Portugal: Sun, Seafood, and Stories Around Every Corner
Golden coastlines, port wine, centuries of history, and some of the best food in Europe. All without breaking the bank.
Portugal is one of those countries that just works. The food is incredible and genuinely cheap (seriously, a full lunch with wine for under €10 is normal outside Lisbon). The coastline goes from dramatic Algarve cliffs in the south to wild Atlantic surf breaks in the north. Lisbon and Porto are two of Europe’s most walkable, photogenic cities, and unlike Paris or Rome, they won’t destroy your budget in the process.
It’s also small enough that you can see a lot in a week or two. Lisbon to Porto is about three hours by train. The Algarve is a short flight or a few hours’ drive south. And the bits in between, the Alentejo wine country, hilltop towns like Obidos and Evora, the fairytale palaces of Sintra, are often the highlights people don’t expect.
Whether you’re here for a long weekend or a proper two-week trip, this page covers everything you need to plan it.
2.5–3 hrs
From the UK
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
Best time
Portuguese
Main language
EUR (€)
Currency
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See Portugal in 60 Seconds
Best Time To Visit
The most serene periods to explore Portugal typically fall in spring (March through June) or autumn (September until mid-October), when the hordes of tourists are fewer, tariffs are more affordable, and the climate is pleasantly warm. Particularly, autumn is an excellent choice for those keen to savour Portugal’s renowned wines.
During the summer months, Portugal enters its peak tourist season. A bustling atmosphere prevails with crowded streets, packed beaches, and teeming historical landmarks. Local transport often experiences high demand leading to sold out situations, and accommodation costs can surge by approximately 30-40%.
As November rolls in, so does the season of rain, causing many resorts to close their doors for the winter. Visitors during this period can anticipate less crowded spaces but should be prepared for shorter operational hours at major attractions. For those planning a visit around the festive period, Lisbon, with its charming Christmas markets and festive adornments, is a popular choice.
Check out the best time to visit Portugal.
What To Expect
20°C
- Temperature
Capital: Lisbon
Language: Portuguese
Currency: The official currency of Portugal is the Euro (EUR). $1 USD is equivalent to 1.09 EUR and £1 is 0.82 euro. Check the latest rates here
Credit Cards & ATMs: In Portugal, credit cards are widely accepted across numerous shops, eateries, and hotels, particularly in larger, tourist-frequented cities. As with many European destinations, it’s prudent to carry a modest amount of cash. In Portugal, automated teller machines (ATMs) are commonly known as “multibanco” or “caixa automatica.”
These Portuguese ATMs serve a broader purpose than just dispensing cash. They are often used to settle bills, purchase cinema tickets, or conduct bank transfers. You can typically find these machines in various locations including banks, airports, railway stations, and shopping complexes.
Most places also accept Google Pay and Apple Pay.
Plugs: Power plugs are type F, the standard voltage is 230 V, and the standard frequency is 50 Hz. I recommend buying a universal adapter as they make everything so much easier.
Safety: Portugal is a safe country to visit. Petty crime does exist as in most countries, so don’t carry too much cash and keep an eye on your bags.
Useful tip: Eat local – By eating at restaurants serving traditional cuisine, you’ll keep your food expenses low and the food tastes better most of the time.
Things to consider: 1. Don’t Trust the Crosswalks. Unless you’re trying to cross the street at a spot that’s governed by a traffic light or sign. 2. Pay by contactless or card to avoid paying tips.
Portugal Travel Guides
City breaks, road trips, hidden gems, and everything you need to plan your Portugal trip.
City Guides
Itineraries + Maps
Best Places to Visit & Things to Do
Best Time to Visit
Travel Tips
Everything Else
How Much Does Portugal Cost?
Portugal is one of the cheapest countries in Western Europe. Here’s what to actually expect.
