Porto vs Lisbon: The Ultimate Decision [Updated for 2025!]

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I won’t make you wait for the good bits, so let’s dive straight in with a handy overall comparison for your trip to Portugal. Remember to read the whole guide, as this section is just a teaser of what’s to come!

Porto

• Size: Porto is Portugal’s second biggest city. It’s in the north of the country along the Douro River. 
• Why it’s famous: Ever heard of Port wine? Well, it’s made right here in the Douro Valley. The city’s historic Ribeira district puts it firmly on the backpacker map too!
• How to reach it: The Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport is a short metro ride from town. The €2 tickets are a steal. 
• How to get around: The great thing about Porto is that all the coolest things to see are within walking distance of one another. Not a fan of exploring on foot? Then catch the city’s metro or local buses.
• Accommodation on offer: From dirt-cheap dorm rooms in backpacker hostels to decadent hotel rooms – Porto has it all! You can find some pretty reasonable Airbnb apartments, too.

Lisbon

• Size: Lisbon is double the size of Porto and the country’s biggest city. 
• Why it’s famous: Lisbon is famous for its historical Alfama neighbourhood, its picturesque (and very yellow) Tram 28, and wild street parties in Bairro Alto. 
• How to reach it: The Humberto Delgado Airport is 30 minutes away from the city centre by bus or metro.
• How to get around: I have to say the city’s size is noticeable; it’s definitely less walkable than Porto. Luckily, the city has a whole host of public transport options. There are buses, trams, metro lines, and suburban trains!
• Accommodation on offer: Wondering whether the accommodation is better in Porto or Lisbon? Truth be told, they’re pretty similar. Lisbon just tends to be a little more on the glamorous side. 

Porto is rougher around the edges than Lisbon. Crumbling colourful tiled houses frame the narrow cobblestone streets, which lead you to unexpected places. Meanwhile, Lisbon is more chic and polished, decorated with glistening white casas and breathtaking viewpoints.

For Things to Do

Wondering whether you should visit Lisbon or Porto? You’re not alone. You can’t go wrong with either, but travellers always have a strong favourite. Personally, I was swept away by Porto’s grotty riverside bars and more local atmosphere, but it’s not for everyone!

History buffs will love Porto’s old-age charm and crumbling historical buildings, and the intricately azulejo-tiled facades in the Ribeira neighbourhood. It’s really one of the more beautiful spots in Portugal. Don’t miss the Capela das Almas! Even though Lisbon does have loads of awesome buildings, sadly, most of the city was destroyed in the 1755 earthquake, so they aren’t as laden with history. 

Urban explorers will fall head over heels for Lisbon’s reclaimed factory buildings that have been converted into trendy art hubs and startup incubators, like LX Factory and Mercado da Ribeira. But if you prefer wandering aimlessly and getting lost in your thoughts, then Porto’s cosy cobblestone streets are what you’re looking for. 

Lisbon is hard to compete with if you’re looking to ram each day full of things to do. Look over the city from the Senhora do Monte viewpoint, climb up the steep, narrow streets to the São Jorge Castle, or take a trip out of the city to the fairy-tale-like Sintra. If you’re a ‘do it all’ kind of traveller, Porto might fall short of things to do. 

This is probably why I loved Porto so much. I prefer taking it slow. Most evenings, you’d find me gulping down €1 beers and watching the sunset at the grubby kiosk bars blasting reggaeton under the Dom Luis I Bridge, which I justified to myself was a cultural experience.

Winner: Because of the sheer number of things to do, Lisbon takes the pedestal!

For Budget Travellers

There really isn’t much in it when it comes to comparing travel costs in Lisbon and Porto. Both are pretty budget-friendly destinations – you’re not going to get Asian prices, but compared to other European city breaks, they’re not break-the-bank locations. 

Overall, a trip to Porto does tend to work out a little cheaper, which I’d mainly put down to beer and eating out being cheaper. Obviously, being able to walk pretty much everywhere definitely helps cut costs, too. 

You’ll find yourself paying for more things like museum entrance fees and admission costs in Lisbon, too, which quickly start to add up. One thing that did surprise me is that hostels are cheaper in Lisbon, so you can save a few bucks on your bed! 

List of price comparisons:

Porto

• Central Accommodation Prices – Hostel downs cost around  €30 per night in the central Ribeira neighbourhood. A Porto Airbnb apartment for two is about  €110 per night.
• Main mode of transport – Get the multi-use Andante card, which you can keep topping up. A single journey costs €1,20, or you can get a day pass for €7,50.
• 1 restaurant meal – A cheap restaurant lunch at a local tascas costs between €8 to €15. 
• Beer – On average a pint of draught beer in Porto costs €2 (but you can find them for even cheaper).

Lisbon

• Central Accommodation Prices – A dorm bed in a cheap hostel in the sought-after Alfama neighbourhood costs as little as €20 to €25. Small apartments in Lisbon on Airbnb are about €130 per night for two people. 
• Main mode of transport – Get hold of a Viva Viagem card, which you can use on all the city’s transport systems. A single journey costs €1,85, and a day ticket is €6,40.
• 1 restaurant meal – Cheap prato do dia options cost about €10 to €15.
• Beer – Expect to pay €2.5 for a pint in Lisbon, a fraction more than in Porto.

Winner: Porto takes the lead when it comes to budget-friendly travel, but only by a margin! 

Porto Bello | Where to Stay in Porto

This super affordable studio is my top pick for budget travellers! It’s bigger than most studios, so it feels like a cosy apartment. There’s a sunny terrace with views too!

