Lisbon For Less Than $25 A Day

If you plan to travel around Europe, do not miss out on Lisbon, the capital of my beloved homeland Portugal. Lisbon is a happening place, offering a great deal of variety for any type of traveler.

Not only does Lisbon sit by a massive river and really close to the ocean (with awesome surfing opportunities!), it’s also surrounded by forests and country-side, while being rather cosmopolitan too. Lisbon is all about mixing the traditional Portuguese culture with forward-thinking and doing.

Budget travelers will find it quite easy to get by in Lisbon, as the city is affordable, at least when compared to other capital cities in Western and Central Europe.

A&Z in Lisbon
A&Z in Lisbon

Here are some tips on how to enjoy your travels around Lisbon, with $25 a day:

Sleep Tight

There is no shortage of accommodation in Lisbon. Backpackers’ hostels are not only abundant, but also some of the best ones in the world (as rated by real travelers) are right here in this city!

Check out HostelWorld‘s Hoscar Awards and you’ll see what I mean:

Hostelbookers Hoscars

It’s true that some of these awesome hostels can set you back $20/night for a dorm bed, but it’s also true that there are a lot of other options available: you can score a dorm bed for $11 in hostels with a decent rating. Breakfast and WIFI tend to be included, which is a plus!

If you’re a couple, you might be better off looking around for small budget hotels, instead of backpackers’ hostels. If you’re “shopping around” for accommodation on the spot, keep an eye open for “residenciais”, which is the Portuguese word for guesthouse. In Lisbon, $30 will get you a basic (yet generally clean) room in the city centre, in some cases with a small breakfast. Do not expect English breakfast or a great spread of goodies in this kind of place in the AM: Portuguese breakfast typically consists of coffee, milk, some bread with butter/jam or cheese/ham and, if you get lucky, you might get to try some pastries in the morning too!

Accommodation + breakfast, minimum budget per person = $11

Get Around LX

LX is short for Lisbon, by the way. You can use this when you text your local friends, for example!

If you spend $11 a night, that means you still have $14 to cover transportation, food and things to see/do.

When you initially come to town, you’ll do so either by flight, train or bus. The cheapest way to get from the airport or any main bus or train station into the city centre would be to use the metro, that would always cost less than $2.

Transportation in Downtown Lisbon
Transportation in Downtown Lisbon

Public transportation in the area of Great Lisbon consists of metro, buses, trams, funiculars, trains and even boats that cross between Lisbon and the suburban areas on the other side of the Tagus river (the south bank is locally known as “Margem Sul”). To visit the most popular touristic sites you would mainly use buses, metro, tram and funiculars, so it’s recommended you get a rechargeable card, called 7 Colinas, that will bill you by trip. Not to be mistaken with a monthly card, this is a top-up-as-you-go system, but individual trips cost less than if you purchase single tickets each time. ($1.7 vs $2.4). Further more, one trip validation guarantees the usage of metro and/or bus and/or tram for one and a half hours, no matter how many connections you make.

Pimped out Tram
Pimped out Tram

Transportation on a regular day (at least 2 urban trips) = $3.40

See also  Breakdown Of Our Costs In Singapore

Eat Lisbon

You still have a little over $10 to spend on feeding your body and soul while in Lisbon. Let’s be real: this is NOT A LOT to go around carefree, but it is definitely doable!

When you stay at a hostel, you an always use the kitchen to prepare your own meals. Supermarkets are fairly priced in Lisbon and even if you don’t want to bring out the chef in you, you can go to the ready-made section of chains such as Pingo Doce (you’ll see these all over the city) and grab something on the go.

You can have sandwiches and salads for as little as $3 or $4. When the weather allows, get some goodies and park yourself in a funky sunny spot, such as by the river at Expo (take the red metro to Vasco da Gama) or Gulbenkian’s Gardens (take the blue metro to Praca de Espana or Sao Sebastiao) and do a picnic.

No budget shortage will stop you from doing this and you’ll have a great opportunity to relax, people-watch and do what a lot of locals do too, now that the country has adopted certain austerity measures and people don’t want to spend a lot eating out!

Snails, believe it or not, one of Lisbon's favorite snacks during summer time. They're cheap and eating them can be quite an experience
Snails, believe it or not, one of Lisbon’s favorite snacks during summer time. They’re cheap and eating them can be quite an experience

Hot meals will cost you a little more, but there are budget options available even in small restaurants. Forget “a la carte” menus if you’re on a budget, go instead for “prato do dia”, which are the daily specials readily available.

If you’re not one to eat the whole of Lisbon in one go, you can ask if they have “mini pratos” (normally they’d advertise this at the restaurant’s door, but not necessarily) which are smaller portions of the daily specials. Learn more about typical food in Lisbon reading our Lisbon Food experience.

Forget about the regular concept of restaurant you might have when you think of Europe. Some of Lisbon’s best meals on a budget are served in “pastelarias” (literally pastry shops) which also serve set meals to working people during lunch break. In some of them, you’ll save about 50 cents of Euro (a little less than $0,70) when you eat standing at the counter, instead of seated at a table – but this is not always the case.  Notice when the menus outside the door mention a lower price under “ao balcao” which means “at the counter”. And do keep in mind that in touristic areas (like Baixa-Chiado and around), prices are also spiked up if you eat al fresco.

