How to Visit Lisbon on a Budget

Written By: The Planet D

5 Euros (USD 6.70) won’t buy much these days. In some places, you might not even be able to get a cup of coffee for you and your partner for this much. But depending on where you travel, for example, Lisbon Portugal, 5 Euros can actually stretch a lot.

Visit Lisbon on a Budget

lisbon portugal couple on steps

You don’t need to go to an extremely cheap destination to make the most of your money.

But you do need to know how to maximize your bucks and understand that the most costly things don’t necessarily make for the best moments.

You can definitely enjoy fun experiences on a budget, as long as you know where to look!

Suggested Lisbon Portugal Tours

Lisbon Card – Keep to the budget with the Lisbon Card. It includes free access to 23 city museums. The card also doubles as an unlimited ticket for public transport. Starting at on $21.

Lisbon Airport Shuttle – Book your transportation from the airport to downtown for only $4.60 USD

Oceanarium Tickets – Pick up your pre-booked entrance ticket to view 8,000 sea creatures from 4 ocean habitats at the Oceanário de Lisboa.

Luz Stadium Tour – For only $16.11 USD take a 2-hour tour of the Luz Stadium and also visit the museum to learn about SL Benfica.

Lisbon Portugal under 5 Euros

Visit Lisbon Portugal on a budget
How to Travel Lisbon on a Budget

Lisbon is not an expensive capital city when compared to the rest of Western Europe and, apart from roaming it’s picturesque streets and marveling at the typical buildings (which you can do for free!) there are many tasty, exciting, culturally enriching and plain fun things to do… for 5 Euros or less! Read more: 20 Best Cities in Portugal to Visit

Here are some tips for you to enjoy Lisbon as locals would, without spoiling your travel budget.

Cross the River on a Local Ferry Boat

lisbon portugal on a budget
Lisbon Portugal

Bordering the South of Lisbon, the Tagus River is one of the biggest rivers in Europe – in fact, as a famous Portuguese poet wrote once, “It is a river that aspires to be a sea“! It is one of the most iconic elements of the Lisbon landscape.

Many people who work in Lisbon live in the suburban cities on the other side of the river and cross into downtown every day by boat.

Why take an expensive boat cruise when you can actually cross to the other side of the Tagus for only €1.20 each way?

Where: Go to Terreiro do Paco and get into the ferry terminal right in front of the famous Praca do Comercio square. Enjoy the ride and explore “the other side” which is also part of the life of Lisbon people, way beyond the touristic experience. Metro Terreiro do Paco.

Treat Yourself to a Famous Pastel de Nata

lisbon portugal budget food
Treat Yourself to pastel de nata

If there is something Portuguese people love (and do well!) that is pastries. Although most tourists go after the popular “Pastel de Belem” (custard tart) exactly where these pastries were originally created, Belem itself, the truth is that they are good pretty much all over the city.

As a mid-morning snack, I’d recommend a visit to the charming Confeitaria Nacional, where a pastel de nata and a latte can be enjoyed for €2.3.

The setting is reminiscent of a scene from the last century and I can assure you the ambience is more relaxed than the one you’re likely to find in Belem, where tourists make insane queues to get hot cakes. www.confeitarianacional.com

Where: Confeitaria Nacional in Praca da Figueira 18B. Metro Rossio.

Holiday Inn – Good location in the heart of the city, with a swimming pool & free Wi-Fi. Check out Availability & Prices Trip Advisor / Booking.com

Lisboa Carmo Hotel – Excellent location, boutique hotel close to several sites, free breakfast. Check out Availability & Prices on TripAdvisor / Booking.com

3. Ride the Famous Electrico 28

lisbon portugal budget transportation
Ride the Electro 28

If you’ve ever seen a postcard or photo from Lisbon, there is a very big chance you noticed the trams that populate the typical streets of Lisbon.

These trams are not only picturesque but also still widely used by locals to get around the city.

The most touristic of them all is “Electrico 28”, a vintage tram with the number 28 that goes uphill on a truly scenic route that lasts for about 40 minutes and ends at Sao Jorge’s Castle.

You’ll pass a ton of narrow streets, the most typical of Lisbon’s neighborhoods and finish the trip at a castle that can’t be missed when visiting this city.

On a regular 28E tram this trip will cost you only €2.85. But beware of the “touristic trams” that, for a similar route with some slight detours and a live commentary, will cost from €16 upwards.

You can read a lot of information about Lisbon online and jump in the tram to enjoy a ride full of photographic opportunities. Very worth it!

Where: trips start at Martim Moniz bus stop. Metro Martim Moniz.

Plan Your Lisbon Portugal Vacation

Get Your Guide – This is a great booking site for city tours, day tours, and discounts.

Lonely Planet City Guide – Lonely Planet is the guidebook for us. They’re city guides will give you accommodation, tours, sites and restaurant recommendations.

