A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Phuket vs. Lisbon for Food, Nightlife, Beaches, and Backpackers

Should you visit Phuket or Lisbon?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Phuket or Lisbon, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Phuket

Phuket is a stunning, activity-filled, and energetic resort island. Phuket offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and shopping. See Phuket travel costs.

Lisbon

Lisbon is a stunning, picturesque, and colorful city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. The famous beauty of Lisbon is one of the main draws. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Lisbon travel costs.

Phuket and Lisbon: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Phuket or Lisbon?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Lisbon than Phuket, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Lisbon is more popular for its museums and attractions, food, music, historical sights, shopping, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Phuket is known for its resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, and beaches. Phuket is more touristy than Lisbon and is popular for its long sandy beaches, wild nightlife, colorful resorts, and easy access to day tours. Lisbon is popular for its hilltop vistos, beautiful old town, and lively Fado music. It is also home to Castelo de São Jorge.

How is Phuket different from Lisbon?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Lisbon and Phuket. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Phuket or Lisbon?

Lisbon is an amazing city to visit for its museums and landmarks. However, Phuket does not have museums and landmarks.

The museums, monuments, and landmarks in Lisbon are among the most recognizable in the world. World renowned landmarks include St. George's Castle, Jerónimos monastery, the Belém Tower, Santa Justa Lift, and countless world class museums.

Phuket does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Phuket or Lisbon? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Lisbon is an amazing city to visit for its restaurant scene. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Lisbon is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. There are many local restaurants as well as food tours and cooking classes that you can enjoy. Make sure you try the local favorites like bacalhau à brás, frango no churrasco, and pastel de nata. Given the beautiful climate, outdoor seating is also popular. Head into the less touristy neighborhoods to try some local dishes or hit up a seafood market. There are also many cafes that offer great breakfasts with fresh ingredients.

Phuket has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. Because it served as an international port for so long, food around the island has many international influences. For the most authentic local food, head into Phuket Town. Many dishes include seafood, but there are also chicken curries and noodle soup. Like elsewhere in Thailand, the food can be quite spicy but because the island is so touristy, they're accustomed to people asking for "no spice."

Is Phuket or Lisbon Better for Nightlife?

It's hard to distinguish whether Phuket or Lisbon has a better nightlife scene.

Phuket has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. The island has a long running reputation as a party destination and it lives up to expectations. The biggest party area is Patong, particularly around Bangla Road, but even in Kata and Karon, it's hard to escape the party atmosphere.

Lisbon is a party destination, and you'll find plenty of activity all night long. It is a bustling city with a lot of energy late into the night. There are countless bars, clubs, and music venues that cater to every personality type and style. Whether you want a more relaxed vibe or a raging party, there is likely an place for you.

Is Phuket or Lisbon Better for Music?

Lisbon is an amazing city to visit for its live music scene. However, Phuket is not a live music destination.

Live music, and music in many other forms, is everyone in Lisbon The local folk music, fado, is popular here, but there are also venues that host almost any other style of music as well. You'll also find several fado museums around town.

Phuket is not a live music destination.

Is Phuket or Lisbon Better for Resorts?

Phuket is an unbeatable place for its luxury resorts. However, Lisbon is not a resort destination.

For the ultimate resort vacation, Phuket is a great choice. It's easy accessibility and larger size make this the premiere resort destination in Thailand. There are five star resorts, family-friendly resorts, and everything in between. Many people use the island as a base for exploring other nearby islands. Any resort or tour company can arrange excursions or activities for guests.

Lisbon is not a resort destination.

Is Phuket or Lisbon Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Phuket is a very popular place for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Lisbon is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Many visitors partake in scuba diving or snorkeing while visiting Phuket. You can dive and snorkel year round, but the visibility is usually best between November and May. There are countless boat tours available and the easy accessibility make this a good base for snorkeling and diving. Many areas are overrun with tourists though, so it'll be hard to find a quiet, undisturbed location.

Lisbon is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Phuket or Lisbon Better for Beaches?

Phuket is an unbeatable place for the beach. Also, Lisbon is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its beaches.

