How much to budget for a Lisbon city break | Every Euro over 6 days [2026]
First published 2016, updated February 2026.
On our last night in Lisbon, I finally got it.
We’d abandoned a smoky rooftop bar – admittedly with outstanding views of Castelo São Jorge – for the low-key square below, and watched as an impromptu dancefloor formed around a band playing. More people wove in from the surrounding streets, switching partners effortlessly, the kind of easy, un-selfconscious dancing that only really happens when it’s unplanned.
I watched from the edge, too British to join in, and thought: there it is. That’s the city everyone keeps talking about.
I share this because if you’re planning a trip to Lisbon expecting every moment to be Instagram-perfect, I want to offer something more than a highlight reel. I didn’t love Lisbon on this trip – although personal factors outside the city’s control definitely influenced it – and I wanted to share that because going in with honest expectations will help you plan, spend and experience it better than I did.
Part of it comes down to money. Lisbon had a reputation of being one of Western Europe’s great affordable escapes and that reputation is now…complicated. Somethings are genuinely great value and others may catch you off guard.
I tracked every Euro spent across six days to share exactly how much to budget for a Lisbon city break. Let’s get into it.
Summary | Our Lisbon city break budget breakdown
| Spend per person: €488.60 (2019) | €650+ in 2026 | |
| Accommodation | €258 [Approx €350 for the same dates in 2026] |
| Food & drink | €156.50 [Expect to pay around €200 in 2026] |
| Transport (excluding flights) | €36 [Expect to pay €50 – €70 in 2026] |
| Activities | €25.60 [Expect to pay €50+ in 2026] |
| Other | €12.50 [This one is up to you!] |
Table of Contents
Note: all costs below are for two people. To get the prices for a solo traveller, halve the costs.
How much to budget for accommodation in Lisbon
We visited in September, outside of the peak summer months, so our six night stay didn’t break the bank.
My accommodation requirements for the trip covered a few key essentials – an easily accessible, central location, not too much noise and a private bathroom.
Lisbon Calling is a chilled apartment with a few ensuite rooms and shared kitchen area, located just a street away from Avenida de Liberdade and we absolutely loved our stay there.
If you’re looking for cheap accommodation in Lisbon without staying in a hostel dorm, I’d recommend booking well in advance to ensure you get the best prices.
Total: €516
Cost per person per night = €43
Want to find out more? Read my full review of Lisbon Calling Rooms & Studio.
I pretty much always book my accommodation via Booking.com as there’s a big variety and great Genuis discounts.
How much to budget for transport in Lisbon
Next up – it’s getting around! I love city breaks where everything is walkable as it’s a great way to discover hidden gems so I navigated a lot of Lisbon’s steep hills during the trip.
When my legs were burning and I was sweating profusely in the hot sun, it didn’t seem like such a great idea but we did come across some lovely cafes and it’s more eco friendly too! But there were times when I ventured a little further out on public transport so here’s what you can expect two people to spend.
Taxi to and from the airport – €27
Tram to Belem – €5.80
Bus from LX Factory – €3.70
Two day Navegante travelcard – €21
Tourist bus in Sintra – €14
I’d usually take public transport to and from the airport but it’s close to the city centre, it was worth the few extra quid to hop in a taxi!
Throughout the week, I headed outside of Lisbon’s packed city centre to see what lay further afield and I’d highly recommend doing the same.
I took the tram to Belem (you can’t go to Lisbon without a ride on a tram, right?) and then walked back as far as LX Factory for dinner and a peek inside one of the world’s most stunning bookshops Ler Devagar. By then, the dark streets and my aching legs meant I caught the bus home.
Rather than buying single journey tickets as we did on this first day, I’d recommend buying a Navegante travelcard that can be used on buses, trams, the metro and even ferries! Buying the card is just 50 cents so we topped up €10 euros each which got us return journeys to Sintra and the beach.
