Portugal is a lovely European escape – a country of friendly people, delicious food, scenic beauty, and, best of all, more affordable than some of its neighbors!

Trolley in the pastel colored streets of Lisbon.

Practical Info

Portugal Travel Guide

Getting to Portugal

Portugal has regular flights to Lisbon, Porto, and Faro from Europe and some major US Cities. Traveling from the East Coast of the United States to Portugal is easy, affordable, and fairly quick. If coming from outside the US or Europe, it’s perhaps cheaper to fly into a major airport in Europe such as Paris or Barcelona and make a connecting flight from there.

When to go

Striped colored buildings in Aveiro, Portugal

When to visit Portugal largely depends on where in the country you’d like to visit. Want to go to the Algarve or islands? Summer is best, though it will be crowded (and more expensive).

If you’re visiting one of the cities such as Lisbon or Porto, the shoulder season is recommended (March-May and September-November).

For holiday cheer, head to Portugal in December or early January.

What to see

Portugal isn’t a very large country, but it still offers a wide variety of things to do and places to see depending on your interests.

LisbonHilly Capital City, Alfama, Fado, Beaches
PortoPort Wine, Ribiera, Azulejo (Blue Tiles)
FaroBeaches, Golf, Surfing, Hiking Trails
SintraRoyal Mountain Town
MadeiraPortuguese Volcanic Islands, Madeira Wine, Old Aqueducts
LagosAlgarve Beaches, Coves, Cliffs, Lighthouse
CoimbraMedieval Old Town, Baroque Library
CascaisBeaches, Lighthouse, Marinas, Casinos
Douro ValleyPort Wine, Vinho Verde, Scenic Landscape
Ponta DelgadaCapital of the Azores, St. Sebastian Church
AveiroCoastal City, Lagoon, Canals, Moliceiros Boats
BragaCathedral, Palaces, University
Peneda-Gerês National ParkMountains, Scenery, Hiking, Adventure Sports
Costa VicentinaRugged Coastlines, Vicentine Coast Natural Park

 

Traveling within Portugal

Given Portugal’s small size, it’s fairly easy to get around the country by train or bus. Buses in Portugal are usually a little faster than the regional trains. Renting a car and driving is the best option if you want to visit some off-the-beaten-path locations – just be sure you have your International Driving Permit.

Detailed Portugal Articles

Discover Portugal’s Hidden Gem: Costa Vicentina

21 Epic Things to do in Lisbon, Portugal

Prettiest Places in Porto

Exploring Ethnic Restaurants in Porto

Rooftops of Dubrovnik with text 42 Virtual Tours Throughout Europe
21 epic things to do in Lisbon, Portugal

Discover Portugal's hidden gem, Costa Vicentina

Flight Resources

Skyscanner is the website I use for all of my flights. Other travelers also like Momondo.

Money-saving tip: Don’t input any dates to scan the best available times to go OR simply input ‘Romania’ instead of a specific airport – you may get a much cheaper flight!

Hilly street in Portuguese village.

Accommodation Resources

When I travel, I personally prefer to use Airbnb. I book an entire apartment, giving me my privacy and the comfort of home amenities, such as a kitchen and washing machine. Since my dog(s) travel with me, it also allows me to filter based on pet-friendliness without the stress of disturbing hotel guests.

If you’re traveling long-term, Airbnb usually offers discounts for stays of a month or more – the discounts are significant, sometimes 50-60%! It winds up being cheaper than what I would have paid for my apartment rent back in the USA. In Portugal, this can mean having an entire apartment to yourself for around $500-600 USD! In larger cities, the rentals are more expensive.

If you’ve never used Airbnb before, you can get a discount by using my link below.

If you’re a budget-conscious traveler and not traveling long-term, hostels are a great option and are abundant in Portugal.

For standard hotel stays, Hotels.com usually offers the best deals.

Safety Tips

Overall, Portugal is a very safe country to visit – it’s commonly ranked among the top safest countries in the world. In larger cities, however, travel scams are common and there are people who prey on the vulnerability of tourists. Be aware of the most common travel scams in Portugal and always trust your judgement!

Money Saving Tips

Given the fact that it’s such an inexpensive country, there isn’t too much for me to write here.

If you’re on a super-strict budget, eat out for lunch instead of dinner. It won’t save you too much, however, as Portuguese restaurants are on the whole very affordable.

Get on Pinterest and find ‘free things to do in….’ whichever city you find yourself. There are a ton of free things to do in Portugal.

If you’re doing the tourist circuit and heading to museums, be sure to check out whether the places you intend to visit offer free days – many museums will have a ‘freebie’ day once a month or so.

Covid resources for Portugal

Before booking your next flight or accommodations, be sure to stay up-to-date with travel restrictions in Portugal due to COVID-19.

pin it!

