Portugal is a country in southwestern Europe, on the western side of the Iberian Peninsula. The capital is Lisbon, and Porto is another major city. Portugal is adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean and borders the Mediterranean Sea. It is known for its geographic diversity, historical heritage, beautiful coastline, and delicious food.
1. Portugal Quick Facts
Language Portuguese
Religion Christianity
Currency EURO (€, EUR)
Visa Free 90 day visa-free stay upon visit. Schengen Agreement member country
Power Plugs 220 V 50 Hz (C,F Type)
Capital Lisbon
ATM you can withdraw local currency directly from an ATM.
Use card
There is no major inconvenience in using the card. However, there are markets and some stores that only accept cash, so it is a good idea to have cash ready.
APP
Google Maps
TravelWallet
carris
2. Packing for your trip
Air plain Ticket
Dollar Flight Club has made it easier and cheaper to buy flights to the Airport.
SIM card
Airalo is the world’s first eSIM store that solves the pain of high roaming bills by giving you access to 200+ eSIMs (digital SIM cards) globally at affordable prices.
New member one-time use 15% discount coupon
10% discount coupon for multiple use by all members.
Pacsafe Pro safe 800 Luggage Lock
Good protection against snatchers or impulse thieves.
Universal Power Adapter
One of the most essential but most forgotten items in your travel gear? A power adapter!
Travel insurance
Prepare for risky situations Travel insurance can be a big help in the event of an emergency
GoPro HERO11
If you want to capture your own memories of your travels, GoPro is the way to go. It’s small, has great image quality, and is easy to carry around
3. Transportation
3-1.Lisbon
Public transportation in Lisbon includes buses ( € 1.5 for a single ticket), metro (€ 2 for a single ticket), trams (€ 3), urban railways, and funiculars (€ 3.8 round trip).
VIVA Viagem (transportation card deposit is 0.5 euros)
Single travel ticket (Bilhete único de viagem): Available for bus/tram/funicular single ticket for €1.35, metro single ticket for € 1.33, Sintra/Fuquagot/Cascais train for €1.90.
24-Hour Ticket (Bilhete 24 horas): € 6.40 for 24 hours of free travel on buses, metros, trams, and the Santa Justa elevator.
Advance purchase tickets (Bilhetes Pré-comprados): 5 or 10 rides on any type of public transportation where the card is valid.
Lisboa card Lisboa card
Free travel on public transportation (metro, buses, trams) in Lisbon and free or discounted admission to 80 tourist attractions.
24 hours: € 21
48 hours: € 35
72 hours: € 44
3-2. Porto
ANDANTE Transportation Card (0.60 euro deposit)
Porto tourist destinations cost 1.30 euros one way between Z2.
Porto Airport is 2 euros one way between Z4.
Taxi
Taxis are inexpensive, so you may want to use them occasionally to get up the hills.
Uber
Uber prices in Lisbon are incomparably cheap compared to taxis, and even cheaper compared to the rest of Europe. (You can get from the airport to downtown for around 10 euros).
Rent a car: Renting a car is a great way to add variety and depth to your European travels.
4. Safety
It is safer than the rest of Europe. There is a lot of police presence around the tourist areas and a lot of effort is made to keep things safe. Aside from alleyways and squalor, it’s not too dangerous to wander around late at night, but be aware that the influx of tourists has also attracted pickpockets.
Useful phone numbers for tourists
General emergency phone number: 112
5. Climate
Average daily temperatures in Portugal range from 8°C(46°F) to 18°C(64°F) in winter and 16°C(61°F) to 30°C(86°F) in summer.
The climate varies from region to region due to the influence of the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Spanish Highlands and Sahara Desert.
In the north, where Porto is located, there is more precipitation and lower average annual temperatures, and the further inland you go, the more varied the weather. South of Lisbon, the climate is Mediterranean, with long, hot summers and short, mild winters.
Overall, winters are short and mild, springs are long, and summers are dry, slightly hot, and pleasant, so while there are four seasons, they are not clearly defined and are generally mild.
6. price
The cost of living is low compared to the rest of Western Europe. Even typical restaurants are 20-30% cheaper than in the rest of Western Europe.
Gasoline (1 liter) € 1.90
McDonald’s Combo Meal: € 7.00
Water (1.5 liters): € 0.57
Milk (1 liter) € 0.77
7. Travel precautions
Compared to other European countries, there are more free toilets in shopping malls.
Many people smoke on the streets and many people smoke indoors, such as in restaurants and cafes.
Compared to other countries in Europe, there are many free restrooms in shopping malls.
8. Etiquette & Service Tip
Portuguese gratitude is ingrained in their culture. If you’re being served in a restaurant or cafe, don’t forget to say a simple thank you.
Tip
Tip is not mandatory, and it is customary to tip 5-10% of the bill if you are satisfied.
9. Holidays
The following are the national public holidays for 2024:
1 Jan Mon New Year’s Day
29 Mar Fri Good Friday
31 Mar Sun Easter Sunday
25 Apr Thu Liberation Day
1 May Wed Labour Day
30 May Thu Corpus Christi
10 Jun Mon National Day
15 Aug Thu Assumption Day
5 Oct Sat Republic Day
1 Nov Fri All Saints’ Day
1 Dec Sun Independence Restoration Day
8 Dec Sun Immaculate Conception
25 Dec Wed Christmas Day
2025 National Public Holidays:
Wednesday, 1 January : New Year’s Day
Friday, 18 April : Good Friday
Sunday, 20 April : Easter Sunday
Friday, 25 April : Liberation Day
Thursday, 1 May : Labour Day
Tuesday, 10 June : National Day
Thursday, 19 June : Corpus Christi
Friday, 15 August : Assumption Day
Sunday, 5 October : Republic Day
Saturday, 1 November : All Saints’ Day
Monday, 1 December: Independence Restoration Day
Monday, 8 December: Immaculate Conception
Thursday, 25 December: Christmas Day