A trip to Portugal, anyone?

Portugal, located on the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe, is a country rich in history, vibrant culture, and diverse landscapes. Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean, it boasts dramatic coastlines, golden beaches, and historic cities like Lisbon and Porto, where cobbled streets and iconic yellow trams seamlessly blend tradition with modernity. Renowned for its seafaring legacy during the Age of Discovery, Portugal’s warm hospitality, celebrated gastronomy—from fresh seafood to famous pastéis de nata—and world-class port wine make it a captivating destination. Combining a sunny Mediterranean climate with a peaceful lifestyle, Portugal continues to enchant visitors and locals alike.

Things to know before visiting Portugal

Tips related to renting a car in Portugal

• Opt-in for the Via Verde Toll Transponder. Portugal relies heavily on electronic toll highways (such as the A22 and SCUT routes) that feature no physical toll booths. By law, rental cars in Portugal come equipped with an automatic Via Verde transponder. Make sure it is activated at pickup. It costs a small daily administrative fee (capped at around €22 total per rental) plus the cost of your actual toll usage, saving you the hassle of tracking down post office payment centers later.
• Skip the Car While Staying in Major Cities. Lisbon and Porto feature steep hills, narrow historic streets, limited parking, and strict low-emission zones. Pick up your rental car after you finish exploring major cities, or return it before you spend several days in Lisbon/Porto to avoid high garage fees and stressful driving. Driving gives you the ultimate flexibility for Sintra, the Douro Valley, and the Algarve coastline
• Document Pre-Existing Damage Thoroughly. Before driving off the lot, inspect the vehicle thoroughly. Take a clear, high-resolution video walkaround and close-up photos of all sides, bumpers, wheels, windshield, and interior. Point out existing scuffs to the staff and ensure they are recorded on your check-out sheet before leaving.
• Book a small car. Portuguese roads—especially in older city centers, rural villages, and seaside towns—can be notoriously narrow, steep, and hilly. Parking spots are also often tight. Opting for a compact or economy car rather than a large SUV will make driving and parallel parking easier.
• Manual transmission is the default. Automatics are more expensive and rent out faster, so book early. If you want an automatic, you need to explicitly filter for it when reserving your rental. Verify that “Automatic” is clearly checked on your booking confirmation before finalizing.
• Pass only on the left. Passing on the right is strictly illegal on Portuguese motorways. Maintain the right lane unless overtaking.
• Roundabouts. Vehicles already inside the roundabout always have right-of-way. Enter the outer right lane only if taking the immediate first exit; otherwise, use the inner lanes.
• Standard speed limits. 50 km/h (31 mph) in built-up areas, 90 km/h (56 mph) on secondary roads, and up to 120 km/h (75 mph) on motorways. Speed cameras are common near toll gantries and tunnel entrances.
• Fuel. Double-check whether your vehicle takes Gasolina (petrol) or Gasóleo (diesel) before fueling up!
• Toilets at Highway Service Stations (Áreas de Serviço). Many use modern turnstile systems charging €0.50 to €1.00. Your entry ticket often doubles as a store coupon for that amount toward a coffee, water, or snack at the gas station register!