Top Resources for Travel to Portugal

 

Rooftops of Dubrovnik with text 42 Virtual Tours Throughout Europe
21 epic things to do in Lisbon, Portugal

Discover Portugal's hidden gem, Costa Vicentina

Flight Resources

Skyscanner is the website I use for all of my flights. Other travelers also like Momondo.

Money-saving tip: Don’t input any dates to scan the best available times to go OR simply input ‘Romania’ instead of a specific airport – you may get a much cheaper flight!

Hilly street in Portuguese village.

Accommodation Resources

When I travel, I personally prefer to use Airbnb. I book an entire apartment, giving me my privacy and the comfort of home amenities, such as a kitchen and washing machine. Since my dog(s) travel with me, it also allows me to filter based on pet-friendliness without the stress of disturbing hotel guests.

If you’re traveling long-term, Airbnb usually offers discounts for stays of a month or more – the discounts are significant, sometimes 50-60%! It winds up being cheaper than what I would have paid for my apartment rent back in the USA. In Portugal, this can mean having an entire apartment to yourself for around $500-600 USD! In larger cities, the rentals are more expensive.

If you’ve never used Airbnb before, you can get a discount by using my link below.

If you’re a budget-conscious traveler and not traveling long-term, hostels are a great option and are abundant in Portugal.

For standard hotel stays, Hotels.com usually offers the best deals.

Safety Tips

Overall, Portugal is a very safe country to visit – it’s commonly ranked among the top safest countries in the world. In larger cities, however, travel scams are common and there are people who prey on the vulnerability of tourists. Be aware of the most common travel scams in Portugal and always trust your judgement!

Money Saving Tips

Given the fact that it’s such an inexpensive country, there isn’t too much for me to write here.

If you’re on a super-strict budget, eat out for lunch instead of dinner. It won’t save you too much, however, as Portuguese restaurants are on the whole very affordable.

Get on Pinterest and find ‘free things to do in….’ whichever city you find yourself. There are a ton of free things to do in Portugal.

If you’re doing the tourist circuit and heading to museums, be sure to check out whether the places you intend to visit offer free days – many museums will have a ‘freebie’ day once a month or so.

Covid resources for Portugal

Before booking your next flight or accommodations, be sure to stay up-to-date with travel restrictions in Portugal due to COVID-19.

pin it!

Top Resources for Travel to Portugal

 

Exploring Ethnic Restaurants in Porto
Prettiest Places in Porto
Rooftops of Dubrovnik with text 42 Virtual Tours Throughout Europe
21 epic things to do in Lisbon, Portugal

Discover Portugal's hidden gem, Costa Vicentina

Flight Resources

Skyscanner is the website I use for all of my flights. Other travelers also like Momondo.

Money-saving tip: Don’t input any dates to scan the best available times to go OR simply input ‘Romania’ instead of a specific airport – you may get a much cheaper flight!

Hilly street in Portuguese village.

Accommodation Resources

When I travel, I personally prefer to use Airbnb. I book an entire apartment, giving me my privacy and the comfort of home amenities, such as a kitchen and washing machine. Since my dog(s) travel with me, it also allows me to filter based on pet-friendliness without the stress of disturbing hotel guests.

If you’re traveling long-term, Airbnb usually offers discounts for stays of a month or more – the discounts are significant, sometimes 50-60%! It winds up being cheaper than what I would have paid for my apartment rent back in the USA. In Portugal, this can mean having an entire apartment to yourself for around $500-600 USD! In larger cities, the rentals are more expensive.

If you’ve never used Airbnb before, you can get a discount by using my link below.

If you’re a budget-conscious traveler and not traveling long-term, hostels are a great option and are abundant in Portugal.

For standard hotel stays, Hotels.com usually offers the best deals.

Safety Tips

Overall, Portugal is a very safe country to visit – it’s commonly ranked among the top safest countries in the world. In larger cities, however, travel scams are common and there are people who prey on the vulnerability of tourists. Be aware of the most common travel scams in Portugal and always trust your judgement!

Money Saving Tips

Given the fact that it’s such an inexpensive country, there isn’t too much for me to write here.

If you’re on a super-strict budget, eat out for lunch instead of dinner. It won’t save you too much, however, as Portuguese restaurants are on the whole very affordable.

Get on Pinterest and find ‘free things to do in….’ whichever city you find yourself. There are a ton of free things to do in Portugal.

If you’re doing the tourist circuit and heading to museums, be sure to check out whether the places you intend to visit offer free days – many museums will have a ‘freebie’ day once a month or so.

Covid resources for Portugal

Before booking your next flight or accommodations, be sure to stay up-to-date with travel restrictions in Portugal due to COVID-19.

pin it!

Top Resources for Travel to Portugal