Everything you need to know for your trip to Portugal! What’s the best time to go, and where can you find vegetarian or vegan food? What is the currency in Portugal, and do you need to protect yourself against mosquitos? And more questions answered about travelling in Portugal in this ultimate guide.

For such a small country, Portugal really offers huge diversity in terms of places to visit. From the bustling capital of Lisbon to the sunny beach towns, from the surf oasis of Nazaré to the tranquility of Gerês national park, there’s really something for everyone in Portugal. What’s even better is that each of these places are just a few hours ride from each other on the bus, train or in a car. Here are some of Portugal’s highlights:

Lisbon

Lisbon is, of course, Portugal’s capital and largest city. Lisbon is known for it’s cascading hillside neighbourhoods, historic yellow trams, and vibrant, modern culture. It’s also been my home for the last three years, so when I tell you that I know quite a bit about travelling in Portugal and the Lisbon area, it’s because I’ve done it all myself, very thoroughly!

The oldest district of Alfama charms visitors with its winding streets and authentic Fado houses, while downtown Cais do Sodre showcases Lisbon’s modern reconstruction following a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami in 1755.

Just down the road, Belém houses the city’s most famous UNESCO sites and the original pastéis de nata bakery, while the creative LX Factory, set in a converted industrial space, represents the city’s modern side.

🇵🇹 Read more: A 3 Day Lisbon Itinerary

Algarve

The Algarve isn’t a town or a city, but actually an entire region that encompasses the southern coast. It’s mostly known for being a tourist trap, especially for Brits Abroad, but there’s much more to it than meets the eye. Here are some of the towns you’ll find in the Algarve region:

Sagres – marks Europe’s southwestern tip, offering dramatic views and a sense of standing at the edge of the continent

Lagos – Combines history with beautiful beaches and grottos

Benagil Caves – The region’s most photographed natural wonder.

Faro – The capital of the Algarve region, where you’ll find Portugal’s third international airport

Tavira – Traditional architecture and Roman bridge

Albufeira – Serves as a lively resort town popular with international tourists

Sintra

Going to Sintra is like living in a fairytale. Just 40 minutes train ride from Lisbon, Sintra is a quaint town full of coffee shops, artisanal stores and sweeping views. Just up the hill you’ll find Pena Palace, a Moorish Castle, and the mysterious Quinta da Regaleira, which invites exploration of its initiatic wells and underground tunnels.

Coimbra

Coimbra is a historic city between Lisbon and Porto that is best known for housing one of Europe’s oldest universities, now a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Old Cathedral stands as a towering example of Romanesque architecture, while the Portugal dos Pequenitos offers a unique miniature park showcasing Portuguese architecture.

Óbidos

Óbidos is a medieval walled town with almost perfectly preserved medieval architecture. You can walk the complete castle walls for stunning views, and during Christmas time Óbidos transforms into a magical holiday destination.

Porto

The northern capital, famous for port wine, francesinha (the weirdest sandwich you’ll ever try) and stunning bridges across the Douro River. The UNESCO-listed Ribeira district offers colourful houses cascading all the way down to the riverfront, while across the river, Vila Nova de Gaia houses the historic port wine cellars.

In São Bento train station, there are incredibly detailed tiles (azulejos) telling Portugal’s history.

The famous Livraria Lello (a library) is said to have inspired aspects of Harry Potter, while Foz do Douro provides a peaceful spot where the river meets the ocean.

Porto is a much more romantic and tourist-catered city than Lisbon, and I always joke that it’s perfect for a couples getaway and every time I’ve been there, it’s been alone!

Douro Valley

The Douro Valley is the world’s oldest demarcated wine region, which stretches along the Douro River. There’s a scenic train route that follows the rivers course, an abundance of wine tours, and river cruises that take you down the Douro River right from Porto city. Of course, the best thing of all to come from this region is the wine, which you will find is sold and celebrated all over Portugal.

Madeira

Madeira is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, which is, of course, a plane ride from mainland Portugal. It has a year-round mild climate and incredible natural beauty, and is mostly known for its great views, short hikes, and ancient water channels. The main town and airport on Madeira island is Funchal.

As incredible as Madeira is, it’s hard to squeeze into a Portugal itinerary – it needs a whole vacation of its own.

🇵🇹 Read more: An Honest Review of Madeira

The Azores (Os Açores)

The Azores aren an archipelago of nine volcanic islands, even further out into the Atlantic Ocean than Madeira. The largest island and capital is Ilha de São Miguel (São Miguel Island), with Ponta Delgada as the main town and airport.

Pico Island houses Portugal’s highest mountain and unique vineyard culture, whilst Terceira preserves historic towns and festivities.

