Travel advice for Portugal
From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Portugal
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written by Rough Guides Editors
updated 3.10.2021
Alentejo wine is excellent. The food's extraordinary. And Alentejo itself is peaceful and good value. It may be Portugal's largest region, but it's also undiscovered. Join Neil McQuillian on a foodie tour of underrated Alentejo. The information in this article is taken from The Rough Guide to Portugal, your essential guide for visiting Portugal.
7 days / from3090 USD
Iberian Blend - Porto and Galicia
Neighbour countries - Portugal and Spain, different and similar at the same time, will surprise you with hospitality and loveliness. This itinerary includes the route of the Northwest part of Iberian Peninsula and offers you to meet beautiful Porto and stunning Vigo in Galicia/Spain.
view tour ⤍7 days / from3047 USD
The Real Algarvian Experience
Experience and discover the real Algarve – taste local produce, drinks and traditional dishes, visit heritage sites and participate in culinary activities. If you are passionate about the people’s culture and gastronomy and want to learn more, this itinerary is for you.
view tour ⤍11 days / from1744 USD
A self drive to Portugal's North and Center
Starting in fascinating Lisbon, this trip allows you to discover Portugal both on your own as well as with guided tours. Driving further up north you'll explore Coimbra and Porto before heading to the Douro Valley and Alentejo.
view tour ⤍8 days / from1150 USD
Porto and the North of Portugal: off the beaten track
From Porto, you'll discover the most fascinating parts of Northern Portugal: go on a hike through unique biodiversity around the Paiva river, take a jeep tour through the slopes of the Serra da Arada and taste the wonderful wines of the Douro valley.
view tour ⤍12 days / from1706 USD
The best of Portugal: Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve
Portugal offers many highlights but when you're short on time, this trip is ideal to cover all the highlights: the capital city of Lisbon, historic Porto, lush Douro Valley and the stunning beaches of the Algarve are all part of this trip.
view tour ⤍7 days / from2687 USD
Azores Wild Nature
Get ready to discover what the largest island of the Azores, São Miguel, has to offer in this short adventure-packed 6-day trip. You will get to swim with wild dolphins, abseil or jump down waterfalls, ride a mountain bike through the Sete Cidades and relax in a natural spa. Adventure awaits!
view tour ⤍9 days / from2943 USD
Madeira and São Miguel - guided island adventures
Visit two of Portugal's autonomous regions: Madeira, the island of eternal spring as they call it, as well as São Miguel, nicknamed the green island. Guided excursions will take you to the highlights of both islands and there's plenty of time to discover on your own or simply relax.
view tour ⤍11 days / from1788 USD
Lisbon and the South of Portugal: exploration and relaxation
Take your rental car and discover Lisbon, Sintra & Cascais before heading to Alentejo. This fascinating region features many historic gems to discover, as well as a unique cuisine to taste. Finish your trip with some beach days in Tavira on Portugal's Algarve coast.
view tour ⤍9 days / from4322 USD
The Wines of Portugal
This unforgettable trip will take you to Portugal's finest wine-producing regions, including the Douro Valley. Sample the finest local labels, and explore the exciting and stunningly beautiful cities of Lisbon and Porto, complemented by guided tours of their historical old towns.
view tour ⤍11 days / from3592 USD
Discovering the coast of Portugal
Explore the beautiful cities along the coast of Portugal. Start your journey discovering historic sites and wineries in Porto, from there you will head South to Lisbon. Along the way, you will get a chance to visit charming coastal towns, dramatic cliffs and national parks.
view tour ⤍7 days / from6044 USD
Porto's Hidden Gems
An exciting itinerary that is filled with amazing landscapes, culture, heritage and gastronomy. Stay in the most exclusive hotels and enjoy the best Portugal has to offer - unique wine tours, a private cooking class, a luxurious river cruise to Douro Valley, and much more.
view tour ⤍15 days / from5968 USD
Camino de Santiago & Portugal Deluxe
Hike the 'Way of Saint James', more precisely - the Portuguese Route, a World Heritage Site. After 5 days of beautiful hikes, it's time to say goodbye to Spain and hop on a plane to Portugal. Lisbon and Porto await before exploring the wineries of Douro Valley. A truly exceptional trip.
view tour ⤍6 days / from1591 USD
Essential Portugal: Lisbon to Porto
This exciting short break will take you to the exciting and stunningly beautiful Portuguese cities of Lisbon and Porto, with guided tours of their historical old towns, and on to the pearls of north Braga and Gamares. You will also have the opportunity to soak up the romantic atmosphere at Amarante.
view tour ⤍9 days / from2168 USD
Cultural Portugal
Beginning in Lisbon and ending in Porto, this trip will take you to the delightful wine region of Douro, the mountain range of Serra do Bussaco and the romantic town of Sintra. Relish the prospect of driving around Portugal's stunning coastline and unique cultural sites.
view tour ⤍9 days / from3183 USD
The cities of Portugal
Explore the two big Portuguese cities, Porto and Lisbon. Though you won't only be exploring the cities, this trip will take you to see the beautiful Duoro valley by bike, the Minho region (the birthplace of Portugal), learn more about winemaking, relax on the beach of Nazaré and much more!
view tour ⤍6 days / from2703 USD
Azores Adventure
Discover the traditions and natural beauty that the island of São Miguel can offer you – exciting activities such as swimming with dolphins in their natural habitat in the Atlantic Ocean, hiking in the picturesque hills and valleys, the thrills of Canyoning and much more.
view tour ⤍12 days / from5439 USD
Portugal – Cuisine and Culture from Porto to Lisbon
From Porto to Lisbon, this culinary trip offers exceptional Portuguese cultural experiences. Taste port in a prestigious winery, savour exquisite codfish and picnic in the world's oldest wine region. Hilltop palaces, medieval old towns and glamorous beach resorts complete an unforgettable trip.
