The Complete Travel Guide to Portugal

Portugal, the westernmost country in mainland Europe, is one of the most beautiful countries in the world to visit. With millions of tourists flocking there every year, it’s also one of the world’s most popular countries. From the hills of Lisbon to the glorious waters of the Algarve, there’s something for every type of tourist, visitor and holidaymaker in Portugal. Here is the ultimate travel guide to Portugal.

Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting Portugal

When’s the Best Time to Visit Portugal?

There are three primary seasons for visiting Portugal: peak season, shoulder season, and off-season.

Peak Season: June to August. The hottest months of the year in Portugal are also the most popular months to visit. The weather throughout the country is gorgeous, although it is usually more expensive to visit during the summer.

Shoulder Season: April and May, September and October. Outside of the summer months, these are the next most popular months to visit Portugal. In the south, the temperatures are still very warm, while further north it is generally a bit cooler and quieter.

Off-Season: The winter (or more generally, November to March) is the quietest time of year to visit Portugal. While it can be cheaper to visit at this time, many of the seasonal attractions – especially in places like the Algarve – are likely to close down.

Language Guide: What You Need to Know

While English is widely spoken in Portugal, particularly in the Algarve in the south, which is popular with tourists and in Lisbon, the capital city, it is always handy to know a few useful phrases that could help you communicate with Portuguese speakers while you’re there.

Many Portuguese people love it when you speak a little bit of their language, or at least try to. As such, here are a few handy Portuguese phrases that might come in useful when you visit Portugal:

Hello: Olá

Goodbye: Adeus

Please: Por favor

Thank you (very much): (Muito) obrigado

Yes: Sim

No: Não

Do you speak English? Você fala Inglês?

I don’t speak Portuguese: Eu não falo Português.

How are you? Como vai você?

Staying Safe While Travelling in Portugal

Portugal is generally safe for travellers, although there are a few things that you can do to ensure that you stay safe while travelling there.

Because much of the economy, particularly in popular tourist areas like the Algarve, relies on cash, it is best to avoid carrying large amounts of cash with you, so that you don’t become a target.

Make sure that when you are in a restaurant or bar, you do not leave your bags unattended.

When using public transport, you should take extra precautions. Never use an unlicensed taxi; only use official ones or brands like Uber. In addition, you should be extra vigilant in cities like Porto and Lisbon when using the tram and metro systems because thieves and pickpockets have been known to operate on these, particularly in the summer months. 

While these areas can be visited safely, if you want to avoid trouble, we suggest not visiting Barrio Portugal Novo and Bairro Alto in Lisbon, which have been known for drug-related crime. Similarly, Rua Escura and Baixa in Porto can also be dangerous after dark.

How Much Does a Trip Cost? 

Depending on how you want to experience Portugal, your budget will depend on what sort of budget you will need for your trip.

Budget: Expect to spend anywhere between €45 to €70 per day on a budget trip to Portugal. This covers everything from amenities such as budget-friendly accommodation like hostels or house-shares, supermarket or market food, and low-cost activities such as visiting the beach or cheap museum entry. This should also cover public transport costs, like bus and metro tickets.

Mid-Range: Between €100 and €120 per day is what you will likely spend on a mid-range trip to Portugal. This includes the fact that you will likely dine out more at local restaurants and cafes, undertake some excursions, such as a visit to a waterpark or a zoo, for example, and use a taxi or private car for travel.

Luxury: Naturally, luxury travel is the most expensive option. With a luxury trip, you can expect to spend upwards of €300 per day. This will be enough to stay in five-star hotels for the duration of your stay, eat out at high-end restaurants and have your own hire car, as well as partake in expensive tours and activities.

Best Cities to Visit in Portugal

While there are many beautiful and charming cities in Portugal, these are four of the best.

City 1: Lisbon

What to Do: Castelo de São Jorge, Jerónimos Monastery, Alfama District, Pink Street

Where to Stay: The Chiado Neighbourhood and Belém are convenient locations to stay for first-time visitors to Lisbon, as they are affordable and near major tourist attractions.

Average Cost: €70 upwards per day will ensure that you have a good time in Lisbon and will be enough for amenities such as transport and food.

City 2: Porto

What to Do: Ribeira District, Porto Wine Cellars, Porto Cathedral, Jardins do Palácio de Cristal

Where to Stay: The Ribeira District is ideal because it is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Vila Nova de Gaia, across the Douro River, is another good location and more budget-friendly, as well as being perfect for wine enthusiasts.

