April 28, 2023

How much a Trip to Portugal in the Summer of 2023

by Gustavo

Are you considering visiting Portugal in the summer of 2023? You’re in luck! Portugal is a breathtaking country that offers something for everyone, from stunning beaches to picturesque villages and lively cities. However, planning a trip can be overwhelming, especially if you don’t know where to start. In this article, we’ll give you a step-by-step guide on how to plan your dream trip to Portugal in summer 2023.

In this article we have made a study to try to explain to you how much you will spend on average on your vacation in Portugal, regardless of how many days you intend to stay.

Regardless of how many days you will stay in Portugal, you will have a daily expense of:

Daily Travel budget: 145€ per day.

For 10 days in Portugal, having diversified experiences every day, you will spend an average of 1450 euros.

For 15 days in Portugal, with diversified experiences every day, you will spend an average of 2175 euros.

It was considered: about 50 euros of food per day, 35 euros of hostel per day, 60 euros of experiences per day. Remembering that you can greatly reduce this value. For example, experiences is something optional, you can enjoy Portugal without spending every day on experiences. Don’t forget to consider the flight ticket.

Explaining this value better: You will have an average expense of XXX per day, so just multiply this value by the amount of days you will stay in Portugal. Remember to add to the end, the cost of the round trip flight.[GS1]

These are the values we arrived at through our updated studies. We consider a modest trip, with hotel/hostel, good food and good experiences. Remember at the end of all these calculations to add the value of the flight ticket. So now we will explain each of these points and tell you how we arrived, what was considered, what the criteria are.

Step 1: Set a Budget

Before you start planning your trip, you need to figure out how much money you can afford to spend. Portugal is generally considered to be an affordable destination, but costs can add up quickly if you’re not careful. You’ll need to budget for flights, accommodation, food, activities and transportation.

For example, a round-trip flight from New York to Lisbon can cost anywhere from $500 to $1,000 depending on the time of year and how far in advance you book. Accommodation can range from $50 per night for a hostel to $200 or more per night for a luxury hotel. Food and drinks can vary depending on where you go, but you can expect to pay around $10 for a meal at a casual restaurant and $3 for a beer.

So first of all, set aside the money for the flight. Depending on where you leave from, it will cost a little more or less.

From the United States to Portugal

Flights out of the United States to Portugal in the summer, dated June 1-15, is around $700 and $800. We chose to start our searches from Google Flights to begin to understand how the prices are for this time, then we will go in search of cheaper prices.

New York→Portugal: $787.00
Washington, D.C.→Portugal: $840.00

Los Angeles→Portugal: $1140.00
Chicaco→Portugal: $1103.00
San Francisco→Portugal: $1117.00

From Europe abroad to Portugal

Flights to Portugal from European countries are relatively cheap even in high season. Searching on Google Flights we were able to find interesting prices. All the simulation was done with dates between June 1st and 15th, in summer.

France→Portugal: $58.00
Spain→Portugal: $71.00

Rome→Portugal: $116.00
London→Portugal: €77.00

Departing from South America

From South America, we have that the prices are a little more expensive.

Rio de Janeiro→Portugal: $1131.00
São Paulo→Portugal: €1091.00
Buenos Aires→Portugal: $2537.00 (expensive)

Santiago→Portugal: €1230.00
Montevideo→Portugal: €1530.00

I don’t know for what reason, but flights from Argentina to Portugal are usually more expensive at this time. It might be better to take a flight to São Paulo and then to Portugal.

We have made a table showing the summary and the price difference between high season and low season.

To save money, consider traveling during the shoulder season (May, June, September, and October) instead of the peak summer months. You can also save money by staying in hostels or apartments instead of hotels and by eating at local cafes and markets instead of restaurants.

Plan Your Budget

The first step in planning any trip is to establish a budget. This will help you determine what kind of trip you can afford and where you’ll need to cut costs. Some of the main expenses you’ll need to consider include:

