Portugal travel guide

Getting there

Lisbon, Porto and Faro airports handle most international flights, with direct connections across Europe and to the Americas. Trains and buses link Portugal with Spain.

Best time to visit: Apr–Jun and Sep–Oct – warm, sunny days and fewer crowds.

Tougher months: No bad time – winter is mild and good for cities, though rainy days are more common from November to February.

Weather by month in Lisbon

• 15°J●●
• 16°F●●
• 19°M●
• 20°A●
• 23°M●
• 27°J
• 29°J
• 29°A
• 27°S
• 23°O●
• 18°N●●
• 15°D●●

Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).

Time zone: Atlantic/Azores, Atlantic/Madeira, Europe/Lisbon. Compare with your local time.

Visas: in our passport dataset, 93 of 198 other passports can enter Portugal without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 0 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 105 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.

Background: Visa policy of the Schengen Area (Wikipedia).

Official advisory: Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (U.S. Department of State, updated 2025-12-23). Read the advisory.

Source and more: Portugal travel facts on RoamSun

Stay

Most trips to Portugal are based around Lisbon, Porto or Sintra. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$45–70 for a backpacker and US$100–180 mid-range, per person.

Source: RoamSun Portugal page · Browse hotel guides

Connect

Plug types: C, F. Voltage: 230 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +351.

Mobile data: read the eSIM for Europe before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.

Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun

Do

• Lisbon (Centre · capital): Sun-washed hills, viewpoints, historic trams and a thriving food and nightlife scene.
• Porto (North · river city): A characterful city of tiled churches, port lodges and riverside cafés.
• Sintra (Near Lisbon · palaces): Fairy-tale palaces and gardens in misty, forested hills.
• Algarve (South · coast): Golden cliffs, sea caves and beaches around Lagos, Albufeira and Tavira.
• Douro Valley (North · wine region): Spectacular vineyard terraces and quintas producing port and table wines.
• Évora (Alentejo · historic city): A walled town with a Roman temple and the eerie Chapel of Bones.
• Madeira (Atlantic · island): Dramatic mountains, levada hikes and year-round mild weather.
• Azores (Atlantic · islands): Volcanic crater lakes, hot springs and whale watching in the mid-Atlantic.

Things to do

• Ride Tram 28 in Lisbon. Rattle up and down Lisbon's hills through Alfama, Graça and Baixa on a vintage yellow tram.
• Taste pastéis de nata. Bite into a warm custard tart dusted with cinnamon, ideally in Belém where the recipe is famous.
• Explore Sintra's palaces. Wander colourful Pena Palace and the mysterious gardens of Quinta da Regaleira.
• Sip port in Porto. Tour the cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia and watch the sunset over the Douro.
• Kayak the Algarve caves. Paddle into Benagil's sea caves and golden-cliffed coves.
• Listen to fado. Feel the melancholy of saudade at an intimate fado house in Alfama or Coimbra.
• Cruise the Douro Valley. Glide past terraced vineyards in one of the world's oldest demarcated wine regions.
• Surf in Ericeira or Peniche. Catch Atlantic waves in Europe's first World Surfing Reserve or at the famous Supertubos.

Source: full Portugal guide on RoamSun

Eat and drink

• Pastel de nata – crisp custard tart dusted with cinnamon
• Bacalhau – salted cod cooked in hundreds of different ways
• Francesinha – Porto's meat-filled sandwich in a beer and tomato sauce
• Sardinhas assadas – grilled sardines, a summer favourite

Source: RoamSun Portugal guide

Talk

Twenty basic Portuguese phrases with a simple sound guide. Say them slowly; a smile does the rest.

Basic phrases: pronunciation is approximate and the list has not yet been reviewed by a native speaker. Capital letters mark the stressed syllable where that applies. Spot a mistake? Tell us.

Money and safety

Currency: Euro (EUR). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: Not expected; round up or leave 5–10% for good service.

Emergency numbers: 112 police, fire & ambulance.

• The currency is the euro.
• Cards are widely accepted, and ATMs (Multibanco) are everywhere; carry some cash for small cafés.
• Portugal is very safe, but watch for pickpockets on Lisbon's Tram 28 and in crowded tourist areas.
• Atlantic waves can be powerful – swim at beaches with lifeguards and obey the flags.

Source: RoamSun Portugal facts