Lisbon from the UK: what a trip really costs
What a day costs in Lisbon, when to go, the visa for British travellers and the sights not to miss. Every figure comes from Trip720's checked data, with its source. Updated 21 Oct 2026.
Plan my Lisbon tripTrip story
Lisbon in May: seven hills, one tram, a palace the colour of a child's drawing, and the custard tart queue
Five nights from Manchester in the shoulder season, with a day in Sintra and more steps than either of us signed up for.
Read Dan and Ellie's story →
Day to day in Lisbon, per person
| Style | Food | With transport |
|---|---|---|
| Street food and markets | £25 | £31 |
| A balanced mix | £52 | £58 |
| Mostly restaurants | £62 | £69 |
- Local transport: about £6 a day. Taxi: £3 to start, then £0.40 a km.
- Cooking for yourself: about £14 a day for food.
- Tourist tax: about £3 a person a night, paid at your stay.
- Tipping: about 5% where service is good.
Your stay, flights and activities come on top: the planner prices them for your dates. Sources: jornaleconomico.sapo.pt, cgd.pt, 4gnews.pt; in GBP at today's rate.
When to go
15°F
15°M
16°A
17°M
19°J
21°J
22°A
23°S
22°O
21°N
17°D
15°
The most pleasant months are March to October and December. July is the driest month (3 mm of rain) and November the wettest (92 mm).
Bars: rain each month; green: the most pleasant months. Numbers: average daytime high. Source: NASA POWER climatology.
Best time to visit Portugal, place by placeCompare: Spain or Portugal · Italy or Portugal · Greece or Portugal · France or Portugal
Visa for British travellers
No visa needed for a holiday
Official source: gov.uk, checked 2026-10-01. Rules change: your plan checks your own passport when you build it.
Not to miss in Lisbon
Belém Towertower · a couple of hours- Praça do Comérciosquare · a couple of hours
- Oceanário de Lisboaaquarium · a couple of hours
- Pastéis de Belémother · a couple of hours
Pena Palace, Sintrapalace · half a dayBook ahead. Buy online at least 3 days ahead for a discount; go early to beat the crowds
- Moorish Castle, Sintracastle · a couple of hours
Sintra National Palacepalace · a couple of hours
Quinta da Regaleirapalace · a couple of hoursDo not miss the Initiation Well
São Jorge Castlecastle · a couple of hours
Palace of Queluzpalace · a couple of hours
From our research of travel guides; ticket prices from Tiqets when we found them. Photos: Wikimedia Commons, free licences.
Questions travellers ask
How much does a day in Lisbon cost?
Food and getting around come to about £31 a person a day eating street food, £58 with a balanced mix and £69 eating mostly in restaurants, before your stay and activities.
When is the best time to visit Lisbon?
The most pleasant months are March to October and December. July is the driest month (3 mm of rain) and November the wettest (92 mm); daytime highs run from 15 to 23 °C over the year.
Do British travellers need a visa for Portugal?
No visa needed for a holiday. Checked on gov.uk on 2026-10-01; rules change, so check again before you book.
What should I not miss in Lisbon?
Belém Tower, Praça do Comércio, Oceanário de Lisboa, Pastéis de Belém, Pena Palace, Sintra.
Your whole Lisbon trip, priced from your door
Trip720 adds the flights from the UK, the stays, transfers, food, activities and the visa for your dates and budget, home to home.
Plan my Lisbon trip