Cheap hotel in Lisbon: guide by neighbourhood

Mouraria and Intendente: 10 minutes' walk from Baixa, the most authentic and cheapest areas. 3-star nights around €70-90, local restaurants, street art. Our top pick for tight budgets.

Graça and São Vicente: hills above Alfama, great views, quiet at night. €80-110/night. Reachable by tram 28 or on foot.

Estrela and Campo de Ourique: residential, safe, well served by tram. €75-100/night. Less touristy, more locals.

Parque das Nações: modern, near the airport, €90-120/night. Good for business trips or a transit night.

Avoid: Baixa and Chiado for price alone (€150-220 for average comfort), unless you find a special deal.

November to March (excluding Christmas and bank holidays) is low season: up to -40% off the same hotels. January and February are particularly quiet.

Avoid: June (Santos festivals), July-August, Holy Week. May bank-holiday weekends are also expensive.

During the week, business hotels are pricier. At weekends, the opposite is true: tourist hotels go up. For a 3-4 day city break, a Tuesday-to-Friday stay is often the best compromise.

Hostels: Lisbon has excellent ones. Dorms €25-40, private rooms €60-90. Many organise social evenings and have rooftops.

Aparthotels and Airbnb: especially good value for families or stays of 4+ nights. A kitchen can save €30-50 per day.

Pensões and residenciais: small Portuguese family-run guesthouses, often well located and 20% cheaper than hotel chains. Some require direct booking.

Hotels in Cascais or Estoril: 30 minutes by train from Lisbon, 15-25% cheaper. Worth it for stays of 5+ days.

The Lisbon tourist tax is €2 per night per person in 3-star hotels and above, €1 in 1-2 star hotels and hostels. It is added to the displayed price and paid at the hotel.

Other watch-outs: - Rooms with no view or no window (interior) are sometimes offered at a discount but can be noisy. - Check the exact location: 'city centre' can mean a 20-minute uphill walk. - The €12-15 breakfast is often worse than a local café. - Parking is scarce and expensive: if you rent a car, choose a hotel with parking included.