Are you dreaming of going to Europe, but hesitant because Europe is not typically a budget friendly destination? Portugal is the place for you.

I recommend going in late April or early May. In May, the weather typically sits anywhere from 18-22 degrees. Europe wide (Portugal included) it is quite common that after June 1st the price of food, accommodation and activities doubles due to the influx in tourism. Going in May, you will avoid this.

I started my trip in Lisbon (Lisboa to the Portuguese), the capital city of Portugal and one of the oldest cities in Europe. I stayed in the Baro Alto area, at Safestay Hostel (Safestay Hostel had free breakfast daily-keep that in mind if you’re budget conscious when looking for somewhere to stay). Baro Alto is extremely lively, and known for its cheap nightlife (many students party in Baro Alto). When in Portugal, you must try Port wine (made in Porto Portugal, in the north), Ginja (these are cherry flavoured shots that are served in edible chocolate shot glasses) Sangria (I practically drank Portugal dry of Sangria), and Sagres and Super Bock beer, their local beers. In Portugal you can buy a 1L bottle of beer for two Euros. Can’t beat that. It’s probably sounding like all I did in Portugal was drink.

I told myself that because I was in Europe, I had to splurge on the food. I ate amazing seafood, chorizo (chorizo is everywhere in Portugal), paella and fresh fruit. Fresh fruit is sold on almost every street corner in Portugal. Portugal is known for their Pastel de Nata’s, a vanilla custard pastry (see below). They are stacked metres high in every bakery window, and are again, are both extremely affordable and addictive. Portugal is every foodies dream.

Visiting the famous Time Out Market is an absolute must. It is somewhat chaotic, with vendors selling unique and fresh dishes. It reminded me a lot of the St Lawrence Market in Toronto, if anyone is familiar. While you walk the market, Fado music plays (a form of Portuguese singing that is often associated with pubs, cafes and restaurants). I will say that the Time Out Market was not budget friendly, but I felt it was worth the splurge.

 

Portugal is a fairly small country, which means that flying between cities is not necessary. After Lisbon I took a public bus to the small town of Albufeira, which felt like a tiny village in Greece. The drive from Lisbon to Albufeira was extremely easy, took three hours, and was only 16 Euros. Albufeira is a beach town, and part of the famous Algarve Coast. I only spent one night in Albufeira before heading to Lagos, which I felt was long enough.

When you Google search pictures of Portugal, you are likely seeing the beautiful Algarve Coast. Originally I booked only two nights stay in Lagos, but every morning I woke up and walked down to the front desk asking if I could extend my stay. I loved it so much that I did this five times. Lagos is a beach/surfers paradise.

I will say that I found Lagos to be more expensive than Lisbon, however it was still affordable. The trade off is that you are minutes away from a plethora of beaches, most of which are within walking distance of each other. Because everything is so close in proximity to each other, you will save money on transportation. My all time favourite beach I visited in Lagos was Praia de Camilo (voted best beach in the world by Conde Nast Traveller Magazine!). It was extremely quiet, I assume due to the hundred or so stairs you had to take to get down to the sand.

Kayaking through the caves in Lagos is a must. I do not recommend booking anything ahead of time, as there are hundreds of companies offering tours at competitive rates. I did this in Lagos, however I heard from multiple people that the best place to do this is in Benagil. Benagil was quite off my route so I stuck with Lagos.

If you’re a sun seeker like me, click here to learn more about Lagos’ many beaches.

I would go back to Portugal in a heartbeat, especially Lagos. Next time I would be interested in exploring the harbour city of Porto, and the many surrounding wineries. Many tourists also visit Morocco while they’re in Portugal, as you can get there quickly via boat or plane. Portuguese people are extremely friendly and welcoming to the tourists. I enjoyed Portugal because it was a little less “glam” than other European countries I have visited, like France or Italy. Absent are luxury stores such as Gucci or Louis Vuitton. Instead, you’re more likely see dirty fisherman carrying home their dinner, and granny’s selling their crafts on the side of the road.