But in Lisbon, just like in any other large metropolis in Europe, it matters when, where, and what you eat. These factors can have a dramatic effect on how much you end up spending.

Related:

• Exploring the top free attractions in Lisbon
• The top budget hotels in Lisbon
• 10 Ways to save on a trip to Portugal

Lisbon Cheap Eats Guide

Are you ready to dine out in Lisbon? Here’s how to eat on the cheap in this beautiful Portuguese city.

1. Feast on fixed-price fare at lunch

If you want to try a variety of local dishes at a fraction of the cost, go out at lunch and order a local restaurant’s fixed price menu, called the prato de dia. Ordering the same dishes a la carte will cost you approximately more than twice as much in the evening.

A typical Lisbon lunch paired with a glass of local beer. Photo: Tim C.

2. Research before you go

Knowing what’s out there, what prices to expect, and what times things are actually open will save you money hand over fist, as you won’t end up stuck in a chain restaurant or a tourist trap because you wandered around aimlessly until well after everywhere shut down for a break between lunch and dinner. That’s right, some of the city’s best budget restaurants close for a couple of hours before dinner after serving up daily menus to the lunch crowd.

3. Get away from the busy main streets

This is especially true in the Old Town of Lisbon. If a restaurant is really prominently located next to a tourist attraction, or even just somewhere very convenient, the fare is likely to be more expensive—after all, they’re paying rent, and the saying goes, “location, location, location.”

If you want to find cheaper eats in Lisbon’s Old Town, head to the seaside of things near the Fado Museum where you’ll find a good selection of reasonably priced places serving up authentic local fare.

Related: How to spend two days in Lisbon on the cheap

4. Go where the locals go

When you see a place full of people speaking Portuguese and free of anyone with a camera around their neck, chances are, it’s a good place to try authentic and inexpensive local fare. Another good clue? Older folks running the kitchen or serving drinks behind the bar.

You’ll find plenty of fresh seafood, like these grilled sardines, around Lisbon. Photo: Theo K

5. Eat on Portuguese time

If you can manage to adapt to the local schedule, you’ll have a much easier time finding good deals on local meals. Look for breakfast offers from early morning until around 10 a.m. At lunchtime, fixed price feasts on special peak around 1 p.m., while dinner starts at around 8 p.m. on weeknights. However, many locals sit down to dinner much later with some folks having their evening meal at 11 p.m.

6. Snack at neighborhood bars

Neighborhood bars around town may not be much to look at, but they’re the perfect choice for a tipple and some stripped down bar food. Think olives, chicken pot pie (torta de frango), and the like paired with lots of local wine and beer.

Find a classic neighborhood bar for cheap (and tasty!) eats in Lisbon. Photo: We Love Lisbon

7. Drink house wine

House wine is good enough in Portugal for pretty much anyone except for serious wine connoisseurs. Plus, it’s much cheaper than ordering a specific vintage in a bottle.

Related: 5 Lookout points offering a drink with a view in Lisbon

8. Skip mixed drinks

Mixed drinks may be cheaper in Lisbon than they are in say London or Paris, but they can still dig into your daily dining budget. If you don’t want your bar tab to soar, stick to wine and beer.

9. Don’t leave a big tip

Service workers are paid living wages in Portugal, and they’re not depending on your tip to make it. A tip of a few coins is usually plenty, but if you get exceptional service and want to make a splash, leave something foldable.

10. Skip hotel breakfasts

Hotel breakfasts are usually a bit pricey for what you get. Unless breakfast is included with your room, skip it and head out for a coffee with milk called a galão and fresh-baked pasteis de nata, a custard filling in a flakey pastry shell topped with cinnamon and powdered sugar.

The cost? €2 or less!

And book a cheap hotel in Lisbon and start dreaming about Portuguese pastries.

