A Guide to Cheap Holidays in Portugal

Getting to and around Portugal cheaply

There are various cheap and direct flights with no-frills, charter and scheduled airlines to capital Lisbon, as well as smaller cities like Porto and Faro, from regional airports throughout the UK.  From Faro, there are cheap buses and taxis that will take you the four kilometres into the town. From Porto there is a subway into town and a bus service to Santa Cruz, Leca, Matosinhos, Guifoes and Custoias.

Beaches in Portugal

Beach lovers' first stop should definitely be the Algarve. It has a warmer year-round climate than Spain's Costas, and from mid-April to October there's almost unbroken sunshine with which to enjoy your beach experiences. Popular resorts include touristy Albufeira and upmarket Vilamoura which also has a smart marina full of sleek yachts and plenty of upmarket stores and al fresco eateries. Most of the beaches in Portugal are lined with cheap restaurants and cafes so you can enjoy local refreshments throughout your stay.

Low-cost sightseeing in Portugal

Whilst on holiday in Portugal, make sure you visit the National parks where you can indulge in outdoor activities like hiking, mountain biking and caving include Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela and northerly Parque Nacional da Peneda Geres. All these activities can be done at cheap prices making them a perfect day out for the whole family. Inland, Unesco world heritage listed Evora is a historic, walled city containing a Roman temple and classic Renaissance architecture.

Visit the historic, medieval city of Lisbon, which nestles along a series of hills around one of Europe's most important harbours. Visit the warren of narrow alleys and streets of the Alfama district, which dates back to medieval times and dine in Bairro Alto, known as 'Lisbon's Kitchen' as it has the highest concentration of restaurants in the city.

Eating cheaply on Holiday in Portugal

The Portuguese enjoy simple ingredients like fresh fish, meats, olive oil and tomatoes, flavoured by delicate spices - a throwback to Vasco da Gama's international travels back in the 15th century - and features hearty soups, homemade bread and a variety of cheeses.
If you are a meat lover, head to a churrasqueira where you'll find a selection of succulent grilled meats. Fish (peixe) is a favourite and you'll see bacalhau (salted cod) everywhere.

If you’re looking for nightlife then Portugal certainly wont leave you disappointed. With plenty of cheap nights out you can be sure to party the night away in one of Portugals main party resorts. In the Algarve, head to Praia da Rocha in Portimao, Gale in Albufeira, or Praia da Oura and Vilamoura if you really do like to party the night away.

Cheap Shopping and Family Attractions in Portugal

In Lisbon, the main shopping district is Baixa, while Rua Garrett in the Chiado is an elegant, sophisticated shopping area home to a wealth of upmarket boutiques and elegant, turn-of-the-century department stores.
In Porto, head to Rua Santa Catarina, a shop-lined pedestrian street which also has a shopping centre. Buy your souvenir port from Garrafeira do Carmo on Rua do Carmo 17.
In the Algarve, upmarket resorts such as Vilamoura and Quinta do Lago have plenty of suitably swanky shops. Apart from a bottle of port, other national specialities include ceramics, leather goods, honey, olive oil and woollen blankets.

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