Europe
Portugal
Tiled streets, Atlantic surf and some of the cheapest wine in western Europe.
Portugal is small enough to cross in a few hours, but it is worth taking longer. Lisbon and Porto are made for walking, and the Algarve coast has some of the best beaches in Europe.
Surf towns like Ericeira and Peniche have a steady backpacker crowd year round, with lessons and board hire at hostel prices.
Good to know
- Time zone
- GMT, GMT+1 in summer
- Plugs
- Types C and F, 230V
- Emergency numbers
- 112 for police, ambulance and fire
- Tap water
- Safe to drink
- Traffic drives on the
- Right
- Tipping
- Not expected, but rounding up or leaving 5–10% at a sit-down meal is appreciated.
- SIM cards
- MEO, Vodafone and NOS sell tourist SIMs and eSIMs with plenty of data for around €15–20.
When to go to Portugal
Best months to go: April to June and September to October. Pick a month to see what it’s like.
Bars show rainfall; numbers are the average daytime high. Amber marks the best months to go.
SeptemberBest time to go
Warm sea, fewer people and the grape harvest in the Douro Valley.
- Daytime high
- 27°C
- Rainfall
- 30 mm
- Crowds
- Busy
| Month | Daytime high | Rainfall | Crowds | Best time to go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 15°C | 100 mm | Quiet | No |
| February | 16°C | 90 mm | Quiet | No |
| March | 19°C | 55 mm | Quiet | No |
| April | 20°C | 65 mm | Busy | Yes |
| May | 23°C | 50 mm | Busy | Yes |
| June | 27°C | 15 mm | Busy | Yes |
| July | 29°C | 5 mm | Peak season | No |
| August | 29°C | 5 mm | Peak season | No |
| September | 27°C | 30 mm | Busy | Yes |
| October | 23°C | 95 mm | Quiet | Yes |
| November | 18°C | 115 mm | Quiet | No |
| December | 16°C | 120 mm | Quiet | No |
What Portugal costs
Work out a budget for your trip, then check what everyday things cost.
$770for 14 days, about $55 a day (€662 in total)
| Cost | Per day | For the trip | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed | $25 | $350 | |
| Food and drink | $15 | $210 | |
| Getting around | $6 | $84 | |
| Things to do | $5 | $70 | |
| Everything else | $4 | $56 |
Per person, in US dollars. Flights and insurance not included.
What things cost
- Pastel de nata€1.40, about $1.63
- Espresso (a bica or cimbalino)€1, about $1.16
- Prato do dia, the lunch special€11, about $13
- Glass of house wine€3, about $3.49
- Small beer in a bar€2.50, about $2.91
- Hostel dorm bed in Lisbon€28, about $33
- Train, Lisbon to Porto€26, about $30
Routes through Portugal
Where to go and how long to stay, for the time you’ve got.
14 nights, 5 stops
North to south down the coast, from Porto to the Algarve, with a couple of days by the surf.
Porto
3 nights
Port cellars, tiled churches and sunset from the Dom Luís I bridge.
Coimbra
1 night
An old university town with a famous baroque library.
Lisbon
4 nights
Trams, viewpoints and a day trip to the palaces of Sintra.
Ericeira
2 nights
A laid-back surf town with lessons at hostel prices.
Lagos
4 nights
Sea caves, cliff walks and the busiest nightlife on the Algarve.
Getting around
Train
$15–35 for a long trip
CP trains link Porto, Coimbra, Lisbon and the Algarve. Book the fast Alfa Pendular early for the best fares.
Bus
$10–25 for a long trip
Rede Expressos and FlixBus reach the towns the trains miss, like Peniche, Nazaré and Lagos.
Private car
$30–50 a day to hire
Useful for the Alentejo and the west coast of the Algarve. Motorway tolls add up, so budget for them.
Ferry
$2–3 a crossing
Commuter ferries cross the Tagus from Lisbon to Cacilhas, with cheap seafood on the other side.
What to eat and drink
Pastel de nata
A warm custard tart with flaky pastry, dusted with cinnamon.
€1.40, about $1.63
Francesinha
Porto's meat-stuffed sandwich, covered in melted cheese and beer sauce.
€13, about $15
Bifana
A thin pork steak in a soft roll with mustard. A cheap lunch anywhere.
€4, about $4.65
Sardinhas assadas
Grilled sardines on bread, at their best during the June festivals.
€12, about $14
Bacalhau à Brás
Salt cod scrambled with egg, onion and matchstick potatoes.
€13, about $15
Ginjinha
A sweet sour cherry liqueur, sold by the shot from tiny bars in Lisbon.
€1.50, about $1.74
Say it like a local
A few words go a long way. Tap “Hear it” to listen, where your browser can.
Hello
Olá
Say it like: oh-lah
Good morning
Bom dia
Say it like: bom dee-ah
Thank you
Obrigado (obrigada if you are a woman)
Say it like: oh-bree-gah-doo
How much is it?
Quanto custa?
Say it like: kwan-too koosh-tah
Do you speak English?
Fala inglês?
Say it like: fah-lah een-glesh
The bill, please
A conta, por favor
Say it like: ah kon-tah poor fah-vor
Cheers!
Saúde!
Say it like: sah-ood
Places to go in Portugal
Ericeira
A fishing town north of Lisbon and Europe’s only World Surfing Reserve, with surf schools for every level.
Mid-range
Questions travellers ask
Why is there bread on my table that I did not order?
That is the couvert: bread, olives or cheese brought out before the meal. It is charged if you eat it, so send it back if you do not want it.
Do I need to book trains in advance?
Regional trains are turn up and go. For the Alfa Pendular and Intercidades between Lisbon and Porto, booking a few days ahead gets cheaper fares and a seat.
Is the Algarve worth it in summer?
The beaches are beautiful but very busy in July and August, and beds sell out. June and September have warm water with far fewer people.
Can I learn to surf here?
Yes. Ericeira, Peniche and Lagos all have surf camps and hostels that run beginner lessons for around €30–40, board and wetsuit included.
Is Portugal still cheap?
Lisbon and Porto have become pricier, especially for beds, but food and wine are still good value. Eat the lunch special and you will spend far less than elsewhere in western Europe.