Other miscellaneous tips for travelling in Portugal

• The Couvert Is Not Free. When you sit down at a restaurant, servers will often bring bread, olives, cheese, and spreads (couvert) to your table. These are not complimentary. You are only charged for what you eat. If you don’t want them, simply say “No, thank you” or leave them untouched, and they will be removed without appearing on your bill.
• Look for the Prato do Dia for Lunch. For authentic and budget-friendly meals, look for traditional local taverns (tascas) offering a Prato do Dia (dish of the day). These weekday lunch specials usually include bread, a main dish, a drink, and espresso for around €8 to €12.
• Dining Hours Run Later Than You Might Think. Lunch is usually 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM. Most kitchens don’t open until 7:30 PM or 8:00 PM for dinner, with peak dining around 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM. Many traditional tascas close their kitchens between lunch and dinner (around 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM).
• Trains Are Great Between Cities; Cars Are Better for the Coast. The high-speed Alfa Pendular train between Lisbon and Porto takes around 3.5 hours. Book 12+ days in advance for better rates on CP.pt. If you plan to ride Lisbon’s iconic historic trams (like Tram 28) or use metros and buses frequently, buy a reusable transit card (Navegante in Lisbon, Andante in Porto) at any station machine and load it with cash (“Zapping” option). Single-ticket onboard purchases on trams or buses cost significantly more.
• Avoid “Euronet” ATMs. Stick to official bank ATMs (like MB / Multibanco). Avoid standalone yellow-and-blue Euronet ATMs found in high-traffic tourist areas, as they charge high conversion fees and poor exchange rates.
• Avoid Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC). Credit cards accepted just about everywhere. When paying with credit cards or withdrawing cash, always choose to be charged in Euros (€) rather than your home currency. If you select USD, the terminal applies a practice called Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC), allowing the local merchant bank to charge an inflated conversion rate. Choosing EUR lets your own home bank handle the conversion, saving you money on every single transaction.
• Pack Shoes with Good Traction. Portugal’s signature white-and-black cobblestone pavements (Calçada Portuguesa) are iconic, but they can be exceptionally slick—especially when wet or worn down. Leave high heels at home and pack comfortable walking shoes with good traction, particularly for hilly cities like Lisbon, Porto, and Coimbra.
• Tipping is Modest and Optional. Tipping is not deeply ingrained in Portuguese culture. Leaving 5% to 10% in sit-down restaurants or taxi fares or rounding up the bill in cafes for attentive service is a polite gesture. Note that many card terminals do not have an option to add a tip, so carry a few small euro coins if you plan to leave something.
• Beware of Pickpockets on Public Transit. Portugal is one of the safest countries in the world, but petty theft and pickpocketing can occur in heavy tourist crowds. Exercise extra vigilance on popular historic streetcar routes—especially Lisbon’s Tram 28—and at busy transport hubs like Rossio Station.
• “Drug” Sellers in downtown Lisbon. In Praca do Comércio and Baixa especially, men may walk up and offer you drugs. They are selling fake herbs/powder (bay leaves or crushed oregano). Police presence is high, but they operate in a legal gray area.
• Power & Adapter Requirements. Standard European 230V voltage at 50Hz. If you are traveling from outside Europe (e.g., North America or the UK), bring a universal plug adapter.
• Tap Water is Safe. Tap water throughout mainland Portugal is completely safe to drink. Bringing a reusable water bottle will save you money and help cut down on single-use plastics during your trip.
• Portuguese is the official language of Portugal, but almost everyone also speaks English comfortably. Most Portuguese people also understand spoken Spanish because Portuguese and Spanish are closely related Romance languages, but they do not to speak it. If necessary, they use a blend of Portuguese and Spanish known as Portuñol (the equivalent of Spanglish).
• The Portuguese Time Zone is always 1 hour behind neighboring Spain. Mainland Portugal and the island of Madeira keep the same time zone as the UK year-round. That’s 1 hour behind the rest of mainland Western Europe. If you visit The Azores (Portugal’s island group further out in the Atlantic), they are 1 hour behind mainland Portugal year-round.
• Carry coin change for public restrooms. Turnstiles and attendant tip trays usually do not accept bills or credit cards—50-cent and 1-euro coins are ideal. Alternatively, buy a cup of coffee and use the restroom at a coffee shop.

The weather and microclimates

• The North (Porto, Minho, Douro): Cool, green, and significantly wetter. Winters bring substantial rain, and even summer mornings can be overcast and damp before the sun cuts through. Regions in the far north like Peneda-Gerês National Park, Bragança, and Trás-os-Montes get occasional snowfall during colder winter cold fronts. It never snows in Lisbon or Porto.
• The South (Algarve, Alentejo): Warm, dry, and sunny year-round. The Algarve receives over 3,000 hours of sunshine a year.
• Sintra: Located just 40 minutes west of Lisbon, Sintra sits in a mountainous microclimate. It is almost always several degrees cooler, mistier, and more humid than Lisbon.
• Pack a jacket for visiting coastal towns. Daytime sun can feel hot even in summer, but as soon as the sun dips below the Atlantic horizon, temperatures drop quickly due to coastal breezes.
• Inland Heat vs. Coastal Cool: Cities near the Atlantic stay moderated by sea breezes. June through September, daytime summer highs average 25°C to 28°C (77°F to 82°F). Ocean breezes keep major coastal cities comfortable, though direct sunlight feels very warm. December through February is mild, crisp, and noticeably wetter. Daytime winter highs sit around 13°C to 16°C (55°F to 61°F), dropping to 8°C to 10°C (46°F to 50°F) at night. If you head inland to Évora or the Alentejo plains in summer, temperatures routinely surge above 40°C (104°F). Winter is considerably colder. Highs hover around 8°C to 12°C (46°F to 54°F), with night temperatures in northern cities like Bragança often dropping near or below freezing.
• Atlantic Water Temperatures Stay Chilly. Don’t let the southern sunshine fool you—Portugal’s coast faces the open Atlantic Ocean, not the warm Mediterranean Sea. Water temperatures rarely exceed 18°C–20°C (64°F–68°F) on the West Coast, even in peak August. The Algarve is slightly warmer, but taking a dip can still feel chilly.
• Coastal Winds Can Be Strong. The Atlantic coast—particularly surf hot spots like Cascais, Guincho, Ericeira, and Nazaré—can get very windy, especially in the late afternoon. Bring a windbreaker or a light jacket if you plan to walk along the coast or watch the sunset.
• Indoor Heating Is Rare. If traveling between November and March, be aware that older Portuguese homes, traditional hotels, and Airbnb apartments often lack central heating or strong insulation. While winter outdoor temperatures are mild (10°C–15°C / 50°F–59°F), it can feel colder inside than outside. Pack warm sleepwear, thick socks, and layers for indoor relaxation.
• The “Norteada” (Summer Melt). During summer, strong northerly winds known as the Norteada blow down the coast. It keeps summer heatwaves comfortable near the sea, but it can make beach umbrellas fly—anchor them well!

