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The whole lot you Have to know when Planning a Journey to Portugal


Portugal has a lot to supply as a vacation spot — lovely landscapes, vibrant cities, fascinating tradition, scrumptious meals and wine, and pleasant folks. And better of all, it’s inexpensive in comparison with different fashionable European locations! Planning a visit to Portugal isn’t exhausting, however if you wish to scratch under the floor, it would be best to learn the following pointers first.

I fell a little bit in love throughout my first journey to Portugal, however it wasn’t till I just lately had the chance to spend a number of weeks touring by means of the nation that Portugal actually obtained below my pores and skin and I developed a deeper appreciation for this particular nation.

waves crashing around rock formations off the coast of Lagos, Portugal
Lagos, Portugal

Learn on for my Portugal journey tips on attending to Portugal, when to go to Portugal, how lengthy to remain in Portugal, and Portugal journey suggestions, and get began planning your dream journey.

When you aren’t certain the place you wish to go in Portugal, I’ve put collectively 4 pattern one-week Portugal itineraries that you would be able to select from. When you would moderately have another person plan your journey and put collectively a tremendous journey by means of Portugal with distinctive experiences, I’d extremely suggest working with my accomplice EPIC Journey. Point out We3Travel when contacting EPIC Journey and obtain a free VIP welcome reward whenever you arrive in your EPIC journey to Portugal.

Attending to Portugal

TAP flies direct from Newark to Porto

Be aware: This put up could comprise affiliate hyperlinks. When you click on a hyperlink and make a purchase order, I’ll obtain a small fee. All opinions are my very own.

Faucet Airways, Portugal’s flagship service, presents direct flights to Lisbon or Porto from many US cities together with Boston, Newark, Washington D.C., Miami, Chicago, and San Francisco. Generally known as being a cheap choice for flying to Europe, TAP Airways actually maximizes its free stopover program to encourage guests to spend time in Portugal. Whenever you guide a stopover with TAP Airways, you possibly can keep from one to 5 nights in both Porto or Lisbon for no extra cost.

After flying TAP twice (word: my flights had been complimentary as a part of a media journey), I discover them on par with different nationwide carriers equivalent to Aer Lingus or the outdated Alitalia. As a part of the Star Alliance, you can even bid on upgrades or use miles to improve to Government class or EconomyXtra. EconomyXtra seats provide spacious legroom and a beneficiant recline, whereas Government class seats ship a full lay-flat mattress for comfy transatlantic flights. (See a full overview of TAP Airways Government class.)

When to Go to Portugal

woman walking on a beach at sunset
Comporta, Portugal

One of the best instances to go to Portugal actually is dependent upon the area(s) you intend on visiting, however usually, the shoulder seasons of Could-June and September-October are going to be ultimate. April and November are identified to be wet all through the nation and whereas winter temperatures in Portugal aren’t frigid (normally within the 40s and 50s), you’ll take pleasure in extra time exterior throughout these shoulder season months.

The cities of Lisbon and Porto are at all times going to be busy, particularly in the course of the summer time and vacation breaks. However let’s discuss a number of the different areas:

  • Douro Valley, and northern Portugal: late August by means of October are ultimate within the north. Wine harvest sometimes runs from late August to late September, though after we had been there in early October a number of vineyards had been nonetheless harvesting and it was a good time to go to to see the grape stomping in motion.
  • Inside Alentejo: this dry area will get extraordinarily scorching in the summertime, with temperature hovering above 40-45 levels Celsius (above 100 levels Fahrenheit.) The best time to go to can be in September or early October in the course of the wine harvest when the temperatures are excellent for spending time exterior or enjoyable by the pool. Could and June would even be nice, however July and August sound a bit insufferable to spend a lot time exterior of the pool or air con, and local weather change is simply making this extra excessive. It additionally makes temperatures a bit much less predictable. Once I visited in October, the temperatures had been within the excessive 70s or low to mid-80s, though that is unusually heat.
  • Coastal Alentejo: if you wish to benefit from the seashore, you need to go to between Could and October. Whereas the seashores will probably be extra crowded with locals coming down from Lisbon, simply stroll a couple of minutes down the seashore and you should have loads of area to take pleasure in this space’s beautiful large sand.
  • Algarve: the Algarve is absolutely hopping in the summertime when the vacationers flock to the coast, however it actually will be gratifying year-round. You is probably not swimming within the winter, however you possibly can take pleasure in mountaineering the cliffs and exploring the caves and shoreline. Plus the cities is perhaps a little bit quieter in the course of the low season.
  • Azores: the perfect time to go to the Azores is Could-July, when the hydrangeas are in full bloom and the islands are bursting with colour and luxurious greens. It’s going to even be probably the most crowded. However fortunately, the Gulf Stream retains the waters across the islands pretty heat 12 months spherical. It doesn’t matter what time of 12 months that you just go to, the climate within the islands could be very temperamental and may change at a second’s discover so it’s best to be ready for solar, rain, wind, and fog — all in sooner or later!

