The city of seven hills, the legendary tram, an Atlantic breeze and the world’s finest pastel de nata — all without breaking the bank. We cover how to get there cheaply, what you absolutely must see, and what’s not worth your time.
The cheapest way to get here from anywhere in Europe — FlixBus: from Madrid from €15–20, from Seville from €10. You don’t need a car in Lisbon itself — trams, the metro and a decent pair of legs will get you everywhere faster than any car. For a day trip to Sintra or the Atlantic coast, though, renting through Discover Cars pays off immediately.
Flying is fast but often expensive — especially once you add checked baggage. The FlixBus from Madrid takes around 7–8 hours and costs a fraction of any budget airline. From Seville — just 4 hours, at prices that are almost laughable. The train from Madrid (Renfe Lusitânia) is more comfortable, but significantly more expensive and only runs overnight.
The most convenient way to compare all options — bus, train, flight — in one place is on Omio: sometimes the overnight train turns out cheaper than the bus, and sometimes Ryanair beats everything. But if you’re coming from Spain — FlixBus almost always wins on the price-to-comfort ratio.
Compare on Omio →More on travelling across Europe without overpaying: trains and buses across Europe.
The honest answer: in Lisbon itself — no. Parking in the centre is a hours-long ordeal, traffic is real, and Tram 28, the metro and the funiculars will get you everywhere faster than any car. Walking between Alfama, Baixa and Bairro Alto — 20 minutes of pure pleasure.
But for a day trip the situation changes. You can reach Sintra by electric train, but the palaces are spread across a hillside and without a car you either have a long walk or need to take a taxi. For the Atlantic coast — Cascais, Arraiolos, Cabo da Roca — the train doesn’t go, or runs rarely. Renting a compact for one day through Discover Cars and exploring everything at your own pace is a perfectly reasonable and affordable choice.
Compare cars on Discover Cars →What to watch out for when renting in Portugal and Spain: car rental guide.
Lisbon is generous with its free pleasures: a stroll through Alfama, watching the sunset from the Portas do Sol miradouro, following Tram 28 — all of it costs nothing. But there are a few things worth paying for:
All these activities are easiest to find and book on GetYourGuide — vetted guides, genuine reviews and instant confirmation.
Browse tours on GetYourGuide →On how we choose tours and what to look for in reviews: how we choose tours.
One practical note: to have offline maps, tram routes and e-tickets ready the moment you land, it’s worth activating an Airalo eSIM in advance — Portuguese data will kick in while you’re still on the air bridge.
The sweet spot — April–May and September–October: warm (20–25°C), fewer crowds, more reasonable prices. July–August is the hottest and most expensive season, but the beaches are close. Winter is mild (+15°C) and rainy, but Lisbon is nearly tourist-free and accommodation prices are at their lowest.
3 days — the minimum for the city: Alfama, Belém, Baixa, the miradouros. 4–5 days — ideal: you add a day in Sintra and one relaxed fado evening. With a week you can easily get to Cascais, Setúbal or Nazaré.
Absolutely — Sintra is on the UNESCO list and looks like nothing else in Europe. The electric train from Rossio station takes 40 minutes and costs next to nothing. But from the station to the palaces is a steep climb, so it’s more comfortable to take bus 434 (it loops past the main attractions) or hire a car for the day. Guided tours of the palaces are easy to find on GetYourGuide — including tours with a transfer straight from Lisbon.
The cheapest option from Spain — FlixBus: from Madrid from €15–20 (7–8 h), from Seville from €10 (4 h). Comparing bus, train and flight in one place is convenient on Omio — sometimes the overnight Renfe Lusitânia train or a budget carrier turns out to be better value.
For citizens of most EU countries no visa is required — Portugal is part of the Schengen Area. From 2025, visa-free travellers are subject to the ETIAS system — an online pre-registration (the European equivalent of the US ESTA, with a fee). Visa or ETIAS validity has no bearing on eSIM coverage.
Lisbon is cheaper than Paris or Amsterdam, but pricier than Warsaw or Prague. An average tourist budget: €60–100/day (budget hostel, cafe, metro, one paid museum). Pastel de nata at a cafe — €1.30–1.50, espresso — €0.80–1, lunch at a local restaurant — €10–14, a fado dinner — from €35. The biggest budget item — accommodation: central apartment prices have risen sharply in peak season.
The most convenient option is to buy a Viva Viagem card at a metro ticket machine (€0.50 deposit) and top it up for the metro, trams and buses. A daily Carris/Metro ticket costs around €6.70 and pays off with 3+ rides. Tram 28 is included in the ticket — no separate purchase needed. Uber and Bolt work and average €5–8 across town. The funiculars (Bica, Lavra, Glória) are also within the ticketing zone.
Lisbon is one of the safest cities in Western Europe. Violent crime is extremely rare. The main risk — pickpockets on Tram 28, at viewpoints and in the crowds of Baixa: don’t keep your phone in your back pocket and don’t hang your bag behind you. Alfama is calm in the evenings.
An eSIM is the most convenient option: you activate it at home in advance, and data kicks in the moment you land. Portugal is covered by the Airalo Europe plan (from $5 for 1 GB, up to 20 GB). Physical SIM cards are sold at the airport (NOS, MEO, Vodafone), but they take time and are slightly more expensive. Roaming with some European carriers is free — check with your provider before you fly.
Online from the first minute at the airport — no roaming surprises, no SIM kiosks.
Read → 🚆How to get here from anywhere in Europe cheaply — all options in one place.
Read → 🚗Sintra, the coast and mountain roads — when a car is genuinely worth it.
Read → 🎫Fado, Sintra’s palaces and tastings — what to book in advance and where.
Read →