Trip costs in Portugal – the price of 8 days
The cost of a family trip to Portugal can vary widely depending on the kind of experience you choose—whether that means a city break in Lisbon or Porto, a journey along the Algarve coast, stays in luxury hotels or simple vacation apartments, dining at Portuguese restaurants, or shopping at the supermarket and cooking for yourselves.
A family of 4 to 5 traveling to Portugal for a trip of about 8 days can expect to spend around NIS 12,000 to 20,000 on average—including flights (with luggage), accommodations, a rental car (if needed), food, attractions, insurance, connectivity, and a little shopping.
If you're hoping to travel on a lower budget—even under NIS 12,000—you can make it work by booking flights in advance, possibly with a connection through another European destination, staying in apartments outside the pricier areas of Lisbon or Porto, preparing meals in your apartment (or at least some of them), and focusing on free attractions such as walking tours, city parks, scenic viewpoints, and free beaches.
Portugal is considered one of the best-value destinations in Europe—so you can shape the trip as indulgent or budget-friendly as suits your style.
If you've been wondering, “How much does a trip to Portugal really cost?” We've put together a clear breakdown of the main expenses, with realistic price ranges and excellent money-saving tips—all without giving up the full Portugal experience.
The Main Costs: Flights, Accommodations, and a Car
Every trip to Portugal comes with a few core expenses that are hard—or impossible—to avoid, especially flights and accommodations.
Other costs depend on your travel style and itinerary, such as a rental car, which becomes especially useful if you plan to venture beyond the major cities—for example, to the beaches of the Algarve, rural destinations in northern Portugal, or nature-focused trips.
Flights to Portugal
Flight prices to Portugal—usually to Lisbon or Porto—can vary widely: in most cases, you’ll pay between €150 and €400 per person for a round-trip ticket, and sometimes more during peak seasons (summer and holidays) or when booking close to the departure date.
Pricing is influenced mainly by the type of flight (direct vs. connecting), the airline, the travel dates, and whether checked baggage and additional services are included.
How to Save on Costs
✔ Book as early as possible – especially for direct flights in summer and around the holidays.
✔ Check low-cost flights – Ryanair, Wizz Air, easyJet, and others offer discounted flights to Lisbon and Porto (sometimes with a connection).
✔ Stay flexible with dates and times – midweek flights and shoulder-season travel are usually cheaper.
✔ Consider arriving in or departing from nearby European cities (Brussels, Madrid, Paris) and then taking a connecting flight to Portugal—sometimes that works out better, especially in summer.
✔ Look into mixing airlines – fly out with one and return with another.
You can find more information and links to recommended flight-booking websites here…
Where to Stay: Hotels, Vacation Rentals, and Guesthouses
Portugal offers an impressively wide range of places to stay, from luxury hotels and simple guesthouses to vacation rentals, campgrounds, estates, and holiday villages in rural areas and along the coast.
The options vary by destination—in major cities like Lisbon and Porto, hotels are the most common choice, though vacation rentals are also very popular.
In rural regions and along the Algarve coast, you’ll find plenty of guesthouses, private holiday homes, boutique hotels, and family villas for rent.
Quality levels vary widely as well, and naturally that affects the price. It’s worth choosing accommodations that match both the style of your trip and your family setup.
Basic accommodations usually cost 50–90 euros per night,
mid-range places typically run around 100–150 euros per night,
and luxury hotels or stays in the centers of popular cities start at 180 euros and up per night.
How can you save on costs?
✔ Book early—it won’t always guarantee the lowest price, but it will usually give you a better selection at reasonable rates.
✔ Choose your location wisely—staying outside the city center or in nearby villages can significantly lower the price, sometimes by dozens of euros per night.
✔ Airbnb and vacation rentals—this is a very popular option in Portugal, especially for families. Apartments with kitchens can also help cut food costs.
✔ Look for off-season deals—you’ll find lower prices in winter and spring, even in tourist areas.
Car Rental
If your trip is focused on just one city—for example, Lisbon or Porto—you really won’t need a rental car. In fact, with convenient, inexpensive public transportation, expensive parking, and heavy traffic, having a car in the city can easily become more hassle than help.
On the other hand, if you’re planning to travel outside the cities—along the Algarve coast, through the villages of the Alentejo region, or between the natural sites of northern Portugal—a rental car is a convenient solution and often a necessary one. It gives you the freedom to stop whenever you like, reach rural areas, and shape your route on your own terms.
The price depends on several factors:
- Pick-up location (for example, renting outside the airport is usually cheaper)
- Time of year
- Type of vehicle (compact, SUV, minivan, etc.)
- Driver’s age—there is an extra charge for drivers under 25
Average price range:
Small car: €25–45 per day
Family car: €50–80 per day
Luxury vehicles or a minivan: €90 and up per day
How can you save money?
