Backpacking Lisbon (The Definite Budget Guide)

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Find your Perfect Hostel in Lisbon

Backpacking Lisbon guide: sunshine, streetcars, and custard tarts you’ll dream about for years. Lisbon is cheap-ish by Western‑Europe standards, packed with free viewpoints, and small enough that you can walk between neighborhoods—assuming your calves are cool with hills.

I’ve crashed here more times than I can count, so let me share the budget math, local hacks, and best cheap food and spots.

Pick your base wisely, and you’ll spend less time climbing the wrong staircase and more time chasing sunset over the Tagus.

Top Picks: The Best Hostels in Lisbon

Best for Hostel Newbies

Living Lounge Hostel9.5

from $14.85 | More Details

Best for Female Solo Traveler

Goodmorning Solo Travel...9.5

from $22.63 | More Details

Best Party Hostel

Home Lisbon Hostel9.4

from $15.63 | More Details

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Budget & Estimated Daily Costs in Lisbon

Backpacking Lisbon sits in the “moderate” lane: pricier than Prague, kinder than Paris.

• Budget day: €45‑€60—dorm bed, two bakery meals, one cheap dinner, public transport, and a beer.
• Comfort day: €80‑€100—smaller dorm or cheap private, café brunch, seafood dinner, tram pass, museum tickets, and a couple of drinks.

Card payments work almost everywhere, but small cafés may still prefer cash.

Typical Daily Expenses in Lisbon

• Accommodation (hostel dorm): €18‑€30 in shoulder season; add €10+ in summer.
• Food total: €20‑€25 if you mix bakeries and supermarket snacks.
• Breakfast: €3‑€4 for espresso + pastry.
• Lunch: €6‑€9 for a bifana sandwich or prato do dia.
• Dinner: €10‑€15 for grilled sardines with sides in a local tavern.
• Local transport: €1.80 per metro ride or €6.80 all‑day pass; trams included.
• Attractions: €0‑€12; most viewpoints are free, big museums charge.
• Entertainment & extras: €10‑€15 for two beers, gelato, or a cheap Fado show.

Overall, €50‑€60/day covers basics backpacking needs; €90+ adds comfort and nightlife.

Short and crisp: The Best Hostels in Lisbon

1. Lisbon Lounge Hostel - best for Family-Friendly Hostel, Female Solo Traveller, Solo Traveller
2. Lisbon Poets Inn - best for Family-Friendly Hostel, Solo Traveller, Youth Hostel
3. Oasis Backpackers' Hostel Lisbon - best for Party Hostel, Solo Traveller
4. Home Lisbon Hostel - best for Party Hostel, Solo Traveller, Youth Hostel
5. Goodnight Lisbon Hostel - best for Couples, Party Hostel, Solo Traveller

Lisbon Lounge Hostel

9.3

Santa Maria Maior

"…The bathroom is clean and water hot. The decoration is great, very modern and Ikea ingenuity. It more

from

$20.57

Lisbon Poets Inn

8.5

"…This part of Lisbon is hilly, so from Rossio it is an uphill climb over an unending flight of more

from

$28.38

Oasis Backpackers' Hostel Lisbon

9.0

"…I would stay there anytime. I've just arrived home from three nights at The Oasis in Lisbon and I more

Home Lisbon Hostel

9.4

Misericordia

"…It's HOME - We booked into the hostel for two nights and we ended up staying six. This hostel is more

from

$15.63

Goodnight Lisbon Hostel

8.9

Santa Maria Maior

Rua dos Correeiros 113, 2nd... more

from

$12.31

Money‑Saving Tips

• Grab the Menu do Dia—set lunches in family cafés cost half the dinner rate.
• Carry a reusable bottle; fountains in Alfama and Baixa pour free drinking water.
• Time your miradouro visits for sunset instead of paying rooftop‑bar prices.
• Pick up a rechargeable Viva Viagem card; single fares drop to €1.47.
• First Sunday of each month: major museums are free until 2 p.m.
• Skip tuk‑tuks; tram 12 covers the same hills for €1.80.

