Portugal Travel Guide - Travel Insights and Tips
Traveling to Portugal? Our detailed Portugal insights, blogs and travel tips will help you plan the best trip.
With so many influences from Africa, Spain, and further afield, Portugal is a unique melting pot of cuisines, cultures, religions, and architecture. Combine this with the fantastic Mediterranean climate, sandy beaches, and resort towns, and you have a recipe for a perfect travel destination. If you want to travel to Portugal, then this travel guide is a great place for you to start.
Thanks to its warm climate and cheap and easy travel connections to much of Europe, Portugal is a popular winter destination. Visiting Portugal in September offers post-summer warmth, while Portugal in October offers great surfing conditions. Portugal in December is all about the festival season with more warmth, both weather- and mood-wise, and great food all around. In fact, there really is no bad time to visit Portugal. If you are looking for a specific time to visit the hilly streets of Lisbon, the wonderful waves of Lagos, or drink your way around Porto, check out our guide on the best time to visit Portugal.
Click the highlighted link to find out what one week in Portugal has in offer for you. Perhaps 10 days in Portugal is a more suitable option for you. And if you are still not sure, consult our handy guide on how many days to spend in Portugal.
Top Destinations in Portugal
Discover the highlights of Portugal.
Enjoy a Coastal Holiday in Algarve
With jaw-dropping sandy beaches, coastal walks, and seaside resort towns, the Algarve region of Portugal is popular with tourists, particularly for a group or family trip. Spend a few days at the beach before taking eight days to hike the coastal trails of Sagres. Make sure to add it to the itinerary while planning your trip. View Tours
Spot Whales in Azores
Located out in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, the Azores are an island chain that is sometimes called the Hawaii of Europe. The deep water and climate make it ideal for going out and spotting the gentle ocean giants. Island hop between Pico and Faial to get a glimpse of the whales as part of a wider, Azores-traversing tour. View Tours
Learn Portuguese Culture in Lisbon
The thing about Portuguese culture is that it is very different to anywhere else in Europe due to the Portuguese history of exploration. With Moorish influences, a sea-faring culture that colonized a lot of nations in years gone by, and a huge food and wine scene, no two areas of Portugal are the same. View Tours
Portugal at a Glance
Quick facts about Portugal.
The capital of Portugal is Lisbon, which is famed for its architecture, vibrant expat scene, and an iconic yellow trolley system that helps you traverse the steep, cobbled hills of the Old Town area.
With an area of 92,212 square kilometers, Portugal is roughly the same size as the US state of Indiana.
+351. If you are placing a call to Lisbon, you must dial the area code, 21, after the country code followed by the phone number.
Like most of Europe, especially in the West, Portugal uses the Euro. It is relatively easy to pay by card or contactless on your phone in major cities and resort towns. However, it is a good idea to have some cash with you, just in case.
Humberto Delgado Airport is the main airport in Portugal. It is located seven kilometers northeast of Lisbon. CODE: LIS CLOSEST CITY: LISBON
Portugal is part of the Schengen zone. This means a lot of travelers can enter for 90 days without a need for a visa. Some countries, however, will need to apply for a Schengen visa. Citizens from the US and Canada do not need to apply.
The official language of Portugal is Portuguese. It is important to note that there are some fairly large differences between European and Brazilian Portuguese, so do not be alarmed if you hear a different version.
If you find yourself in trouble, the emergency number for police, ambulance, and fire in Portugal is 112.
Portugal is one of the most peaceful countries in the world, coming in sixth place on the Global Peace Index.
When to visit Portugal
Read the below travel guides to find the best time to visit Portugal.
