Lisbon is good value for Western Europe, but the €4 nightly tourist tax, tram and metro fares and timed tickets in Belém add up. A day in Sintra, fado nights and the bread and olives put on your table are easy to forget.
Starts with a sample trip. Change any number to match yours.
Compare hotels in central Lisbon →The sample is 2 travelers for 4 nights. Your plan ($2,870) covers the main costs most people budget for, the ones you enter on the left. Costs people forget ($709, about 25% more for this trip) are the fees, taxes, tips and extras listed in the calculator. Prices were last checked on October 17, 2026.
Share of the $3,579 real cost. Nights and travelers multiply most of these costs, so changing either one moves the total the most.
6 of this trip's numbers link to a published price or rate. The rest are our estimates, and each one says what it is based on. You can also read how we calculate every trip.
| Cost | Default | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Airfare per person | $800 per traveler | Our estimate of a typical round-trip economy fare to Lisbon from a major US airport, often nonstop from the East Coast. Our estimate |
| Hotel per night | $180 a night | Our estimate for a mid-range double room in central Lisbon. Rates swing widely by season. Our estimate |
| Food per person, per day | $55 per traveler, per day | Our estimate for cafes, pastries and casual restaurants, about $55 per person a day. Our estimate |
| Cost | Default | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Checked bag fees Off by default | $90 per traveler | Most economy fares to Europe include one checked bag, so this is off by default. Basic economy fares charge extra. Source |
| Passports Off by default | $165 per traveler | A new adult passport costs about $165 and can take weeks. Our estimate |
| Airport transfers | $35 for the trip | The airport metro is €1.90 plus €0.50 for the card; a taxi is about €10 to €20 each way. Source |
| City tourist tax | $4.50 per traveler, per night | Lisbon charges €4 per person a night, about $4.50, for up to seven nights. Source |
| Metro, tram and bus fares | $25 per traveler | A 72-hour transit-only pass is about €20 and a Tram 28 ride is €3, so $25 covers a few days. Source |
| Jerónimos, Belém Tower and castle tickets | $45 per traveler | Jeronimos is €21, Belem Tower €15 and Sao Jorge Castle €15; $45 covers two of the three. Source |
| Sintra day trip | $45 per traveler | Our estimate for the train plus entry to one or two Sintra palaces, about $45 per person. Our estimate |
| Couvert | $3 per traveler, per day | Bread, olives and cheese brought to the table are charged if you eat them. Our estimate |
| Fado night Off by default | $40 per traveler | Fado houses usually charge a set dinner or a minimum spend. Our estimate |
| Phone data | $30 per traveler | An international plan or eSIM. Our estimate |
| Card fees | 3% of your plan | Foreign transaction fees on credit cards are usually around 3% of each purchase. Source |
| Travel insurance | 6% of your plan | Squaremouth says a comprehensive plan averages about 6% of the trip cost, usually 4% to 10%. Source |
| Pre-trip shopping | $60 for the trip | Our estimate for travel-size toiletries, sunscreen and small things bought before a trip. Our estimate |
| Pet boarding or sitter | $50 a day, if you check Pets | Dogster puts regular kennel boarding at about $35 to $85 a night. Overnight sitters at home cost more. Source |
For 4 nights with flights, a central hotel and food, plan on about $2,850. Once you add the costs most visitors forget, like the tourist tax, transit fares, Belém and Sintra tickets and card fees, it's closer to $3,600. Use the calculator above to match your own trip.
Lisbon charges €4 per person, per night, for up to 7 nights, so no more than €28 per person for one stay. Children under 13 don't pay. For two people over 4 nights, that's €32. Source
The metro is the cheapest way: €1.90 a ride plus €0.50 for a reusable Navegante card. A taxi to the center usually costs about €10 to €20. The Aerobus airport shuttle no longer runs. Source
It can be if you'll see about three paid sights a day. It costs €31 for 24 hours, €51 for 48 hours and €62 for 72 hours, and covers transit, Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower. You still need to book Jerónimos and Belém Tower time slots. Source
Many restaurants put bread, olives, butter or cheese on the table before you order. It isn't free; you're charged for whatever you eat. If you don't want it, just ask the server to take it away.