Prepare tickets from Lisbon to Porto value lower than $20 when booked prematurely – an enormous win. Should you’re slowly touring Portugal by prepare or bus, price range between $10-15 a day on common.

Whether or not or not vacationers want a rental automobile varies relying on their Portugal itinerary. Are you planning on a number of day journeys to distant areas the place there are restricted buses and trains? Or are you staying in a distant villa outdoors of main cities like Lisbon and Porto? Should you reply sure to both of these, add a price range for automobile leases to your complete value. Should you lease a automobile, be sure to have good journey insurance coverage.

In case you are planning a brief metropolis break, Price range $2 to $4 a day at most.

In case you are planning a vacation with day journeys to distant areas/staying in distant lodging: Price range $11 a day for common automobile rental costs.

Should you plan an extended, multi-destination vacation, Price range round $15 a day on buses and trains.

What About Getting To Portugal To Start With?

One other factor to think about is the way you’ll get to Portugal. Spherical-trip flights are the preferred means. Flight costs clearly differ relying in your departure level, however round-trip flights from Europe are less expensive than from locations just like the USA or Canada.

Fortunately, Portugal has some main worldwide airports with common charters. The primary three are Lisbon Airport, Faro Airport, and Porto Airport, with flights in peak seasons and past. Flight prices differ little or no between these—all of it depends upon whether or not you need to go to the north, center, or south of Portugal.

For instance, right here’s what it’s best to price range for round-trip flights to Porto, relying in your departure metropolis:

New York Metropolis to Porto: $500-800 for a return journey.
Los Angeles to Porto: $800-1,000 for a return journey.
London to Porto: $100-150 for a round-trip ticket.
Rome to Porto: $80-120 for a spherical journey.
Dubai to Porto: $600-800 for a return ticket.
Sydney to Porto: $1,500-700 for a spherical journey.

Price of Meals in Portugal

You received’t break the financial institution with meals in Portugal. The nation has thousands and thousands of native eateries that serve tasty do-it-yourself items for a fraction of the worth you possibly can anticipate elsewhere in Europe—the typical meal prices simply $10 in Portugal, together with a drink and a hearty foremost dish. A cappuccino prices lower than $2, whereas in case you head to the grocery store, you’ll discover 1kg of rooster for beneath $7.50 and a pint of milk for round $1.

In fact, whereas your meals price range will inevitably differ broadly relying in your tastes and journey type, it’s best to know that Portugal has a baseline budget-friendliness. You’ll spend lower than you’ll in most of Europe to stay inside your price range stage of selection. Whether or not you select tremendous eating each day or persist with grocery buying and cooking for your self at self-catered lodging, Portugal is comparably low cost for its area in relation to meals.

So, what are you able to truly anticipate from meals in Portugal? Main cities have loads of fast-food eating places and supermarkets. Smaller cities have extra cafes and impartial grocery shops. If you wish to save money in your journey prices in Portugal, the easiest way is grocery buying and sticking to extra informal cafes and eating places. You don’t want the tremendous eating experiences anyway; do-it-yourself dishes at informal eateries are to die for.

We’ve acquired a complete information on conventional meals in Portugal, however listed below are just a few of our favorites that it’s best to attempt when visiting.

Pastel de Nata: A tender egg custard tart is widespread in bakeries and occasional outlets throughout Portugal. It’s served for breakfast and as a noon snack.
 Piri Piri Hen: Nandos launched this dish, which consists of rooster in a spicy sauce, to worldwide fame. It’s out there everywhere in the nation.
Bacalhau: Bacalhau is a salted and dried cod dish with a barely acquired style. Portugal is famed for its fishing historical past, and bacalhau might be discovered everywhere in the shoreline.
Arroz de Marisco: It is a actually stereotypical Portuguese seafood dish. It’s not in contrast to paella, and it’s a tomato-based rice dish stocked with mussels, clams, prawns, and an total punchy taste.

Price range Meals: $15 Per Day

In case you are on an actual price range, you’ll be cooking meals at your lodging and predominantly counting on groceries. On this case, you possibly can simply get by on $15 a day.

Mid-Vary Meals: $40 Per Day

A mid-range price range for meals in Portugal ought to account for a takeaway lunch (suppose a panini or sandwich) and a sit-down dinner. Breakfast ought to both be a grocery snack, included in your lodge, or cooked at residence.

Luxurious Meals: $100 Per Day

Luxurious meals budgets account for 3 meals out a day. In Portugal, a meal with three programs for one prices round $30 and features a good glass of wine. Should you price range for lunch and dinner out, this totals as much as $60, with an additional $20 for breakfast and $20 spare for advert hoc drinks like espresso. You received’t be counting pennies or attempting to match costs on rivaling menus; it’s meals tasting with out psychological monitoring.

Price of Actions

Actions in Portugal value as a lot as you need them to value. That may appear a weird assertion, however hear us out. Most of its vacationer areas are positioned alongside the shoreline, with their foremost sights being seashores with free entry to swim and sunbathe to your coronary heart’s content material. With its sunny local weather, Portugal is a unbelievable place to spend time outside in nature, completely totally free. You may have a full day on the seashore totally free or spend round $10 for a lounger and drink.

