Travel Guide
Portugal
Old historic nation, with idyllic scenery, amazing coastline, delicious gastronomy and friendly people.
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Old historic nation, with idyllic scenery, amazing coastline, delicious gastronomy and friendly people.
Located in southwestern Europe, Portugal is a small country with so much to offer. Boarding with the Atlantic Ocean and Spain, its territory also includes Azores and Madeira, both autonomous regions with their regional governments.
Portugal is one of the oldest nations in the world. In the 15th and 16th (known as the Age of Discovery), they were one of the world major economic, political and military empire, establishing the first global empire. In 1974 the Revolução dos Cravos was organized, democracy was restored, putting an end at the Portuguese Colonial War. However, Portugal left its influence across the globe, cultural, architectural and linguistic.
Portugal is one of the sunniest places in Europe. With a Mediterranean climate and mild temperatures almost all year. The islands, Azores and Madeira have a subtropical climate. Natural landscaping can be observed, with endemic fauna and flora. Laurisilva subtropical rainforest is only restricted to the Iberian Peninsula, nowadays.
The gastronomy is so rich, traditional and full of flavours. In general, dry cod (bacalhau) is widely consumed, with hundreds of recipes. Portuguese pastry, original from medieval catholic monasteries is a must-try. Port wine is appreciated around the world. Portuguese folk music, Fado, it is melancholic urban music, very sentimental, that will leave you speechless. With so much to see and do, you just can’t get bored in Portugal.
Our Portugal travel guide will help you plan your trip. Before going here are some simple guidelines to make it easier
Capital: Lisbon
Language: Portuguese
Time-zone: UTC+0 and UTC+1
Currency: Euro
Borders: Spain
The country has modern and flexible telecommunications. There is a wide range of media companies. You can get Wi-Fi in most public places and the network have a good connection.
It’s recommended to have a SIM card; at the airport or in any shop in town. Vodafone is the most reliable provider. Normally, the card is free of charge, you only have to load.
Portugal is a very safe country in general. Although pickpocketing is common special in big cities, violent attacks are unusual.
Keep safe by always be aware of your surroundings in public places. Travel scams aren’t frequent. But, be wise, keep your personal documents in a safe place. Don’t pull yourself to a bad situation. In hotels or transportation check before you go.
The healthcare system is good with pharmacies and doctors in almost anywhere in the country. Europeans citizens are eligible for free emergency medical treatment with the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
Citizens for other countries should check information with authorities before going. An insurance plan is advisable
Be careful in summer with hot weather. Jellyfish is not a common problem, although sometimes they are seeing in southern beaches. Watch out for sea urchins.
Tap water is safe to drink.
Citizens of EU/EEA and Switzerland can easily enter in Portugal only with identity cards. All other foreign need a valid passport for the visa required.
Portuguese immigration sometimes will check randomly if you have enough funds for the trip in the country or even a proof of a return ticket. For more information about visas see all here.
Portugal is a very easy country to move around, as the country is not large. With a good connection of transportation. Only in the most rural areas, it is more complicated. Services like train or buses can be found almost everywhere. You can also rent a car or use a taxi.
Arriving or leaving to Portugal by plane is cheap and quick. Many airlines have been open routes across Europe to the country, like the low coast Ryanair, Easyjet or Wizz Air.
If you want to go to the islands, Azores and Madeira there are flights almost every day from Lisbon and Porto. For 40-60€ you can reach the islands. Lately, some airlines opened direct routes to the islands too. TAP, have multiple daily flights from Lisbon-Porto and Lisbon-Faro. Although most of the time is cheap, always check other options before going.
There are train and buses services from Portugal to other European countries.
Flixbus is the main operator for buses. Departing mainly from Lisbon. For trains seek for information at CP Portugal.
Portugal has a good railway network. Train travel in the country is very appreciated, mostly because of the scenic views. Ticket prices are affordable, unlike other European countries. There are high-speed, like the modern Alfa-Pendular (AP) and regular train options, Regionais (R) and Interreginais (IR).
Always check the timetable and show up at stations with time to spare. You can discover more at Comboios de Portugal. For most value get the One Country Portugal Pass from InterRail with unlimited travel (under 28 gets 15% less).
