VISIT PORTUGAL
The oldest country in Europe – having kept the same defined borders since 1139 – hides a wonderful selection of colourful cities, beautiful beaches, and idyllic islands.
Currency
€ - Euro (1€ ≃ 1,05$ ≃0,86£)
POPULATION
10 millions
MAIN LANGUAGE
Portuguese
AREA
92,212 km²
TIME ZONE
UTC+1 (UTC-1 in the Azores)
FLAG
🇵🇹
Portugal is a nation in southern Europe located on the Atlantic ocean. Many parts of its culture are influenced by its strong maritime ties: salt cod and grilled sardines are national dishes, the beaches of the Algarve are popular tourist destinations, and much of the country's architecture is from the 16th to the 19th centuries when Portugal had a strong naval empire.
There are a couple of things to know before travelling to Portugal:
Water: Tap water is considered safe to drink in Portugal.
Driving: Traffic drives on the right-hand side of the road. The main speed limits are as follows: 50 kph / 30 mph on main roads within built-up areas, 90 kph / 56 mph on main roads outside built-up areas, 100 kph / 62 mph on expressways, 120 kph / 74 mph on motorways. When driving on Portuguese roads, you might come across toll sections on some motorways as well as on the two bridges that connect Lisbon with the Tagus River's southern bank.
Plugs: Two plug types are used in Portugal: C and F, which both have two grounding holes. Portugal operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz frequency.
Tipping: As a general rule - although welcome - tipping is not compulsory in restaurants and cafés in Portugal, but it is common to ’round up’ the amount by adding up 5 to 10% if you are happy with the service provided.
Payment: Bank cards - either debit or credit cards - are generally accepted across Portugal, the most common ones being Visa and Mastercard. American Express cards can be used in fewer places. The use of cash money is still very common and many places still operate on a cash-only basis or require a minimum spending amount (often 5 or 10€) to pay by card.
Basic language: Olá = Hello; Bom Dia = Good morning; Adeus = Goodbye; Sim = Yes; Não = No; Obrigado = Thank you; Muito obrigado = Thank you very much; Por favor = Please; De nada = You're welcome; Desculpa = Sorry; Dia = Day; Noite = Night; Boa noite = Good evening /Goodnight; Senhor = Mister; Senhora = Ma'am; Rua = Street; Estrada = Road
Holidays and closing days: On Saturday mornings, a lot of stores are open but close in the afternoon. Sunday is a closing day for many stores. There are 13 official public holidays in Portugal: New Year's Day (January 01), Good Friday, Easter, Freedom Day (April 25), Labour Day (May 01), Portugal Day (June 10), Corpus Christi, Assumption Day (August 15), Republic Day (October 05), All Saints' Day (November 01), Restoration of Independence (December 01), Immaculate Conception (December 08), Christmas Day (December 25). On these days, most businesses and offices will be closed, and many attractions may be shut or have limited opening hours.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The information below is provided merely as an indication and applies for short-term tourism visa purposes only. Before your trip to Portugal, or if you are planning to come to Portugal for another purpose (work, studies, ...), check the official information on the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs website: https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/
No visa is needed if you are a citizen of one of the following countries:
Austria; Belgium; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czechia; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Iceland; Ireland; Italy; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Malta; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Romania; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland
Visa-free but limited to a maximum of 90 days for a period of 180 days if you are a citizen of one of the following countries: Albania; Andorra; Antigua and Barbuda; Argentina; Australia; Bahamas; Barbados; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Brazil; Brunei; Canada; Chile; Colombia; Costa Rica; Dominica; El Salvador; Georgia; Grenada; Guatemala; Honduras; Hong Kong; Israel; Japan; Kiribati; Macao; Malaysia; Marshall Islands; Mauritius; Mexico; Micronesia; Moldova; Monaco; Montenegro; New-Zealand; Nicaragua; North Macedonia; Palau; Panama; Paraguay; Peru; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Samoa; San Marino; Serbia; Seychelles; Singapore; Solomon islands; South Korea; Taiwan; Timor-Leste; Tonga; Trinidad and Tobago; Tuvalu; Ukraine; United Arab Emirates; United Kingdom; United States of America; Uruguay; Vatican; Venezuela
