Signing up for a gym in Lisbon in 2026 involves more decisions than it should. Prices by the week or by the month? Is there a hidden lock-in? Pool included or just the gym floor? Is Vivagym or Solinca cheaper? Which chain has clubs near me? Most online lists mix traditional chains with class boutiques, repeat prices that have been out of date for two years, and leave out the small print that matters most to the consumer: the lock-in rules and the extra costs for sign-up and insurance.
This guide was built from each operator's official pages, verified in May 2026. We cover the 8 mainstream chains that operate in Greater Lisbon, organised by price tier, with a comparison table, effective monthly price, lock-in rules and what each one offers. When prices are not published online, we say so explicitly.
At the end, after the 8 chains, we show the alternative outside the fixed monthly model. If you already know you want a chain, read in order. If you are still comparing options, skip straight to the comparison table.
The 5 Variables That Really Matter When Comparing Gyms
Before the table, it is worth knowing on which dimensions to compare. The five that really make a difference are these.
The effective monthly fee, which is not just the promotional price. It includes the joining fee (it can be anywhere from 25 EUR to 99 EUR), the annual insurance (10 EUR to 30 EUR) and any monthly maintenance charge. Do the maths for the first year: the number you end up with sits 50 EUR to 100 EUR above what was on the leaflet.
The lock-in, which can be zero, 12 weeks or 52 weeks. Cancelling before the deadline, with no legally valid reason, means paying the remainder. This is the variable that catches out the most people who sign without reading.
The location, because the gym that is not on your home-work-home route is the gym you will stop going to. Some chains let you move freely between clubs, others do not.
The equipment and activities: gym only, gym with pool, gym with pool and spa? Do you have a preference for group classes (yoga, spinning, body pump)?
The opening hours of the actual club, compared with the actual time of day you want to train. Some chains close at 22:00, others run 24/7, and some low-cost plans only give you access outside peak hours.
Direct Comparison: 8 Chains in 1 Table
The table crosses the 8 chains with six dimensions: price tier, number of clubs in Greater Lisbon, entry membership, premium membership, lock-in and main inclusions. Data verified in May 2026 directly on the official sites.
Notes: "on request" means the price is not published online in May 2026 (you need to make contact to get the number). "n/a" means not publicly stated. Premium memberships are the full tier (unlimited access to all activities).
Premium Tier: Chains with Pool, Spa and Multiple Activities
The three premium operators in Lisbon share the formula "gym + pool + spa + classes + nutrition" but differ in scale, number of clubs and positioning.
1. Holmes Place
Portuguese premium chain with more than 10 clubs in Greater Lisbon. The Palácio Sottomayor (Av. Fontes Pereira de Melo 16) is the flagship site with 6,600 m². The Av. Defensores de Chaves club has 5,000 m² across 4 floors. More clubs on Av. da Liberdade, in Oeiras, Cascais and other areas (some inherited from the 2019 acquisition of Virgin Active Iberia).
The current membership (2025-2026) ranges between 56.90 EUR and 85.90 EUR/month with no lock-in, or 46.90 EUR to 70.90 EUR with a lock-in plan. The premium tier at the Sottomayor and Defensores de Chaves clubs sits between 80 EUR and 84 EUR/month. The joining fee varies between 25 EUR and 99 EUR depending on the club, and includes an initial assessment with a personal trainer. The membership gives you access to the pool, spa circuit, group classes (yoga, pilates, spinning, zumba, body pump) and discounts on personal training and nutrition.
2. Phive
Premium health club with 1 club in Lisbon (Av. 5 de Outubro), part of a small network with more clubs in Coimbra, Leiria and Porto. It stands out for the heated indoor pool, sauna, Turkish bath, jacuzzi and private Pilates studio.
Prices are charged by the week. Full Access with lock-in: 15.90 EUR/week (around 68.90 EUR/month). Full Access without lock-in: 17.90 EUR/week (around 77.55 EUR/month). Partial Access with lock-in: 14.90 EUR/week (around 64.55 EUR/month). Daily opening hours are 06:30 to 22:00.
3. Lemonfit
Portuguese premium operator with 4 clubs in Greater Lisbon: Estefânia (2,400 m² across 4 floors with padel courts), Parque das Nações (10,000 m² with 6 studios, pools, sauna, café, parking), Olaias and Póvoa de Santa Iria. Each club has more than 50 weekly classes, a Pilates studio, SKILL X (HIIT), spa and solarium.
The membership is not published online; the quote is provided on direct contact with each club. The scale of the operation (large clubs, modern equipment, multiple amenities) suggests prices aligned with the premium tier of the market, close to Holmes Place or Phive figures.
Mid-market Tier: Good Value for Money
The two mid-market operators are the most picked options in Lisbon, especially for anyone who wants good geographic coverage. This is also where the lock-in traps that most catch out consumers tend to appear.
4. Fitness UP
Portuguese chain founded by Hélder Ferreira with about 50 gyms in Portugal (concentrated in the North, but with a solid presence in Lisbon). 10 clubs in Lisbon city: Almirante Reis, Arco do Cego, Av. da República, Av. do Brasil, Estefânia, Penha de França, Picoas, São Sebastião, Benfica and Rio de Mouro.
