Travel advice for Portugal
From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Portugal
written by Matthew Hancock
updated 7.11.2020
Portugal is less than three hours’ flight time from the UK, and you can get great deals on flights from the US. Moreover, once you get there, it is still a great and cheap destination in Europe. But if those reasons are not enough to persuade you, here are six more why Portugal is a must-try destination.
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.
customize ⤍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.
customize ⤍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.
customize ⤍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.
customize ⤍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.
customize ⤍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!
customize ⤍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.
customize ⤍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.
customize ⤍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.
customize ⤍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.
customize ⤍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.
customize ⤍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.
customize ⤍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.
customize ⤍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.
customize ⤍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!
customize ⤍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.
customize ⤍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.
customize ⤍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.
customize ⤍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.
customize ⤍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.
customize ⤍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.
customize ⤍Lisbon and Porto now have more visitors per head of population than Barcelona, and for good reason. Lisbon is one of Europe’s least expensive capitals, is easily explored in a long weekend and packs in some terrific monuments from Portugal’s Golden Age of maritime exploration. Porto is equally alluring, its extraordinary cityscape in the steep cleft of the Douro river having UNESCO World Heritage status. Or break away from the obvious and head out to two lesser known northern cities. Braga is small but vibrant, Portugal’s religious capital packed with historic churches. Nearby Guimarães was the country’s first capital city with a medieval centre that also has UNESCO World Heritage status.
Porto © Leonid Andronov/Shutterstock
Top chefs like London-based Nuno Mendes have thrown the spotlight on just how good Portuguese cuisine can be, and there are plenty of top restaurants throughout the country that offer sublime cuisine at far lower prices than you would pay elsewhere. José Avillez has spearheadead this renaissance, with not only the Michelin-Starred Belcanto in Lisbon but also with a range of more affordable outlets, including the excellent Cantinho do Avillez in both Lisbon and Porto, and Lisbon’s foodie haven, Bairro do Avillez. In the sleepy and highly picturesque northern town of Amarante, chef André Silva also has a Michelin Star at the sumptuous Largo do Paço, where he produces regional food with a twist. But for a real taste of tradition, seek out Restaurante Fialho in the historic walled town of Évora. A short walk from the famous Roman Temple of Diana, the restaurant specialises in recreating traditional recipes which inspired the ex-President of Brazil, Fernando Cardoso, to declare it the best restaurant in Portugal.
Well known for its port, Portugal should really be better appreciated for its wines, which are invariably excellent. No visit to northern Portugal would be complete without a trip up the stunning Douro river valley, a unique landscape of steep rolling hillsides neatly terraced with vineyards. You can visit various quintas (wine estates) around the riverside town of Peso da Régua, the hub of excellent Douro’s river cruises. Other regions of the country also produce wonderful wines. The university town of Évora, whose ancient centre is another UNESCO World Heritage site, is the headquarters of the Alentejo Wine Route, which can direct you to the best local wine estates, such as Esporão.
Barrels of port in Porto © saiko3p/Shutterstock
In 2017, Portugal was awarded a higher percentage of Blue Flag beaches than any other country in Europe. The Algarve alone has 86 awarded beaches, with 22 in and around the bustling resort of Albufeira. The cove beaches between the historic towns of Lagos and Sagres also scored highly. But you’ll find superb stretches of sand wherever you go in the country. Even Lisbon has sublime beaches right on its doorstep: it’s a short train ride from the capital to the glitzy resorts of Estoril and Cascais.
Albufeira, the Algarve, Portugal © krivinis/Shutterstock
The majority of visitors visit the familiar beaches of the Algarve or the big cities, but it doesn’t take much to escape the crowds and find some of Portugal’s finest scenery. In the Algarve, Lagos is a great base from which to explore the lesser known west coat of the region, which has superb surf beaches north of the town of Sagres. From Lisbon, take the coast road north and you’ll soon be on the surprisingly unspoilt coastline of the Parque Natural de Sintra-Cascais, where Cabo da Roca marks the most westerly point of mainland Europe. Don’t miss some of Portugal’s inland scenery, either. Close to the ancient university town of Coimbra you’ll find the unspoilt woodlands of the Mata Nacional do Buçaco, a former monastic retreat with its own former royal palace. Porto, too, is a short drive from some superb scenery. Head out to Barcelos for the Thursday market, one of the best in the country and a real insight into rural life in the north.
Parque Natural de Sintra, Portugal © Nuno Maia/Shutterstock
Summer time in Portugal means festivals: lots of them, and they are invariably fun. The end of the academic year is marked by riotous celebrations in the alluring university towns of Coimbra and Évora in May, while June kicks off a series of street festivals celebrating the main saints’ days. Lisbon’s main celebration is for Saint Anthony (June 12–13) while Porto’s is for Saint John (June 23–24). There are also some top music festivals around the country, including the Sintra classical music festival (May), NOS Alive rock festival in Porto and Lisbon (June and July) and the indie music Festival Sudoeste near the beach of Zambujeira do Mar, north of Sagres (August).
Festival in Madeira, Portugal © T.W. van Urk/Shutterstock
To find even more reasons to visit Portugal explore our detailed guide of the best things to do in Portugal.
Ready for a trip 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 created by our local travel agents in Portugal. A bit more hands on, check out the map of Portugal and learn about getting there, getting around the country and where to stay in Portugal once you are there. And don't forget to buy travel insurance before you go.
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Top image: The Algarve © ver0nicka/Shutterstock
written by Matthew Hancock
updated 7.11.2020
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