Accommodation: For accommodation, we have listed above articles with accommodation from 27 euros per night, a very comfortable price for most people. This is for a hostel, of course, with a shared room, but there is nothing better than talking to people, meeting different people and cultures, it is worth it. Let’s consider a little more then, about 35 euros per day in a good quality hostel with breakfast, which already allows you to save money on food.
Food: Consider 3 meals a day (breakfast, lunch and dinner), also consider 2 more free meals during the day. For breakfast you will spend an average of 5 euros, lunch 15 euros and dinner 12 euros. For the 2 free meals you would spend around 10 euros each. You would then have an average spending of 52 euro per day. Sometimes you can save more if you skip any of these meals, or don’t feel hungry, or eat too little, as well as increase if you want more expensive meals.
Experiences: This is the part where you can spend the most money, because it is practically unlimited how much you can spend on experiences. Beach diving, guided tours, whale watching, bus tours, kayak tours, gastronomic experiences, tickets to establishments, tickets to events. It all depends on what you want to do and how much you are willing to spend for it. To get a sense, after a brief search on TripAdvisor, we can see the price of some activities:
- Full day in Sintra and Cascais/Guided tour: €89,00
- 2 hour Lisbon Sunset and Wine Sailing Tour: €50,00
- Lisbon Traditional boat sunset tour: €39,00
- Portuguese Cuisine tasting 17 dishes: €99,00
- Fatima, Nazaré, Obidos Full day from Lisbon: ¤89.00
- Portuguese cooking class, 3~4hour: €89,00
- Helicopter flight, boat trip & old town walking: €133,00

In this way, you should separate how much you will spend on average per day. It is a matter of choosing what you are willing to do wherever you go in Portugal. Of course there are options that don’t involve paying and spending money, just do a little research, but this can take you a lot of time and preparation, without the certainty that your trip will be good, so it is always worth hiring a full experience and make every minute in Portugal worthwhile.

Choose Your Destinations

Portugal has many beautiful destinations to choose from, each with its own unique charm. Some of the most popular destinations include Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve, and Madeira.

Lisbon, the capital city, is known for its beautiful architecture, vibrant nightlife, and delicious food. Porto, located in the north, is famous for its port wine and colorful buildings. The Algarve, located in the south, is known for its stunning beaches and picturesque villages. Madeira, a Portuguese island in the Atlantic, is a paradise for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.

Consider how much time you have and what kind of activities you enjoy before deciding on your destinations. If you’re a beach lover, you might want to spend more time in the Algarve. If you’re interested in history and culture, Lisbon and Porto are must-sees.

Step 2: Plan Your Accommodation

Once you’ve decided on your destination(s), the next step is to plan your accommodation. Portugal offers a variety of accommodation options, from budget-friendly hostels to luxurious hotels. Here are some examples:

Hostels

Hostels are an excellent option for budget-conscious travelers. They offer affordable rates, a social atmosphere, and often have private rooms available. We have listed the best hostels in Lisbon, Porto, Lagos, Faro and Sagres check it out.

Private Rooms or Shared Dorms in Porto: Cheap Hostel Accommodations

Top rated 15 affordable hostels in Lisbons that all traveler should go

Cheapest Hostels in Lagos: How to Find Quality Accommodation on a Budget

Best Hostels in Faro: Where to Stay in Faro for an Unforgettable Trip

The Ultimate Guide to Finding the 12 Best Hostels in Sagres Portugal

As we listed in the articles, for more low-cost travel, we highly recommend that you go hostel, as it is by far the cheapest way to have accommodation, making friends with people

Airbnb

Airbnb is a popular choice for travelers who want a home-away-from-home experience. You can rent an entire apartment or house and enjoy the comfort and privacy of a home. Airbnb is a great option with a huge variety of accommodations, from apartments, holiday homes, houses in rural areas, cabins in the middle of forests, beachfront cottages, to very exotic options. On Airbnb you can find everything from rooms for $50 a night to luxury residences for over $1,000 a night.

Hotels

If you’re looking for a more luxurious experience, hotels are the way to go. Portugal has several world-class hotels that offer exceptional service, beautiful views, and luxurious amenities. Hotel is always something a little more expensive than the average, compared to Airbnb and hostels. For more private, gourmet experiences, if you are traveling with a companion and want a more relaxed weekend plan with great services, staying in a hotel is a great option.

Step 3: Plan Your Activities

Portugal has a range of accommodation options, from budget-friendly hostels to luxury hotels. The cost of accommodation will depend on where you’re staying and what kind of amenities you’re looking for. Consider staying in a hostel or apartment rental to save money.

Transportation

Getting around Portugal is easy thanks to its well-developed public transportation system. You can save money by taking the train or bus instead of renting a car. If you plan on doing a lot of traveling within the country, consider purchasing a pass for unlimited travel. Set aside money for Uber, maybe riding a scooter around the city (from apps like Bolt and Lime), maybe taking public transportation, bus, train, metro or taxi.

For cities like Porto and Lisbon your transportation costs inside the cities will be around 20€ to 40€ per day, depending on the means of transport. If you consider using metro and public transport, you can save more, if you prefer to use Uber or taxi, you will spend a little more.