Portuguese wine can be really cheap
Portuguese wine can be really cheap

Portugal is a great food destination so, even if you’re on a budget, I’d recommend you let yourself go during some of the days you’re in Lisbon. By this, I don’t mean splurge like crazy, but allow yourself a few meals between $10 to $15 at least. You MUST NOT leave Portugal without trying some cod fish specialities, as well as dedicating some serious time to sampling all the pastries pastelarias will entice you with. If you don’t know how to get started when it comes to Portuguese cuisinecheck this list of suggested dishes that, more than food, are a Portuguese culture statement!

See also  Beating the Budget: 8 Tips for Travel when You’re a Financially Challenged Student

See. Do. Party.

As after eating your way around Lisbon you probably do not have a lot of Euros left in your pocket, I’ve put together a list of suggested things to see and do, for free or on the cheap. Fall in love with Lisbon… even if you’re on a tight budget!

  • Lisbon is a city best explored by walking around. This is particularly true regarding the historic centre (Baixa Chiado) and typical neighborhoods (such as Graca and Alfama). You do not need to go to the Castle (Castelo de Sao Jorge) if you don’t have 7 euros to spare for the entrance ticket. Instead, walk up to the multiple view points around districts such s Graca and enjoy breathtaking views over the city and across the river all the way to the South Bank. A lot of the viewpoints have small kiosks selling coffee and drinks. Try a “bica” (local name for expresso) for about $1 or a draft beer for a little more (below $2). Take the metro to Baixa-Chiado (blue line), come out of the station and allow yourself to get lost for a while!..
The Castle in Lisbon on a stormy day
The Castle in Lisbon on a stormy day
  • Roam around Belem neighborhood and appreciate some of Lisbon’s most famous monuments, such as Belem Tower and Padrao dos Descobrimentos. This is where one comes to remember how the Portuguese once defied the oceans to explore the wider world. There’s no metro going to Belem, but you can easily get there by bus or tram (“electrico”).
  • Eat pastries like a local. I mean it – if you don’t do this when you go to Portugal, you’ll be missing out! In Belem, the famous “Pasteis the Belem” has the busiest cake shop you’ll ever see in Portugal. I’d say, skip it! And indulge yourself in any otherpastelaria in town. Pastries are always on display so use your senses, point, get served, and enjoy a sugar high, Portuguese-style!
Pastry Shop, aka Pastelaria
Pastry Shop, aka Pastelaria
  • Take the famous Tram 28, but do so in the real one, not the new touristy version that costs 10 times more. This tram goes around one of the most typical neighborhoods in Lisbon. Go up hill on the tram and walk downwards, stopping in charming little corners to watch the locals go about their daily lives. (metro: Martim Moniz + tram 28)
  • Breathe in the multicultural vibes at Martin Moniz. This is not regularly listed as a “thing to do / see” in Lisbon, but I think this neighborhood is well worth a stroll around. This is Little India, Chinatown and Little Africa all packed into one! You’ll notice the ethnical variety of people in this area, the shops with signs in different languages and you’ll be able to buy just about anything: from mobile phone covers in Chinese stores, to Indian food, or even get a funky African inspired hair-do. (metro: Martim Moniz)
  • Free Museums: on Sunday mornings a bunch of museums are free in Lisbon. Depending on your interest, you can visit museums dedicated to art, archeology, music, theater or even something as typically Portuguese as tiles!
  • Go to the beach: take a 30 minute train ride form Cais do Sodre (green line on the metro) and head to Carvavelos or Cascais. Even if the weather is not good for stripping down in your swimsuit, a stroll to enjoy the sunset by the Atlantic (perhaps with some ice-cream) never hurt any one!
  • Jog along the the river: Alcantara is my favorite place to go for a run in Lisbon. You can do so along the river, under the iconic 25 de Abril bridge. It’s a pretty sweet spot to exercise outdoors or, at least, walk around and enjoy the views. (metro: Cais do Sodre + a couple more stops by tram/bus)
Old building turned into a canvas for street artists
Old building turned into a canvas for street artists
  • When the night comes down, head to Bairro Alto! Bairro Alto, being an old neighborhood, kicks way more ass than any bar or disco in town! The streets become the venue, which translates into a sea of people from all over the place partying together (especially on weekends and when the weather allows), and doing so with cheap drinks. As the party happens on the streets, no one stops you from bringing your own store-bought booze if you’d like to. If not, finding beer for less than $2 won’t be a problem either (spirits and mixed drinks will normally cost at least double the price of a beer). (metro: Baixa-Chiado)
Coffee break at Adamastor view point in Baixa, Lisbon
Coffee break at Adamastor view point in Baixa, Lisbon
  • Be naughty and go for drinks at Pensao Amor. This bar/club used to be a brothel receiving sailors who’d spend the night in Lisbon back in the day. A lot of the quirkiness from those days is still present around here: the theme is quite “red and velvet”, yet the athmosphere is totally hip. Oh yes, and there’s a sex shop inside too! (metro: Cais do Sodre)
See also  How I Spent A Day In Lisbon For $1 (As A Travel Blogger)

If you plan to do shopping in Lisbon and you reside outside the European Union, do not forget to reclaim your VAT before your exit the country. This can save you around 20% on certain purchases and it’s very easy to do.