11. Leave that plate of olives alone

In Lisbon, when restaurants bring out bread and olives before a meal, it’s generally not a freebie. So unless you’re down on your gluten and olive quota for the trip, skip them. It’s much cheaper to snack on fresh bread from the bakery and olives from the market on a picnic in the park.

12. Order a half-ration

If you’re not very hungry and aren’t keen on begging for a doggy bag (taking your leftovers home is still taboo here), you can always order a half-ration, sometimes called mini pratos. Half-rations aren’t available in a lot of European cities, but they are available in Lisbon.

The best part? Mini pratos are dirt cheap, starting at just €3-4 for a generous helping.

Your tips for cheap eats in Lisbon?

Have a tip for ways to save on dining in Lisbon? Share with us in the comments section below!

If you’re ready to visit, check out our full list of budget hotels in Lisbon.

The post Lisbon Cheap Eats: How to save on eating out appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Most people know that the Bologna region is home to the best Bolognese sauce, (as well as many other types of meat and cheeses), that Tuscany is sacred wine territory and that the south is the place to be for limoncello and seafood.

Rome, for all its history and architectural glory, often gets overlooked as a food haven in the shadows of its more famous neighbors. But Roman dishes aren’t to be missed.

Rome food: 5 must-try dishes

Simple, fresh and mouthwatering, these top Roman dishes will fill you up for less than €10. So book your Rome hotel room and start building up your appetite!

Roman-style artichokes

 Artichokes are big in Rome, and carciofialla Romana, or ‘Roman-style artichokes,’ is one of the region’s most famous dishes. It’s served in restaurants year-round, but traditionally it’s a spring dish because the Romanesco artichoke variety is harvested between February and April.

The artichokes are cleaned and rubbed with lemon juice, then stuffed with Roman parsley, salt, pepper and crushed garlic. Next, they’re placed in a deep pan, doused with water, white wine and a bit of oil, and braised until they’re soft. The smooth leaves break from the artichoke head easily, and the lemony, salty, garlic flavor will blow your mind. Even those who don’t usually like artichokes should try this delicious preparation.

Try it at: La Campana

Cacio e pepe

The simplest of Roman dishes, yet also one of the most popular, cacio e pepe is like macaroni and cheese on steroids — it will have you dreaming of it long after you’ve left the Eternal City. Fresh tonnarelli pasta is tossed with lots and lots of pecorino cheese and cracked black pepper.

The pecorino, a tangy, salty cheese, is the perfect complement to warm, homemade pasta, and you’ll be amazed how creamy the sauce becomes with just a touch of pasta water.

Try it at: Da Enzo in Trastevere, or Felice a Testaccio dating back to 1936.

Bucatini all’amatriciana

Another dish with just a handful of ingredients, amatriciana is one of the most traditional Roman dishes. Purists insist on no deviations from the recipe, and they have a point. Why ruin a good thing? Fresh tomatoes and guanciale, (pork jowl — like really fatty, delicious bacon), make up the base, and a bit of cheese, oil, onion and pepper are thrown in as well.

The pasta is usually bucatini. It’s simple, but if the ingredients are fresh, the flavor will explode on your taste buds and make you wonder why you’ve never thought of such a simple and delicious combination. Best of all, it’s fairly easy to make when you get home.

Try it at: Da Gigetto, a trattoria in the Jewish Ghetto.

Spaghetti carbonara

Carbonara is like Cacio e Pepe, but with two important additions — egg and guanciale. The pork is cooked in fat, while the fresh spaghetti is cooked al dente, then tossed with raw eggs, cheese and more fat. (This is done away from the heat so that the egg doesn’t coagulate). Add in the guanciale, and you have the creamiest, most decadent of the Roman dishes.

Try it at: Roscioli and Da Danilo, both in central Rome, serve two of the best.

Roman-style pizza

Everyone knows that Naples has the best pizza in Italy, but Rome is a close second if you can even compare the two. Roman-style pizza is nothing like the pies in Napoli, making them almost completely different dishes. Where Naples boasts fluffy crusts, the Romans make them thin and crispy, with wood-fired, almost burnt edges. A thin layer of fresh tomato sauce is spread across the dough and sprinkled with fresh mozzarella and a variety of toppings.

