Like most destinations, Portugal attracts more visitors during certain times of the year than during others, which means, naturally, that airfare fluctuates according to the season. The Portuguese capital, Lisbon, experiences its highest average temperatures in July and August--when it also generally receives almost no precipitation--and airfare is generally at its most expensive during these summery months. However, airfares begin dipping in September and remain relatively constant between late October and March.
Typical round-trip airfare from New York to Lisbon varies between $1,000 and $1,300 (including taxes and fees) in the summer months, as opposed to $600 to $800 during the late fall, winter and early spring.
While a direct flight into Portugal is obviously the most expedient way to get there, budget-conscious travelers may find it more affordable to fly into another European country and then hop on a short, inexpensive flight to their final destination. Carriers such as TAP Portugal, easyJet and Air Europa often offer intracontinental flights for far less than Americans are used to paying for city-to-city travel.
In autumn 2010, one-way flights to Lisbon from Madrid can run as little as $25, from London as little as $44, and from Paris as little as $63; round-trip tickets can be had for around $50, $80 and $120, respectively. During winter, flights can be even cheaper.
Although Europe's rail system is famously extensive, international train travel from one city to the next can often be much more expensive than airfare: traveling between Madrid, Spain, and Lisbon by train can cost $200 or more. However, travelers planning to visit numerous cities might find one of the many available rail passes a more affordable and leisurely alternative to stringing flights together.
Eurail's Portugal-Spain pass in 2010 starts at $285 and drops to $239 per person for groups of two or more, but it allows travelers to ride as much as they like on any three days during a two-month period.
Other Eurail passes can fold in virtually as many days and countries as desired, and significant discounts are available for children.