Have you ever been to Lisbon? How expensive/inexpensive did you find this city?

zara

Zara is a Portuguese girl who quit her job in Dubai 2 years ago to travel around the world with her Indian lover-boy Ashray. They’re the team behind Backpack ME, a travel site that aims to share tips and ideas with people all over the place, inspiring them to go travel, no matter where they come from! A&Z are East meets West and Backpack ME is all about a multicultural perspective on travel bkpk.me!

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Agness Walewinder
Agness Walewinder
Travel freak, vagabond, photography passionate, blogger, life enthusiast, backpacker, adventure hunter and endless energy couchsurfer living by the rule "Pack lite, travel far and live long!"
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31 thoughts on “Lisbon For Less Than $25 A Day”

  1. Avatar of The Guy

    Thanks for some great tips Zara. I’ve only ever been to Lisbon airport when I recently took some flights with TAP.

    from your suggestions Lisbon is a lot cheaper than I expected it to be. The public transport certainly seems to be a good price as even does the beer!

    Those hostel reviews are also very encouraging. There seems to be a lot of highly rated places to stay.

  2. Avatar of Sam

    I’m really keen to get back to Lisbon – seems like a great city from the 1 day I spent there last year! I loved the transport in the city, and the fact that it’s only €2 to get to and from the airport, especially since it’s such a clean, modern, efficient system. I was in Madrid just yesterday where it costs €5 to get to or from the airport on the metro, which is still reasonably cheap by European standards, but it’s less than half in Lisbon!

    1. Avatar of Agness Walewinder

      I agree, the airport transfer in Madrid is pretty cheap. We paid more to get from our hostel to Hong Kong airport by local bus last time.

  3. Avatar of Zara @ Backpack ME

    I hope more and more travelers realize how AWESOME and AFFORDABLE my country is and we get to receive a lot more visits every year.
    Although I won’t be there to receive anyone.. I’m sure my fellow country men and women will do a great job at making everyone feel welcome in Lisbon and the rest of the country! :)

  4. Avatar of Yara

    Why avoiding pasteis de Belem? The whole place is extremely old, featuring ancient tiles and machines from the 19th century, the original ones. The tourists usually pile up on a massive line, but the locals go inside the cafe which is huge and has a lot of history to discover. The place is like a museum!

    I always take my couchsurfers and friends there whenever I’m in Portugal :)

    Lisbon is a great destination within Europe for sure :)

    (btw, I got a bit confused about the author of the article, on the top is says by Agness and at the button it features, Zara…?)

    1. Avatar of Agness Walewinder

      Hi Yala. It is a guest post written by Zara, but I was the one who published it. I hope Zara can answer all of your questions soon.

    2. Avatar of Zara @ Backpack ME

      Hi Yara,

      I didn’t mean to say “avoid Pasteis de Belem” as such. What I meant is that, if for some reason you don’t make it there, it’s no big deal. The pastries are delicious, true, but there are many other places that make them really good too and in a picturesque ambiance. The advantage of the original place in Belem is that the pastries come out warm and as fresh as it gets, but it tends to be so ridiculously full, that you don’t get to sit and relax, and as such enjoy a coffee/pastry break as it should be. There are many other historical pastelarias in Lisbon all over Baixa that can provide a lovely atmosphere to do this. But hey, nothing against the original place! I’d love to be there indulging right now as a matter of fact!.. :)

      1. Avatar of Yara

        Yes! Isn’t it crazy that people waiting in those horrible long lines just to try the pastries?
        I was there last week with a few couchsurfers and the place was full!

        I totally agree that there are so many pastry shops in Lisbon that get totally neglected. Some of which have a lot of history behind.

        I see the pasteis de Belen as a little live museum, where people can see the pastries being done, check out the old machines, the old tiles and feel the interesting vibe, but not necessarily to buy the pastries. It not worth waiting 30 minutes on the line for that.

        I totally agree with you on that :)

      2. Avatar of Agness Walewinder

        I could line for hours myself to get one of these amazing pastries!! Lisbon reminds me a lot of Paris where people were queuing for some baguettes and croissants in the morning.

  5. Avatar of Clare

    I thought Lisbon was brilliant value for a city break. I was impressed at how far we made our money go, especially with food and drink. Really great guide! Love it!

  6. Avatar of Mary {The World Is A Book}

    Portugal is at the top of my European places to visit. I’ve known three friends who visited Portugal last year and they all loved it. It’s great to see all these cheap things here. My husband is particularly drawn to the cheap wine :)

  7. Avatar of Mike

    What appeals to me is that you shared Lisbon is a good walking city, Agness. I think that is the best way to see any place. And I will totally eat escargot! :)

  8. Avatar of Javrose

    What attracts me is that you distributed Lisbon is a excellent strolling town, Agnes. :) I think that is the best way to see any position. And I will completely eat escargot! :)

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