When in Rome, try to hold back from toppings at least once, and settle on a plain margherita — tomato sauce, mozzarella and fresh basil. We promise you won’t regret it.

Try it at: Da Remo, in Testaccio and L’Archetto, near the Vatican, both have excellent pizzas and atmospheres.

Still hungry for more?

For more budget eating ideas in Rome, check out EuroCheapo’s full list of tips on the blog.

The post Don’t leave Rome without tasting these 5 classic dishes (each under €10) appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Searching out these inexpensive bites is half the fun of traveling through the Iberian Peninsula and the islands. But how do you know what to order? We’ve made your culinary mission a lot easier by coming up with seven top tastes sorted by city and region.

Related: The perfect 10-day itinerary in Spain

Madrid: Bocadillo de calamares

When visiting the big capital city of Madrid, you will have lots of food choices including tapas, Spanish rice, traditional sweets, and even international fare. For a low-cost snack on the go, order like the locals and get a calamari sandwich, or bocadillo de calamares. You can find them in almost any bar in town.

You may be thinking, “Did I just read squid sandwich?” Yep! Madrid’s most famous sub is little more than deep-fried squid on a bun with a touch of olive oil — the perfect accompaniment to a cold beer.

Barcelona: Pa amb tomàquet

Granted, pa amb tomàquet, or bread with tomato, does not sound like an exciting snack. Think of it more as the definitive base to any meal in Catalonia and Barcelona. Pile Catalan charcuterie high on pa amb tomàquet or spread pungent goat cheese over thick slices for a satisfying afternoon bite.

Pa amb tomàquet may be served already prepared, or you might just get the fixings to make it yourself. If the latter is the case, you’ll have to rub toasted bread with halved tomatoes, and then drizzle olive oil and sprinkle salt on it. Sometimes raw garlic is also offered, and if so, you should peel it, and then rub it gently on the toasted bread.

Related: 18 tips for eating like a local in Barcelona

Canary Islands: Papas arrugadas and mojo picón

As its located closer to Africa than to Spain, the Canary Islands boast a number of dishes that are quite different to those in the rest of the country. One of the most popular side dishes on the islands is papas arrugadas, or “wrinkled potatoes”. Small potatoes are cooked with a massive amount of salt to create a savory spud, usually served alongside fresh fish from the Atlantic or meat.

While the papas are tasty on their own, the real draw is the red and green mojo picón sauce they are always served with. Mojo picón is spicy and garlicky, so smother your papas in it or use it sparingly, depending on how much of a kick you want.

Don’t leave Mallorca without getting a few of the famous pastries known as ensaïmadas. Photo: pocketcultures

Mallorca: Ensaïmadas

Don’t be surprised to see travelers stuffing stacks of boxes into the overhead luggage bin on your return flight from the island of Mallorca. These round boxes contain ensaïmadas, the island’s most popular pastry. Served for breakfast, but also as an afternoon snack in cafes, locals have been producing the simple sugar-covered bread since the 17th century. Budget-friendly and delicious, try an ensaïmada with a cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate.

A local bar in San Sebastian with a typical spread of pintxos. Photo: Jonathan Hood

San Sebastian: Pintxos

There is a difference between tapas and pintxos, although both are similar to “appetizers” and both make a delectable afternoon or evening nibble. While tapas are small dishes featuring all sorts of ingredients, pintxos usually consist of a slice of bread topped with cheese, seafood, omelet, or any of a number of other ingredients, all skewered together with a toothpick.

In San Sebastian and throughout the Basque Country, pintxos abound in bars and restaurants. Normally, customers are given a plate and can then peruse a buffet of pintxos, snagging the ones that look most tempting. At the end of the meal, the waiter will count up the toothpicks on a plate and charge the customer accordingly. This is the honor system at its best, so don’t abuse it. Furthermore, at €1.50 to €3 a pop, pintxos are not going to break your bank.

