How much does it cost to visit Portugal?

The cost of a direct round-trip flight from New York (JFK) to Lisbon (LIS) start at $600 per person in Economy Class. This already includes meals and drinks as well as a free baggage allowance of up to 50 pounds (23 kg) and one piece of hand baggage.

In general, prices vary depending on how early you book, which season you choose and whether you are flying to the mainland or the Azores/Madeira Islands. In the winter months, excluding Christmas and New Year's Eve, it is cheaper. However, it is worth checking the prices as there are always good deals, especially with the budget airlines, and even in the low season. In addition, flights are usually cheapest early in the morning or late in the evening.

For a basic 2-3* hotel in Portugal, you will pay at least around $75 per night. If you want to stay in a 4* hotel, you should expect to pay at least $120 per night.

In Portugal, there is accommodation for every taste. From simple B&Bs or guesthouses to eco-lodges and city hotels to 5-star luxury. The price level is lower than in Central Europe, so you get very good accommodation at a good price-performance ratio. You can also save money here in the low season.

Basically, the Algarve is the most expensive beach destination. In the cities of Lisbon and Porto, there is accommodation to suit everyone. In the smaller cities such as Braga, Coimbra or Viana do Castelo it is even cheaper. The Azores are also inexpensive.

The most popular guided tours and excursions in Portugal cost around $50. These are usually sightseeing tours or tours with a guide. For this price, you can get to know Portugal's famous port wine cellars or cork plantations up close, for example.

Cheaper ways to discover the beauty of the country are, of course, hiking and walking through the historic towns or visiting the beautiful beaches of the Algarve.

More exclusive activities such as helicopter tours over Lisbon or a boat or train trip through the Douro Valley are unforgettable experiences that start at prices of $110.

The average price for a rental car in Portugal is currently around $40 per day if you choose a mid-range car. On top of this, there are around $8.30 per gallon. A car is essential in the Azores and Madeira. In the Algarve, it depends on whether you want to explore the surrounding area.

If you are traveling along the coast on your Portugal trip, it is ideal to take the train . A trip from Porto to Lisbon, for example, costs around $44.

In the cities, you can actually do everything on foot. If you want to use public transport, you can of course do that too. In Porto it is mostly buses, in Lisbon the metro or streetcar. A one-way ticket costs $1.75. Instead of cabs , we recommend the apps Uber or Bolt, as the prices and service are better.

The cost of a meal in a good restaurant in Portugal is between $16.50 and $22 per person. There is a large selection of savory and sweet dishes. Very well-known and special dishes are the seafood or monkfish rice, which costs around $35 and is enough for 2-3 people. Meat fans are also well catered for. Steaks of all kinds and huge pork chops cost around $18 per person.

Also try the originally Brazilian dish picanha (boiled beef) and secretos de porco from black pork from the Alentejo. It is therefore wonderful to have a snack in one of the thousands of cafés. The rissol or pasteis de nata, which cost around $1.10 each, are very tasty. Madeira has special drinks: Poncha (high-proof spirit with passion fruit juice and Nikita (ice cream, wine and beer mixed like a milkshake).