Portugal travel guide
Portugal runs along the Atlantic edge of Europe, with hilly, tiled cities, Douro vineyards, the cliffs and beaches of the Algarve and the volcanic islands of the Azores and Madeira. It is compact, relaxed and has excellent food and wine. It suits city-breakers, surfers, walkers and families, and is pleasant for much of the year.
Places worth the trip
Lisbon
The capital climbs seven hills above the Tagus river. Ride the old trams through Alfama, look out from the miradouros, hear fado in the evening and head to Belém for the Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower and custard tarts (pastéis de nata).
Porto and the Douro Valley
Porto's riverside Ribeira district is UNESCO-listed, and port wine lodges line the river in Vila Nova de Gaia. Upriver, the terraced vineyards of the Douro Valley, the oldest demarcated wine region in the world, can be seen by train, boat or car.
Sintra
A hill town near Lisbon filled with palaces and gardens, from the colourful Pena Palace to the mysterious Quinta da Regaleira with its initiation well. Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of mainland Europe, is nearby.
The Algarve
Portugal's southern coast has golden cliffs, sea caves such as Benagil, and beaches from Lagos to Tavira. The west coast near Sagres is wilder and good for surfing.
Évora and the Alentejo
A walled, UNESCO-listed town with a Roman temple and a Chapel of Bones, in a region of cork oaks, whitewashed villages, wine estates and wide plains.
Madeira
A subtropical, mountainous island in the Atlantic, known for its levada walks that follow old irrigation channels, its sea cliffs, Funchal's gardens and its fortified wine.
The Azores
Nine volcanic islands in the mid-Atlantic, with crater lakes such as Sete Cidades on São Miguel, hot springs, tea plantations and some of Europe's best whale-watching.
Coimbra
Home to one of the oldest universities in Europe, whose baroque Joanina Library is the highlight of a UNESCO-listed campus above the Mondego river.
Interesting facts about Portugal
- Portugal and England signed the Treaty of Windsor in 1386, often cited as the oldest diplomatic alliance in the world still in force.
- Portugal produces around half of the world's cork, mainly from the cork oak forests of the Alentejo.
- Nazaré is known for some of the biggest surfable waves ever ridden, created by an underwater canyon off the coast.
- Portuguese is spoken by well over 250 million people worldwide, most of them in Brazil.
- The decorative glazed tiles called azulejos cover churches, stations and houses across the country; Lisbon has a museum dedicated to them.
Best time to visit Portugal
Spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October) are ideal, with warm days and fewer crowds. July and August are hot inland and busy on the coast, especially in the Algarve, but the Atlantic stays cool. Winter is mild in Lisbon and the south, though rainier in the north; Madeira is pleasant all year. The Azores have changeable weather at any time, with summer the most settled.
Getting around
Trains connect Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra, Faro and many towns, with fast Alfa Pendular services on the main line. Buses fill the gaps, especially in the Algarve and Alentejo. Lisbon and Porto have metros, trams and buses, with rechargeable cards. Ride-hailing is widely used in cities. A car is useful for the Alentejo, the Douro and the Algarve's quieter corners; many motorways have electronic tolls, so ask your rental company how they are paid. Flights and ferries reach the islands.
Practical details
- Capital
- Lisbon
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Languages
- Portuguese
- Plug types
- C, F
- Voltage
- 230 V, 50 Hz
- Emergency
- 112
- Driving side
- right
- Tipping
- Not obligatory. Rounding up or leaving 5–10% in restaurants for good service is common.
Staying online in Portugal
Mobile coverage is very good in cities, towns and along main roads, with 4G and 5G widely available. Signal can drop in mountain areas, deep valleys such as parts of the Douro, and on some walking trails in Madeira and the Azores. Free Wi-Fi is common in cafés, hotels and many public places. Portugal is in the EU, so EU visitors can usually roam as at home; others may face high charges. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.
Portugal eSIM plans
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Useful apps
- Bolt: Ride-hailing widely used in Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve.
- Uber: Also widely available in Portugal's cities and airports.
- CP – Comboios de Portugal: Timetables and tickets for national train services.
- Google Maps: Public transport routes in Lisbon and Porto and walking directions up the hills.
Portugal travel FAQs
Both are worth seeing and are about three hours apart by train. Lisbon is bigger, with more day trips such as Sintra and Cascais; Porto is more compact and is the gateway to the Douro Valley.
The Atlantic is cool even in summer, especially on the west coast. The Algarve's south coast is the warmest mainland option, and the water is warmer around Madeira.
Yes, coverage is excellent. EU visitors usually roam at home rates; visitors from outside the EU may pay much more. A travel eSIM gives you local data while keeping your home number active.
Try bacalhau (salt cod) in its many forms, grilled sardines in summer, the francesinha sandwich in Porto, seafood rice, and pastéis de nata with coffee.