Portugal
Lisbon and Porto offer a strong city-and-food combination, while the Algarve covers the beach side of a trip without needing a second country. Portugal is consistently cheaper than Spain for a comparable standard of accommodation and food, and the rail line between Lisbon and Porto is fast and reliable.
Quick facts
- Region
- Western Europe
- Recommended trip length
- 7–12 days
- Best months
- May, Jun, Sept
- Climate
- Mild, Warm
- Crowd level
- Moderate
- Travel difficulty
- Easy
- Value for money
- 76
- Public transport
- 70
Who it suits
- Food and wine travellers
- Value-conscious travellers wanting Western Europe
- Couples and city-break travellers
Who it may not suit
- Multi-country hoppers (geographically a bit isolated)
- Winter sun seekers outside the Algarve
Estimated budget
Per person, per day — excluding flights.
Budget
€40–€60/day
Comfortable
€70–€100/day
Premium
€130–€190/day
Estimated from manually maintained destination data. Flights and accommodation prices may differ. Estimates last reviewed 2025-06-01.
What this destination is good for
- Beaches75
- Food75
- History65
- City life65
- Relaxation65
- Romance60
- Nature55
- Nightlife55
- Family55
- Road trips55
- Adventure40
- Multi-country25
Main strengths
- Cheaper than Spain or Italy for a similar standard of trip
- Strong food and wine culture
- Fast, reliable Lisbon–Porto train line
- Good mix of cities, coast and countryside
Honest downsides
- Algarve is heavily booked and pricier in July–August
- Lisbon's hills and trams get crowded with tourists
- Some rural regions need a car for full access
Essential places
- Lisbon Alfama and Belém
- Porto old town and Douro valley
- Sintra palaces
- Algarve coastline (Lagos, Benagil)
Worth adding if you have time
- Évora
- Óbidos
- Aveiro
Transport guidance
- Public transport is a realistic way to get around most of this destination.
- A rental car is optional — most essential places are reachable without one.
Suggested itineraries
No curated itinerary for this destination yet.