🎒
Backpacker
~€45/day | ~£39/day | ~$53/day
- Hostel dorms from €15/night
- Tascas, bakeries, and supermarket meals
- Metro, bus, and walking
- Free viewpoints, beaches, and walking tours
🍜
Mid-Range
~€100/day | ~£87/day | ~$118/day
- Private rooms, boutique guesthouses
- Restaurants with wine (yes, every meal)
- Mix of public transport and taxis
- Museums, boat tours, day trips to Sintra
🏨
Upscale
~€200+/day | ~£174+/day | ~$236+/day
- 4-5 star hotels and premium Airbnbs
- Fine dining, seafood tasting menus
- Private transfers and rental car
- Private wine tours, sailing trips, exclusive experiences
Detailed Cost Breakdown
Budget
- Hostel dorm: €15–35/night | £13–30 | $18–41
- Campsite: €10–25/night | £9–22 | $12–29
- Budget hotel: €50–90/night | £44–78 | $59–106
Mid–Luxury
- Airbnb apartment: €60–150/night | £52–130 | $71–177
- Boutique hotel: €100–200/night | £87–174 | $118–236
- Luxury resort: €250+/night | £217+ | $295+
City Travel
- Lisbon metro/bus/tram: €1.80 | £1.57 | $2.13
- Porto metro/bus: €1.60–2.50 | £1.39–2.17 | $1.89–2.95
- Uber/Bolt short trip: €5–12 | £4.35–10.43 | $5.90–14.16
Long Distance
- Bus Lisbon–Porto: €20–40 | £17–35 | $24–47
- Train Lisbon–Porto (high-speed): €25–50 | £22–44 | $30–59
- Car rental per day: €30–60 | £26–52 | $35–71
Eat Cheap
- Prato do dia (lunch special): €8–12 | £7–10 | $9–14
- Pastel de nata: €1–2 | £0.87–1.74 | $1.18–2.36
- Supermarket meal prep: €4–7 | £3.48–6.09 | $4.72–8.26
- Coffee (espresso): €0.80–1.50 | £0.70–1.30 | $0.94–1.77
Eating Out
- Mid-range restaurant: €15–30 | £13–26 | $18–35
- Seafood restaurant: €25–50 | £22–44 | $30–59
- Beer (Super Bock/Sagres): €2–4 | £1.74–3.48 | $2.36–4.72
- Glass of wine: €2–5 | £1.74–4.35 | $2.36–5.90
Budget Fun
- Museum entry: €5–12 | £4.35–10.43 | $5.90–14.16
- Free walking tour (tip-based): €0–10 | £0–8.70 | $0–11.80
- Surf lesson: €25–50 | £22–44 | $30–59
Big Experiences
- Algarve boat/cave tour: €30–70 | £26–61 | $35–83
- Douro Valley wine tasting: €15–40 | £13–35 | $18–47
- Private Lisbon boat tour: €80–200 | £70–174 | $94–236
Tips for Saving Money in Portugal
💧 Bring a reusable water bottle. Tap water is safe everywhere in Portugal.
🚶 Take free walking tours in Lisbon and Porto. Tip-based, so you decide what it’s worth.
🍽️ Eat at local tascas, not tourist restaurants. Half the price, twice the flavour.
🍛 Go for the prato do dia (lunch special). Full meal with a drink, usually €8–12 | £7–10 | $9–14.
🚇 Use Lisbon’s Viva Viagem card and Porto’s Andante card. Always cheaper than single tickets.
📱 Use Bolt or Uber instead of taxis. Fixed prices, no meter surprises.
🚌 Book intercity buses (Rede Expressos) or trains (CP) in advance for the best prices.
🏛️ Visit museums on Sundays before 2pm. Many are free, including big ones in Lisbon and Porto.
🎫 Get a Lisboa Card or Porto Card if you’re hitting multiple attractions. Pays for itself fast.
🏪 Shop at local markets (Mercado da Ribeira, Mercado do Bolhao) for fresh produce and cheap eats.
🚗 Renting a car? Split costs with travel mates. Fuel is cheaper here than most of Western Europe.
🍷 Wine is absurdly cheap. A decent bottle from a supermarket costs €3–5 | £2.60–4.35 | $3.54–5.90. Don’t overpay at tourist restaurants.
Getting Around Portugal
Portugal is small by European standards. Getting between cities is quick, cheap, and surprisingly scenic.
Domestic Flights
Best for reaching Madeira, the Azores, or saving time on the Lisbon–Faro route.
✅ Only practical way to reach the islands
✅ Budget airlines from €30 | £26 | $35 one way
❌ Not worth it for Lisbon–Porto (train is faster door-to-door)
Car Rental
Best for the Algarve coast, Alentejo wine country, and anywhere off the beaten track.
✅ Total freedom, especially outside cities
✅ From €30/day | £26 | $35
❌ Lisbon and Porto driving is stressful (narrow streets, hills, trams)
City Public Transport
Best for getting around Lisbon and Porto. Both cities have solid metro systems plus iconic trams.
✅ Cheap with reloadable cards (Viva Viagem, Andante)
✅ Lisbon’s Tram 28 is an attraction in itself
❌ Can get packed during rush hour and tourist season
High-Speed Train (Alfa Pendular)
Best for Lisbon to Porto. Three hours, comfortable, scenic. Book early for cheaper tickets.
✅ Fast and comfortable
✅ Lisbon–Porto from €25 | £22 | $30
❌ Only covers the main north-south corridor
Intercity Bus
Best for budget travel and routes trains don’t cover. Rede Expressos runs everywhere.
✅ Cheapest option for most routes
✅ Covers towns trains skip entirely
❌ Slower than trains on major routes
Uber & Bolt
Best for late nights, airport transfers, and anywhere public transport doesn’t reach easily.
✅ Widely available in Lisbon, Porto, and Algarve
✅ Fixed prices, usually cheaper than taxis
❌ Surge pricing during peak tourist hours
Which Is Right For You?
Just Lisbon or Porto
Metro + walking. You don’t need anything else.
Lisbon + Porto combo
High-speed train. Three hours, done.
Algarve beaches & coast
Rent a car. Public transport is patchy down south.