view tour ⤍14 days / from7095 USD
Highlights of Portugal - Cities & Beaches
You will start this journey in Porto, the Invicta City, to then discover the landscapes of Douro Valley. Next, there is Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, a city filled with history and stories. Lastly, you will arrive to the Algarve, a place where you will connect with the sea, traditions and nature.
view tour ⤍10 days / from1853 USD
Fascinating Azores - Terceira and São Miguel
Two of the magic Azores islands await in this itinerary: drive your own rental cars across Terceira and São Miguel and join one of the many adventurous outdoor activities the islands have to offer: go whale watching or canyoning or simply enjoy the landscapes on leisurely strolls.
view tour ⤍9 days / from3188 USD
Coastal Portugal
Travel south from the beautiful cities of Porto and Lisbon, down Portugal's stunning coast, as far as the charming resort town of Albufeira. On this trip, you will also visit the historic coastal towns of Estoril, Sintra, Lagos and Sagres.
view tour ⤍7 days / from2547 USD
Discovering Portugal's Douro Valley
This unforgettable trip will take you to the beautiful city of Porto and the verdant Douro Valley. Relish the prospect of travelling to the Douro wine-making region to sample some local labels, trekking through old villages and enjoying indulgent moments in charming cafés.
view tour ⤍Alentejo plays hard to get. Beja regional airport is small. Public transport isn't up to much. And area attractions need some marketing.
Get over all this. You're on to a good thing.
Fly into Lisbon. Then ramble along Alentejo's coast. Explore walled towns like Marvão and Monsaraz. Discover Elvas and Évora. Wander Alentejo beaches. Or even go stargazing. Alqueva in Alentejo is an award winning dark sky reserve.
There isn't a single experience that doesn't pair with local food and wine.
Book Évora Olive Hotel. It's a good pitstop on an Alentejo foodie tour.
Alentejo gastronomy is diverse and seasonal.
Goose barnacle (percibe) are harvested on wild southern Alentejo beaches. The Lagoa de Santo André is known for eel stew. And Nisa, Serpa and Évora all produce DOP (denominação de origem protegida) cheese.
Season wise, you'll only eat cardo (thistle) soup between winter and spring. Fresh pork is a winter treat. And wild asparagus, truffles, black bass and game are all specific to certain times of year.
Seasonality is trending in Europe now. In Alentejo it's a traditional way of life.
Naturally things overlap. Nisa cheese can be found elsewhere. Fresh game can be frozen. But the principles of local and seasonal are respected. And a compelling reason to travel round Alentejo in search of new tastes.
Prefer to leave planning and booking to experts? Have a look at some sample itineraries. Both Complete Portugal or Portugal Itineraries offer inspiration. All Tailor Made Trips can be modified together with your local expert, then booked for a stress-free holiday. Click 'Modify this itinerary' to contact a local Portugal expert.
Produce diversity is central to Alentejo culture. Take the second day of my tour, at Padaria Joana Roque bakery in Vidigueira. As we're leaving, Joana, asks where we're headed. Our guide Olga, says to an olive oil tasting nearby.
Joana’s disdain is immediate. “Why? The oil's so much better here!”
Small scale Alentejo production promotes diversity. And Joana's bakery is a classic example. It's a two-woman operation, attached to Joana’s home. It looks like a charming, rustic film set. But the daily graft's clear. And Joana also proves her oil point. She douses warm bread in sugar and Vidigueira olive oil and hands it to us as we leave. It's like the world's best doughnut.
Short on time? Take a full day, private Alentejo wine and food tour from Lisbon.
A visit to Beja gave us a taste of Doces Conventuais. Traditionally made by nuns, these cakes are a Baja specialty. “Some days I break 3000 eggs," pastry shop owner Francisca Casteleiro told us. She works without machines. “Just two pans, and my hands.”
Doces Conventuais are rich and delicious. My favourite contained over 50 egg yolks. Apparently the original nun/bakers competed with each other to create the richest cakes. Many were from wealthy homes. They'd been forced into convents to avoid poor marriages. And extravagant Doces Conventuais let them to show off a little.
Stay at Pousada Convento de Beja. It's a luxurious restoration of a 13th century convent. And you'll find it in Beja's historic quarter.
Rich, delicious and showy Doces Conventuais from Baja
Both Joana and Francisca do things the right way. There's no shirking or shortcuts. And the same's true at Casa de Porco Preto in Barrancos.
Here the lesson in provenance is top to tail. We saw black pigs snuffling for acorns. Then half an hour later, we stood under rows of maturing hams.
One pig eats a tree's worth of acorns a day. They take 30 to 60 days to fatten. Then another three to five years for the ham to be cured.
Presunto (cured ham) isn't cheap. But it's outstanding. I was sure I could taste acorns. And it pairs beautifully with Alentejo wine.
Want to understand the Portuguese food heritage? Take a three hour tour of historic Portuguese flavours.
For many, Alentejo wine is reason alone to visit the region. Olga told us wealthy Brazilians now take wine holidays here. Both Sarkozy and Mourinho have houses in the region. And new developments are a sign the world is taking notice of Alentejo.
So visit soon. While it’s still quiet. Travel slowly and eat well.
Ready for a trip to Portugal? Check out the snapshot Rough Guide to Portugal. Read more about the best time to go to Portugal, the best places to visit and best things to do in Portugal. For inspiration use the Portugal Itineraries from The Rough Guide to Portugal and our local travel experts. A bit more hands on, learn about getting there, getting around the country and where to stay once you are there. And don't forget to buy travel insurance before you go.
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written by Rough Guides Editors
updated 3.10.2021
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From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Portugal