🇵🇹 Read more: 15 Best Things to Do in Portugal

Portugal’s only border is Spain, making it unique in western Europe. Spain borders Portugal’s north and east sides, while the south and west sides of Portugal meet the Atlantic Ocean.

Portugal-Spain border

Portugal’s longest and only land border has several main crossing points, including Valença-Tui in the north, Elvas-Badajoz in the central region, and Vila Real de Santo António-Ayamonte in the south.

Both countries are in the Schengen Zone, which means there are generally no border checks between these countries. There are occasional stops and you must always travel with a form of ID, but delays are very rare.

The Atlantic Coast

The Atlantic coastline of Portugal is extensive and quite dramatic, with a lot of huge waves and cliff faces. Regular ferries connect mainland Portugal with Madeira, but they are mostly for cargo. Most tourist passengers travel to Madeira and the Azores by plane. Big ports, including Lisbon, also welcome cruise ships throughout the year.

Touristy Seasons in Portugal

The peak tourist season runs from July through August when temperatures can soar over 40 degrees (ouch) and crowds rush to the coast. Tourists come from all over the world, but they also come to the coast from inland Portugal and Spain, where the weather gets even hotter.

The shoulder seasons of April-June and September-October offer slightly more ideal weather, although sometimes it can still be quite cold in April, and this year, for example, the wet season that usually happens in November and December came early, and we got absolutely drenched in October!

Because Portugal is so touristy now, we do get tourists year-round, even during the winter time. I wouldn’t necessarily say that coming during the shoulder season would offer cheaper prices or less tourists.

Summer Season in Portugal

Summer stretches from June through September. Temperatures in-land in Portugal can get really, really hot, whereas the coastal areas stay a bit cooler with an Atlantic breeze. Even on the hottest days, it cools considerably at nighttime, which cannot be said for much of Europe! During the summer, we have the best of both worlds in Lisbon: hot days on the beach, and cool nights to get a good nights sleep.

Winter Season in Portugal

You usually start to feel the winter in Portugal when the rain begins in November. Portugal typically stays quite rainy throughout November and December, especially in the north and on the coast. The weather eases off in January and becomes sunny but cold, and stays that way with little rain and few clouds until summer begins again.

Festivals in Portugal

The classic festival season in Portugal is during the Santos Populares festival in June, which is mostly in Lisbon but has spread to other cities in recent years. During the summer, you get all kinds of festivals throughout Portugal, from Latin American festivals to Medieval festivals, and a real variety of music festivals and events, too.

Local Buses

Public buses generally serve both cities and rural areas fairly efficiently. You may hear me complain about the buses in Lisbon, because they can arrive late and generally be unreliable, but all in all the bus networks in Portugal are quite extensive. Buses and are fairly affordable, and in larger cities like Lisbon and Portugal you can pay by card.

Trams

Trams operate in both Lisbon and Porto, supplementing the bus schedules. Their routes do tend to be quite limited and, especially in Lisbon, the trams get very full.

Metro

There is a small underground train service in Lisbon that covers a decent amount of the city, but its nothing like the metro networks you’ll find in other capital cities like Madrid, Paris or Berlin. It’s simple to use, quite close to the surface (so you usually still get cell service), and you can either buy a dedicated ticket or use a contactless card.

Tourist Buses

Private coach companies like Rede Expressos, Alsa and FlixBus provide comfortable long-distance services between major towns and cities. They often offer more direct routes than train services, serve areas that don’t have train services at all, and at a fraction of the cost. For example, the bus and train from Lisbon to Porto both take around 3.5 hours, but the train can cost up to four times as much money.

Trains

The Portuguese rail network (CP) connects major cities and towns, especially along the coast, but as I mentioned, trains don’t serve as many destinations as buses do. Regional trains serve smaller destinations, but that often requires local knowledge or local tickets that cannot be bought online, which can be off-putting for travellers.

Flights

Domestic flights connect mainland Portugal with Madeira and the Azores, but it is very unusual to fly within mainland Portugal because it’s such a small country. It would generally be more convenient and cheaper to take the train or bus than fly between Portugal’s major cities.

Uber and Ridesharing

Uber and Bolt are the two main ridesharing apps that are used in Portugal, alongside traditional taxis. They are legal, safe, and often much cheaper than taking a regular taxi. You can order an Uber or Bolt to pick you up from the airport, but you can only order it to one specific pickup point as they are banned from entering the general taxi area.

Vegetarians & Vegans

While traditional Portuguese cuisine centres very heavily on fish and meat, vegetarian options are becoming increasingly available in cities. You can find vegetarian food in most restaurants in Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve, and Lisbon especially has a lot of places for vegans, too. Outside of the major cities, being vegetarian is much harder. A couple of years ago I went to Sesimbra, a beach town just 40 minutes from Lisbon, and we really struggled to find somewhere that catered to vegetarians.

