This guide of tips for traveling to Portugal It will help you to organize your trip to one of the most diverse and fascinating countries in the world that also makes all travelers fall in love.
Try its healthy and exquisite cuisine accompanied by its famous wine, visit its oldest medieval villages, get lost in the charming streets and corners of the big cities, bathe in the magnificent beaches bathed by the Atlantic Ocean or listen to the melancholic song of the fado, They are just a small sample of what this incredible country offers.
Based on the time we spent in the country during our trips to Lisbon in 4 days and Porto and Guimaraes for 4 days, we have made this selection of 10 essential tips for traveling to Portugal.We start!
1. What is the best time?
Although it's always a good time to travel to Portugal, we could say that the best time is the spring months, between April and June, and the autumn months between September and October since during these months you will find a more pleasant temperature, less tourism and lower prices than in summer.
Despite the prices, summer is also a good season because it does not have very extreme temperatures and can enjoy the beaches of the Algarve, located in the south of the country.
The winters are also not very cold and it is a good time to spend Christmas in some of the main cities of the country such as Lisbon or Porto.
2. Entry requirements
For travel to PortugalIf you are Spanish or a citizen of the European Union (EU), you will only need to show your ID or passport. If you are from another country it is advisable to inform yourself on the page of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country or at the Portuguese Embassy, of the required documents or if a visa is necessary.
Another of the best tips is to take whenever you travel through EU countries, the European Health Card with which you will have free assistance in public hospitals. If you are not an EU citizen or want to go covered for situations that do not enter this card as a repratriation, it is highly recommended to have the best travel insurance to Europe.
We always travel insured with Mondo, with whom we carry a totally adequate insurance to the needs that we will have on the trip. Hiring your insurance here with Mondo, just for being a Street Travelers reader, you have a 5% discount.
3. Security
Portugal is among the safest countries in Europe and among the most common types of crimes are thefts in tourist cities such as Lisbon and Porto, especially in areas with many people such as trams.
For this reason it is not advisable to leave your wallet or mobile phone in sight when you sit on a terrace or restaurant, nor leave anything of value unattended in the towel when you go to the beach.
If you rent a car, you must take the international driving license, be aware of the poor condition of some secondary roads and do not leave any belongings in sight when you leave the vehicle parked.
In addition to these details, one of the best tips for traveling to Portugal and other countries is to carry a copy of the passport, ID and circulation permit in the cloud or in an email.
Watch on trams when traveling to Portugal
4. How to travel to Portugal?
The most common means of transport for travel to Portugal It is the plane, although you can also use the car if you live near the border with Spain.
If you travel by plane from Spain, you have direct and daily flights with low cost companies such as Ryanair, Vueling, Norwegian to cities like Lisbon, Porto and Faro, the capital of the Algarve. We recommend using a search engine like Skyscanner to find the flight that best suits your needs.
If you have time and you plan to travel a part of the country, the best option when arriving at the airport is to rent a car, in this way you will have the flexibility to stop wherever and whenever you want.
In case of making a few days getaway to Lisbon or Porto we recommend you take the subway or the bus to make the transfer from the airport to the city center although another more comfortable option to get directly to your accommodation, is to book a private transfer, in which a driver will wait for you with a sign with your name.
You can book here the transfer from Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport from Porto to your hotel or book here the one from Lisbon Airport to your hotel.
Porto Station
5. Routes through Portugal
A route by car through Portugal from north to south will allow you to know the natural wonders, medieval villages and most important cities that this fantastic country has.
Although there are multiple options, a good itinerary could start in Porto, located in the north of the country and where you can spend about two days. Once the visits to the city are complete, you can rent a car to head north and reach the Peneda Gerês National Park, the only national park in Portugal, located near the border with Spain.
After discovering this park the route can continue south, knowing the city of Braga that stands out for its sanctuaries and the beautiful medieval town of Guimaraes.
If you want to make a stop on the road and on the route and enjoy a few days of beach, you can approach Aveiro, a picturesque city famous for its canals and its sandy beaches. In addition, near Aveiro you have Coimbra, an old medieval capital full of charming corners and another of the essential places to visit if you go to travel to Portugal.
Going down the coast bathed by the great waves of the Atlantic you will reach Nazaré, known for its good surfing environment where you can spend a few days relaxing and taste the good Portuguese cuisine, before heading to Lisbon.
Before arriving in Lisbon, we recommend stopping in Óbidos, one of the most beautiful villages in Europe and another of the essential places to see in Portugal.
Once in Lisbon you can spend quietly about two or three days touring all the streets and corners of the city and after completing all the visits to our favorite city in Portugal, dedicate one day to get to know the palaces of Sintra and another for the beautiful town Coastal Cascais.
Before going down to the south and if you have enough days, you can go to the south center of the country to visit Évora, jewel of Alentejo, which stands out for the fortified cities and their landscapes full of cork oaks, olive trees and vineyards.
The route through Portugal can be completed by spending a few days relaxing in the Algarve area, which impresses with its beaches located in a privileged natural environment and its old fishing villages.
Another option and one of the best tips for traveling to Porutal is to spend your last days in Madeira, an island with unique landscapes and perfect for hiking.
6. Lisbon
Another great way to get to know Portugal is to make several getaways of about 3 or 4 days to one of its most important cities such as Lisbon or Porto and complete the visits with small day trips through the wonders that are around.
One of the best tips for traveling to Portugal It is to start with Lisbon, the cradle of fado and one of the most essential cities in Europe. Get lost in the decadent and romantic neighborhood of La Alfama, climb to its fantastic viewpoints, approach the neighborhood of Bélem to taste its famous cakes, tour the city in the historic yellow tram 28, take a boat trip on the Tagus, go shopping or have a drink in the charming places of Barrio Alto and Chiado, are just some of the many things to do in Lisbon.
