Portugal Travel Guide


The latest travel Information on Portugal, includes ideas on Things to See and Do, Local Events, Consulate & Embassy Contact Addresses and much more, all from a first-time visitors point of view.

Portugal Information

Overview

Once maligned as ‘The sick man of Europe’, modern Portugal, one of Europe’s unspoilt tourism jewels, is booming. Portugal’s rich and turbulent history shaped the country, from the 15th- and 16th-century days of discovery, to the autocratic leadership of Estado Novo (New State) from 1932 to 1974. 

Portugal contains enough World Heritage Sites, natural and cultural wonders to keep any visitor busy for a long time. It is a country of astonishing diversity, idyllic weather and welcoming people. Not to mention picture-postcard scenery with a rugged windswept coastline, pristine beaches where fishermen mend their nets beside brightly painted sardine boats, cobbled streets, dazzling whitewashed houses and fairytale castles.

Portugal is a land of infinite options from mingling with the crowds in one of the more sophisticated beach resorts to wandering through the medieval quarters of historic cities like Lisbon, Porto, Braga or Coimbra. To explore the more remote beauty spots, stay overnight in a romantic pousada - a converted farm, monastery or manor house enjoying a wonderful setting.

When it comes to sporting holidays Portugal is one of Europe’s premier golfing destinations while the tennis schools are second-to-none. Big game fishing, horse riding, windsurfing and waterskiing are just some of the other activities on hand. Other unmissable experiences include Fado (Portugal’s answer to soul music), country fairs where centuries-old folk traditions are lovingly re-enacted, port wine tastings and mouth-watering fish suppers.

Author

Christopher Rice


Top Things To See

 Take in sweeping vistas of Lisbon and the River Tagus (Tio Tejo) estuary on a walk around the hilly capital. Ascend the highest of the seven hills surrounding the city and discover the magnificent 12th-century Castle of St George. 

 Get close to the sharks in Europe’s largest oceanarium, enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the Tagus from the cable car and check out the Knowledge Pavilion at the Park of Nations, 5km (3.5 miles) east of Lisbon (website: www.parquedasnacoes.pt).  

 Explore Lisbon’s riverside suburb of Belém from where Vasco da Gama set sail in the 15th and 16th centuries. Its must-see attractions are the striking Torre de Belém and the Monastery of the Hieronymites, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and the 
new Berardo Collection (website: www.berardocollection.com) modern art gallery.

 Experience the magic of Sintra (also a World Heritage Site), a mountain town full of palaces 25km (15 miles) from Lisbon. Do not miss the former summer residence of the Portuguese royal family and the beautiful Monserrate gardens.  

 Strike out west from Sintra to the lighthouse at Cabo da Roca and watch the wave pound the rocks below at the most westerly point in Europe.

 Head inland and discover Évora, a virtual museum of a town that reached its golden age in the 15th century, when it became the residence of the Portuguese kings. Its monuments had a profound influence on Portuguese architecture in Brazil.

 Travel north to the Monastery of Batalha (Mosteiro de Santa Maria), another World Heritage Site which was built to commemorate the victory of King João I over a Castilian army in 1385, and marvel at its Portuguese gothic and Manueline architecture.

 Visit the nearby Monastery of Santa Maria d’Alcobaça (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), which was founded in the 12th century by King Alfonso I, and be rewarded by a masterpiece of Cistercian gothic art.

 Explore intriguing medieval history at the Knights Templar castle in Tomar; the Convent of the Order of Christ at the heart of the castle complex is one of Portugal’s premier artistic and historical structures and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Peel back layers of history walking around Porto’s UNESCO World Heritage listed old core taking in the Stock Exchange Palace, the Romanesque-gothic Cathedral, the Romanesque church of Cedofeita, the baroque Clérigos tower and the vibrant Cais da Ribeira (old waterfront) (website: www.portoturismo.pt).

 Head northeast to Portugal’s medieval capital, Guimarães. This exceptionally well-preserved and authentic example of the evolution of a medieval settlement into a modern town boasts a fine castle and the former palace of the Dukes of Bragança (website: www.guimaraesturismo.com).

 See an exceptional concentration of rock carvings from the Upper Palaeolithic period (22,000-10,000BC) at the Côa Valley Archaeological Park, esteemed by UNESCO as the most outstanding example of early human artistic activity in this form anywhere in the world (website: www.ipa.min-cultura.pt/coa).

Soak up Portuguese culture in the charming town of Coimbra, home to one of Europe’s oldest universities, the old Romanesque cathedral (Se Velha), Jesuit cathedral (Se Nova) and the gothic church and final resting place of Portugal’s first king (Santa Cruz). 