How Lengthy to Spend in Portugal

Douro River Valley with terraced vineyards and mountains
Douro River Valley

Portugal is definitely a reasonably small nation, not at the same time as massive as Indiana. However don’t underestimate how a lot time you might want to correctly discover the nation! I hear so many individuals speaking about doing Spain and Portugal in a single journey. Nicely, I can let you know that I’ve spent two weeks in Spain and altogether three weeks in Portugal and I’ve not come near seeing all the things that I’d wish to see in both nation.

When you can spare the time, I’d suggest spending no less than two weeks in Portugal and exploring three to 4 areas in every journey. I’ve created 4 totally different, one-week Portugal itineraries in a separate put up, however some doable 10-14 day itinerary concepts are:

  • Porto (3 days) + Douro (2-3 days) + Lisbon (3 days) + Sintra (1 day journey) + Cascais or Comporta (3 days)
  • Lisbon (3-5 days with day journeys) + Algarve (5 days)
  • Porto (3 days) + Alentejo (5-7 days) + Lisbon (3-4 days)
  • Azores: São Miguel (5 days) + Pico (3 -4 days with day journey to São Jorge) + Terceira (3 days)

Planning a Journey to Portugal

Rainbow over green cliffs in Sao Miguel
São Miguel Island, Azores

Planning a primary journey to Portugal isn’t exhausting, there’s quite a lot of data out there that will help you resolve the place to remain and issues to do in Lisbon, Sintra, Porto, and Cascais. Nonetheless, if you wish to enterprise past the strange, you might have considered trying some assist planning your journey. Full disclosure, my latest journey to Portugal was hosted by Epic Journey and its journey companions in order that I might expertise an EPIC Portugal itinerary.

EPIC Journey is a boutique company that focuses on journey to Portugal and Morocco. Its journey planners dwell in-country and have shut relationships with resorts, guides, drivers, and tour operators on the bottom. EPIC makes a speciality of planning customized itineraries for purchasers that wish to journey deeper and revel in journey and cultural experiences alongside the best way.

In my expertise working with EPIC each in Portugal and once I employed them to assist me plan my Morocco journey, there are a wealth of causes to work with an company like EPIC to plan your journey to Portugal, together with:

  • Distinctive experiences — EPIC can organize experiences that you just couldn’t even assume up by yourself since you didn’t know they existed. These are sourced by means of shut relationships on the bottom and taking the time to essentially perceive tradition and have interaction with locals. Examples embody cork trekking, bridge climbing, personal tram excursions with chef’s tasting menus, customized farm visits and cooking lessons, and a lot extra.
  • Boutique, upscale and luxurious resorts — EPIC goes out of its solution to discover fascinating resorts that provide excessive contact customer support as an alternative of going with the standard choices you discover on tour itineraries. And greater than that, they’ll completely match particular person vacationers with an applicable resort based mostly on journey type and funds. As a result of EPIC stays in shut contact with resort administration, they’ll additionally pair you with one of the best room sort and have sought out resorts that provide nice facilities for households together with villas with kitchens and kids’s actions.
  • Excessive-touch service — the EPIC group works intently with purchasers to design a customized itinerary based mostly in your journey tastes and pursuits. They’re additionally on-hand to assist modify on the fly or deal with any issues that come up. They even went as far as to greet us upon arrival at our resort and organize our COVID checks for the Azores.
  • Save tons of time — May you discover these distinctive experiences and resorts by yourself? Possibly with sufficient digging. However why spend hours and hours researching and nonetheless not make sure in case you are making the fitting selections. It’s so a lot of a time and psychological power financial savings to work with an professional. And never somebody who’s simply outsourcing it to a third-party, however somebody with direct relationships in your vacation spot.

If you want assist planning and reserving your journey to Portugal, please attain out to EPIC Journey and allow them to know that you just examine them on WE3TRAVEL and you’ll obtain a VIP Welcome Reward as a thanks!

Cash & Language Issues

Sunset on the hills of Alentejo dotted with cork trees
Sundown in Alentejo

Touring by means of Portugal is absolutely fairly straightforward, particularly as an American. English could be very broadly spoken, though studying to say Bom Dia (good morning) and obrigado/obrigada (thanks) is a good suggestion [note: Duolingo only supports Brazilian Portuguese and the languages have a lot of differences.]

It’s also a reasonably cashless economic system, with most eating places and outlets accepting Visa and Mastercard with a faucet and pay chip, and lots of supporting Apple Pay. Simply ensure you are utilizing a bank card that doesn’t cost worldwide transaction charges and make contact with your financial institution upfront to allow them to find out about any worldwide journey in order that they don’t block your transactions for concern of fraud (except you could have a journey card that doesn’t require this.)

Nonetheless, you can see the few holdouts so it pays to both get some Euro out of your native financial institution (make sure you order it no less than every week forward of your journey) or take some cash out of an ATM (be careful for ATMs that cost excessive charges) whenever you arrive. Not all banks/ATMs will settle for playing cards from different banks so it is perhaps price it to trade some cash earlier than you arrive within the nation for small purchases and suggestions (at all times request small payments.)

