Portugal
Between the wild Atlantic, melancholic Fado, and port wine cellars: your guide to Portugal.
Our Guide to Portugal
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Flair
Authentic, sunny, and wonderfully relaxed.
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Travel season
May through September (coast) or year-round (cities).
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Trip length
Ten to 14 days for Porto, Lisbon, and the Algarve.
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Currency
Euro — card is usually fine, but bring cash for small cafés.
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Tipping
Round up the bill at restaurants — around 5–10% is the norm.
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Getting around
Rent a car for the coast; trains work well between major cities.
FAQ
When is the best time to visit Portugal?
It really depends on what you’re planning to do.
- For city trips: March through May and September through October are ideal. It’s warm and pleasant, but not so hot that sightseeing becomes a slog.
- For beach vacations: June through August gives you the most sunshine. And since the Atlantic stays refreshingly cool, you’ll always have a way to cool off.
- For surfers: Complete beginners can find a good spot pretty much year-round. If you’re more advanced and after bigger swells, aim for October through March.
What language is spoken in Portugal?
The official language is Portuguese. In larger cities you’ll find plenty of English speakers, but in rural areas don’t count on it.
If you speak some Spanish, you’ll likely be able to puzzle out maps and signs — even though Portuguese sounds quite different when spoken.
Is Portugal expensive?
Portugal is one of the more affordable destinations in Europe. That said, hotel prices in Lisbon have climbed quite a bit in recent years, so budget a little extra there.
Food is still seriously good value — a fresh fish dish with a carafe of wine will cost you a fraction of what you’d pay in most Western European cities.
What currency does Portugal use?
Portugal uses the Euro. ATMs are easy to find, and card payments are widely accepted.
We explain how to withdraw cash abroad without fees in our article on the best credit cards with no foreign transaction fees.
