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Traditional tiled church, central Porto
Portugal your way

Tailor-made Portugal vacations shaped around your passions

Traditional tiled church, central Porto

On the western edge of the continent, Portugal is home to culturally rich cities influenced by its leading role in the Age of Discovery, as well as an abiding Catholic faith that it shares with nearby Spain. Our specialists will draw on their knowledge of the country to plan your tour of Portugal, where you could hear melancholy fado music in Lisbon, taste port wine in Porto and the Douro Valley, and sample the traditional custard tarts of Belém.

They can also plan a Portugal vacation that explores the country’s complex history. Visit Moorish alleyways in Évora, Roman ruins and a Baroque pilgrimage site in Braga, and the place where Henry the Navigator launched Portugal’s great nautical age.

If you prefer landscapes, we can help you explore the storybook gardens and palaces of Sintra or the verdant volcanic islands of the Azores. We can also help you find the least-crowded beaches in the sunny Algarve.

Creating tailor-made tours for over 25 years

Suggested tours for Portugal

These tours give you a starting point for what your vacation to Portugal could entail. Treat them as inspiration, as each trip is created uniquely for you.

Suggested activities for Portugal

Whatever your interests, our specialists will build activities into your trip that connect to how you want to experience Portugal.

  • Ponta Delgada walking tour
    Aerial view Ponta Delgada, São Miguel

    Ponta Delgada walking tour

    The Azores

    Ponta Delgada walking tour

    Tour the narrow, cobbled streets of Ponta Delgada, the capital of the Azores, with a local guide. Learn about its foundation, architecture and defenses and its heyday in the 18th and 19th centuries when wealthy merchants constructed imposing Baroque buildings.

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  • Lagos coastal walk and Sagres visit
    Seascape, Algarve

    Lagos coastal walk and Sagres visit

    Algarve

    Lagos coastal walk and Sagres visit

    Explore Portugal’s southern coast on this full-day walking tour from Lagos. The hike takes in the city itself as well as the cliffs at the Ponta da Piedade, before heading for the remote village of Sagres overlooking the Atlantic.

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  • Sete Cidades 4x4 and cycling tour
    Twin lakes, Sete Cidades, São Miguel

    Sete Cidades 4x4 and cycling tour

    The Azores

    Sete Cidades 4x4 and cycling tour

    Explore by 4x4 and bike to get far-reaching views of the enormous caldera at Sete Cidades as well as a more personal introduction to this unusual landscape, its history, legends and lakes as well as the volcanic activity that shaped it.

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Why travel with Audley?

  • 100% tailor-made tours
  • Fully protected travel
  • Established for over 25 years
  • 98% of our clients would recommend us

Best time to visit

Our specialists advise on the best months to visit Portugal, including information about climate, events and festivals.

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Useful information for planning your vacation in Portugal

What language is spoken in Portugal?

The official language of Portugal is Portuguese. Most people in Portugal also speak good English.

What's the currency of Portugal?

The currency of Portugal is the euro (€), which you can easily buy before arriving. Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted but paying by American Express may not always be possible. For smaller transactions, it’s worth carrying cash. ATMs and foreign exchange counters are widely available in cities and major towns.

What food and drink should I try in Portugal?

Salted cod, grilled sardines fresh off the boat, creamy custard tarts — Portuguese food is fresh, simple, and delicious. Medieval trade routes brought tropical spices to Portugal and over the centuries, cinnamon, saffron, cloves, and cumin have been embraced wholeheartedly and woven into a complex range of hearty soups and fish and seafood dishes.

A staple in the Portuguese diet is bacalhau (dried salted cod), which was traditionally taken on long sea journeys. Fish and seafood features heavily on menus in coastal areas, while inland, tasty soups such as caldo verde (kale, potato, and chorizo soup) are popular. For a sweet treat, don’t miss pasteis de nata (Portuguese custard tarts), a local delicacy that originated in the Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon.