Earlier than you go, make sure you take a look at my put up on how a lot a journey to Portugal prices.

Tipping at eating places isn’t customary and should you do go away a gratuity, it ought to be a small quantity utilizing only a few cash you could have available. I at all times assume it’s a good suggestion to tip guides that present nice service, and people are normally fortunately accepted.

Meals Issues

Picnic table set with glasses and plates and hats on the benches set in a vineyard in Alentejo
Picnic in Alentejo

The meals in Portugal varies from high-end, superb eating with Michelin-starred cooks to informal tabernas serving up cheap, genuine dishes. Some dishes you will notice regularly embody:

  • Pastéis de bacalhau – salt cod fritters or croquettes
  • Pastel de nata (or Belem) – basic egg custard tarts
  • Caldo verde – kale or cabbage soup (usually served as a starter)
  • Sardines – sometimes grilled
  • Recent seafood – from shrimp in garlic butter to seafood rice to sea bass, monk fish, and octopus
  • Bifana – the standard beef or pork sandwich
  • Francesinha – sausage sandwich slathered in cheese and gravy present in Porto
  • Piri piri rooster – roasted or grilled with spices from Mozambique
  • Iberian black pig – acorn-fed and much like Spanish jamon iberico however served each cured and as a grilled tenderloin
  • Orange juice – don’t miss out on attempting a few of Portugal’s wonderful oranges and different fruits
  • Native honey – whenever you see native honey on the breakfast buffet, be sure that to take pleasure in some!

Consuming out in Portugal will be very inexpensive in comparison with different nations. If you’re consuming at an informal taberna, you possibly can usually get a full meal for below 10 euros, 15 with a glass of wine to go together with it. One factor to look out for is the “couvert” which is usually a small basket of bread and dish of olives dropped at the desk firstly of the meal. That is generally listed on the menu and must be ordered, however different instances it’s introduced mechanically (however that doesn’t imply it’s free.) When you don’t need it, or don’t wish to pay for it, simply flip it away.

Getting Round

Yellow tram 143 in Porto
Tram in Porto

Getting from place to put in Portugal isn’t exhausting and most often, it’s straightforward to self-drive all through the nation on a well-established freeway system. I say that with a number of caveats!

  • Don’t try and drive in Lisbon or central Porto except you’re an skilled metropolis driver and you’ve got a spot to park at your resort
  • Portuguese drivers will be fairly aggressive and wish to tailgate and don’t essentially keep throughout the traces
  • Driving by means of small cities is usually a little nerve-wracking because the streets are extraordinarily slender (and sometimes one-way so you will have a superb navigation system)
  • There are quite a lot of roundabouts/rotaries so ensure you are comfy with the way to enter and exit

I’d additionally very extremely suggest hiring a driver or taking a tour when visiting vineyards. Not solely do you not wish to drink and drive, however some is usually a bit tough to search out. Additionally, a number of the roads within the Douro Valley, particularly on the north facet of the river are gravel, slender, and intently grip the sting of the cliffs.

You too can fly from Lisbon to Porto or the Algarve, however actually, the drive isn’t that lengthy so I discover it’s simpler to simply drive. When you fly into one metropolis you possibly can decide up a rental automobile (if from exterior of the EU you might want an Worldwide Driver’s Allow, examine along with your rental automobile firm) exterior of town and drop it off exterior of town on the return. Uber is pretty straightforward to search out within the cities and trams are additionally out there for getting round city (though usually full as a result of they’re fashionable with vacationers.)

Packing for Portugal

Woman standing in front of yellow and blue tile wall in Lisbon
Tiles in Lisbon

Selecting what to pack for Portugal will fluctuate relying on when and the place you’re going, however there are a number of objects you might want to put in your packing checklist:

  • Snug, non-slip sneakers: the tile sidewalks are beautiful however they’re worn easy and slippery, particularly on the numerous hills in Porto and Lisbon and much more so when it rains;
  • Journey umbrella and rain coat: talking of rain, you possibly can count on to come across some, particularly if visiting the northern a part of the nation or between October and April;
  • Sunscreen, sun shades and a hat: when the solar does come out, it may be sturdy, even in October! Be ready with a superb sunscreen and a hat if you can be spending quite a lot of time exterior;
  • Bug spray or lotion: in case you are visiting the Alentejo area, particularly round farms or rice fields, you’ll encounter some flies and mosquitos, so greatest to be ready;
  • Journey-safe bag: Lisbon is understood to have pickpockets, particularly round crowded squares and scenic overlooks. Don’t lose your valuables, carry a bag that provides theft-protection. I carry my Travelon locking sling bag with anti-theft and anti-slash options.
  • Movement illness meds or bands: in case you are driving by means of the Douro Valley or the winding roads within the Azores, it would be best to be ready should you undergo from movement illness.

So are you able to plan a visit to Portugal? I’d suggest reaching out to EPIC Travel to see how they might help and studying a few of my different articles about Portugal.

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Planning a trip to Portugal

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