Even in the primary cities, Portugal has loads of free sights. Lisbon has seven free museums, for example, with out contemplating all of the structure, like cathedrals and dramatic bridges.

Earlier than we get began on an exercise price range, keep in mind a few of these free issues to do for every of its most famed locations:

Faro

Stroll the Outdated City
Hit the seashore at Praia do Faro
Faro Cathedral

Porto

Porto Cathedral
Ponte de Dom Luis
Mercado Bom Sucesso

Lisbon

Gulbenkian Museum
Church of Sao Roque
Strolling its markets

In addition to its free sights, Portugal additionally has loads of paid issues to do. You possibly can price range round $20 in entrance charges for issues like aquariums, soccer stadium excursions, castles, and palaces. Expertise-based half-day excursions ought to value round $40, whereas extra luxurious full-day excursions to historic websites or areas of native tradition can value as much as $100.

Listed here are just a few examples of what you possibly can anticipate to pay for paid actions:

Price range: $0 to $10 a Day

You possibly can simply get round with out spending greater than $10 a day for these on an actual price range. You’ll be sticking to free sights, like museums with free entrance and loads of seashores and mountaineering trails. That is essentially the most cost-effective means of sightseeing, and it provides you an opportunity to attempt to discover some hidden gems that Portugal affords as an alternative of operating to the same old sights. It’s like an opportunity to get a bit extra inventive.

Mid-Vary: $50 a Day

If you’d like a mixture of free and paid actions, a mid-range price range is for you. You must enable between $20 and $80 per day, with a mean of $50 a day to spend on actions in Portugal.

Clearly, the actions themselves differ relying on the place you’re visiting. Nonetheless, as a normal rule, you possibly can consider common customary admissions for issues like palaces and castles. You must then enable for yet one more costly tour (like Sintra from Lisbon for $80) and spend the remainder of your time on free actions.

Luxurious: $150 a Day

A luxurious price range will will let you spend between $100 and $200 a day on sightseeing. Having a bigger price range for sights principally provides you a ticket for smoother experiences. You possibly can guide personal experiences, extra comfy transfers, and splash on typical luxuries like wine tastings and gourmand meals tastings.

This price range can consider guided excursions; a full-day tour booked privately usually tots as much as across the $200 mark (like this personal Sintra tour). You can too get pleasure from skip-the-line tickets, excellent when touring in peak season.

A Price range For a Week in Portugal

Now you’ve a normal gist of all of the totally different classes when budgeting to go to Portugal, let’s summarize. Most individuals go to Portugal for round every week, so we’ll tot up every thing for you and provide you with a tough estimate of what you’ll want in your keep.

For the sake of this part, we’ll assume that you simply’ve already factored in further prices like journey insurance coverage. We’ll additionally assume that you’re flying economic system from the US at a $650 return flight (smack bang in the course of common costs from NYC).

1. Lodging

Lodging in Portugal is at its steepest in widespread vacationer locations just like the cities of Faro, Lisbon, and Porto. Right here, you’ll discover extremely sought-after lodges that hike up their costs within the peak season or simply promote out fully, leaving you with a lot fewer choices.

You may have a mixture of hostels, mid-range, and luxurious lodges, although. That selection is good because it provides you so many expertise choices. In additional rural areas, you’ve decisions of B&Bs and trip leases. Right here’s what we’d price range for every week at every price range stage.

Price range: $280
Mid-range: $700
Luxurious: $2,100

2. Transport

Because you haven’t informed us your particular itinerary, we’ll give you a template transport itinerary. We’ll allocate you $15 each day (sufficient for long-distance trains, taxis, a rental automobile or many metro rides). And as we talked about earlier than, we’ll function on the premise that you simply’re flying economic system from NYC at a fee of $650.

If this isn’t you, be happy to get rid of this part or add up your individual complete to the top price range.

Not together with flights: Price range $15 per day at a most for transport in Portugal.
Together with flights: Price range $775 for return flights from NYC and transport for every week in Portugal.

3. Meals

Meals is a giant one; apart from flights and lodging, it’s your largest expense. Everybody is aware of Portuguese meals is nice, so let’s get into budgeting for it.

Price range: $105
Mid-range: $280
Luxurious: $700

4. Actions

Actions are an enormous a part of why you’re even visiting, so don’t compromise in case you can assist it. Have an inventory of non-negotiable sights and actions you need to expertise when visiting Portugal.

Price range: $70
Mid-range: $350
Luxurious: $1,050

So, What Ought to You Price range For a Week in Portugal?

For these on a low price range, it’s best to simply be capable of spend every week in Portugal for beneath $1,200 with flights. A mid-range price range needs to be round $2,100, together with flight costs. Should you’re on a luxurious price range, we’d counsel permitting simply round $4,600 for every week in Portugal, together with flights.