A few common phrases in Portuguese

• “Olá” (oh-LAH) – Hello
• “Bom dia” (BOHM DEE-ah) – Good morning
• “Obrigado” (if you identify as male) or “Obrigada” (if you identify as female) – Thank you
• “Com licença” – Excuse me
• “Fala inglês?” (FAH-lah een-GLESH?) – Do you speak English?

Fun facts about Portugal

• Population and size. Portugal is home to over 11 million residents in a country largely the size of the state of Indiana. It stretches roughly 560 kilometers (350 miles) from north to south and about 220 kilometers (140 miles) from east to west.
• Locals speak English. Unlike neighboring countries like Spain or France where TV and movies are dubbed, Portugal subtitles international media in English. As a result, locals grow up listening to native English daily.
• Lisbon is the capital city and one of the oldest cities in the world. It predates other modern European capitals like London, Paris, and Rome by centuries. The city population is approximately 550,000 to 600,000, with over 2.8 million in the surrounding metropolitan area.
• Porto is Portugal’s vibrant northern capital and second-largest city. The city population is approximately 230,000 to 240,000, with over 1.7 million living in the broader Porto Metropolitan Area (Área Metropolitana do Porto).
• Porto’s historic center (Ribeira) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of Europe’s oldest continuous cities, famed for its rugged, romantic charm, granite architecture, and medieval roots. Porto is the global birthplace and export hub for Port wine, which is aged in the vast cellars (lodges) across the river in Vila Nova de Gaia.
• Mount Pico is the overall highest point in Portugal. Pico do Pico is located on Pico Island in the Azores archipelago, at an elevation of 2,351 meters (7,713 feet) above sea level. It is a massive stratovolcano rising directly out of the Atlantic Ocean. It is also the highest point of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
• Serra da Estrela is Portugal’s highest mountain range on the mainland and Portugal’s only natural ski resort. Its natural elevation is 1,993 meters (6,539 feet). In the the 19th century, King John V commissioned a stone tower (Torre) to be built on its summit to bring the peak’s height to an even 2,000 meters (6,562 feet).
• The World’s Oldest Bookstore is in Lisbon. Opened in 1732, Livraria Bertrand in the Chiado district of Lisbon holds the Guinness World Record for being the oldest operating bookstore in the world. Despite being destroyed in the catastrophic 1755 earthquake, it was rebuilt and has been running continuously ever since.
• Portugal is the world’s leading producer of cork, accounting for roughly half of the global supply. The country’s vast cork oak forests (montados) are protected by law. Beyond wine stoppers, Portuguese artisans use cork to make everything from umbrellas, shoes, and handbags to clothes and even aerospace heat shields.
• Lisbon’s Vasco da Gama Bridge, which spans the Tagus River at a staggering 17.2 kilometers (10.7 miles) long, is the longest bridge in the European Union. On a clear day, drivers can barely see the other side when entering the span!
• Bacalhau (salted codfish) is a national obsession in Portugal. Legend says there is a different recipe for every single day of the year. Historically, Portuguese fishermen sailed all the way to the freezing waters of Newfoundland and Greenland to catch and salt cod back in the Age of Discovery.
• Fado (literally meaning “fate” or “destiny”) is Portugal’s most famous traditional genre of music, characterized by expressive, melancholic vocals and soulful acoustic instrumentation. Recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage, it is deeply tied to the Portuguese concept of saudade—a bittersweet feeling of longing, nostalgia, and loss. Fado is traditionally performed in small, intimate taverns (casas de fado), often lit by candles, where absolute silence is expected from the audience during the performance.