How much does it cost to visit Porto?

Porto is, as I always say, “a bargain dressed like a chic European city.” If you’re travelling and want a straight answer, you’ll find a realistic budget by trip length, season and travel style so you can plan without surprises. With smart decisions, a 3-day getaway can come in under €200 (excluding flights). If you buy your ticket late, expect your total to rise accordingly. Below you’ll find grounded numbers, practical tips and seasonal adjustments to match your travel style.

Quick budget for travellers: what you’ll spend in 2, 3 and 5 days

Straight to the point. Figures by traveller profile and trip length (stay + food + getting around + 1–2 paid experiences).
Flights are shown separately—just add your own return fare to the totals below.

Trip totals — excluding flights

How these figures come together

• My real backpacker base: ~€45/day (≈ €22 bed, €15 food, €8 transport/entertainment).
• Extras like a Port wine tasting, Clérigos Tower and/or a six-bridges cruise can add €10–€30 to your total.
• Add your flight: totals above exclude flights so anyone (UK included) can plug in their fare.

Express tip: to keep 3 days under €200 (plus flights), look for an early fare and sleep in Vila Nova de Gaia; walk across Dom Luís I Bridge for the Ribeira vibes.

UK readers — quick flight note

Fares vary a lot by airport, dates and timing. From the UK, using budget carriers and booking in advance often keeps costs low; booking late can multiply the price. The article stays origin-agnostic so you can add your own return fare to the totals above.

Flights to Porto: how to pay less (and avoid bad timing)

• When to buy: roughly 4–6 weeks ahead works well for most weekend trips.
• Cheaper slots: Tuesday/Wednesday, very early or late departures.
• Back-up plan: consider alternate airports and flexible dates.
• Budget move: if your flight creeps up, balance it with a simpler apartment and daily Prato do dia meals.

Where to sleep and save: centre vs Vila Nova de Gaia

• Hostel bed (dorm): €15–€35; occasional steals €10–€12.
• Simple apartment (shared): €25–€30 p.p./night.
• Central 2–3★ hotel: from ~€45.
• 4–5★ & boutique: higher; best value off-season.

My go-to trick: “If the centre is pricey, I sleep in Gaia.” Cheaper, metro access, and postcard views of the old town. Cross the bridge on foot and enjoy the Ribeira.

Eat well for less: Prato do dia, francesinha and local tricks

• Prato do dia: €5–€7 (main + drink + coffee). My budget “Holy Grail.”
• Francesinha: €7 in humble spots; €10–€15 in iconic places (Café Santiago). Share it or it’ll knock you out for a nap.
• Bifana at Conga: ~€2.50.
• Classic cod dishes: €15–€22.
• Coffee ~€1.20 and pastel de nata ~€0.90.
• Tourist alert: Café Majestic is gorgeous yet pricey (coffee around ~€5). Go in knowing that.

My daily budget combo
Light breakfast → €1.5–€2.5 · Prato do dia → €5–€7 · Simple dinner → €3–€10. Result: ~€15/day and you eat like a king.

Payment methods & fees: squeeze more value from every euro

• Cards with fair FX: if your bank charges abroad, consider cards with interbank rates or no foreign fees.
• Contactless: Apple/Google Pay work great in Portugal. I pay almost everything by card and carry €20–€40 cash for tascas and coffee.
• ATMs: withdraw larger, less frequent amounts to dilute fixed fees; avoid machines showing extra surcharges.
• DCC trap: if a card machine offers to charge you in your currency, say no; pay in EUR to avoid padded exchange rates.
• Tipping: not mandatory; 5–10% only if you fancy it and service merits it.
• Safety: enable spend alerts, carry a backup card, shield your PIN.
• Splitting bills: group apps keep the maths painless.

Getting around Porto for less: Andante, airport metro and apps

• Walkable city, but those hills are real—wear comfy shoes.
• Airport metro (Line E): ~35 min to the centre; with Andante it’s cheap (about €1.6 depending on zones).
• Single tickets: ~€1.20–€1.80 (metro/bus by zones).
• Andante Tour 24h: ~€7–€7.5 if you’ll do 3–4 rides that day.
• Airport taxi: ~€30; Uber/Bolt in town: €3–€8.