Seville: Tapas

You can find tapas all over Spain, but for many, the region of Andalusia is the top spot to chow down on these small dishes. Seville’s many bars offer long lists of tapas which include everything from elaborate seafood and meat dishes to simple plates of cheese and ham. On menus in Seville, you’ll see raciones offered, and these are larger portions than the smaller tapa.

While in some areas of Spain (like Granada), tapas are free whenever you order a drink, this is not often the case in bigger cities. In Seville the tapas are plentiful, delicious, and inexpensive, making them a good dinner option, especially when washed down with a €3 glass of Spanish red wine.

Valencia: Paella

Spanish rice, or paella, is found all over the country including Barcelona, but the best place to eat it is in Valencia (in either the city or the region of the same name). Paella originated in this part of Spain, and locals are experts in creating the slow-cooked rice with seafood, rabbit, pork, and chicken.

Note that paella is a lunch dish, and Spaniards almost never order it for dinner. It’s so rich, you need the rest of the day to digest this tasty feast! Also, in many restaurants, there is a two-person minimum for ordering paella, so if you’re traveling solo, you might need to find a friend before trying this quintessential dish.

Related: Taking the ferry to Valencia from Barcelona (via Mallorca)

What’s your favorite Spanish Dish?

So many more types of food and drink could be added to this list. In Galicia you should try a slice of empanada, in Menorca you can’t go wrong with the gin, and don’t miss the hard cider of Asturias.

Of course, Spanish wine will be good almost wherever you go, but be sure to order sherry in the south and a vermouth in Barcelona. When in doubt, ask the waiter for tips on what’s in season and if there any specials on the menu. Avoid tourist trap restaurants with neon paellas and enormous photos of the food, and you should eat well across Spain.

Tell us your favorite dishes and tips for finding the best food!

The post The best food in Spain? Here are 7 top contenders appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Fresh from a trip to Turkey, I spent days wandering around this spectacular city trying out all of the delicious dishes. Luckily for me, Turkish street food is amazing, safe to eat and very easy on the wallet. From fresh baked breads to mussels sprinkled with lemon, you’ll find a huge variety of food that will please any Cheapo’s taste buds.

Here are some of the best options for street eats in Istanbul.

Kumpir

Kumpir is Turkey’s interpretation of a baked potato. The variety of toppings you can put on your kumpir are almost endless, from the usual cheese to corn, mayonnaise, pickles, peas, carrots, etc. Head to Ortakoy Market on a Sunday to try out one of these tasty Turkish treats, where you’ll find plenty of kumpir stalls.

Cost: €3-4

Fresh Squeezed Juice

Maybe this makes me really boring, but my favorite street treat in Istanbul is the juice. Walk around the windy streets of Istanbul, and you’ll be sure to find some tiny shops with a hand-operated juicer and a big pile of fruit. You can get pomegranate, orange, apple, carrot, grapefruit and often other fruit and vegetables juiced, or even a mix.

Cost: €0.50 – 1.50

Midye dolma

A Turkish favorite found all around the country, Midye dolma are mussels stuffed with rice and sprinkled with lemon juice. Use your best judgement about when to try these, i.e. don’t go to a stand with mussels that have been baking in the hot sun all day!

Cost: 2 for €0.35

Balik ekmek

Take a stroll along the Galata bridge near Karaköy and Eminönü, and you’ll smell this snack frying up everywhere. Balik ekmek translates to “fish bread,” and that’s exactly what it is—a piece of fish inside a roll. Vendors fry up fish on large grills, and stuff them into fluffy Turkish bread with a little bit of lettuce. Personally, I wasn’t a big fan. The fish were frozen and imported, and the fear of swallowing fish bones really inhibited my enjoyment of the sandwich. Nevertheless, Turkish people swear by these as the perfect dinner or snack.

