The verdict
Lisbon wins for 15 of 16 traveller profiles. Check your own row though: for some people the other city is still the right call.
Who wins, profile by profile
| Travelling as | Lisbon | Porto | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anyone | 77 | 73 | Lisbon |
| Solo woman | 79 | 76 | Lisbon |
| Solo man | 76 | 69 | Lisbon |
| Gay man | 78 | 73 | Lisbon |
| Lesbian woman | 80 | 76 | Lisbon |
| Bi/pan person | 78 | 73 | Lisbon |
| Trans person | 86 | 84 | Lisbon |
| Non-binary person | 86 | 84 | Lisbon |
| Over 50 | 81 | 78 | Lisbon |
| First time | 83 | 80 | Lisbon |
| On a budget | 71 | 67 | Lisbon |
| High end | 81 | 75 | Lisbon |
| Digital nomad | 77 | 72 | Lisbon |
| After a breakup | 79 | 74 | Lisbon |
| On my own | 82 | 82 | = |
| Single parent | 82 | 80 | Lisbon |
The nine components
- Safety
- 96 · 96
- Safety for women
- 86 · 86
- LGBTQ+ inclusivity
- 83 · 83
- Trans recognition
- 95 · 95
- Social life
- 63 · 46
- Ease
- 96 · 96
- Cost for one
- 49 · 54
- Nightlife and events
- 80 · 50
- Singles demographics
- 45 · 45
Money and seasons
| Mid budget per day | ~130 € | ~120 € |
|---|---|---|
| Best season | May–Jul | Jun–Sept |
| Month | Lisbon | Porto |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 15° | 14° |
| Feb | 16° | 15° |
| Mar | 17° | 16° |
| Apr | 20° | 18° |
| May | 23° | 20° |
| Jun | 25° | 22° |
| Jul | 28° | 25° |
| Aug | 29° | 25° |
| Sept | 26° | 23° |
| Oct | 23° | 21° |
| Nov | 18° | 17° |
| Dec | 16° | 15° |
Lisbon
Yes, especially for a first trip alone. A handful of Baixa hostels are built around solo guests, with shared dinners and women-only dorms, and the metro runs from the airport until 1am. It is no longer cheap, though: the tourist tax is 4 euros a night and dorm beds start around 20 euros. Light sleepers should stay well away from Cais do Sodré.
Read the guide →Porto
Yes, if three or four days and a slower pace than Lisbon suit you. The centre is small, a two-zone metro ticket is 1.40 euros and hostel beds start at 14 to 17 euros. It is ideal if you are happy drinking port alone at a cellar tasting. Less so if you want to stay out until dawn: the airport metro line stops shortly after midnight.
Read the guide →