 Discover one of the Algarve’s oldest and least spoiled towns. Constructed on the banks of the River Gilhao the picture-postcard settlement of Tavira boasts an arcaded town hall, seven-arched Roman bridge, old fortifications and an island beach. 

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.


Top Things To Do

 Soak up the sun or take a dip in the warm Mediterranean Sea from one of the myriad sandy beaches of the Algarve (website: www.visitalgarve.pt).

 Don a snorkel mask, hoist a sail or have a go at windsurfing or waterskiing from watersports centres dotted along the coast. Dive beneath the surface and uncover Portugal’s marine life. Contact the Portuguese Federation for Underwater Activities for more information (website: www.fpas.pt).

 Head for deep waters and cast a line out at sea for a chance of catching big-game fish like blue marlin. Big-game fishing is especially popular along the Algarve coast.

 Fall under the spell of the melancholy Fado music, Portugal’s best-known traditional musical form, at the atmospheric bars and clubs of Lisbon ’s Alfama or Bairro Alto (Upper Town) neighbourhoods.

Visit the port houses of Porto or Gaia for the country’s best port wine tasting. The vine district of Alto Douro is a UNESCO World Heritage Site on account of centuries of viticulture that have produced a cultural landscape of outstanding beauty. 

 Absorb the spirituality of the shrine at Fátima, which has been an important centre of Roman Catholic pilgrimage since 1917 when the Virgin Mary appeared to a group of children. Experience the torchlight processions of 13 May and 13 October.

 Cruise along the canals of the wetlands around Rio de Aveiro aboard a traditional Portuguese moliceiros (gondola-like sailing barge), or go boating in the Douro Valley.

Hike, climb or canoe in the Peneda-Gerês, Portugal’s only national park, comprising 70,000 hectares (170,000 acres) of mountainous countryside near the Spanish border, to really appreciate the extraordinary diversity of its climate, environment and scenery (website: www.geira.pt/pnpg/index.html).

 Play a round of golf on the championship golf courses in the south of the country (there are 19 in the Algarve alone), or tee off at one of the country’s oldest golf clubs, Quinta de Marinha in Estoril.

Attend a car or motorcycle race at the world famous Estoril racetrack, which is located a short distance from Lisbon, on Portugal’s Atlantic coast (website: www.circuito-estoril.pt). 

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.


Going Out

Food and Drink

Seafood is popular, especially in Lisbon. Soup is a main dish. Portugal’s sweet pastries are also worth a try.

Things to know: Table service is normal. There are no licensing hours.

National specialities:
• Sopa de marisco (shellfish soup cooked and served with wine).
• Caldo verde (green soup made with finely shredded green kale leaves in broth).
• Bacalhau (dried cod, cooked in over 100 different ways).
• Caldeirada is a fish stew with as many as nine kinds of fish, cooked with onions and tomatoes.
• Carne de porco á Alentejana, in which bits of fried pork are covered with a sauce of clams stewed with tomato and onions.
• Puddings include arroz doce (rice pudding), Madeira pudding and nuvens (egg custard).

National drinks:
• Portuguese wines have changed beyond recognition over the past 10 years. Many of these new, modern wines are indigenous varieties with distinctive flavours. Sparkling rosé wines are mostly produced for export.
• Mateus Rosé is a famous lightweight rosé.
• Portuguese brandies are also good; the best are produced around Porto, where port wines originate.

Legal drinking age: 18.

Tipping: Generally 10-15%.

Nightlife

The large towns offer every kind of entertainment. There are many nightclubs, theatres, cinemas, stage shows, folk dancing and music performances. The traditional Fado can be heard in many restaurants, and performances begin at about 2200. Gambling is authorised and Espinho, Estoril, Figueira da Foz and Monte Gordo have casinos. The elegant Estoril Casino is the most renowned.

Shopping

Items include leather goods, copper, ceramics, handcrafted silver and gold, embroidery and tapestry, woodcarving, cork products, porcelain and china, crystal and glassware.

Shopping hours: Generally Mon-Fri 0900-1900, Sat 0900-1300. Shopping centres are usually open Mon-Sun 1000-0000.


Climate

The northwest has mild winters with high levels of rainfall and fairly short summers. The northeast has longer winters and hot summers. In the south, summers (March to October) are warm with very little rain except in early spring and autumn. High temperatures are moderated by a permanent breeze in Estoril (July to August).

Required Clothing

Light- to mediumweights and rainwear are advised.


Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2008-December 2009 period.

2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
5 Feb Mardi Gras (Carnival).  
21-24 Mar Easter.
25 Apr Freedom Day.
1 May Labour Day. 
22 May Corpus Christi.
10 Jun Portugal Day.
15 Aug Assumption.
5 Oct Republic Day.
1 Nov All Saints’ Day.
1 Dec Restoration of Independence Day.
8 Dec Immaculate Conception.
25 Dec Christmas Day.

2009
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
24 Feb Mardi Gras (Carnival).  
10-13 Apr Easter.
25 Apr Freedom Day.
1 May Labour Day. 
10 Jun Portugal Day.
11 Jun Corpus Christi.
15 Aug Assumption.
5 Oct Republic Day.
1 Nov All Saints’ Day.
1 Dec Restoration of Independence Day.
8 Dec Immaculate Conception.
25 Dec Christmas Day.

Note

Holidays falling on a Saturday or Sunday are not observed on the following Monday.


Health

Diphtheria

Special Precaution: No

Hepatitis A

Special Precaution: Sometimes

Malaria

Special Precaution: No

Rabies

Special Precaution: No

Tetanus

Special Precaution: Yes

Typhoid

Special Precaution: No

Yellow Fever

Special Precaution: No

Health Care

If suddenly taken ill or involved in an accident during a visit to an EEA country or Switzerland, free or reduced-cost necessary treatment is available for European travellers - in most cases on production of a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Comprehensive insurance is advised for all other nationals.

Further Health Information

We advise you to check health requirements for the country you are traveling to with your GP, practice nurse or travel health clinic as health requirements and vaccinations can change at short notice.

Money

Currency

Euro (EUR; symbol €) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of €2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.

Currency Exchange

Many banks offer differing exchange rates depending on the denominations of Portuguese currency being bought or sold. It is common practice for banks to charge 0.5% commission with a minimum charge of approximately €10. However, some banks do not charge any commission on transactions of less than €25. Check with banks for details and current rates. Additionally, ATMs, identified by the symbol MB (MultiBanco), are increasingly being installed and tend to be more efficient and only charge 2% commission. There are also many bureaux de change.

Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs

American Express, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted.

Traveller's Cheques

These are readily exchanged. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller’s cheques in Euros.

Banking Hours

Generally, Mon-Fri 0830-1500 (certain banks in Lisbon are open until 1800).


Passport/Visa

British

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: No

Australian

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: No

Canadian

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: No

USA

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: No

Other EU

Passport Required: 1
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: No

Passport Note

(a) Sufficient funds are required for all except EU nationals. (b) Portugal is a signatory to the 1995 Schengen Agreement.

Passports

Passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay required by all nationals referred to in the chart above except:
1. EU nationals holding a valid national ID card.

Visas

Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above for touristic stays of up to 90 days.

Visa Note

Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy/consulate to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).


Contact Addresses

Embassy of the Portuguese Republic in the UK

11 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PP, UK
Tel: (020) 7235 5331.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1300 and 1400-1730.

Portuguese Consulate General in the UK

3 Portland Place, London W1B 1HR, UK
Tel: (020) 7291 3770 or 09065 508 948 (recorded visa information; calls cost £1 per minute).
Website: www.secomunidades.pt/londres
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1330, appointment only (closed UK and Portuguese public holidays).

Portuguese National Tourist Office in the UK

Portuguese Embassy, 11 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PP, UK
Tel: 0845 355 1212 (brochure request and information service; local call rate).
Website: www.visitportugal.com

Embassy of the Portuguese Republic in the USA

2012 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036, USA
Tel: (202) 328 8610. 

Portuguese Trade and Tourism Office in the USA

590 Fifth Avenue, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10036, USA
Tel: (646) 723 0200/99.
Website: www.visitportugal.com 


Travel Advice

Warning

Most visits to Portugal are trouble-free.

The organisers of the Paris-Dakar Rally 2008 have cancelled this year’s event due to security concerns.

Travellers should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate international terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.

Travellers should be aware of serious outbreaks of forest fires in summer and take every care during their visit to rural areas.

This advice is based on information provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK. It is correct at time of publishing. As the situation can change rapidly, visitors are advised to contact the following organisations for the latest travel advice:

British Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Tel: 0845 850 2829.
Website: www.fco.gov.uk

US Department of State
Website: http://travel.state.gov/travel




Disclaimer
We've tried to make the information on this page as accurate as possible, but it is provided 'as is' and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information. You should verify critical information with the relevant authorities before you travel.