- Jan Avg Daily: 15 ° C Avg Nightly: 8 ° C
- Feb Avg Daily: 16 ° C Avg Nightly: 9 ° C
- Mar Avg Daily: 19 ° C Avg Nightly: 11 ° C
- Apr Avg Daily: 20 ° C Avg Nightly: 12 ° C
- May Avg Daily: 22 ° C Avg Nightly: 14 ° C
- Jun Avg Daily: 26 ° C Avg Nightly: 17 ° C
- Jul Avg Daily: 28 ° C Avg Nightly: 18 ° C
- Aug Avg Daily: 28 ° C Avg Nightly: 19 ° C
- Sep Avg Daily: 27 ° C Avg Nightly: 18 ° C
- Oct Avg Daily: 23 ° C Avg Nightly: 15 ° C
- Nov Avg Daily: 18 ° C Avg Nightly: 12 ° C
- Dec Avg Daily: 15 ° C Avg Nightly: 9 ° C
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Portugal in November: Prep for Wet Winter
Considered the wettest month of the year, Portugal in November unravels itself only to the most discerning traveler. The country will definitely dish out an inspirational holiday if you know where to look. You can tee off on a budget tour in Vilamoura, sc ...Read more
Portugal in January: Winter Surf's Up
January might be the coldest month of the year in Portugal, but there is also a catch. Compared with the abysmal weather of northern European countries, Portugal in January is still a sunny respite. Of course, the Mediterranean’s wet winter phenomen ...Read more
Portugal in December: Weather, Tips & More
Gifted with a Mediterranean climate (despite not bordering the Mediterranean Sea) and 300 days of sunshine per year, Portugal pleases even the pickiest traveler. Come December, the country rustles up a festive fare of insane experiences. From Christmas ma ...Read more
How long to stay in Portugal
Read about the ideal duration to stay in Portugal.
Great Portugal Itineraries: How Many Days to Spend?
Located on the Iberian Peninsula, Portugal is one of the oldest countries in Europe and has been a popular holiday destination for decades thanks to its timeworn charm. From the golden beaches of the Algarve on the southern coast to the terracotta ca ...Read more
One Week in Portugal: Top 3 Recommendations
If you are wondering whether 7 days in Portugal is enough time to see its highlights, we assure you that visitors on a tight schedule can still enjoy the best of what it has to offer. Soak up Porto’s stunning blend of medieval and modern architectur ...Read more
10 Days in Portugal: Top 3 Recommendations
Although you could easily spend multiple weeks touring the historic cities and stunning countryside of Portugal, there are numerous ways to pack it all into a shorter trip. Below are the best Portugal itineraries of around 10 days. Covering different them ...Read more
FAQs for Portugal
Read the most frequently asked questions and answers about traveling to Portugal below.
- What is the best time to go to Portugal?
- What are the best places to travel to in Portugal?
- How many days should you spend in Portugal?
- What is the best way to travel in Portugal?
- What are the best types of tours in Portugal?
Sustainable travel — How to travel through Portugal responsibly
In line with Bookmundi’s vision, we wish to provide our travelers with a sustainable travel experience through Portugal. As part of this effort, we carbon-offset any Portugal tour that you purchase through us. You can read more details about our carbon offsetting efforts.
Here’s what you can do to travel to Portugal more responsibly:
- Carbon-offset your transport to Portugal via TAP airlines. The moment your tour starts in Turkey, and provided that you have purchased your tour through Bookmundi, we will carbon-offset your tour from its starting point to its ending point.
- If possible, give back to local environmental charities like Quercus. Even a little bit will go a long way.
- Portugal is dependent on the sea and the coast is a big part of Portuguese culture, so respect the coastal regions. Clean up after your day at the beach. Bring reusable bottles and bags. Wear reef-safe sunscreen.
Portugal travel tips and insight
- The bread, cheese and olives offered to you in restaurants are not free.
- Some smaller restaurants may only accept cash or may charge fees for credit card use.
- Fado is Portugal’s own genre of music. You will hear this in clubs, restaurants and chapels.
- July and August are exceptionally hot in Portugal. So try to plan your holiday to Portugal during May, June or September.
- The Portuguese enjoy long dinners between 8pm and 10pm.
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