My rule of thumb: if I’ll chain several rides in 24h, I buy Andante 24h; otherwise I pay singles and walk.

What’s free and what’s worth paying for

Free must-dos
Ribeira, Dom Luís I Bridge on foot, Jardim do Morro at sunset, azulejo façades and São Bento, many churches (check hours).

Paid with great value

• Clérigos Tower: ~€8 day / ~€5 night (leg-burner climb, top views).
• Lello Bookshop: ~€4 (go if you’re into it; weigh the queue/time).
• Gaia tastings: from ~€5.
• Six-bridges cruise: ~€20.

Budgets by profile: backpacker, standard and comfortable

Here’s a daily breakdown to scale your total by trip length.

Daily breakdown

My favourite balance: standard base; if flights get pricey, I switch one night to a simple apartment in Gaia and lean on Prato do dia.

How much cash to carry? Practical tips, common money traps and extras

Cash vs card
Portugal is very contactless-friendly, but I keep €20–€40 cash for tascas and coffee. Avoid money exchange in hyper-touristy spots.

Pitfalls that bloat your spend (learned the hard way)

• Buying flights late.
• Sleeping/eating only in Ribeira (you’ll pay a “view premium”).
• Sitting down without checking the menu in iconic cafés (hi, Majestic).

Typical extras
Souvenirs €5–€20, a bottle of Port, travel insurance €1–€3/day if you use it.

Seasonal table

How to apply it: if your 3-day base is €200 and you come in high season, calculate €200 × 1.20 ≈ €240 (or ×1.25 for peak bank-holiday demand).

When to add a guided tour

For tight schedules, a tour is a comfy shortcut; if you love slow wandering and keeping an eye on your wallet, this price guide has your back.

Clear advantages of going with a guide

• Time saver: cover the essentials in 2–3 hours (viewpoints, key quarters, stories) without getting sidetracked.
• Richer context: history, architecture and fun facts you won’t always find on signs.
• Optimised routes: designed to minimise hills and move smartly (great for families/groups).
• Flexible pace: private tours adapt to you (photography, food, wine, azulejos…).
• Money tips: locals share tricks to eat well for less, avoid tourist traps and get around cheaper.

When it pays off most

• Very short stays (half-day or one full day).
• Groups (friends/family): per-person cost often drops.
• High season or bank holidays (optimise time and reservations).
• When you want history + tasting or panoramas + Ribeira without logistics headaches.

What you typically get

• A walking route through the essentials (São Bento, Clérigos, Ribeira, viewpoints).
• Vetted recommendations to eat and toast without overpaying.
• Optional: ticket handling or extras (Gaia tasting, cruise, short transfers).

Curious about options and rates?
On tourtravelandmore.com you can check our prices and pick the format that fits your plan (private, themed, family). If it sounds right, we’d love to show you around.

Bottom line

My recipe for Porto on a budget: grab flights early, sleep in Gaia if the centre spikes, lean on Prato do dia and pay for 1–2 great experiences (Clérigos + a tasting). With that, 3 days under €200 (plus flights) are very doable. If flights climb, balance the books with simpler stays and set-menu meals. Porto keeps that “chic bargain” vibe—on the eyes and on the wallet.

FAQs

Can I do 3 days for €200?
Yes—if you score a decent fare, sleep in a hostel/apartment and use Prato do dia. If your flight is pricey, add that on top.

How much is the metro from the airport?
About €1.6 by zones with Andante; the ride is ~35 min.

Is €7 for a meal realistic?
Yes—tascas with Prato do dia (€5–€7). Add a coffee and you’re still under.

Is a guide worth it?
If you’re short on time or want deeper context, yes. If you enjoy meandering and saving, this price guide will do the job.

Salvador Rifourcat

I am Salvador Rifourcat, a social communicator and writer with a passion for travel and the stories that emerge at each destination.