7 Days in Portugal Under $1,200: A Lisbon, Sintra and Porto Itinerary
You can do a full week in Portugal for roughly $800–$1,100 on the ground, flights excluded, by splitting it into four nights in Lisbon, a Sintra day trip and three nights in Porto. The big costs are the Lisbon–Porto train, hostel beds that run about US$10–25 in both cities, and a few palace tickets. Everything else, from viewpoints to tram rides, is cheap or free.
Where the money actually goes
Most of the budget is beds and food. On Hostelworld's Lisbon listings, dorms start around US$9 and cluster at US$11–23, while Porto dorms mostly sit between roughly US$16 and US$24. Budget about US$20 a night and seven nights costs around $140, or double that if you want a private room. Add two small city taxes: Lisbon charges €4 per person per night and Porto €3, both capped at seven nights, so this trip adds about €25 in total.
Food is where Portugal wins. Tourlane estimates an inexpensive restaurant meal at about $9–11, so $30 a day covers a pastry breakfast, a prato do dia lunch and a simple dinner. Over seven days that is roughly $210.
Days 1–3: Lisbon on foot and by tram
Spend day one in Alfama and Baixa, walking the hills and viewpoints that Visit Portugal's top-10 Lisbon list highlights, most of which cost nothing. Day two is Belém and the riverfront. Skip single tickets once you start riding transit: the Metro de Lisboa lists a €7.25 24-hour Carris/Metro pass against €1.72 for a single metro trip, so it pays off at about four rides. Day three is for LX Factory, a sunset at a miradouro and a free evening.
Day 4: Sintra without overspending
Sintra is the one place where costs can balloon. The official Parques de Sintra price list shows Pena at €45 for the full tour, €20 for the essential visit and €12 for the park only, with the Moorish Castle at €12. The cheapest good plan is the €12 Pena park ticket, which gets you the famous views, plus the €12 castle, for €24 total. Take the regional train from Lisbon rather than a tour. A tour often costs several times more than the train and tickets combined.
Days 5–7: Porto, where it gets cheaper
Take the train north on day five. The price depends on route, class, and how early you buy, so check the CP Intercidades fares page and book early, because CP's Promo tickets run up to 65% off. Tourlane puts a Porto–Lisbon train at around $44 on the day, so an advance fare is the single easiest saving of the week. In Porto, spend day six on the Ribeira waterfront and the Dom Luís I bridge and day seven on the Douro. The Porto and the North page on the official tourism site is a good starting point for a free walking route.
The rough total
Here is my estimate, not an official figure: about $140–280 for beds, $210 for food, $60–70 for local transit, $26 for Sintra tickets, $30–90 for the intercity trains and about $27 in city taxes. That lands around $800–$1,000. Leave roughly $150–$200 spare for a Sintra train fare, a port tasting and a couple of tram rides, and you stay under $1,200.
One entry rule to check
US, UK and other visa-exempt visitors now go through biometric checks. The European Commission confirmed the Entry/Exit System fully operational on 10 April 2026, so allow extra time at the airport. ETIAS is still expected later, so verify the current status before you fly.
People also ask
Is $1,200 enough for a week in Portugal?
Yes, excluding flights. Using hostel beds, cheap local meals, transit passes and one or two paid attractions, a week in Lisbon and Porto can cost roughly $800–$1,000. Private rooms, restaurant dinners and extra day trips push the total up quickly, so decide your splurge before you go.
How much is the tourist tax in Lisbon and Porto?
Lisbon charges €4 per person per night and Porto €3, each for up to seven nights, for visitors aged 13 and over, according to Idealista's 2025 guide. Rates can change, so confirm with your accommodation.
What is the cheapest way to see Sintra?
Take the regional train from Lisbon and buy only the park-only ticket at Pena for €12, plus the Moorish Castle at €12. Avoid the €45 full Pena tour unless the interior matters to you. Buy online through the official Parques de Sintra site.
Facts were checked against official and current sources as of October 7, 2026; prices and entry rules change, so confirm before you book.