Visa required (Schengen visa) if you are a citizen of one of the following countries: Afghanistan; Algeria; Angola; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Bahrain; Bangladesh; Belarus; Belize; Benin; Bhutan; Bolivia; Botswana; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cambodia; Cameroon; Cape Verde; Central African Republic; Chad; China; Comoros; Congo; Congo (Dem. Rep); Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast); Cuba; Djibouti; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; Egypt; Equatorial Guinea; Eritrea; Eswatini; Ethiopia; Fiji; Gabon; Gambia; Ghana; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Guyana; Haiti; India; Indonesia; Iran; Iraq; Jamaica; Jordan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Kosovo; Kuwait; Kyrgyzstan; Laos; Lebanon; Lesotho; Liberia; Libya; Madagascar; Malawi; Maldives; Mali; Mauritania; Mongolia; Morocco; Mozambique; Myanmar; Namibia; Nauru; Nepal; Niger; Nigeria; North Korea; Oman; Pakistan; Palestinian territories; Papua New Guinea; Philippines; Qatar; Russia; Rwanda; Sao Tome and Principe; Saudi Arabia; Senegal; Sierra Leone; Somalia; South Africa; South Sudan; Sri Lanka; Sudan; Suriname; Syria; Tajikistan; Tanzania; Thailand; Togo; Tunisia; Turkey; Turkmenistan; Uganda; Uzbekistan; Vanuatu; Vietnam; Yemen; Zambia; Zimbabwe
December – February: Winter travel to Portugal might make for ideal vacation timing. You will find fewer tourists during this season, have more ease to book accommodation, and be there during a cheaper period. Even though many beach resorts close during this season, it can still be a fantastic time to travel to towns and inland regions. Portugal continues to get plenty of gorgeous sunny days during the winter, and the temperatures remain comfortable. You may even have the stunning Algarve beaches to yourself, albeit swimming may be too cold. During winter, the temperatures in Lisbon usually range from 9°C (48F) to 16°C (61F); the Algarve encounters similar temperatures but with less rain.
March – May: Spring is considered to be a beautiful season when the country is waking up and blossoming after winter. Some good places to appreciate the flowering plants are Lisbon, which has numerous lovely parks and gardens - as well as the national parks ('Parque Natural').
June – August: The heat during summer can be intense in Portugal Portugal. Naturally, many locals and tourists head to the beach during this time. During summer, the temperatures in Lisbon usually range from 17°C (62F) to 28°C (83F); while the temperatures in the South of France are usually between 20°C (68F) and 30°C (86F).
September – November: Portugal is endearing in the fall since it blends all the best aspects of the summer, without the inconvenience of heatwaves and heavy crowds. Whether you enjoy exploring Portuguese wineries, going on a city trip, or learning to surf along Portugal's extensive coastline, all of that can be done in autumn. This season also provides ideal conditions for hiking: the weather is still bright and sunny, while natural colours are turning into gorgeous hues of oranges and yellows.
Pick a (Portuguese) destination
Make your choice from the list below or the map to access all the articles related to specific cities or regions of Portugal.
AZORES
Archipelago of 9 volcanic islands home to dramatic landscapes
PORTUGAL HIGHLIGHT ATTRACTIONS
TAKE A DAY TRIP TO SINTRA
A charming Portuguese town located only 30 min away from Lisbon, home to a majestic pine forest and the colourful Palacio da Pena.
HIKE ON PORTUGUESE ISLANDS
Azores and Madeira are two Portuguese archipelagos set in the Atlantic Ocean, both renowned for their tranquillity and outstanding nature.
KAYAK TO BENAGIL CAVE
Unquestionably one of Portugal's most beautiful and well-known natural landmarks is Benagil Cave, which is in the Algarve region.
EXPLORE LISBON
The Portuguese capital is gorgeous and considered to be the coolest in Europe by many. Fall in love with its balance of historical heritage and striking modernity.
CHECK THE AZULEJOS IN PORTO
The traditional blue ceramic tiles are characteristic of the Portuguese landscape and can be seen all over Porto, a major city also known for its wine port.
ETHICAL WILDLIFE TOURISM IN PORTUGAL
Did you know?
Portugal’s national emblematic animal is the Iberian wolf.
ALL PORTUGAL BLOG ARTICLES
LISBON
Coming soon
PORTO
Coming soon
ALGARVE
Coming soon
MADEIRA
Coming soon