For those who live old fashion you just couldn’t skip the charming tram in the narrow streets of Lisbon and Porto.
If you want to get around cheap in Portugal just use buses. It is easy and depending on the company you can book online. Or even on the same day. You can go from the north to south in nearly 8 hours, so not too much time-consuming. The largest buses companies are Rede Expressos, Rodonorte and Eva for Algarve. In the capital and in Porto is also good to use the municipal buses to see the main attractions.
River cruises along Rio Douro and in Rio Tejo, in the capital are a must-try. Commuter ferries cross these rivers every day. Between the islands, Azores and Madeira you can get ferries. Although in low season you need to check before going. Large cruise boats make a regular stop at the capital and Madeira. With the new Leixões cruise terminal, Porto now is also a spot for cruise boats.
Taxi service in Portugal has a big network, for small cities and in large distances. The cars are usually black with a sign. Prices depend on the distance, they use meters for that. At night and weekends, the price tends to rise. Uber and Cabify are available around the country. You can get better cotes in most cases. But, always check options available.
To have the freedom to travel across the country nothing better than renting a car or motorbike. Portugal has a good network of highways and even in little villages roads are in good condition.
To preserve the environment we suggest renting an electric/hybrid car from Rentagile.com one of the best rental companies in Portugal.
If you are from a European country, USA or Brazil, you only need your home driving licence to drive in Portugal. Others nationalities have to get an International Driving Permit (IDP) from an automobile licensing department or automobile club in their home country.
Fuel is one of the most expensive in Europe. Self-service stations are available and most of them accept credit cards. In highways you can find tolls, you will need to pay. Calculate the price here. Some tolls are automatic. If you are renting a car just ask for a small electronic device call Via Verde.
Cycling has become popular lately in Portugal. But, there aren’t much cycling paths yet. Local bike clubs organised trips in the summer. Or just rent a bicycle and go for yourself. You just need a proof of identification and pay the fee.
Please, always consider, the country is not so plain. Along the Alentejo coast, trips are easier but, sometimes windy. Places like Serra da Estrela or Parque Nacional Peneda-Gerês are more demanding but, the landscaping is breathtaking. If you own a bike you will need a proof of ownership and some photos in case of stolen so the police could identify.
Accommodation in Portugal is very affordable. Depending on the season it’s wisely to book in advance, especially in summer months.
You can choose from a wide variety of properties. Hotels are the cheapest, with a good present in big cities like Lisbon on Porto. Many hotels are part of the Pousadas da Juventude. You can get a HI card to save money.
Pousadas de Portugal is a good option for staying in a historic building. The Pestana group turn the old buildings into beautiful places to stay with an elegant taste.
Guesthouses or Pensão usually family-run places with fair prices. You have also hostels, private rooms and apartments to rent and in summer it’s possible to camping.
The campground generally is run by Orbitur. One of the best experiences is to stay in a traditional property lodging. You can find them at Aldeias de Portugal, Casas no Campo and Solares de Portugal.
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As you can see below, peak season run between June and September. Good weather but, more crowd and prices rise. Low season from November to February is the cheapest, fewer people but the weather could be cold and rain.
The best time to visit is in shoulder season. October or between March and May, you will have nice weather, good prices and not so crowded.
Months |
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January |
February |
March |
April |
May |
June |
July |
August |
Setember |
October |
November |
December |
Low Season | Shoulder Season | High Season | |
---|---|---|---|
Prices | Cheapest | Cheap | Expensive |
Weather | Cold and Rain | Mild | Hot and Sun |
Crowds | Minimal | Moderate | Large |
Low Season | |
---|---|
Prices | Cheapest |
Weather | Cold and Rain |
Crowds | Minimal |
Shoulder Season | |
---|---|
Prices | Cheap |
Weather | Mild |
Crowds | Moderate |
High Season | |
---|---|
Prices | Expensive |
Weather | Hot and Sun |
Crowds | Large |
March, April, May and October
- Good weather with pleasing temperatures
- Fewer crowds
- Prices aren't as expensive as high season
- Days have enough daylight
You can easily plan your next trip with the tools below. They are affiliated links, by using them you are helping us, without any cost, continue our work.