Touring Lisbon Portugal on a Budget
Bargains and Deals in One of Europe’s Best Value Cities
Mar 23, 2009
A vacation in Europe doesn’t have to cost a fortune. In fact, right now is one of the best times for budget travelers to visit cheaply. Trans-Atlantic airline bargains abound, hotel rooms are discounted and package deals offer free or inexpensive extras. Portugal has always been one of Europe’s low cost destinations, and some of Lisbon’s best must-see sights are free.
Air Fare Bargains to Europe
Portugal’s own Airline, TAP Portugal, offers round-trip flights from Newark as low as $444, and their customers can package in car rental for about $25 a day and hotels for under $100 a night for two. Always compare costs of buying car rental with airline tickets, but it can usually save money.
Take a Cheap City Tour
The charming bright yellow streetcars on the #28 line travel from the hilltop Alfama quarter’s twisting narrow streets, past the Cathedral through the Bairro Baixa, past the hopping Docks entertainment district and on to the museum-filled Belem neighborhood. These vintage cars, with their clanging bells cover most of the prime places tourists want to see in Lisbon, and the cost is under $2. Smart visitors get their bearings with an overview of the city from this historic line.
Best Tourist Bargains in Lisbon
Save the most expensive museums until Sunday, when many are free until 2 pm. The Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, one of Europe’s great art collections featuring everyone from Rembrandt to Renoir, is free all day Sunday, and only $5 any day – one of the best museum values in Europe. The eye-boggling Coach Museum in the former royal riding school in Belem is free until 2 pm, but like the Gulbenkian, it’s regular admission is only $5.
Lisbon’s Free Must-See Sights
The city itself is the one must-see sight. Possibly the most authentic capital in Western Europe, Lisbon is not gussied up for visitors, but teems with everyday life. laundry hangs above the narrow steep streets of the old Moorish Alfama district, where stone staircases open suddenly onto terraces with spectacular views over the red tile rooftops to the broad blue Taugus River. Children play in the squares, cafes spill over the sidewalks inviting travelers to sit a while and watch the world go by.
Bargain Dining in Lisbon
Much cheaper than tourist or hotel restaurants, neighborhood tascas are among Europe’s best dining bargains. The food is plentiful, well prepared and tasty, and the atmosphere is lively and friendly. Travelers really feel part of local life in these informal restaurants, as they enjoy authentic local cuisine. A full dinner with wine will be under $20 – probably way under. Try Antigo 1 de Maio, on Rua da Atalaia in the Bairro Alto or Bonjardim, on Travessa de Santo Antão in Santa Justa. Order local dishes of pork or fish – grilled sardines are a lunch-time specialty. Ask to sample the house wine before ordering, but it is usually a good alternative to higher-priced bottles.