Travelers come from around the world to visit the beaches in Phuket. The island has more than 30 beaches to choose from, ranging from party hard areas to a few quieter gems in more remote locations. The area became a world-famous destination because of its white sand beaches and crystal clear waters, and the beaches will not disappoint, even if development has taken over the island.

Many people head to Lisbon to enjoy the beach. The beaches are often overlooked by visitors, but the coastline near the city is lined with beautiful sandy beaches that are arguably among the best in the area. If you want to get away from city life, head for the water.

Is Phuket or Lisbon Better for its Old Town?

Lisbon is an amazing city to visit for its old town. However, Phuket does not have a historic old town.

Lisbon offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. The city is famous for the Alfama area, which is where you find the traditional buildings, cobblestoned streets, wandering alleyways, and steep hills. Make sure you take in the stunning view from various parts of town.

Phuket does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Phuket or Lisbon?

Lisbon is an amazing city to visit for its shopping opportunities. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

The abundance of shops in Lisbon make it a world-class shopping destination. For high end shopping, head to The Avenida da Liberdade. It's lined with designer brands and luxury boutiques.

Phuket has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Shopping malls offer a range of stores, air conditioning, and fixed prices while markets have more local items and unique souvenirs. There are also galleries and other souvenir shops all over the island.

Is Phuket or Lisbon More Beautiful?

Lisbon is an amazing city to visit for its scenery and beauty. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for its scenery and beauty.

The famous beauty of Lisbon is one of the main draws. With its bright colors and dramatic hills, many people consider it to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. There are many spectacular viewpoints that look out over the city.

Phuket offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It is a mix of beautiful beaches and tourist crowds. The island is very developed with a combination of 5 star hotels, souvenir shops, and tour companies. Because of the many excursions leaving from the island, many visitors find it a makes a good base for exploring the area.

Is Phuket or Lisbon Better for Families?

Lisbon is a great destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Lisbon is a very kid-friendly city. Popular family-friendly activities include exploring Castelo Sao Jorge, visiting the aquarium, hanging out on the beach, and of course, taking the funiculars. Kids of all ages will appreciate the intricate maze of streets and lively atmosphere that this city offers. There's also the famous Livraria Lello & Irmão, which is a beautiful bookshop that is said to be an inspiration for Harry Potter. Don't expect to simply walk in, as there is often a long line to enter.

Phuket offers lots of family activities. Many people visit this island with kids because it has beautiful beaches and tons of activities including water sports, water parks, and amusement areas. The island is filled with a diversity of tourists, so you'll encounter a number of areas with party-hard atmospheres, but there are also tons of family-friendly resorts to choose from as well.

Is Phuket or Lisbon Better for Couples?

Phuket and Lisbon are both very good to visit as a couple.

Couples visit Phuket frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. The island is filled with beautiful beaches and plenty of activities for all travel styles. It's a tourist and party mecca in Thailand with many resorts and restaurants to choose from.

Lisbon is a great resort island if you're traveling as a couple. With it's colorful buildings and dramatic hills, this city offers a truly romantic setting for couples. There are many romantic viewpoints as well as world class restaurants that couples will enjoy.

Is Phuket or Lisbon Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Lisbon is an amazing city to visit for backpackers. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers and budget travelers come from all over the world to visit Lisbon. Hostels are abundant, and you'll have no trouble finding other backpackers to hang out with. Many hostels even organize activities and group meals for travelers. Prices are also reasonable for a large and vibrant city.

Phuket is a good resort island to visit for backpackers. It has a long history as a party island with expensive prices and hordes of tourists. While it gets its share of backpackers, many visitors complain about the lack of authenticity and prefer to spend their time elsewhere.

Is Phuket or Lisbon Better for Students?

Lisbon is a great destination for students. However, Phuket is not popular with students.

Lisbon is a great city to visit as a student. It's a lively city with a lot to see and do for international students.

Phuket is not popular with students.

Is Phuket or Lisbon Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Lisbon is an amazing city to visit for its public transit. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit in Lisbon is top-notch. The metro has four lines that go around the city. There are also trams, buses, and the funiculars.