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For Couples

Heading out on a romantic trip and wondering whether to take your other half to Porto or Lisbon? Let me help! 

When it comes to romance, Lisbon’s panoramic hillside views that stretch over the city to the ocean are pretty hard to beat. Woo your partner with a ride on the quaint yellow Tram 28, then treat them to a melt-in-the-mouth pastel de nata in Lisbon.

That said, couples who cringe at the idea of taking romantic holiday pics to post on their social media might find Lisbon plain icky. Down-to-earth couples will prefer the less manicured streets of Porto. 

If you want to head out on adventurous day trips, Lisbon is for you! But if you’re quite happy sitting and enjoying the sun together on a local plaza, then head to Porto. 

Lisbon is the top choice for couples in need of pampering, too. From the moment you arrive, the city oozes glamour. Porto’s shaggy streets hardly scream luxury!  

Winner: Lisbon is without a doubt the top pick for a romantic getaway.

Lisbon Lounge Suites | Where to Stay in Lisbon

Colourful and quaint, this hotel in the charming Alfama neighbourhood is perfect for couples on a romantic getaway! My favourite part was the yellow tram passing by from my window.

For Getting Around

The great thing about Porto and Lisbon is that they both have great public transport links. Even if you decide you want to go further afield and visit places like Sintra, you can get there in just over an hour. Not having to get your head around renting a car is always a win!

But which city is easier to get around in, Porto or Lisbon? Having spent a good chunk of time in both, I’d say Porto. The main reason is that all of the city’s most popular attractions are within a few kilometres of one another, so you can explore the city on foot. Lisbon is much bigger (and surprisingly steep), so you end up hopping on and off buses and metros to get from A to B.

To give you an idea, it takes an hour by bus to get from Lisbon’s waterfront Belem Tower to the Castelo de São Jorge at the top of the hillside city. Getting from Porto’s famous Dom Luis I Bridge to the Capela das Armas on the other side of the Ribeira neighbourhood is nothing in comparison, and takes just 15 minutes on foot. 

Winner: Porto’s walkable city centre crams all the city’s top attractions into a short distance, making it the easiest to get around by a mile!

For a Weekend Trip

Now you have an idea of what there is to do in each city and how to get around, you’ll need to decide how long to spend in each. If you’re a busy-bee and you love a challenge, you probably could see most of Lisbon in a weekend, but personally, I think there’s just too much to do!

I was there for a long weekend, and I found myself getting completely paralysed by the amount of choice. Porto is much more manageable if you’re on a short trip. Even if you wanted to explore beyond the city centre, which you can pretty much see in a day, you’d have plenty of time to go on a tour or road trip to the Douro Valley.

Winner: Skip trying to cram too much in and getting FOMO on your weekend getaway. There’s no doubt Porto is better than Lisbon for a weekend trip!

For a Week-Long Trip

After a few days in Porto, as enamoured as I was, I did find myself thinking ‘Is this it?’ 

There are only so many times you can walk over the Dom Luis I Bridge and feel the same rush you did the first time. Even as I tried desperately to get lost in the city’s historical Ribeira neighbourhood, all the narrow, windy streets led me back to the same place. 

This was not an experience I had in Lisbon, where the only thing I saw twice was my hotel! After a week in Lisbon, you’ll still feel like you’ve barely scratched the surface. On the other hand, a week in Porto would definitely get a bit repetitive. 

Winner: If you’re going away for a week, avoid getting déjà vu in Porto and head to Lisbon!

170 miles separate the country’s two coolest cities. The good news? It’s actually very doable to see both! There are a few different ways to get between Porto and Lisbon. So why not ditch the Porto vs Lisbon debate and do both?

The comfortable route is by train. There are about 18 trains a day between the two, and the journey takes about 3 hours and 20 minutes to complete on average. The quickest journey is just over two and a hald hours.

It’s worth noting that although some trains go directly between the two, not all do, so check to see if you need to make a transfer. I didn’t realise this when I did the journey, and I almost missed my transfer! Luckily, I met some more informed backpackers along the way. The fare costs between €15 to €30, depending on how far in advance you book.  

The other option is the bus, which takes about 3 hours and 15 minutes. You can get a FlixBus between the two for as little as €5, which is a no-brainer if you’re on a tight budget! 

You could always rent a car and make your own way there, but seeing as the drive itself takes 3 hours and 10 minutes and you’d have to go through the hassle of renting a car as well as paying for petrol, I don’t think it’s worth it. 

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View on Osprey

Got a few more questions before you make your final decision on which city to visit! Well, that’s lucky, because I’ve only gone and written up an FAQ section for ya!

Don’t Forget Your Travel Insurance for Porto and Lisbon

No matter what you land on, having insurance for either of these Portuguese cities is SUPER important.

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.

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SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

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Are you a busy bee who likes to do it all? Or a smushy and romantic couple looking for somewhere to celebrate your anniversary? Then Lisbon, Portugal’s elegant capital, is the one for you. 

On the other hand, Porto beckons culture lovers who can look past the city’s wear and tear and can see the appeal of its more laid-back and local atmosphere. History lovers will also fall head over heels for the city’s understated landmarks and the intricate azulejo facades decorating the buildings in the Ribeira neighbourhood. 

Not sure which category you fit into? Then book a few extra holiday days off work and visit them both!  

Hopefully, this guide has helped you decide whether to visit Porto or Lisbon, a dilemma most backpackers will face.

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