While Portugal is renowned for its fortified port wine, it’s also becoming increasingly acclaimed for its wines. Look out for vinho verde, a young, crisp white from the Minho region.

How much should I tip in Portugal?

A tip of 10% is considered standard in Portuguese restaurants. Taxi drivers and porters don’t expect a tip, but always appreciate one, while it’s customary to tip private drivers and guides. Your specialist can advise on appropriate amounts closer to your trip.

Where can I find the latest travel advice for Portugal?

For the latest travel advice for Portugal, including entry requirements, health information, and the safety and security situation, please refer to the Canadian Government Travel & Tourism website.

Where should I go in Portugal?

Key destinations in Portugal include Lisbon, Sintra, the Douro Valley, and the Algarve. In sophisticated Lisbon you’ll find trams and funiculars navigating the hilly streets between exuberant Baroque churches and the narrow laneways of the Moorish Alfama.

Northwest of Lisbon, Sintra is known for its fairytale parks, gardens, and palaces, while further north, the terraced hillsides of the Douro Valley are blanketed in vineyards in one of the world’s oldest demarcated wine regions.

For golden sands and Moorish and Roman ruins head to the Algarve, but if you’d like to get away from it all, the nine volcanic islands that make up the Azores offer dramatic craters and steaming fumaroles as well as sun-drenched vineyards and gushing waterfalls.

Where can I stay in Portugal?

Far more than a bed for the night, hotels in Portugal offer an insight into local life and history with stays in 16th-century convents, 300-year-old wine estates, and opulent former palaces. History is never far from the mind with a stay in a characterful former monastery, an elaborate boutique hotel set in a 15th-century palace, or converted country mansion with vineyard views.

If you prefer something sleek and modern, you’ll find chic, sophisticated hotels in the heart of Lisbon and sleek apartments made from volcanic stone in the Azores, while along the coast, we’ve found smart resorts on secluded beaches and boutique retreats set in lush gardens.

To get a better idea of what’s on offer, browse our collection of places to stay in Portugal.

What can I experience in Portugal?

Roman, Moorish, and Baroque architecture, terraced vineyards, and sunny beaches await in Portugal. Portugal offers rich culture, historic streets, and memorable food and wine experiences. While here, you could wander Moorish alleyways, explore the crypts of medieval cathedrals, or see whimsical palaces and gardens built by royalty to escape the summer heat.

Explore the vast Palácio Nacional de Mafra, an 18th-century palace-monastery with more than 1,200 rooms, listen to melancholy but entrancing fado music, join elaborate Holy Week processions, feast on custard tarts, or learn about the country’s long history of wine making.

You can retreat to the coast for sunshine and sandy beaches, cruise down a river in a private yacht, or head for the far-flung islands of the Azores to discover crater lakes and lava tubes, hot springs, and heavenly hiking.

How long does it take to fly to Portugal from Canada?

It takes around seven hours to fly from Toronto in Canada to Portugal, and around 13 hours from Vancouver.

What's the time zone in Portugal?

The time zone in mainland Portugal is UTC+0 hours, while in the Azores it’s UTC-1 hour. Daylight Savings Time is observed from late-March to late-October.

What's the best way of getting around in Portugal?

The best way to get around in Portugal is to drive. The road network is well maintained, car rental is straightforward, and it gives you the freedom to explore as and where you wish. If you’d prefer not to drive, we can arrange for a private driver to take you between destinations.

Do I need a visa to visit Portugal, and what do I need to check with my passport?

Use our travel tool to find up-to-date visa and passport requirements for Portugal. Enter where you’re traveling to and from (including any stopover destinations en route or flight layovers), along with your intended travel dates and passport details, for a full list of requirements.

Do I need vaccinations to visit Portugal?

Speak to your doctor for current advice on immunizations for Portugal and ensure you’re up to date with the recommended vaccinations at home. You can also check the suggested vaccinations on the Government of Canada - travel vaccinations website.

Other popular destinations

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