Lisbon Or Porto: How Hard Can It Be To Choose?

Lisbon and Porto are both very popular tourist destinations in Portugal. The problem that arises when you are short on time and have to choose either Lisbon or Porto. It’s a hard choice for many but after a couple of visits to the country, I can see clearly that the vibe in each city differs. Each one suits a different travel style. Which means everyone has their own preference.

My brother for example loved Porto. I on the other hand loved Lisbon. Shawn was torn between both because both places had good food which met his criteria. In order to help you decide, I’ve decided to rank the cities based on how good they are on the essentials: Transport, food, culture, accommodation, affordability etc.

These points will also help you weigh the pros and cons of each city in your own head. Lisbon vs Porto: Which city will emerge the winner? I’m going to let you decide this one!

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Transport

Airports

Both the cities have their own airports that connected to multiple cities. Lisbon is better connected to the international hubs compared to Porto but it really depends on where you are flying in from. Porto on the other hand is connected to many of the European hubs. The number of flights in and out of Lisbon are definitely more frequent so you have higher odds of getting a cheaper flight.

Which is better: Lisbon or Porto? Lisbon definitely wins this battle unless you get a good cheap flight to Porto.

Public Transport

When it comes to comparing transport in Lisbon vs Porto, I think that it is pretty much the same in both cities. Lisbon does have a lot of different options which makes the uphill climbs much easier in spots. We felt these climbs because we had two toddlers in tow and carrying them in the hot sun wore us out. Which is why we appreciated the options even though we did not take them.

If you buy the Lisbon card you will find that some of the transport is also included in it which is rather helpful if you are short on time.

So which is better (Lisbon or Porto) when it comes to public transport. I’m going to say that this one is a draw.

Traffic

The traffic is bad in both cities but Lisbon has it far worse. We found that getting into the city and getting out of city took us a long while which can be expected in any big city. However you will find that many of the highways around Lisbon are also packed. This makes circling round the city also difficult. By contrast, Porto was faster top navigate around.

Lisbon or Porto when it comes to traffic? There is no clear winner because they both have traffic but I find Porto to be less congested on the roads.

Accommodation

Hotels in Lisbon are definitely more costly than the hotels in Porto and they sell out faster. I do know that budget hotels and hostels are present in both the cities and they generally have a very high quality. The thing for us was that we needed family rooms and during one of our trips we made the mistake of booking things a bit too late. So we had to struggle to find something really good. Don’t make that mistake in either location.

I personally feel that getting budget friendly accommodation is so much easier in Porto. Which is why in this section of Lisbon vs Porto, I would say Porto is the winner.

P.s. The prices of accommodation have been rising steadily though.

Food

When it comes to the best city for food, you will find that both the cities have their merits. There are loads of great restaurants and cafes to choose from. Aside from typical Portuguese cuisine, you can also find other cuisines in the cities.

The cafe culture is very strong in both the cities and served along side a hot cup of coffee are some of the local Portuguese pastries. Or better still the pasteis de nata. Now dining in Portugal is so chill. The idea is to sit and enjoy your meal. Time really slows down here and its something that you will notice more when you head out of the touristy spots.

Weather

The weather in Portugal is great all year round but there is a difference between Porto and Lisbon largely because Porto is located higher up north. So Lisbon is generally warmer. Porto is always a couple of degrees cooler. That being said the difference is small and wouldn’t impact my choice a lot.

Things To Do

There are plenty of things to do in Lisbon of that there is no doubt. While Porto does have plenty of activities, I find that the city has a little less going on when compared to the capital city. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing. You could spend four days in Lisbon and still find yourself short of time. Porto on the other hand would have left you with hours to relax in between.

Now if you are looking for an action packed itinerary then in the case of Lisbon vs Porto, Lisbon is the clear winner. If you just want to chill and sightsee at a slower pace, you will find that Porto is the place for you.

Day Trips

This one is a hard one because there are great day trips from Lisbon and there are some awesome day trips from Porto. Generally speaking when you look at Lisbon, you get to visit the popular tourist sites, palaces and old cities. Porto on the other hand gives you a chance to see quite a bit of nature like in the Douro valley or Peneda de Geres. It has great old cities that make good day trips like Braga and Viana do Castelo.

So which one is better? Lisbon or Porto? I honestly can’t choose because its just too difficult. I’m going to call a draw on this one!

Museums

The cool photography museum in Porto.

There are great some really awesome museums in Lisbon. Porto on the other hand has fewer museums. As a person who absolutely loves museums I feel like Lisbon hit all the right notes for me. So if I had to pick either Lisbon or Porto, I would say Lisbon largely.

Culture

Culture is hard to quantify when it comes to choosing between Lisbon or Porto. Since Lisbon is the capital city you will find a lot of culture in its traditional restaurants, when it comes to food and in the museums and palaces. You can also see a lot of it when you walk through the old town and when you partake in different festivities. This is true when it comes to Porto too.

The difference though is that Lisbon has become a hub for a lot of people so its a more international environment. Which means you may not always see the true Portuguese way of life. Porto is a little quieter and better in this aspect. If you want to experience Portuguese culture, head to the smaller cities, drive to the villages and walk through the parks.

Kid Friendly Activities

While there are things to do in Porto with kids, I found that Lisbon was definitely more kid friendly. The museums were interesting, the beach was a cool place to hang out and so much more. While Porto wasn’t bad, we did struggle to entertain our kids much more. Though I have to mention that it rained on most of the days we were in Porto so my opinion may be a bit tainted here.

At the end of the day, whether you choose Lisbon or Porto, you aren’t going to be disappointed. While Lisbon is a big city and is bustling, it is definitely more laid back when compared to places like Amsterdam and Paris. It has loads to do, is fun, has great food, amazing music and more.

Porto is definitely a happening spot too. It is a big hit with the backpackers and couples. Much cheaper, great nightlife and good food. My recommendation when choosing between Lisbon or Porto is to make a choice based on your style of travel and what you love to do. Oh… Don’t forget about your budget! Because that matters too!