Total: €71.50
How much to budget for food in Lisbon
The vast majority of my holiday spending money went on food, something that will come as little surprise to anybody who has been reading here for a while. I read so many budget travel articles that recommend eating from supermarkets to save money but isn’t trying local food and restaurants one of the joys of being on holiday? I definitely think so.
We had a few expensive but delicious brunches at Zenith but balanced this out on other days by heading into a little bakery. These cafes on the corner don’t look like anything impressive but will offer sandwiches, cakes and coffee for just a couple of euros. We’d usually have lunch on the go before splashing out on dinner at some of the city’s best vegetarian restaurants.
My favourites were Jardim dos Sentidos and PSI where you could sit outside and tuck into some delightful plant-based cuisine.
If there’s one place I wouldn’t recommend for veggies however, it’s Lisbon’s famous Time Out Food Market. We struggled to find a huge amount of variety here and it was totally packed.
Total: €313
Average daily cost per person = €26
How much to budget for activities in Lisbon
Lisbon is the first place in a long time that I visited without a lengthy sightseeing list and I just didn’t feel compelled to visit many of the places on the many top things to do in Lisbon articles except one. I was absolutely desperate to see the stunning Pena Palace in Sintra so we headed up to the mountains on our last full day and it was so worth the trip.
We paid €29.40 (it’s gone up to €33 in 2026) for a combined ticket to the Castle of the Moors and Pena Palace, both of which had absolutely stunning views – definitely worth a visit. You can also book tours via GetYourGuide for an all-in-one experience where you don’t need to navigate transport.
During our day in Belem, we went up the tower (€6 each in 2019, now €9) which I honestly could have left without feeling like I’d missed out. Instead, I’d recommend going inside the beautiful monastry and spending some time walking along the seafront.
We also decided to visit Pasteis de Belem for its famous egg custard tarts; it’s great for ticking off the tourist list but not a comfortable experience. If you like your cakes in a quieter environment, head to literally any other cafe in Lisbon because it was PACKED.
Total: €51.20
Other things we budgeted for in Lisbon
As always, there’s a few boring odds and ends in here including €10 for luggage storage on our last day (don’t try and lug your suitcases down cobbled streets, it’s not worth it!) and a cheeky €2.50 on the classic souvenir combination of a pretty postcard and tacky AF fridge magnet.
Total: €12.50
Spend excluding accommodation: €448.25 or €224 per person
Total spend (excluding flights): €964.25
Based on these numbers, I’d recommend budgeting around €30 – €50 per day for budget travellers.
If you’d like to take a few planned tours that involve less public transport, or pay for a fanicier hotel, put some more money aside and you’ll be grand!
All in all, I hope this helps you to decide how much to budget for a Lisbon city break – have a great trip!
Laura x
Read more about Lisbon
How to visit Sintra from Lisbon
The best things to do in Lisbon
Lisbon Calling Hotel Review
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Oooh thanks for this!
My brother in law has fallen in love with a girl from Lisbon, so we’ve all been waiting to visit Portugal for when he finally pops the question. 😉 Like you, I am mostly excited to visit for the food!!
It’s interesting that the Time Out food market was rubbish. Maybe it is now aimed more at tourists than foodies!? Lots of famous markets seem to fall that way…
Aww how exciting about your visit! x
Hi Laura, thanks for the detailed article. I’m going to Portugal next months. I’ll take you tips on transit and vegetarian food. Sounds delicious!
Aww fantastic, I hope you enjoy your trip and the tips are helpful x
Missing Lisbon! I found it cheaper than other parts of Europe when I visited back in 2014 though I don’t know if that’s the case now that it’s gotten more popular…
I do wonder if it’s popularity has caused prices to rise – definitely with accommodation anyway! That being said, you can find some really cheap food if you head off the main streets 🙂
Lisbon looks so pretty, I’d love to visit. Good to know how much you need to budget for a trip. I’m sure most of my money would be spent on food too! xo
You can’t beat eating your way around a city! x