Universal Power Adapter for all your electronics in one place

Sink plug and pegless clothesline – In Europe we wash as we go, this is the best way to wash your clothes in your hotel room and dry them easily.

Take a stroll with warm roasted chestnuts

lisbon portugal tour
Take a stroll for chestnuts

During Autumn and Winter, the streets of downtown Lisbon are populated with roasted chestnut vending carts that make for the warmest and nicest treat for the cold weather.

The chestnuts are tasty, yes, but what makes the whole experience charming is eating them while roaming around the streets of Baixa Chiado and Rossio, people watching and marveling at the details around.

12 heartwarming chestnuts roasted on the spot cost €2.

Where: everywhere in downtown Lisbon during colder months.

Sip a Cappuccino with the Best View of Lisbon

coffee in lisbon portugal
Sip a cappuccino

Once you’re on top of the hill and, perhaps after you visit Sao Jorge’s Castle, it’s time to sit down and relax.

You can do so while sipping a frothy cappuccino in what year after year I have come to realize is, quite probably, one of the best views over Lisbon: Chapito a Mesa, a restaurant inside an original arts and circus school called Chapito.

The restaurant is not cheap at all for meal times, but it is still affordable for an afternoon coffee for about a couple of euros.

Also, the view is best enjoyed during the day, and as the sun goes down over the building rooftops, the river and the boats passing by. http://chapito.org

Where: Rua Costa do Castelo, 7 (within walking distance on pleasant walking cobblestone streets, from Castelo de Sao Jorge)

Splurge Activities in Lisbon Portugal

Lisbon Champagne Tour – Splurge with the Lisbon champagne and sailing tour. Champagne and beer with snacks included as you take in the city views.

Sintra, Cascais, and Estoril: Full-Day Tour from Lisbon – Get out of Lisbon and visit the nearby sites starting in Pena Park. The visit the center of Sintra and the National Palace. Continue with a drive to see the Natural Park, and palaces of Quinta da Regaleira, Seteais, and Monserrate. The cliffs at Roca Cape and finally the stylish town of Cascais.

Arrábida Kayak Tour from Lisbon – For something more adventurous, take a day tour kayaking in Arrábida Natural Park to explore caves and inlets and a secluded picnic on the beach. Later, take a tour of the amazing Sesimbra castle.

Lisbon on an electric bike – 2.5-hour electric bike tour of the Alfama, Mouraria and Graça and 7 Hills of Lisbon.” Don’t worry, it’s easy on an electric bike, you’ll put out minimum effort while exploring in a unique way.

An Night at the Movies, in Cinemateca Portuguesa

portugal lisbon
Go to a show

The Cinemateca is the national museum of film. Every month, different programs are presented, including national and international movies from all times.

Not only there tends to be a beautiful selection of movies (and film related exhibitions), the most expensive tickets will only set you back by €3.20 (cheaper for film students and members).

See the program here: http://www.cinemateca.pt/

Where: Rua Barata Salgueiro, 39. Metro Restauradores.

Get Cultural…If You are 30 Years or Younger

culture in lisbon portugal
Check out Culturgest

If you’re into other cultural programs apart from film, Culturgest might be the place to look for! Conferences, art exhibitions, theatre, dance and music are part of their daily program.

People under 30 years only pay €5.

No matter what the standard price of the show might be that’s all you pay. Visit www.culturgest.pt for more info.

Where: Rua Arco do Cego Piso 1, Edificil Sede da CGD. Metro Campo Pequeno.

Drink Beer in a Naughty Setting

lisbon portugal things to do

One of Lisbon’s most recent nightlife hot spots is Pensao Amor. In the past, this place used to be a brothel that welcomed sailors arriving to Lisbon in search of comfort and human touch.

Nowadays, after a glam revamp, Pensao Amor (that translates into Love Inn) caters to a hip clientele that finds in this alternative setting a cool place to hang out.

Drinks are expensive but you can still have a draft beer (“imperial”) for €4.

This might be twice as much as in neighboring bars, but the red light ambience and novelty are paid for and, not only sometimes they have live music, there’s also an erotic library and a naughty sex gift shop on site. www.pensaoamor.pt

Where: Rua do Alecrim, 19. Metro Cais do Sodre.

Bairro Alto – Where the Streets are the Venue

bairro alto lisbon portugal
The streets are the attraction on Bairro Alto

You know nothing about Lisbon’s nightlife until you visit Bairro Alro. Bars, pubs, restaurants and any other establishment that serves drinks line up in the narrow streets of this typical neighborhood of Old Lisbon.

Here, no one really cares about what bar you’re going to, because the streets are the venue and that’s where everyone hangs out, mixes, drinks and parties.

Beer goes for as little as 1.5 euros, just check out the boards usually placed outside the cheapest bars.