Three plans:
Off-Peak: 3.90 EUR/week (around 16.90 EUR/month), with restricted access at off-peak hours (Mon-Fri 09:00 to 11:30, 14:00 to 17:00, 21:00 to closing).
Total: 8.80 EUR/week (around 38 EUR/month), unlimited access to all "land" clubs.
Pool: 9.80 EUR/week (around 42.50 EUR/month), includes clubs with a pool.
The membership gives you access to group classes, the online gym, an initial fitness assessment and vitamin water.
5. Solinca
Portuguese chain celebrating 30 years in 2025. 19 clubs in Greater Lisbon: 13 Solinca Classic (Alfragide, Almada Pragal, Colombo, Defensores de Chaves opening 2025, Lagoas Park, Laranjeiras, Linda-a-Velha, Loures, Lumiar, Oeiras, Quinta do Conde, Sassoeiros, Vasco da Gama) and 6 Solinca Light (Almada Feijó, Amadora, Barreiro, Estoril, Saldanha, Seixal).
Solinca Light is the budget tier, from around 2.99 EUR/week (12.99 EUR/month). Solinca Classic is the mid tier with pool and spa, from 4.99 EUR/week (21.99 EUR/month), with premium tiers up to 39.90 EUR to 49.90 EUR/month. No lock-in on any tier, and the current campaign offers the first month free.
The Classic version includes pool, spa circuit, classes (Pilates, Body Pump, RPM) and nutrition appointments. The Light version is gym plus basic classes, with no pool and no spa.
Low-cost Tier: Affordable Memberships Without Lock-in
The two low-cost operators share the strategy of "low price + no lock-in" as their main sales argument. They differ mainly in the number and type of clubs.
6. Vivagym (formerly Fitness Hut)
The chain operated in Portugal as Fitness Hut and rebranded to Vivagym in 2024, keeping the low-cost positioning but doubling down on "no lock-in" as the central argument. 27 clubs in Greater Lisbon, among the densest in the capital: Alfragide Norte, Alfragide Zona Comercial, Almirante Reis, Alverca, Amadora, Amoreiras, Arco do Cego, Benfica, Cacém, Campo Pequeno, Carcavelos, Cascais, Linda-a-Velha, Loures, Lumiar, Marquês de Pombal, Massamá, Odivelas, Oeiras, Olivais, Parque das Nações, Picoas, Roma-Areeiro, Sacavém, Santos, São Domingos de Rana, Sintra.
There are three plans named ONE, FLEX and PRIME, with different access levels. Prices are not published on a single page online in May 2026: the quote is provided on contact in person or online with the club. The market context suggests memberships starting from around 30 EUR/month on the entry plan, going up to around 50 EUR/month on the PRIME plan (with access to all clubs and extra benefits).
7. TTF (Time to Fitness)
Portuguese chain with more than 20 clubs in Lisbon and the South Bank, plus the sub-brand Time to Fitness 24 with 6 24/7 clubs (Campo Grande, Saldanha, Alvalade, Amadora, Rio de Mouro, among others).
Three main plans:
TTF Plus: 35 EUR/month, free movement between all clubs.
TTF GO: 45 EUR/month, you only pay for the months you use, no direct debit.
Annual Card: 380 EUR/year (around 31.67 EUR/month), 365 days of unlimited access paid upfront.
The joining fee is 50 EUR plus 10 EUR/year insurance. No lock-in on any plan. The Time to Fitness 24 plan (24/7 gyms) starts at 19.99 EUR/month, with a student and pensioner rate at 14.99 EUR/month. Access is self-service between 23:00 and 06:00, with CCTV during that window.
Special Category: Historic Social Club
8. Ginásio Clube Português (GCP)
GCP is the only historic social-sports club on the list, with its head office in central Lisbon. It is not a commercial gym: it is a club with a two-step membership model. First you become a member (annual fee between 30 EUR and 90 EUR depending on age bracket), then you pick your activity card.
The Gold card (access to gym, classes, pool) costs 624 EUR to 687 EUR/year or 57 EUR to 62 EUR/month on direct debit. The joining fee is 50 EUR (waived for minors and spouses). The membership gives you access to a restaurant, library, language school and river view from the 6th floor.
It is the only one on the list where the category is more "being a member of a club" than "going to a gym". It makes sense for anyone who values the social and community side, and for anyone who uses the full set (including restaurant and library), not just the gym.
The Lock-in Trap: What Cancelling Really Costs
In 2026, of the 8 chains listed in this guide, only Fitness UP keeps a 52-week lock-in on all plans. Vivagym, Solinca and TTF built their marketing around "no lock-in" as a differentiator. Holmes Place offers two routes: with a lock-in plan (10 EUR/month cheaper) or without (10 EUR/month more expensive). GCP works through an annual card, which is a soft form of lock-in.