🇵🇹 Read more: A Guide to Vegetarian Restaurants in Lisbon

Can You Drink Tap Water in Portugal?

Yes, the tap water is totally fine and safe to drink throughout mainland Portugal and the main islands. Some smaller islands may have different water sources, but the quality is always high even if they have a different taste.

Pastelerías

In Portugal, it’s really common to go out for breakfast or your morning coffee at a pastelería. They can be crowded or a little overwhelming, but it’s a great and inexpensive way to explore Portuguese culture and food. Throughout the day, they serve sweet treats which are often very welcome after a day of exploring!

🇵🇹 Read more: What to Order in a Portuguese Pastelería

What Languages Do They Speak in Portugal?

Portuguese is the official language of Portugal nationwide, and although Mirandese is recognised as a second official language in a small northeastern region, you’re unlikely to come across it as a tourist. The Portuguese in Portugal is very different from Brazilian Portuguese, both in accent and vocabulary. Yes, they do understand Spanish, but no, they don’t want you to speak it here.

Do People Speak English in Portugal?

English proficiency is high, especially in major cities and tourist areas. Most young people speak really good English, but older people outside of major cities speak much less. Most hotel and restaurant staff also speak English as well as a variety of other foreign languages.

Language Schools

There are many Portuguese schools throughout Portugal, especially in Lisbon, Porto, and Coimbra. Schools typically provide cultural activities alongside language courses, both intensive and long-term. I did Portuguese classes twice a week throughout the whole of 2023 alongside working and living in Lisbon, and found it really useful and affordable.

What is the currency in Portugal?

Portugal’s main and only currency is the Euro. Other currencies are not widely accepted, but there are plenty of places that you can exchange common currencies like the US Dollar.

How much does it cost to withdraw money in Guatemala?

For foreign debit cards, most commercial ATMs like Euronet charge around 3€ per transaction to withdraw cash. However, if you look for a Multibanco, which is part of the national banking system, they are free to use for all cards. If you have access to a Portuguese bank or Portuguese card, you can make free withdrawals at any ATM.

Do they take card in Portugal?

Most places in Portugal do take card now, although it’s always best to check as some smaller establishments take cash only. In addition, smaller or more local places sometimes only accept Portuguese debit cards, so don’t automatically assume that you can pay on card if you see a card machine!

What is the cost of living in Portugal?

Compared to most countries in Europe and the US, the cost of living in Portugal is fairly cheap. However, it is getting more and more expensive, especially in larger cities like Lisbon. Lisbon currently has a housing crisis caused by empty homes, high taxes on rental income, and a huge, sudden influx of immigrants and tourists following Covid, so rent is really high at the moment.

General Safety

Portugal is among Europe’s safest countries for tourists. Major cities and tourist areas are well-policed, with tourist police available in popular destinations. You do need to take normal precautions, in crowded areas and at night, but other than being offered drugs in the city centre (even if you’re looking for drugs, please always say no to these people and ask a friend instead!) you’ll probably be just fine.

Pickpockets

Pickpockets is mostly common in touristy areas like the Algarve, Lisbon and Porto, but even in those places it isn’t very common. Keep your valuables secure when you’re in crowded spaces, and practise some general caution when you’re out and about.

Violent Crime

Violent crime rates are very low in Portugal, though normal precautions apply, especially at night. There are some areas of every city that you shouldn’t walk at night time, and I think they become quite obvious quite quickly. It’s safe to walk alone at night in most places in Portugal, but I’d just recommend sticking to main streets and not walking with headphones in.

Travel Insurance & What to do if you get ill

Healthcare standards are good, especially in private facilities. EU citizens should carry an EHIC or GHIC card to prove their eligibility for free healthcare, while visitors from other countries outside of the EU will need travel insurance. Private clinics in major cities often provide more convenient care for tourists, and they’re nowhere near as expensive as they are in the UK or the US.

Heat-related Issues

Summer heat requires attention, particularly inland. Stay hydrated and use sun protection, even when it’s not sunny (sometimes clouds can cover the sun, but not the UV rays).

Mosquitos

Mosquitos are not a major health concern in Portugal – whilst they do come along in the summer, especially in rural areas near water, they don’t carry any diseases that require your attention. Bug repellent is more for your comfort than for any health reasons.

Ocean Safety

The Atlantic coast brings strong waves to Portugal – in fact, the biggest wave ever surfed was here in Nazaré. So, do be careful, and if there are any warnings about the waves or currents then make sure to listen. If a lifeguard tells you something on the beach, make sure to listen. Be especially careful at remote beaches without lifeguard service – waves are often bigger and stronger than they look!