Where: Metro Baixa Chiado – walk a little bit uphill towards Praca de Camoes square, follow the crowd and you’re there!

Fado – The Sound of Lisbon Portugal

music in lisbon portugal

Fado is the most typical music genre of Portugal and is thoroughly enjoyed in its live form by many tourists visiting Lisbon, Portugal. No wonder fancy restaurants have found that set dinners with live Fado shows are a great source of income.

But you don’t need to spend a lot of money on such places, where you’re more likely to be immersed in a touristic atmosphere, rather than on a down-to-earth fado night.

The latest can be found in small restaurants and bars that we call “tascas” and there are plenty of those in the streets of the Alfama neighborhood.

Where: Just walk around and look inside any place where live music comes from.

Fado singers and musicians won’t be looking as fancy, places will be cramped, but food and music will still be amazing and I can assure you that, if there is a “real deal”, this is probably it.

5 euros won’t buy you dinner, but it’s good enough for a Portuguese glass of wine, that combines with Fado to perfection.

I hope these recommendations are useful for your next trip to Lisbon, Portugal. Do you have any tips?

While it’s normal that travelers do touristic activities, it is a great complement to the local experience to explore beyond the surface and, even better, if you don’t need to splurge while at it!

Guest post by Zara Quiroga. Zara and Ashray (aka A&Z) run the travel website Backpack ME where they share tips and inspirational stories in the shape of posts, photos and videos. With their different cultural background (Portuguese and Indan), they want to inspire anyone to travel around the world, no matter where they come from.

Travel Planning Resources

Looking to book your next trip? Why not use these resources that are tried and tested by yours truly.

Flights: Start planning your trip by finding the best flight deals on Skyscanner

Book your Hotel: Find the best prices on hotels with these two providers. If you are located in Europe use Booking.com and if you are anywhere else use TripAdvisor

Find Apartment Rentals: You will find the cheapest prices on apartment rentals with VRBO

Travel Insurance: Don't leave home without it. Here is what we recommend:

  • Allianz - Occasional Travelers.
  • Medjet - Global air medical transport and travel security.

Need more help planning your trip? Make sure to check out our Resources Page where we highlight all the great companies that we trust when we are traveling.

About The Planet D

Dave Bouskill and Debra Corbeil are the owners and founders of The Planet D. After traveling to 115 countries, on all 7 continents over the past 13 years they have become one of the foremost experts in travel. Being recognized as top travel bloggers and influencers by the likes of Forbes Magazine, the Society of American Travel Writers and USA Today has allowed them to become leaders in their field.

Leave a Comment

14 thoughts on “How to Visit Lisbon on a Budget”

  1. We really want to visit Lisbon this year and reading your post has made me realise that it’s really achievable for us. These money saving tips are going to prove invaluable for our visit.

    Reply
  2. Thank you for the great tips on travel in Lisbon! Budget traveler or not, it’s always great to be able to save money when possible.

    Reply
  3. Were off to Lisbon at the end of January for my wifes birthday! Thanks for blog post, loads of handy tips. Quite tempted by the electric bike tour though!

    Reply
  4. Don’t forget the famous Portuguese Cherry Brandy (called Ginjinha). For 1 euro, you can have a shot of this delicious drink. For 7.50 euros to 10 euros, you can also take a bottle of it home. The best part is all the wonderful cherries at the bottom of the bottle. But be careful… all you need is 2-3 shots and a couple of cherries – it hits you fast!

    A Ginjinha
    Largo de Sao Domingos
    Near Rossio Metro station

    Reply
  5. Hello , Such a nice post zara..!!Lisbon is really a beautiful destination . We were there last year in June and July. You memorized me once again all the beautiful time I spent there. We were so excited during that period. All frames of lisbon were awesome, like their very narrow streets , beaches and the core cafes with mesmerized view.And you are right streets are like venue.I would love to go there once again.
    Thanks

    Reply
  6. Hey guys!

    Thanks for allowing me to share these tips about traveling to my country.

    I feel many travelers leave Portugal out when going around Europe (perhaps ’cause we’re in the corner..) but I hope increasingly people will notice Portugal and all the great things we’ve got. On top of everything, it’s a pretty affordable country compared to central Europe.. so double bonus! 😉

    Happy travels to Portugal everyone!

    Reply
    • You are right Zara, I think too many people overlook Portugal. With articles like this and the word getting out, more people are going to start coming for sure. I wish we had more time there last year when we visited for a conference.

      Reply
  7. Great tips for budget travelers! Last time I was in Lisbon it was a brief 48 hours, and I've been itching to go back since! Now if only plane tickets would be more economical..

    Reply
  8. These are some great tips! I visited Lisbon last December, and it really surprised me how economical a city it is, especially for western Europe. It felt more like some Eastern European cities, like Budapest in terms of its style and the fact that things really aren’t that expensive.

    Reply