Islands (Madeira/Azores)
Fly. There’s no other way to get there.
Quick Tips
📅
Book Trains Early
Alfa Pendular prices jump closer to the date. Two weeks out is the sweet spot.
💳
Get a Transport Card
Viva Viagem (Lisbon), Andante (Porto). Always cheaper than single tickets.
📍
Skip Lisbon Taxis
Metro from the airport is €1.80
☀️
Avoid August If You Can
Peak season, peak prices, peak crowds. September is warmer and half the hassle.
Book Tours & Tickets
Related Resources
Travel Problems
Missed flights, lost luggage, dodgy hotels. It happens. Here’s how to handle all of it without losing your mind.
Theft & Scams
Pickpockets, tourist traps, and cons you won’t see coming. We break down the most common ones and how to avoid every single one.
Travel Insurance
Don’t skip this one. Especially travelling solo. We compare the best policies and explain exactly what you actually need.
FAQs
Do I need a visa to visit Portugal?
If you’re from the UK, US, Canada, Australia, or most EU countries, no. You can stay for up to 90 days within any 180-day period without a visa. Portugal is part of the Schengen Area, so the same rules apply across most of Europe. Just make sure your passport is valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure date. Note: the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) is now active at borders, replacing the old passport stamping system with digital checks. And ETIAS (a quick online pre-travel authorisation costing €7) is expected to launch in late 2026, but it’s not required yet. Always check the latest requirements before you book.
Is Portugal safe for tourists?
Yes. Portugal consistently ranks as one of the safest countries in Europe and globally. Violent crime against tourists is extremely rare. The main thing to watch for is petty crime, mostly pickpocketing on Lisbon’s Tram 28, in crowded Alfama streets, and around tourist hotspots in Porto. Keep your phone and wallet in a front pocket or zipped bag, don’t leave anything visible in a parked rental car, and you’ll be fine.
When is the best time to visit Portugal?
Spring (April to June) and early autumn (September to mid-October) are the sweet spot. Warm weather, fewer crowds, lower prices. Summer (July and August) is peak season: packed beaches, sold-out accommodation, and prices jump 30–40%. Winter is mild in the Algarve but rainy further north. Lisbon is great year-round for a city break. For wine lovers, September and October are harvest season in the Douro Valley, which is special.
How many days do I need in Portugal?
A long weekend works for Lisbon or Porto alone. But to see both cities plus a day trip to Sintra, you’ll want 7–8 days minimum. Two weeks lets you add the Algarve coast and the Alentejo region without rushing. If you’re including Madeira or the Azores, add 4–5 days per island group. Portugal is compact enough that you can cover a lot of ground without feeling like you’re constantly on the move.
Is Portugal expensive?
It’s one of Western Europe’s most affordable countries. A backpacker can get by on around €40–45/day | £35–39 | $47–53. Mid-range travellers typically spend €90–120/day | £78–104 | $106–142 with private accommodation and eating out. Wine is absurdly cheap. Coffee costs less than a pound. The biggest costs are accommodation in Lisbon during summer and major experiences like Algarve boat tours.
What's the best way to get around Portugal?
Between Lisbon and Porto, the high-speed train (Alfa Pendular) is the obvious choice. Takes about three hours, costs from €25 | £22 | $30 if you book ahead. For the Algarve and rural areas, rent a car. Within Lisbon and Porto, the metro and bus systems are cheap and reliable. Uber and Bolt work well for late nights and airport transfers. Domestic flights are really only necessary for Madeira and the Azores.
Do I need travel insurance for Portugal?
Yes. UK visitors lost their EHIC/GHIC reciprocal coverage when the UK left the EU (the UK Global Health Insurance Card does cover some emergency treatment in EU countries, but the coverage is limited and doesn’t include things like repatriation or lost luggage). US and non-EU visitors have no state-provided cover at all. A decent travel insurance policy costs very little compared to an unexpected hospital bill. Don’t skip it.
Can I drink the tap water in Portugal?
Yes. Tap water is safe to drink across the whole country. Some people find it tastes slightly different in the Algarve (it’s harder water down south), but it’s perfectly safe. Bring a reusable bottle and save yourself the pointless expense of buying bottled water.
Do I need to speak Portuguese?
In tourist areas, Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve, you’ll get by fine with English. Portugal actually has one of the highest English proficiency rates in Southern Europe. In smaller towns and rural areas, a few basic Portuguese phrases go a long way and people appreciate the effort. “Obrigado/Obrigada” (thank you) and “Desculpe” (excuse me) will cover most situations.
Is Portugal good for solo travellers?
Absolutely. The safety record is excellent, public transport is reliable, and the hostel scene in Lisbon and Porto is some of the best in Europe. Solo travellers regularly say Portugal is one of the easiest countries in Europe to navigate alone. The café culture makes it easy to settle in with a coffee and watch the world go by, and the free walking tour scene is great for meeting other travellers. Check out our solo travel hub for more tips.
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