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.
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.
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Sintra and Cascais coastal drive Sintra and Cascais coastal drive
SintraSintra and Cascais coastal drive
Whimsical palaces and exotic gardens give Sintra a magical air. You can explore this fairy-tale town, just north of Lisbon, and its surroundings on a private guided tour, which also takes in the coastal resort of Cascais.
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Traditions of Lisbon walking tour Traditions of Lisbon walking tour
LisbonTraditions of Lisbon walking tour
Explore Lisbon with a local guide on a private half-day walking tour, which takes in several of its most interesting districts. You’ll learn about the city’s history and traditions, and stop for local food and drinks along the way.
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Portuguese country cooking class Portuguese country cooking class
PortoPortuguese country cooking class
On this hands-on half-day activity, you’ll visit a family farm in the countryside and learn to cook authentic Portuguese dishes. You’ll get an insight into Portugal’s food traditions and typical ingredients, as well as learning the practical skills you’ll need to prepare the dishes back home.
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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
The official language of Portugal is Portuguese. Most people in Portugal also speak good English.
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.
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.
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.
For the latest travel advice for Portugal, including entry requirements, health information, and the safety and security situation, please refer to the State Department website.
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.
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.
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.
It takes around seven hours to fly from the East Coast of the US to Portugal, and around 13 hours from the West Coast.
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.
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.
US citizens don’t need a visa to travel to Portugal. However, your time in Portugal will contribute to your 90-day limit for travel in the Schengen area.
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 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
Check that your passport will be valid for three months beyond your departure from Portugal or the wider Schengen area if you’re also visiting other European countries on the same trip.
Portugal in pictures
Our expert guides to traveling in Portugal
Written by our specialists from the viewpoint of their own travels, these guides will help you decide on the shape of your own trip to Portugal. Aiming to inspire and inform, we share our recommendations for how to appreciate Portugal at its best.
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Top 13 trips to Europe Top 13 trips to Europe
Top 13 trips to Europe
From the wintry wilds of Iceland’s shores to the sun-drenched islands of Greece, Europe’s vast diversity means it can be hard to decide where to visit on the continent. Here, we’ve ranked our top tours of Europe to help you make up your mind.
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Best of Spain and Portugal Best of Spain and Portugal
Best of Spain and Portugal
A private tour of the Alhambra, sipping wine in the sunny Douro River Valley, and watching a flamenco performance in Seville. Spain and Portugal specialist Talia picks some of her top experiences when visiting the Iberian Peninsula.
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Exploring Lisbon: a city guide Exploring Lisbon: a city guide
Exploring Lisbon: a city guide
In Lisbon, you can visit a Moorish castle, explore the impacts of the devastating 1755 earthquake with a local guide, and experience a live fado performance. Here, Portugal specialist Geoff shares how to get the most out of your visit.
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Introducing the Azores Introducing the Azores
Introducing the Azores
A clutch of volcanic islands in the middle of the Atlantic, the Azores boast a vast array of landscapes. Portugal team member Jess discusses highlights of the archipelago, including cheese and wine tastings and a volcano that emerged in the 1950s.
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How to avoid the crowds in Europe How to avoid the crowds in Europe
How to avoid the crowds in Europe
People come from all over the world to see Europe’s many cities, landscapes and monuments. If you want to enjoy a trip without the crowds, our specialists suggest quieter, less-visited options from Scotland to Italy.
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A guide to Porto and the Douro Valley A guide to Porto and the Douro Valley
A guide to Porto and the Douro Valley
There’s much more to Porto than the first four letters of its name, from walking tours to catamaran cruises. Portugal specialist Kevin shares his tips for exploring the city, and for spending time in the Douro Valley’s traditional towns and vineyards.
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Experiences in Spain & Portugal's wine regions Experiences in Spain & Portugal's wine regions
Experiences in Spain & Portugal's wine regions
Both Spain and Portugal are speckled with wine regions, from Spain’s northern Rioja region and Catalonia’s cava to the Douro Valley, which supplies Porto with its world-renowned port wines. Our specialists share their wine-tasting experiences, which can be planned into your tailor-made trip.
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Outdoors in Europe: Taking to the water Outdoors in Europe: Taking to the water
Outdoors in Europe: Taking to the water
While away your day on a private boat, admiring the hidden coves around Capri, or hike among the fantastical waterfalls deep in the heart of a Croatian park. Our European specialists suggest seven great ways to enjoy the continent’s waterways.
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Where you can enjoy the outdoors in Europe Where you can enjoy the outdoors in Europe
Where you can enjoy the outdoors in Europe
From the breathless heights of the French Alps to mirror-like lochs in Scotland’s Cairngorms to the turquoise waters of Italy, our specialists suggest the best destinations for you to enjoy the outdoors on your trip to Europe.
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