Activities

Portugal has plenty of free and low-cost activities to enjoy, such as exploring the historic neighborhoods of Lisbon or relaxing on the beaches of the Algarve. However, some activities, like guided tours or theme parks, can be expensive. Make a list of the activities you want to do and research their costs ahead of time.

The cost of activities and leisure in Portugal depends on what you want to experience. From a ticket to enter a museum or to take the cable car, to guided tours that cost more than 100€ per person.

If you go to a city zone like Lisbon or Porto, there are many activities to do, walking tours, bus tours, specialty museums, cultural tours, day trips with guide. You can rent a Tuk Tuk, spend a day in Sintra/Cascais, visit the Lisbon Oceanarium, visit Alfama and listen to Fado, visit the Jeronimos Monastery, the Praça do Comercio, the Bairo Alto, the Belém Tower, visit the Chiado neighborhood, the Padrão do Descobrimento and many other attractions. We highly recommend that you check out the main attractions and activities in Portugal in general, through this link here below.

Food and Drink

Portuguese cuisine is delicious and affordable. Be sure to try some of the country’s signature dishes, like bacalhau (salt cod) and pastéis de nata (custard tarts). Look for local markets and small cafes to save money on food and drink.

As I’ve been living here in Portugal for a long time, I know how the prices are and I’ll tell you now. If you want to taste the good and the best of Portugal in gastronomic issues and drinks, you can spend an average of 70€ per day, I say this because it was the amount I spent trying all kinds of food that I found on the street, but I ate A LOT! I went to restaurants at night, I paid more than 30€ in a single dish, I tasted the real portuguese food.

If you want to save a little more, you can still try the Portuguese cuisine without spending too much. A cheap breakfast in Portugal costs around 4€ to 6€ euros, where you can eat a sandwich, a pastel de bacalhau, an as with milk, juice, it depends on where you are.

For lunch, throughout the country, you are guaranteed to find cheap restaurants for lunch for 10€, 12€ maximum, which is a great price for a quality meal.

At night you will want to go out and have a drink, I know. At this point, know that you can spend a little more going out to enjoy the night. The average price of a drink, the cheapest such as caipirinha, mojito, is around €4 to €6, and may be even more depending on the place, I say this for all of Portugal. Beer is cheaper, there are places that sell a glass of beer for €1, at most €2.

Breakfast: 6€

Lunch: 12€.
Dinner: 12€.
One drink: 6€

3 beers: 6€.

That’s a total of 42€ per day, with basic food items. But as you will want to try different dishes every day, try a pastel de nata, pastel de bacalhau or even francesinha, consider increasing this amount by 30%, reaching around 55€ per day with food expenses in Portugal as a tourist.

Step 4: Choose Your Timing

The time of year you travel to Portugal will have a big impact on your budget. Summer is peak tourist season, which means prices for flights, accommodation, and activities will be higher. If you’re looking to save money, consider traveling in the shoulder season, which runs from April to May and September to October. The weather is still pleasant, and prices are lower.

In Portugal, prices usually double for accommodation in the summer, the period between June and September. Everything is more expensive, literally, prices increase about 30% in the high summer season in Portugal for tourists, but that is no excuse not to travel, there are always good ways to save.

Portugal is also a country where the winter is not so intense, the spring, between April and June already has more pleasant temperatures, and the end of September and October also still have good temperatures for sightseeing. In these off-season periods, the price of accommodation and everything else ends up being lower, which allows you to save a little more.

Lisbon

Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal, is known for its vibrant culture, rich history, and stunning architecture. You can explore the city’s various neighborhoods, visit museums and galleries, indulge in local cuisine, and take in the city’s beautiful views from atop its many hills.

Porto

Porto is another beautiful city located in the north of Portugal. The city is famous for its wine, narrow streets, and charming riverfront. You can explore the city’s historic center, visit the port wine cellars, and take a leisurely stroll along the Douro River.

Algarve

The Algarve is a beautiful region located in the south of Portugal. It’s known for its stunning beaches, breathtaking cliffs, and charming fishing villages. You can soak up the sun on the beach, enjoy fresh seafood, and explore the region’s picturesque towns.

Madeira Island

Why not visit Madeira Island in Portugal? It is a somewhat expensive destination in high season, but out of season, between March and May, September and October, you can take advantage of lower prices. It is an incredible destination, with virgin forests, a huge variety of fruits in its little markets in the capital Funchal. We made 2 articles to inspire you on your next trip to Madeira in Portugal, check them out below.

Exploring Funchal, Portugal: A Guide to the Heart of Madeira Island

Untraveled Roads: Complete Guide in Madeira Island