While Phuket offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. Tuk tuks, buses, and motorbike taxis are all available on the island. The buses are usually Songtaew, which have open air seating areas.

Is Phuket or Lisbon a more walkable city?

Lisbon is an amazing city to visit for its high level of walkability. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.

Getting around Lisbon on foot is easy. There are many walkable areas that aren't too hilly like Baixa, a stretch along the Tagus River, and Belém.

Phuket is a somewhat walkable resort island. Most of the hotels and resorts are walking distance to the beach and many resort areas are small enough to be explored on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Phuket Worth Visiting? and Is Lisbon Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Lisbon or Phuket?

How long in Phuket or Lisbon?

Both Phuket and Lisbon have a number of activities to choose from. In our opinion, Lisbon has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Lisbon than Phuket. However, 3-7 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in Lisbon than Phuket. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Lisbon, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Lisbon than Phuket. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Lisbon that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Lisbon than Phuket if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Lisbon.

One day in Phuket or Lisbon?

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the destination of Phuket. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Lisbon is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Phuket or Lisbon?

Phuket is a great place to explore. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Lisbon is a great place to explore. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Phuket or Lisbon?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Phuket. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Most people come for the beaches. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Lisbon. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Phuket or Lisbon?

Many travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the energetic destination of Phuket. This resort island offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Lisbon is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Portugal, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Portugal.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Phuket and Lisbon, we can see that Lisbon is more expensive. And not only is Phuket much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Phuket is in Asia and Lisbon is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Phuket would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Phuket 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 Phuket.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Phuket Expensive? and Is Lisbon Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Phuket or Lisbon?

Lisbon has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Phuket. When comparing the sizes of Phuket and Lisbon, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Phuket or Lisbon?

Lisbon has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Phuket experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Phuket or Lisbon in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Phuket as well as Lisbon. Phuket attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, most visitors come to Lisbon for the beaches, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Phuket is a little warmer than Lisbon. Typically, the summer temperatures in Phuket in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Lisbon averages at about 23°C (73°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Lisbon. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Phuket this time of the year. In the summer, Phuket often gets less sunshine than Lisbon. Phuket gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lisbon receives 352 hours of full sun.

Phuket receives a lot of rain in the summer. Phuket usually gets more rain in July than Lisbon. Phuket gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while Lisbon receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Phuket or Lisbon in the Autumn?

Both Lisbon and Phuket are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Phuket throughout the year. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Lisbon because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Phuket is generally a little warmer than Lisbon. Daily temperatures in Phuket average around 27°C (81°F), and Lisbon fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

It's quite sunny in Lisbon. Phuket usually receives less sunshine than Lisbon during autumn. Phuket gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Lisbon receives 213 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Phuket. In October, Phuket usually receives more rain than Lisbon. Phuket gets 304 mm (12 in) of rain, while Lisbon receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Phuket is December to March. The rainy season in Phuket is June to October.

Should I visit Phuket or Lisbon in the Winter?

Both Lisbon and Phuket during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Phuket because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Lisbon this time of year.

Phuket is much warmer than Lisbon in the winter. The daily temperature in Phuket averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Lisbon fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).

It's quite sunny in Phuket. In the winter, Phuket often gets more sunshine than Lisbon. Phuket gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lisbon receives 144 hours of full sun.

Lisbon gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Phuket usually gets less rain in January than Lisbon. Phuket gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Lisbon receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year. December to March is the dry season in Phuket.

Should I visit Phuket or Lisbon in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Phuket and Lisbon. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Phuket year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Lisbon for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Phuket is much warmer than Lisbon. Typically, the spring temperatures in Phuket in April average around 29°C (84°F), and Lisbon averages at about 16°C (60°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Lisbon this time of the year. In Phuket, it's very sunny this time of the year. Phuket usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Lisbon during spring. Phuket gets 249 hours of sunny skies, while Lisbon receives 235 hours of full sun in the spring.

Phuket gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Phuket usually receives more rain than Lisbon. Phuket gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Lisbon receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the spring. Also, June to October is the rainy season in Phuket.

Typical Weather for Lisbon and Phuket