Portugal

Tips, Guides, and What to Expect

Fun Fact

Portugal is the world’s largest producer of cork, supplying around half of the global supply from its cork oak forests.

A yellow tram travels up a cobbled street lined with old buildings and balconies in a hilly urban neighbourhood under a partly cloudy sky.

Aerial view of a lake surrounded by green hills and mountains under a partly cloudy sky, with a town visible in the distance.

What to Expect

Portugal has so much to offer beyond Lisbon. Northern Portugal is known for its vineyards, lush green terraced hills and stone villages. Dramatic limestone cliffs and golden sand beaches line the southern coast of Portugal. The Alentejo region offers rolling plains and cork oak forests.

Then there are the Portuguese islands. The Azores archipelago sits far out in the Atlantic and feels like nowhere else in Europe. Expect volcanic craters, hot springs, and green hills that roll straight into the ocean. The islands of Madeira are further south in the atlantic and offer a mix of mountains, dramatic cliffs, and luscious forests.

Best & Worst Time to Visit

On the mainland, the best times to visit are in the shoulder season (April, May, June, September and October). Temperatures stay comfortable, and the summer crowds haven’t arrived or have already thinned out. July and August are the hottest months with the biggest crowds, especially along the Algarve coast. The weather during winter stays very mild, but many smaller towns have fewer things open.

On the islands, the dry season is from June to September and offers the driest, sunniest weather and the best conditions for hiking and whale watching. Outside those months, expect frequent rain that can flood out hiking trails.

What You Should Bring

These are general must-have items when travelling to Portugal:

Comfortable walking shoes, ideally waterproof
A light rain jacket, especially if you are visiting an island
Travel adapter type C or F
Sunscreen, even outside summer months
Some cash for smaller towns and markets

Languages

Portuguese is the official language across the mainland and the islands. English is widely understood in Lisbon, Porto, and other major tourist spots, though less so in rural areas or on smaller islands.

Azorean Portuguese has its own accent and a few local expressions, so don’t be surprised if it sounds different from what you hear in Lisbon.

Currency

Portugal uses the Euro (€), the same as most of the rest of the EU. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, and ATMs are easy to find in cities and larger towns.

On the islands, especially in smaller villages or at local markets, carrying some cash is still a good idea.