✔ Choose a small, fuel-efficient car—it will cost less both for the rental itself and at the pump.
✔ Check whether full insurance is included—sometimes it’s worth adding damage/theft coverage in advance to avoid unexpected costs later.
✔ Picking up and returning the car in the same location is significantly cheaper than a one-way rental.
✔ Additional driver—make sure you really need one, as this can sometimes be an expensive add-on.
✔ Compare prices between companies—there can be a difference between booking directly and reserving through sites like Rentalcars, Discovercars or Auto Europe.
✔ Bring child safety seats from home—it’s much cheaper than renting them daily through the car rental company.
On this page you’ll find helpful tips and also enjoy a few exclusive discounts for site readers.
Want to check the cost of renting a car? Click here…
Finished planning? Now it’s time to explore Portugal—and there are ways to save here, too…
Attractions and admission to sites
In Portugal, as in many tourist cities across Europe, you can save on admission to sites and attractions by purchasing tourist cards (Lisboa Card, Porto Card, and more).
These cards offer free or discounted entry to major museums and landmarks, and sometimes also include unlimited use of public transportation, rides on trams and buses, and discounts at shops and restaurants.
Most cards are sold by duration (24, 48, or 72 hours) or based on the number of attractions you choose to visit.
You may also find vouchers or discounts for individual attractions at hotels and tourist information centers.
Children, students, and seniors may sometimes qualify for reduced prices even without a tourist card.
Examples of common cards:
- Lisboa Card – includes free or discounted entry to major sites such as Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower, Santa Justa Lift, trams, and more.
- Porto Card – includes public transportation in the city, admission to museums such as the Serralves Museum, discounts at wineries, tours, and more.
- Sintra Pass – offers combined packages for Pena Palace, Sintra Castle, and other sites in the area.
Important tips:
✔ Check what’s included – not every site you want to visit is necessarily covered, and admission may sometimes be limited to certain hours.
✔ Match the card to your itinerary – if you’re only visiting 1–2 sites, buying individual tickets in advance may be a better value than a full day pass.
✔ Buy online in advance – on most websites (including GetYourGuide, Tiqets, or the official Lisboa Card website), you can purchase a digital ticket ahead of time, save time in line, and secure availability.
Food
What you’ll spend on food in Portugal depends on where you are—whether that’s Lisbon or Porto, small villages, or popular tourist destinations like Sintra or Madeira Island.
Prices are usually higher in tourist areas, but even so, Portugal makes it easy to find filling, good-quality meals on a fairly modest budget.
In Portugal, a light meal at a local restaurant or café will usually cost €7–10 per person (for children or as a lighter meal), while a full meal at a standard restaurant typically runs €12–20 per adult.
At upscale restaurants, prices can reach €30 or more per person.
On average, you can estimate around €12–15 per person for a meal at a regular restaurant.
How can you save money?
Cook for yourselves—if you’re staying in an apartment with a kitchen, shopping at supermarkets like Pingo Doce, Continente, or Lidl and preparing your own meals can cut costs significantly.
Eat like a local—look for small eateries (Tascas), cafeterias, or street stalls offering a daily menu (Prato do Dia) at reasonable prices, often with authentic Portuguese dishes.
Buy snacks and fruit at markets—farmers markets and small shops often sell fruit, vegetables, and fresh products for much less than supermarkets and restaurants, making it easy to put together simple, healthy meals.
Travel Insurance, Connectivity, Guidebooks, and Maps
Travel insurance is more than just another box to check — it’s a safety net that could save you thousands of shekels if something goes wrong.
Even if you’re healthy, it’s a small expense for major peace of mind.
That’s why it’s highly recommended to purchase quality travel insurance — even though Portugal is a European destination with good public healthcare, tourists do not have access to it free of charge.
The cost of this type of insurance usually ranges from €1–3 per person, per day, depending on age, the nature of the trip, and the level of coverage included (trip cancellation, baggage, adventure activities, and more).
Free insurance offered through credit cards typically provides only basic coverage and is not enough for trips that include activities such as water sports, cycling, or driving a rental car.
Mobile connectivity – Portugal is part of the European Union, so most mobile data plans from Israel include roaming across Europe at no extra charge (for example through Pelephone, Cellcom, Partner, HOT Mobile, and Golan Telecom).
That said, these plans can sometimes be relatively expensive. It’s worth checking the cost of a local SIM card in Portugal or an eSIM plan, both of which can help lower costs, especially for longer stays.
For one to two weeks, a mobile plan in Portugal (local SIM or eSIM) costs around €10–25 per person, depending on the amount of data and the type of plan.