Based on our experience we have made these three guides that will serve as a reference to not miss anything important in Lisbon.
In addition to following these guides and completing the list of places to visit in Lisbon, we recommend you get to know the interesting history of the city by booking a free tour or a guided tour in Spanish. Among the most recommended by travelers are the free tour of the historic center, the free tour of the Bélem neighborhood and the free tour of the La Alfama neighborhood.
After finishing the visits to the city and if you still have extra time, we advise you to do some of the best excursions in Lisbon such as Sintra, Cascais, Óbidos or Fatima.
You can do these excursions for free by renting a car or using public transport. Another more comfortable option is to book one of these excursions with a guide in Spanish:
For more information about this city you can consult this post of tips to travel to Lisbon essential.
Lisbon
7. Porto
Porto, famous for its wine, is another of the most beautiful cities in the country, perfect for use as a base for a trip to Portugal.
There are several essential places to visit in Porto such as the Lello and Irmão bookstore, the Clérigos Tower, the Do Barreda neighborhood, the Bolhao Market, the Cathedral, the Sao Bento station, the Santa Catarina shopping street or the wineries of Wine from Vila Nova de Gaia, among many others, which we are sure, will make you fall in love with the city.
You can also complete these visits with some of the best things to do in Porto such as climbing the Don Luis I bridge to watch the sunset, make this cruise that passes through the 6 bridges of the city and take a romantic walk along the Ribeira.
Based on our experience we have made these two guides that will serve as a reference to not miss anything important in Porto.
Another interesting way to get to know the history of the city is to book this guided tour of the city that includes the boat trip and the visit to the wineries, or this free tour of Porto Free!, Both with a guide in Spanish.
Once the visits to the city are complete you can do some of the best excursions in Porto such as Guimaraes, Braga, Aveiro and the Costa Nova.
These places can be visited in one day by taking the train at the Sao Bento station or by rental car although a more comfortable way to get to these cities and know their history is to book some of these day trips with a guide in Spanish :
For more information about this city you can consult this post of tips to travel to Porto essential.
Port
8. Algarve
The Algarve, located in the south of Portugal, is a popular holiday destination thanks to its impressive coves and beaches, old fishing villages and good weather almost all year round.
The most common way to get to the Algarve is to catch a flight to Faro, the capital of the Algarve, which is also the best base to travel throughout this area.
In addition to Faro, this region has other important towns such as Albufeira, which concentrates in its surroundings the mass tourism of sun and beach, and the city of Lagos that is more traditional.
From these cities you will have easy access to some of the sandy beaches and turquoise waters, located among the most beautiful in Europe such as Praia da Marinha, Praia de Dona Ana, Praia da Falésia, Praia de Odeceixe, Praia da Rocha or Ilha de Tavira.
In addition to relaxing on the beaches and coves washed by the waters of the Atlantic, you can enjoy different parks and water activities, catamaran rides, gastronomy based on fresh fish, incredible sunsets, such as Cabo de San Vicente, and the lively nightlife of its main cities.
If you prefer a more relaxed atmosphere, we recommend you go to Tavira, which maintains a beautiful old town with many traditional houses, still untouched by tourism.
Algarve
9. Typical dishes
Another one of the best reasons for travel to Portugal It is to taste their delicious food, always accompanied by a good Portuguese wine.
Some of the most typical dishes are:
- Bacalhau to Brás: a cod casserole with onion, fried potatoes and egg.
- Belem cakes: puff pastry stuffed with a custard.
- Soup rice: seafood rice seasoned with white wine, spices and natural tomato.
- Sardinhas: Grilled sardines.
- feijoada: red or white beans accompanied by pork, carrots and squash.
- Little Frenchie: a sandwich stuffed with meat or sausages, covered in cheese and a tomato sauce.
- Bacalhau com Natas: crumbled baked cod, onion, french fries and milk cream.
- Green soup: Soup made from mashed potatoes with cabbage strips.
Bélem cakes
10. More tips for traveling to Portugal
Other of the best tips for traveling to Portugal They are:
- Learn some words in Portuguese as obrigado / a (thank you), it's bom (it's fine), bom dia (good morning), good afternoon (good afternoon), boa noite (good night) and lost (sorry).
- The plugs are the same as those in Spain, with two round pins.
- Hear fado, the best known song of Portuguese music, in some traditional tavern before tourist restaurants.
- Remember that in order not to pay commissions and always have the current change we recommend you use the N26 card to pay and the Bnext and Revolut cards to get money at the ATMs. They are the ones we use, They are free and will save you a lot. You can find more information in this article about the best cards to travel without commissions.
- Buy as souvenir the famous Gallo de Barcelos.
- If you are not a Vodafone customer we recommend you buy a prepaid SIM card with internet at the airport or in the city, to be able to be connected throughout the trip.
Portugal
Do you want to travel to Portugal?
Get it here:
The best offers of Flights to Portugal here
The best hotels at the best prices in Portugal here
Book the best tours and excursions in / from Lisbon in Spanish here
Book your travel insurance with a 5% discount here
How to get from Lisbon to Sintra (train or bus)
Rent your car in Portugal at the best price here
The best offers of Flights to Portugal here
The best hotels at the best prices in Portugal here
Book the best tours and excursions in / from Lisbon in Spanish here
Book your travel insurance with a 5% discount here
How to get from Lisbon to Sintra (train or bus)
Rent your car in Portugal at the best price hereIf you feel like helping us complete the list of the 10 essential tips for traveling to Portugal, add yours in the comments.
