Airbnb vs Hotel in Portugal: 6 Pros, 6 Cons & Cost

There are many Airbnbs and hotels in Portugal’s big cities, like Porto and Lisbon. However, when looking in smaller villages and towns, hostels and Airbnbs are often your only option. 

Here’s a guide to help you choose between an Airbnb or hotel in Portugal. 

Airbnb or Hotel in Portugal? Pros and cons

PROS OF AIRBNB IN PORTUGAL

• Pay less

It is usually cheaper to stay in an Airbnb than in a hotel.

• More privacy (although not guaranteed*)

You won’t have annoying guests next to your room making noise or a mess.

• Can feel more like home

The whole design of the airbnb, because it is based on a hosting service, will feel like a home. It can actually be someone’s home, where they live when they’re not renting it as an Airbnb. In Portugal, you can find a big variety of Airbnb properties, including a beach vibe home or a cute little cottage.

• More authentic experience

Normally, an airbnb is located in a residential area. Therefore, you will feel more integrated into the city or town. There’s also plenty of countryside experiences to enjoy in Portugal and sweet little cottages to stay in.

• More pet-friendly options

Although not all hosts are willing to accept pets, many Airbnb properties in Portugal allow guests to stay with their pets. This usually happens in the countryside. Some even give this option for free.

• Kitchen access

If you like to cook, you will be able to make your own meals, according to your taste and whenever you are hungry. There’s a lot of good local markets in Portugal, including organic food places and fresh seafood, check some here.

CONS OF AIRBNB IN PORTUGAL

• No 24 hour security guaranteed

Break-ins and robbery are more probable as there is no professional security.

• No 24 hour reception guaranteed

Some hosts can be very involved in your stay and make sure you have a great experience but many may not be available to help you 24 hours.

• Can charge you extra

Even though nothing is said in the description, airbnb hosts can charge you extra. That can also happen in hotels, but usually they are more upfront with the fees.

• Last-minute cancellations

Again, it really depends on your host. Make sure you research and see enough reviews about the host and the airbnb he/she provides.

• No Staff = no room service

If you need food, you’ll have to go out, buy it or make it. Also, as a good guest you should clean the kitchen or whatever rubbish you left behind.

• No consistency in quality

There is little control over the host and property.* Some sketchy places have cameras in their home, so make sure you check that before and get the best reviewed Airbnbs. Doesn’t mean that won’t happen in hotels, specially 2-star hotels or lower, but it is less probable.

Additionally, the place may look very different from the pictures. There is less control, especially in big cities like Lisbon, where there are so many Airbnbs. However, Airbnb does have rules and penalizations for hosts.

PROS OF HOTELS IN PORTUGAL

These are some general advantages of hotels in Portugal (there may be exceptions).

• 24 hour security

Cameras on the hallways and main areas serve as safety measures. 

• 24 hour reception

There’s usually someone working at reception, in case you need anything or there’s an emergency. Portuguese staff are usually very friendly and can communicate well in English.

• You know what you are getting

In most cases, you will know beforehand what type of amenities the hotel in Portugal offers. For example, in most hotels you’ll have a tv, towels and shampoo in your room, and in the hotel building, you’ll probably find a restaurant, a spa and a pool to have a swim.

• Daily housekeeping

Your room will be cleaned each morning during your stay. If you sleep in, most hotels in Portugal will clean your room later if you ask at the front desk.

• No cleaning fee

Cleaning should already be included in the price you paid.

• Room service available

You can relax in your hotel in Portugal and ask for food and drinks to be delivered to your room. Breakfast in 4-star and 5-star hotels has a big variety of food, including nutritious snacks or more indulgent treats.

CONS OF HOTELS IN PORTUGAL

• Pay more (usually)

It is usually more expensive to pay for a hotel stay (read the next section).

• Less privacy and more noise

There are other guests in the hotel which may mean more sounds and music during the night and day. Some hotel rooms in Portugal have thin walls.

However, this disadvantage really depends on the design and construction of each room. Some which offer villas or separate residences, which provide more privacy.

• Less pet-friendly options

If you want to bring your dog or cat, most hotels either don’t allow pets or require you to put them in a separate room. This will incur an additional cost.

• Less space for groups

If you’re planning on bringing a large family or group of friends on your vacation, you may need to book more than one room.

• Extra charges

To use some hotel facilities, such as parking, mini-bar and Wi-fi, hotels can charge extra fees. If you rent a car to travel around Portugal and you need a parking space, a lot of hotels have high daily rates. (in airbnbs parking availability depends on location and type of property).

• Less flexibility

The check in and check out rules, and cancellation policies, are usually strict. This doesn’t mean that you can check out of an Airbnb property later than the time specified by the host. You need to ask the host for permission to stay longer and he/she can still say no.

COST comparison between AIRBNB AND HOTEL IN PORTUGAL

The chosen Airbnb or Hotel in Portugal can have an impact on the budget of your trip. Let’s analyze the cost of airbnb and hotels in Lisbon first.

Lisbon

It is often thought that Airbnb properties are much cheaper than hotels, but this isn’t always the case. A quick research on the Airbnb official website reveals this. For a week in Lisbon (June 1st to June 7th 2026), prices can range from €500 (≃$580) to €6000 (≃$6959) for 1 person. Some properties offer a lower price, but they are probably shared rooms or only a room in an apartment. These values may change as the peak season (July and August) approaches.

If you search for hotels in Lisbon, around the same days, for example via Trivago.com, you can find some for €500 (≃$580), but check the reviews beforehand. If you find prices lower than that, they are probably hostels. On the other hand, the luxury hotels can cost over €1000 (≃$1158) and reach €6000 (≃$6954) for these 7 days. But, there are also 4-star and 5-star hotels with a more reasonable price, with a cost around  €700 (≃$811) to €900 (≃$1043). 

In addition to this, we can compare accommodation prices in Porto and Lisbon. In general, Porto’s prices are cheaper. However, nowadays, the difference isn’t too significant nowadays due to the tourism increase in Porto.

Porto

Airbnb options in Porto can go from €490 (≃$568) to €6000(≃$6959) in that same week of June. Can go lower for shared rooms.

If you look at hotels in Porto, values actually start at around  €600 (≃$696), with hostels going slightly lower than that. Five-star hotels can cost up to €4000 ($4638).

Again, there are much cheaper options, even among 5-star hotels. You can find some really good deals on five-star hotels with prices around €700 (≃$812) to €900 (≃$1043) in certain times of the year. This is usually the case when a hotel in Portugal experiences a drop in demand. Four-star hotels can be even cheaper. By the way, these prices were converted from euros to dollars on March 11th, and may vary slightly when you consult them. 

Your choice really depends on your travel objectives, the duration of your stay and your personal preferences. If you prefer a cozier place to stay and want to cook your own meals, Airbnb might be a good option for you. On the other hand, if you privilege safety, regularly cleaned rooms and breakfast in bed, then a hotel could be the better option. Of course, these are just generalizations and there are exceptions to each type of accommodation. Research is the top priority to finding the perfect place to stay.

With that said, do you know how to Plan Your Trip? Explore each Region of Portugal.

And have a nice stay! 👋