Guidebooks and maps – If you like planning your routes in advance, it’s a good idea to bring along a printed guidebook or a digital guide (PDF or an app with itineraries).
Expect to pay around €10–20 for a printed guidebook and €5–10 for a road map or a national park map.
In more remote parts of Portugal, such as the Azores or the Guarda region, it’s wise to pick up physical maps ahead of time.
Fuel and Parking
During a week-long trip in Portugal, especially if you're driving between cities, rural towns, or nature sites, you’ll likely need to fill up at least twice, depending on the length of your route and the type of vehicle.
Average fuel cost: around €15–30 per day for a standard rental car, depending on your route, fuel consumption, and vehicle type. Smaller cars or hybrids can reduce costs significantly.
Money-saving tip: It’s worth renting a small, fuel-efficient car and filling up at gas stations outside the major cities, where prices are usually lower.
Toll Roads (Portagens)
Portugal has fast toll roads, especially in areas such as:
- the route between Lisbon and Porto (A1)
- the southern coastal stretch (A22 – Algarve)
- connections between central Portugal, the valleys, and the north
The cost ranges from €1 to €10 per section, and sometimes more on longer drives.
Rental car companies offer electronic toll devices (Via Verde), which can save time and eliminate stops. The cost is usually around €1–2 per day, plus charges based on actual use.
Parking
- In major cities such as Lisbon and Porto, parking in the city center can cost €10–30 per day, and sometimes more in high-demand areas.
- At hotels, check whether parking is included. Some places charge €5–15 per night for parking.
- In towns and villages, parking is usually free and easy to find.
- At nature sites and national parks, entry sometimes includes a fee of €2–5 per car, which also covers parking.
Final Tips:
- Check in advance whether your accommodation includes parking.
- Apps like Parkopedia, EasyPark, and Google Maps can help you find reasonably priced parking.
- Try the Mais Gasolina app.
Trip Cost Summary
Price for a couple for 7 days
Flights: €300–€800
Accommodation: €400–€1,200
Rental car / public transportation: €150–€400
Fuel, tolls, and parking: €100–€200
Attractions: €50–€120
Food: €200–€350
Insurance and communication: €40–€80
Books, maps, and general expenses: €10–€30
Estimated total cost for a one-week trip for a couple:
Minimum: about €2,200
Maximum: about €3,500
Price for a family with 2 children for 7 days
Flights: €600–€1,600
Accommodation: €500–€1,400
Rental car / public transportation: €200–€500
Fuel, tolls, and parking: €150–€250
Attractions: €80–€200
Food: €350–€600
Insurance and communication: €80–€140
Books, maps, and general expenses: €20–€40
Total estimated price for a one-week family trip:
Minimum: about €4,200
Maximum: about €7,000
In summary, there is a very wide price range. It depends mainly on how early you plan and book, but also on your choices for flights, accommodations, car rental, and spending on various activities, and it is possible to travel in Greece at relatively low cost.
Please also note that the estimate above includes almost all expenses (excluding, for example, gift shopping and similar purchases).
What about dollars? Where should you buy foreign currency before a trip to Portugal?
During your trip to Portugal, it’s best to combine credit card use with euro cash that you bring from home in advance.
Why? Because most Israeli credit cards charge a foreign currency conversion fee of around 2%–4% on every purchase — and that adds up very quickly.
What about withdrawing cash from an ATM in Portugal? In most cases, it’s an expensive transaction: you’ll pay a withdrawal fee, may run into unfavorable exchange rates, and could also be charged third-party fees by the local bank. For that reason, the recommendation is to bring euro cash from home in advance and use your credit card mainly for larger expenses such as hotels, car rentals, online shopping, and similar purchases.
Where is the most cost-effective place to buy euros?
Banks – easy to access, but usually offer less favorable rates and extra fees. The wait times and bureaucracy are not always convenient either.
Withdrawing from the bank’s ATM – usually comes with high fees.
Postal Bank – a better option. It often offers more favorable rates (especially for larger amounts), but requires advance coordination and an in-person visit to a branch.
Change – usually the most cost-effective option, with good rates and no unnecessary fees. It’s worth comparing between branches, as the differences can be significant.
FlyMoney – a convenient solution for anyone who wants to order euros from home. It’s a secure service supervised by the Ministry of Finance in cooperation with Bank Hapoalim, allowing you to place an order through the website using a credit card with no fees. You can pick up the euros at Ben Gurion Airport (a counter open 24/7 in Terminal 3). The rates are usually reasonable and sometimes slightly higher than at a regular change office, but the convenience of the process makes it an excellent option.
Want to check prices or order dollars in advance? To purchase through FlyMoney, click here…
(You can also search Google for: “FlyMoney foreign currency purchase”).
(You can also click the image)