Cancelling a 52-week lock-in before the deadline, with no valid reason, means paying the remainder. The legally recognised reasons to terminate without penalty include serious illness, involuntary unemployment, change of address and a unilateral change to the service by the gym. If you are already on a contract and want out, our guide to the gym contract cancellation letter has the model letter and the legal framework.
Which to Pick by Your Profile
Four typical profiles with a direct recommendation for each.
You want a low price, decent equipment and no lock-in. Vivagym (27 clubs, ONE plan) or TTF Time to Fitness 24 (24/7 from 19.99 EUR/month) cover this need. The choice between the two comes down to how close the club is to your route.
You want a pool and spa included. Solinca Classic (mid-market, pool and spa in almost every club), Holmes Place (premium, more premium clubs across the city) or Phive Lisboa (boutique premium with heated pool and jacuzzi).
You want the best value for money with a pool. Solinca Classic (from 21.99 EUR/month) is the cheapest option with pool and spa in Lisbon. Fitness UP Pool (42.50 EUR/month) has a pool but only at some clubs and comes with a 52-week lock-in. Holmes Place starts at 56.90 EUR/month.
You want total flexibility and you train at a low to medium frequency. Look at the pay-per-session pack at MySelf Studio (session from 11 EUR/hour in a pack), which for anyone training fewer than 8 to 10 times a month comes out cheaper than fixed memberships and gives you the entire studio booked just for you during the session.
Alternative: Private Pay-per-Session Gym
For anyone who got this far and realised that none of the eight chains fully solves the privacy plus flexibility plus cost equation, there is a model outside this list. In Lisbon, two operators offer the entire studio booked just for you during the session, with no monthly fee and no lock-in: MySelf Studio, in Areeiro, and Gym Spot, in Parque das Nações.
At MySelf Studio, every session is 60 minutes long, in a fully private studio, with full strength equipment (Olympic barbell, dumbbells up to 25 kg, multi-station machine, treadmill, two adjustable benches). The price per hour starts at 20 EUR for a single session and drops to 11 EUR/hour on Pack 40, or 10 EUR/hour on the Pro monthly plan of 20 sessions. Compared with traditional chains, it makes sense for anyone who values total privacy, or trains at a low to medium frequency and does not want to commit to a fixed membership. The full comparison of private gyms in Lisbon covers the four options in this category.
For anyone who still wants to compare the two philosophies in depth (traditional chain vs private studio), the benefits of private training show why so many consumers make the switch after their first year at a chain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Memberships at mainstream chains range from around 13 EUR/month (Solinca Light) to 85 EUR/month (Holmes Place premium tier). Low-cost (Vivagym, TTF) sits between 19 EUR and 45 EUR/month, mid-market (Fitness UP, Solinca Classic) between 22 EUR and 50 EUR/month, and premium (Holmes Place, Phive, Lemonfit) between 60 EUR and 85 EUR/month.
Vivagym (formerly Fitness Hut) has 27 clubs in Greater Lisbon in 2026, followed by TTF (more than 20 clubs in Lisbon and the South Bank), Solinca (19 Classic + Light clubs), Holmes Place (10+) and Fitness UP (10 inside Lisbon city).
In 2026, of the 8 mainstream chains in Lisbon, only Fitness UP keeps a mandatory 52-week lock-in on all plans. Holmes Place offers an optional lock-in (with a discount). Vivagym, Solinca and TTF have dropped the lock-in. GCP works through an annual membership card.
Solinca Light is the cheapest tier on the market (around 12.99 EUR/month). Vivagym does not publish prices online on a single page, but the market context suggests memberships from around 30 EUR/month on the entry plan. For a purely cheap membership, Solinca Light beats Vivagym; for access to more clubs or extra benefits, it depends on the tier you choose.
Holmes Place (all premium clubs), Phive (1 club in Lisbon, with a heated pool), Lemonfit (4 clubs in Greater Lisbon), Solinca Classic (13 clubs in Greater Lisbon), Fitness UP Pool (selected clubs), and GCP (head office). Vivagym and TTF do not include a pool in their clubs.
Yes. The chains Vivagym, Solinca, TTF (all plans) and Holmes Place (no-lock-in plan, 10 EUR/month more than the lock-in plan) operate without a lock-in contract. You can sign up and cancel month by month.
Yes. The private pay-per-session model, with MySelf Studio in Areeiro and Gym Spot in Parque das Nações, charges per session or per pack, with no monthly fee and no contract. It works out cheaper for anyone who trains fewer than 10 times a month and gives you total privacy during the session. The full comparison is in our guide to private gyms in Lisbon.
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TLDR: Key Points
In Lisbon there are 8 main chains in 2026, across four tiers: premium, mid-market, low-cost and social club.
Prices range from around 13 EUR/month (Solinca Light) to 85 EUR/month (Holmes Place premium).
Only Fitness UP applies a lock-in contract on all plans. Vivagym, Solinca and TTF market themselves as no-contract.
Holmes Place acquired Virgin Active Iberia in 2019. GoGym, Anytime and Basic Fit do not operate in Lisbon.
There is an alternative to the chain model: private pay-per-session, with no monthly fee and no lock-in.
MySelf Studio