Getting Around Lisbon on a Budget

Central Lisbon is walkable if you don’t mind slopes. When legs protest, the combo below keeps costs down.

• Metro: fast, clean, four lines—ideal for airport runs.
• Trams 12 & 28: scenic and cheap; ride early to dodge crowds.
• Ferries: €1.30 to Cacilhas—great skyline views for pocket change.
• E‑bikes/scooters: handy for late‑night climbs; unlock fees + per‑minute rate.
• Day pass: €6.80 covers metro, buses, trams, and lifts—good on heavy sightseeing days.

Best Free & Budget‑Friendly Attractions

Free things to do for backpackers

• Watch sunrise from Miradouro da Graça—few tourists, pink skies.
• Explore LX Factory’s street art and weekend flea market.
• Stroll Alfama’s maze; get happily lost between tiled houses.
• Picnic in Jardim da Estrela under giant ficus trees.
• Window‑shop at Time Out Market before lunch rush.

Low‑cost attractions

• Castelo de São Jorge: €15 for towers and city views.
• National Tile Museum: €8 to understand those blue walls.
• Lisboa Story Centre: €6 for a crash course in local history.
• Pilar 7 Bridge Experience: €5 for lift ride + glass platform over the river.

Food and Drinks on a Backpacker Budget

• Bakeries: order two pastéis de nata for under €2—yes, two counts as breakfast.
• Tascas: tiny taverns serve €1.50 glasses of house wine and €10 seafood plates.
• Mercado de Campo de Ourique: grab tapas portions to mix and match for €5 each.
• Supermarkets: Pingo Doce deli counters sell roast chicken + sides for €7—great hostel dinner.
• Nightlife hacks: pre‑game with €1 mini beers (“imperiais”) from corner kiosks before Bairro Alto bars.

Experiences for Backpackers in Lisbon

• Free walking tour—tip the guide €5‑€10 for insider hacks.
• Sunset sail on the Tagus—group deals from €25 if you shop around.
• Day trip to Sintra for palaces; off‑peak train €4.60 return.
• Surf lesson in Costa da Caparica—€35 includes board and wetsuit.
• Fado night in Alfama’s tiny bars—covers charge around €10 with one drink.

7 Hidden Gemz for Lisbon (by Hostelgeeks)

How it works

Additional Tips & Final Thoughts

• Best time to visit: March‑May and late September—cheap beds, mild weather, lighter crowds.
• Book ahead: Summer hostels, Sintra palace tickets, and sunset cruises sell out fast; reserve a week or two before.
• Avoid tourist traps: Skip pricey tuk‑tuk circuits, and say no to €8 custard tarts near Santa Justa Lift—walk two streets away for €1.30.
• Safety first: Pickpockets love tram 28—keep zippers forward; use hostel lockers for laptops.
• Cultural respect: Beaches are for swimwear; city streets call for shirts. Lower your voice in Fado bars—locals treat the music like a live story.

Lisbon rewards slow walks, long coffees, and an open schedule.

Use this backpacking Lisbon guide as your cheat sheet, but leave space for serendipity—because the best memories here often start with “I turned left instead of right.”

Safe travels and enjoy the hills!

Backpacking Lisbon? Here’s What You Need to Know

These are the guides I wish I had before visiting. I’ve been there, had fun, did some minor mistakes, and now I’m passing the best tips on to you. Safe travels!

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About the author: Matt Kiefer

Hey, I’m Matt, the founder behind Hostelgeeks.com. My team and I are collecting the absolute best hostels in the world for you. We share the coolest hostels so you can focus on your travels, rather than spending your time trying to pick a good hostel.

Personally, I’ve bunked in over 600 hostels and stamped my passport in more than 70 countries. My heart beats for Vietnam, Spain, and France, and so many more destinations. I’m a Foosball champ but a beer pong amateur.

Last but not least: Hostelgeeks is a proud ambassador of Hostelz.com.