Cost: €1.75 – 2.75

Kokoreç

Kokorec are sheep intestines that have been spiced, skewered and stuffed in a loaf of bread. My Turkish friends tell me this is a legendary post-drinking greasy, guilty pleasure snack, similar to Poutine in Quebec.

Cost: €2 – 3

Misir

Misir are grilled or boiled corn on the cob. You can find these being sold in droves on carts in the streets surrounding the bridges, but only in the summer time.

Cost: €0.50 – 0.75

Kestane

In lieu of misir in the colder moths, Istanbul offers up Kestane: roasted chestnuts that warm the streets with their nutty aroma. They’re pretty much the same as roasted chestnuts in every other country… delicious and comforting.

Cost: 100g for €0.69

Simit

Last but not least, simits are the Turkish equivalent of bagels: dense, circular breads dipped in molasses and then sesame seeds. Often, vendors will serve them with Nutella or cheese for an extra cost. I can verify that this is the perfect breakfast on the go.

Cost: €0.35 – 1 depending on your order

One last thing to learn: Afiyet Olsun! It means bon appétit in Turkish.

The post Street Food in Istanbul: 8 snacks to try for €4 or less appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Restaurants throughout Sweden offer a dagens lunch, the lunch of the day. The idea of a dagens lunch is simple: it’s an inexpensive lunch option for workers throughout the country. If you find yourself in Sweden around lunchtime, skip the fast-food, find yourself a restaurant and ask for a “dagens lunch.” You’ll have a great meal at a great price.

What it is

Traditionally, a dagens lunch includes a salad, the choice of a main dish from a few different options, a drink and coffee. Every restaurant is a bit different, but the main dishes available tend to be set for the week. A reasonable dagens lunch usually costs around 75 to 90 SEK (or about $10 to $12).

Depending on where you are, the main dish can be a bit fancier and a bit more expensive (in Östermalm, for example). In fact, some of the fancier restaurants don’t always offer dagens lunches, and instead stick to their normal menus. In Sweden, that is usually an indicator that a place isn’t Cheapo-friendly.

Where to eat it

For an inexpensive lunch, head away from the city center. Södermalm, Vasastaden and even little places like Nacka offer a wide array of dagens lunch menus to choose from.

One of my favorites is Cliff Barnes, which has two different locations, one in Vasastaden and one in Nacka. Along with an amazing dagens lunch, the Cliff Barnes in Vasastaden offers a great bar scene at night. It’s a can’t-miss if you’re looking to meet people.

For a wide variety of choices, head over to Medborgarplatsen, a large square in Södermalm. There you’ll find traditional Swedish restaurants, a crêperie, Thai food and just about everything in between. Wander around and check out the menus: You’re bound to find something worth sitting down for. I like Snaps, a great place with plenty of good food to choose from and outdoor seating. By chance, Snaps also turns into a great bar in the evenings.

Pea soup and pancakes on Thursday

As I said, each dagens lunch menu is a little bit different. You might find pork chops on a Tuesday, chicken on Wednesday and so on. However, one thing that doesn’t differ all that much is the Thursday menu.

In Sweden, Thursday is pea soup and pancake day. Few restaurants offering a dagens lunch will fail to offer this meal. Admittedly a strange combination, peace soup and pancakes is nonetheless a traditional—and surprisingly delicious—one. (It’s also incredibly filling.)

Explanations for the tradition are wide-ranging. Some argue that it started with the military, where pea soup and pancakes are served every Thursday. Others say that it was a way for restaurants to stretch their meat supplies through the end of the week. Still others believe that it harks back to Sweden’s religious days, when meat was meant to be abstained from on Fridays. Whatever the reason, the tradition continues, and pea soup and pancakes can be found throughout Sweden—Stockholm included—on Thursdays.

You can read more info on places to go, sights to see and other Stockholm tips here.

The post Stockholm Cheap Eats: Dagens lunch appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.