A Price range For Two Weeks in Portugal

What about if you wish to keep even longer? We all know how lovely Portugal is, and if you wish to journey throughout the nation and even simply absorb the solar longer in a villa, two weeks is ideal. To reiterate, we assume you’ve already factored in further prices like journey insurance coverage. We’re additionally placing in a “placeholder flight” for example, with you flying economic system from NYC, US, at $650 return.

Right here’s what two weeks in Portugal will value you:

1. Lodging

Lodging will clearly leap up from spending two weeks, not one, in Portugal. You could be staying in several places and properties throughout this time, or you possibly can get actually cozy in a single residence away from residence. Both means, right here’s what to anticipate.

Price range: $560
Mid-range: $1,400
Luxurious: $4,200

2. Transport

In two weeks, you’ll be more likely to guide automobile leases, so guarantee that your journey insurance coverage is sorted. If not, you’ll most undoubtedly be utilizing a number of transport. Our $15 estimate ought to nonetheless cowl you except you’ve younger driver premiums or one thing like that.

Not together with flights: Price range $210 for 2 weeks, permitting for $15 per day on transport.
Together with flights: Price range $860 for return flights from NYC and transport for 2 weeks in Portugal.

3. Meals

Portuguese meals actually transforms your journey in its personal proper – it’s simply so scrumptious. You’ll have every thing from Portuguese tarts to spicy rooster and extra seafood than you’ve ever seen in your desires. In two weeks, you possibly can rack up fairly the meals invoice; let’s see what you can be spending per price range stage.

Price range: $210
Mid-range: $560
Luxurious: $1,400

4. Actions

Final however not least, now we have actions: arguably the entire level of even touring to Portugal. You’ve acquired a lot which you can expertise in two weeks. You possibly can take many extra day journeys and expertise extra of Portugal’s wider areas, probably even switching between totally different bases in a multi-destination journey.

No matter your itinerary, right here’s what you possibly can anticipate to pay in your actions in two weeks:

Price range: $140
Mid-range: $700
Luxurious: $2,100

$2,100 is ideal for a luxurious price range of $150 a day for sightseeing. That is sufficient for a number of personal day journeys, like spending $300-400 on a personal tour of Sintra, and loads of luxurious experiences like wine tastings as nicely. You’ll get to all the primary historic websites and sights with smoother crusing, like skip-the-line tickets and personal guides.

So, What Ought to You Price range For Two Weeks in Portugal?

For these on a low price range, $1,770 is sufficient for 2 weeks in Portugal with flights. A mid-range price range is round $3,520, together with flights. For these with a luxurious price range, enable $8,560 for 2 weeks in Portugal, together with flights.

Budgeting For Portugal: FAQs

Budgeting for Portugal is tremendous straightforward. There are a number of components to think about when attempting to avoid wasting money, together with whether or not you’re staying in main cities, taking day journeys to see native tradition, or sticking to seashores and delicacies tasting. Hopefully, you now know what class you fall into and the way a lot it’s best to price range.

On this part, we’ll cowl the most typical FAQs. Right here’s what folks ask when visiting Portugal.

How a lot does a meal value in Portugal?

Price range round $10 a meal at a cheap restaurant, together with a foremost meal and drink. If a date evening is extra up your avenue, price range round $40 for a 3 course meal for 2 folks at mid vary eating places.

Is Portugal costly for People?

By no means. Portugal is a lot cheaper than America on common. It’s round 50% cheaper to spend time in Portugal than in America, so People will discover the nation a pleasant break from these increased charges. Lodging and meals are cheaper, and there’s much less of a tipping tradition (10% is elective and appreciated at formal eating places).

Can you reside in Portugal on $3000 a month?

You possibly can simply stay in Portugal for $3,000 a month. The typical complete value for a household of 4 residing in Portugal is $2,500 a month. For a single individual, that’s simply over $700.

Is Spain or Portugal cheaper?

So long as you don’t select Lisbon and Porto, Portugal is massively cheaper than Spain. Porto and Lisbon are on a par with Spain’s most costly cities—it’s simply the best way with European metropolis break locations, as every thing will get hiked up with the demand from short-haul vacationers.

What To Price range Whereas Visiting Portugal

Journey bills for every week in Portugal value $1,200 on a good price range, $2,100 on a mid-range price range, and $4,600 on a luxurious price range, all together with $650 return flights. There’s numerous variation, and your price range to go to Portugal varies massively relying in your journey type and preferences. With that stated, there’s the tourism infrastructure to cater to all price range ranges—an enormous bonus of visiting Portugal.

On the lookout for extra inspiration forward of your journey? Try these 30 greatest issues to do in Portugal, handpicked by yours really. There’s a lot to see throughout the complete nation. And who is aware of, possibly you’ll have some further money to increase your keep now that you simply’ve discovered tips on how to price range for Portugal. You may add on a visit to different Western European international locations close by, like Spain, France, or Germany.

No matter your plans and price range sort, have a unbelievable keep in Portugal. You’ll adore it.