Average Cost: Around €90 per day will be enough to enjoy Porto at a mid-range level, while budget-conscious travellers can enjoy the city for less than €70 per day.

City 3: Guimarães

What to Do: Guimarães Castle, the Old Town, Teleférico de Guimarães

Where to Stay: The Old Town is the historic centre of the city and is convenient for exploring the city, known as the ‘birthplace of Portugal’. Because it is a small city, even the outskirts are not far away, so it can be a good place to stay, too.

Average Cost: A daily budget of €40 to €50 will be enough to ensure that you can enjoy Guimarães comfortably, making it the perfect city for history lovers and budget-friendly travellers to visit.

City 4: Albufeira

What to Do: The Old Town, Benagil Caves, and visit the city’s many beautiful beaches

Where to Stay: Praia da Oura is known for its vibrant atmosphere, but if you’re looking for a quieter stay, we recommend staying by Albufeira Marina or Olhos de Água.

Average Cost: Around €100 per day will ensure that you can eat out, enjoy excursions and very good accommodation.

The Big Experiences You Don’t Want To Miss

There are so many beautiful locations around Portugal, and many of them are found in the aforementioned cities. However, there are plenty of other amazing sights to see in Portugal.

Northern Portugal is characterised by its rugged landscape and cooler climate. The Douro Valley is one of the best wine-producing regions in the world, and this is well worth a visit. Braga is a good city to visit, and why not catch a football game there, to see them play Benfica, Sporting Lisbon, Porto or one of the other Portuguese giants.

Southern Portugal, known as the Algarve, is the place to be for sun worshippers due to its year-round warm climate. With temperatures over 30℃ in the summer months and rarely dropping below 16℃ in the winter, it’s a great place for year-round sunshine. Families love it here too, with lots of attractions like waterparks in and around cities such as Lagos, Faro and Albufeira.

Eastern Portugal, which shares a border with Spain, is equally beautiful. The Ria Formosa Natural Park is great for nature lovers, while Tavira is a border town filled with history.

The western coast of Portugal borders the mighty Atlantic Ocean and is home to Lisbon, the capital city. There are dramatic cliffs along most of the coast, and beautiful towns like Sagres (which the Portuguese beer is named after), Ericeira and Cascais, which are all good to explore.

Hidden Corners of Portugal

Despite being so popular with visitors from Europe and the world, there are still lots of hidden gems in Portugal.

The historic village of Monsanto is well worth visiting for history lovers, and because few visitors know about it, it is nice and quiet – the perfect place to enjoy a coffee and a pastel de nata.

For nature lovers, Portugal is brimming with national parks that are rarely visited by tourists. Some examples include Arrábida Natural Park, which covers the southernmost point of the Setúbal Peninsula.

Similarly, Serra de Estrela – the highest mountain range in continental Portugal – is another great place for outdoor enthusiasts to visit. It contains Portugal’s highest point on its mainland, at 1,993 metres above sea level.

How To Avoid Tourist Scams and Traps in Portugal

Make sure to keep your belongings close when in busy tourist hotspots. In addition, you should also make sure to avoid scammers, and do not feel pressured into buying bracelets, sunglasses or more from salespeople who patrol the Algarve’s beaches, and are often unlicensed traders.

Handy Tips and How to Plan Your Trip

Portuguese people are known to be some of the friendliest in Europe, and here are a few tips that can help you make the most of your experience in Portugal.

Using respectful language is important in Portugal, so greeting men as ‘senhor’ and women as ‘senhora’ is always looked upon positively. Furthermore, if you are invited into someone’s home, it is customary to bring a small gift or a bottle of wine as gratitude.

Tipping is not generally expected but is always appreciated in Portugal. Generally, rounding up the bill (for example, from €47.50 to €50) is seen as acceptable and is usually the norm.

Getting around on public transport is efficient in Portugal, especially in the major cities, which have good bus and tram networks.

Dress codes do not really exist in Portugal, but when visiting religious sites, you should always cover your shoulders and not wear shorts that go above the knee.

How long you want to visit Portugal depends on your budget and where you would like to visit. For example, a few days is more than enough for a city break in Lisbon or Porto, but if you want to spend more time there, then we suggest going for a week or two to the Algarve.