Porto : What budget to travel? Money and currency

Portugal has adopted the euro. Food prices in supermarkets, with VAT at 23%, will be similar to those in France. The country is no longer the eldorado of small budgets, but hotels, restaurants, bars and clothing are still significantly cheaper, especially in the north of the country. To promote art and culture in Portugal, and therefore in Porto, the prices for visits and museum admissions are very cheap. Admission is often free on Sunday mornings.

Porto : What budget for activities and outings?

Admission is free or with discounts (up to 50%) for holders of the Porto Card, a pass sold in tourist offices and at the airport. It is valid from 1 to 4 days. Some museums are free on the first Sunday of the month or on Sunday mornings. This is usually specified on their website. Museums can be visited free of charge on International Museum Day (May).

The Porto Card entitles you to discounts of up to 20% in many traditional souvenir stores.

Price ranges vary greatly from place to place, and for a cocktail you can pay between €5 and €15. Beer is around €2 for a half.

Porto : What is the budget for eating?

To eat cheaply, you'll need to go to small neighborhood restaurants where you can have lunch for around €15 per person. Tapas-style restaurants, wine bars and international cuisine are often more expensive. With drinks, you're looking at €20-25 per person.

It may sometimes be difficult to use your bank card in traditional places, especially for small amounts. Bring cash with you. If you're looking for a cheap drink, go for the local bars or the more typical places, which sometimes don't charge much. You can also buy a drink in a supermarket or wine cellar and enjoy it in a quiet square, park or on the banks of the Douro.

Porto : What is the budget for accommodation?

You'll need to budget around a hundred euros per night if you want to sleep in a top-class hotel. For young travelers on a budget, you'll find a multitude of youth hostels, most of them located in the heart of the city and very well maintained (count a little over twenty euros per bed in a dormitory). Between the two, you have all the pensions and apartments for rent. Here, you can get away with €50 - €70 a night. Some central agencies or small companies offer a few nice apartments in nice, lively neighborhoods.

Porto : Travel budget and cost of living

Despite untimely increases after the changeover to the euro and since the tourism boom, the cost of living in Portugal remains a little less expensive than in France's major cities. You need to take into account the tourist season, which will increase the price of your stay. Prices rise by up to 15% in summer (particularly for accommodation). This is especially true in seaside towns. Prices: 1 liter of petrol costs on average €1.70, 1 coffee between €0.60 and €2, 1 beer between €1 and €3.

Small budget: from €20 (camping, youth hostels or new-generation hostels) to €70 (modest guesthouses).

Medium budget: around €60 (staying in a very decent residencial or bed & breakfast).

Big budget: from €150 (staying in luxury or charming hotels).