Should you visit Lisbon or Figueira da Foz?
Should I visit Lisbon or Figueira da Foz? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Lisbon
Portugal's capital city of Lisbon continues to grow in popularity as a travel destination. The cultural scene has come to life in recent years and the city itself is stunningly beautiful. It sits on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and is made up of hills that create a dramatic and scenic layout. The city has many white-bleached limestone buildings, narrow alleyways, and a laidback charm that appeals to visitors.
Figueira da Foz
Located along the glistening waters of the Atlantic Ocean, a bustling city thrives near its shores with towering skyscrapers guarding the city like metallic giants. Figueira da Foz, or simply Figueira, is nestled within the Columbia District and is both a city and municipality. Sheltered by the hills of Serra da Boa Viagem, Figueira is near the mouth of the Mondego River and right beside the Atlantic. Only about 40 kilometers from Coimbra, Figueira has a population of 46,600 and is the second largest city found throughout the region. Because it is a seaside city, Figueira subsists off of Portuguese as well as international tourism, maintaining its pristine beaches, supplying seaport facilities, and a plethora of restaurants, gift shops, cafes, and more. Some of the beaches include Quiaios, Cabedelo, Claridade, Costa de Lavos, Murtinheira, Leirosa, Molhe Norte, Cabo Mondego, and many more. Tourists are also attracted to Figueira because it is a well-known gambling spot in Portugal with the Casino da Figueira da Foz and the Casino da Figueira present and popular. There are also popular landmarks that are recommended by tourists to visit, such as Forte de Santa Catarina and Torre de Relogio. There is also a museum that features the history of the Figueira within the city. Whether you are looking to surf or sight-see, there is much to do in Figueira da Foz, Portugal.
Which city is cheaper, Figueira da Foz or Lisbon?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Lisbon is €103, while the average daily cost in Figueira da Foz is €88. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Lisbon and Figueira da Foz in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about €92 in Lisbon For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
The average price for accommodation for two people in Figueira da Foz is €78. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
Food
In Lisbon travelers spend around €33 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
While meal prices in Figueira da Foz can vary, the average travelers spends about €33 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Figueira da Foz should cost around €13 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Figueira da Foz is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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Food
Meals for one day
Lisbon €33
Figueira da Foz €33
Typical Food prices in Lisbon
For Lisbon, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lisbon
For Lisbon, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Wine & Dine Food Tour:
$22
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History and Flavors Half-Day Food Tour:
$29
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Virtual Portuguese Cooking Lesson:
$31
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Live Online Cooking Class from Pastel de Nata with Filipa:
$39
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Live Fado & Alfama Tour with Traditional Dinner:
$40
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Bohemian dinner party on a beautiful rooftop near the coast:
$42
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3-Hour Self-Guided Locals' Food Tour:
$48
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The magic of Pasteis de Nata cooking class in Lisbon:
$53
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Bitemojo Self Guided Food Tour New To Lisbon:
$54
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2-Hour Pastel de Nata Cooking Class:
$55
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Zero-Waste Cooking Workshop:
$56
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Withlocals Your Way: Lisbon Personalised Private Food Tour:
$56
Local Transportation
Lisbon's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend €19 per person, per day on transportation in Lisbon.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around €27 per day to get around in Figueira da Foz.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Lisbon
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Lisbon:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lisbon
Also for Lisbon, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Airport Private Transfer in Van to Caldas da Rainha or Óbidos or Fátima:
$165
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Airport Private Transfer in Van to Cascais or Sintra or Estoril:
$68
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Airport Private Transfer to Caldas da Rainha or Óbidos or Fátima:
$99
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Airport Private Transfer to Cascais or Sintra or Estoril:
$27
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Airport Private Transfer to Costa da Caparica or Almada:
$19
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Airport Private Transfer to Ericeira or Torres Vedras:
$46
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Airport Transfer:
$44
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Airport Transfer Lisbon:
$54
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Algarve Private Direct Transfer from Lisbon:
$760
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Arrival Private Transfer Business Car Lisbon airport LIS to Lisbon City:
$38
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Arrival Private Transfer Luxury Van Lisbon airport LIS to Lisbon City:
$49
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Arrival Transfer at Family & Friends:
$19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Figueira da Foz
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Figueira da Foz:
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Lisbon Private Transfer to or from Figueira da Foz:
$106
Is it cheaper to fly into Lisbon or Figueira da Foz?
Prices for flights to both Figueira da Foz and Lisbon change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Lisbon can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around €19 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around €11 per person, per day in Figueira da Foz. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Tours and Activities in Lisbon
For Lisbon, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Lisbon Downtown Tour - The Perfect Introduction to the City:
$1.24
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Rua Augusta Arch Admission Ticket:
$3.03
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Lisbon Historical Walking Tour:
$3.11
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Rua Augusta Arch Admission Ticket:
$3.41
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Contemporary Park of Nations Walking Audio Tour by VoiceMap:
$5.48
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The Soul of Alfama Self-guided Audio Tour by VoiceMap Lisbon:
$5.99
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Museu Coleção Berardo Admission Ticket:
$6.22
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Street Art Virtual Tour in Lisbon:
$6.22
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Skip the Line: Pilar 7 Bridge Experience Admission Ticket:
$6.22
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Lisboa Story Centre: 1-Day Admission Ticket:
$7.96
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Lisboa Story Centre Admission Ticket:
$8.09
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Lisboa Story Centre: 1-Day Admission Ticket:
$8.48
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Lisbon spend on average €14 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Figueira da Foz may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €16 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Lisbon
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Lisbon:
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Lisbon Pub Crawl:
$17
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Lisbon Pub Crawl with Free Drinks:
$18
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Lisbon Pub Crawl:
$18
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Lisbon 4-Hour Pub Crawl:
$18
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Alternative Pub Crawl with a Local Guide:
$28
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3-Hour Portuguese History & Flavors Food & Wine Tour:
$30
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Portuguese Wine Tasting and Cheese Lunch:
$44
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From Half-Day Wine Tasting Tour:
$50
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Christ the King and Arrábida Small-Group Tour with Wine Tasting from Lisbon:
$58
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From Private Wine Tour with Setúbal & Arrábida:
$61
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Sintra: Full-Day Tour from Lisbon with Wine Tasting:
$64
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Private Full-Day Arrábida Park and Wine Tour:
$67
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lisbon and Figueira da Foz, we can see that Lisbon is more expensive. And not only is Figueira da Foz much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Figueira da Foz would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Figueira da Foz and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Lisbon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lisbon than you might in Figueira da Foz.
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