“By day Lisbon has a naive theatrical quality that enchants and captivates, but by night it is a fairy-tale city, descending over lighted terraces to the sea, like a woman in festive garments going down to meet her dark lover.” - Erich Maria Remarque, The Night in Lisbon
If you have already booked your flights, then it is time to consider where to stay in Lisbon!
If so, then keep reading because this article offers advice on Lisbon hotels as well as serviced apartments in Lisbon. It takes a look at where to stay in Lisbon, the different kinds of accommodation to choose from, and offers a sound budget guide.
There are approximately 505k residents within the 83.7km² of Lisbon. This makes it the 15th most populated city in Europe and accounts for just over 26% of Portugal’s populace. One of the reasons why it is such an attractive European destination is because of its relatively low cost of living. Having said this, it is also more difficult to find accommodation in Lisbon.
There’s no doubt, your choice of accommodation in Lisbon will make or break your trip, so let’s dive in. Your decisions about where to stay in Lisbon will help you to plan your sightseeing and trips to its many top attractions.
A Quick Overview: Accommodation in Lisbon Portugal
Portugal is often described as one of the most ideal destinations, but trying to find serviced apartments in Lisbon or hotels to suit your budget can quickly take the excitement out of your trip. Unless you have the inside track on where to stay in Lisbon, of course.
Thanks to the warm Mediterranean climate, cool Atlantic winds, low taxes, and low cost of living, Lisbon is home to many ex-pats and a destination for many tourists.
In fact, its close location to the Alentejo, the Algarve, and Porto, have made it responsible for a growing number of tourists.
This tourist population in Portugal has significantly impacted accommodation in Lisbon with increased demand and rising rental costs to go with it.
With a shortage of accommodation in Lisbon hotels and rentals yielding such a good return, many international investors who have joined the Golden Visa Programme are investing in serviced apartments in Lisbon. These investors are meeting the need for accommodation in Lisbon, while they gain from capital investment, passport, and tax perks.
There is such a demand for where to stay in Lisbon that property prices have driven locals out of the property market en masse. Having said this, Portuguese people remain extremely hospitable and welcoming to tourists from all over the world.
Landlords seem set to make the most of tourism and are offering their serviced apartments in Lisbon for rent on platforms like Airbnb. This more profitable model means that there are many options when it comes to where to stay in Lisbon.
You have so many choices. You could stay in the Bairro Alto, the Alfama, or Chiado and explore the history, culture, and architecture of the city centre just a few steps from your door?
So if you are looking for accommodation in Lisbon Portugal, there are a few platforms worth visiting to help you find self-catering apartments:
- Airbnb
- HomeAway
- Facebook Marketplace
- Sapo
- OLX
- Idealista
OLX and Idealista are excellent sites with good searching tools for finding serviced apartments in Lisbon.
Airbnb or Lisbon Hotels?
With Belém, Sintra, Setúbal, Estoril and the small towns along the Tage, it's not difficult to find accommodation in Lisbon, Portugal.
Launched in 2007, Airbnb has helped to alleviate the demands placed on Lisbon hotels.
To find a better price on the website, it’s a good idea to set alerts according to several criteria like dates, amenities, and the number of people in your party. Also, make sure that you check out the interactive map.
Of course, if you’ll only be in the city for a few nights, you could book a swanky apartment facing the Tower of Belém gardens.
Remember that when you approach the Lisbon city centre, prices will ramp up especially in the Bairro Alto or Cais do Sodré.
For instance, it could cost you in excess of €500 for a week for two people in the city between Cais do Sodré station and the Miradouro de Santa Catarina.
Looking for accommodation in Lisbon Portugal on a budget is challenging, but definitely not impossible.
You could check out options that are north of the city where youth hostel dormitories are popular.
Find out everything you need to know about visiting Lisbon.
Using HomeAway instead of Lisbon Hotels
Would you like to stay close to the Castelo São Jorge or near to the Praça do Comércio?
Try HomeAway which is a good competitor to Airbnb that offers more than two million properties in 190 different countries.
Learn Portuguese with a private tutor and make your trip to Lisbon more enjoyable.
The website works in the same way as Airbnb, only with more options. Rates are generally costlier even for shorter stays.
The benefit is that HomeAway is focused on listing serviced apartments in Lisbon that boast excellent locations. This means that you could find yourself settling into a home next to UNESCO world heritage sites like the Jerónimos Monastery or the Tower of Belém.
Not too far from the Padrão dos Descobrimentos, there is a monument to celebrate the era of Vasco da Gama and other Portuguese explorers that face the Atlantic Ocean and the “New World”.
If you’re searching rates for accommodation in Lisbon Portugal, like most places you can expect that they will vary greatly with the seasons. You can budget for higher prices during the high season which is between May and September and look out for great deals during autumn and winter.
Bear in mind that it will be more challenging to find accommodation during the high season so book early to avoid disappointment, especially if you want to be there in July.
Find out what do when spending time in Lisbon.
Budget and Where to Stay in Lisbon
If you are struggling to find accommodation in Lisbon during season, do not worry, there are still options for your romantic getaway or business trip!
With reasonable flights, a three-day Lisboa Card (at €17 per day) which will allow you to use public transport to visit top attractions like museums and monuments, you will be on your way to staying within a healthy budget.
With some careful planning, a trip to Portugal can be very affordable, but also extremely enjoyable. You’ll have magnificent views, sandy beaches, historic neighbourhoods , and excellent nightlife to keep you entertained.
Try Booking.com which lists plenty of affordable accommodation like youth hostels only 5km from the city in Belém for under €30.
You can filter your results to meet your own specific criteria and find tons of options for a budget holiday or language immersion trip!
After browsing the various offerings, you could book accommodation directly on the site.
Fortunately, Lisbon is not the only destination in Portugal that you can visit on a budget. The same is true for Coimbro, Porto, or the Azores. These picturesque places have scores of accommodation in great neighbourhoods to choose from near all the best attractions. And if you are willing to do your sightseeing outside of the high season, you could plan a more affordable holiday too.
How much Portuguese do you know? Or are you going to Portugal to hone your language skills?
Why not learn Portuguese with the help of a private tutor on Superprof?
The many benefits of private tuition are well known. Apart from being the fastest route to progress in any subject, one on one tutoring is especially helpful when learning a second language.
Students also have the advantage of flexible and convenient scheduling, tailor-made lessons, and informal settings.
Superprof also removes all the hassle of endless internet surfing and provides peace of mind in knowing that tutor’s credentials have been verified.
There’s the option of face-to-face lessons where you could use the location finder to find a Portuguese teacher near you, or you could opt to connect with hundreds of other teachers from all over the world.
Finally, you could make use of the free starter lessons offered by many of the teachers to find out more about the tutor’s teaching style and background. This is also a good time to establish whether they are a good personality fit for you too.
Don’t forget to check out their profile page for past student reviews and make it very clear why you want to learn Portuguese. If you would like to learn some property market business jargon or prepare for a permanent residency visa language test so that you can invest in accommodation in Lisbon, it might take a bit longer than simply needing a few phrases for your summer holiday.
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