Portugal
Fado, pastéis de nata, and Atlantic views that put everything else in perspectiveWestern Europe’s Best-Value Country, and It Keeps Getting Better
Portugal took a while to get the credit it deserved, but it’s spent the last decade firmly establishing itself as one of the most rewarding travel destinations in Europe. Lisbon is a genuinely great city — hilly, tram-crossed, full of tiled facades and exceptional restaurants, with a food scene that’s developed extraordinary sophistication without losing its soul. Porto is smaller, grittier, and increasingly exciting on its own terms. And then there’s the Alentejo, the Douro Valley, the Algarve, the Azores — Portugal keeps producing new reasons to go back.
What makes Portugal work particularly well for travellers is the scale. You can drive the length of the country in five hours, which means a two-week trip genuinely lets you see the cities and the countryside and the coast without ever feeling rushed. The food is excellent and still priced modestly by Western European standards — a proper lunch menu at a neighbourhood restaurant runs €12-15 and usually includes wine. The people are unhurried and welcoming. And the Atlantic light, especially in spring and autumn, is extraordinary — softer and more golden than anything you’d find in southern Spain or Italy.
Portugal Weather Month by Month
| Month | Temp °C / °F | Conditions | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 12°C / 54°F | Mild but rainy, off-peak prices | Mixed |
| February | 13°C / 55°F | Cool, almond blossoms in Algarve | Mixed |
| March | 15°C / 59°F | Warming up, wildflowers, fewer crowds | Good |
| April | 17°C / 63°F | Warm and sunny, spring at its best | Best |
| May | 20°C / 68°F | Lovely warm days, long evenings | Best |
| June | 24°C / 75°F | Hot, busy, Lisbon festivals begin | Best |
| July | 27°C / 81°F | Peak heat, very busy Algarve | Mixed |
| August | 28°C / 82°F | Hottest month, crowds peak | Mixed |
| September | 25°C / 77°F | Warm, sea swimmable, fewer tourists | Best |
| October | 20°C / 68°F | Lovely autumn, grape harvest, wine | Best |
| November | 15°C / 59°F | Cooler, rain returns, quiet | Good |
| December | 12°C / 54°F | Mild by European standards, festive | Mixed |
6 Things You Have to Do in Portugal
Take the 28 Tram Through Lisbon
Lisbon’s iconic yellow tram creaks through the narrow streets of Alfama, Mouraria, and Graça on a route that doubles as a guided tour of the city’s most photogenic neighbourhoods. Go early morning before the tourist crowds or late evening for the most atmospheric experience. Walk back downhill through the backstreets of Alfama and stop for ginjinha (sour cherry liqueur) at a street kiosk.
Spend a Day in Sintra
The fairy-tale palaces and Moorish castle perched in forested hills above Sintra are a 40-minute train ride from Lisbon’s Rossio station. The Palácio Nacional da Pena — painted in vivid yellow and red — is genuinely unlike anything else in Europe. Go on a weekday in spring or autumn; summer weekends are extremely crowded and parking is a genuine problem.
Drive the Douro Valley
The terraced vineyards along the Douro River between Porto and the Spanish border produce port wine and some of Portugal’s finest table wines. The most scenic route runs along the southern bank of the river — stop at quintas (wine estates) for tastings and stay overnight in Pinhão to watch the sunrise over the valley from the quinta terrace.
Eat a Pastel de Nata in Belém
The original pastel de nata — Portugal’s flaky custard tart — was invented at Pastéis de Belém in Lisbon’s riverside Belém district, and they’ve been making it to the same secret recipe since 1837. Eat it fresh from the oven, dusted with cinnamon and powdered sugar, standing at the marble counter. It costs €1.50 and is one of the great simple pleasures of European travel.
Explore Porto’s Ribeira District
Porto’s riverside quarter — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — is a warren of medieval lanes, azulejo-tiled church facades, and restaurants serving bacalhau (salted cod) in 365 different preparations. Cross the iconic iron Dom Luís I bridge on foot for views back over the tiled roofscape. Book a wine lodge tour in Vila Nova de Gaia across the river to understand why port wine is what it is.
Walk the Alentejo Plains
The vast, largely empty interior of Portugal — rolling cork oak plains, whitewashed villages, Alentejo wine country, and prehistoric standing stone circles — is where the country reveals itself most quietly. Évora’s Roman temple and medieval city walls are UNESCO-listed. The wine here (particularly the Reguengos and Vidigueira regions) is excellent and priced at a fraction of what you’d pay in Porto or Lisbon.
Travel Guides for Portugal
5 Travel Tips for Portugal
Buy a Lisboa Card for the City
The Lisboa Card gives unlimited access to the metro, trams, and buses plus free entry to 38 museums and monuments including the Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower, and the National Coach Museum. A 24-hour card costs €22 and pays for itself quickly. Buy it at the airport arrivals hall or the Lisbon Welcome Centre on Praça do Comércio.
Use the Intercidade Trains Between Cities
Portugal’s intercity rail network is excellent and cheap. Lisbon to Porto takes 3 hours on the Alfa Pendular (€25-35 booked ahead). Lisbon to Faro (Algarve) takes about 2h45. Book on cp.pt at least a week ahead for the best prices and specific seat selection. The scenic Douro Line from Porto to Pocinho is one of Europe’s great train journeys — take it for the views alone.
Learn a Few Words of Portuguese
Portuguese people genuinely appreciate when visitors try even basic phrases. Obrigado/obrigada (thank you), por favor (please), and bom dia (good morning) open doors immediately. Don’t assume everyone speaks Spanish — while they understand it perfectly, most Portuguese prefer not to be spoken to in it. English is widely spoken in Lisbon and Porto but less so in rural areas.
Watch Out for the Cobblestones
Lisbon’s beautiful traditional calçada portuguesa (Portuguese pavement) — intricate patterns of black and white limestone — is slippery when wet and genuinely ankle-challenging in heels or smooth-soled shoes. Wear comfortable, grippy footwear. The hills of Alfama and Mouraria are steep; the trams and funiculars (elevadores) exist precisely because walking straight up some of those streets is very hard work.
Book Accommodation in Porto Early
Porto has seen an explosion in visitor numbers and quality accommodation fills up fast, especially on weekends year-round and throughout summer. The Ribeira waterfront hotels book out 2-3 months ahead for Friday and Saturday nights. If your budget is tight, the Bonfim and Cedofeita neighbourhoods are excellent alternatives within 15 minutes’ walk of all the main attractions.