Portugal

Exploring Portugal

If miles of spectacular sandy beaches, picturesque landscape, friendly people, and great food combined with an abundance of European culture and history appeals to you, then Portugal should be at the top of your travel list.

Located on the Iberian Peninsula, Portugal is Europe’s Westernmost country.  Although more than 90% Roman Catholic today, it’s historical influence by the Christians, Moors, Romans and Celts is apparent in the architecture, food, and cultural traditions of this compact but proud nation. With its mix of natural terrains, beautiful vistas, lively cities, and charming medieval villages, Portugal has something to offer every kind of traveller.

The temperatures in Portugal are fairly moderate with highs ranging from the mid 50’s in the winter months to the mid 70’s in the summer months.  The rainy season is from October-January. High season for visitors is in July and August so expect crowds if that is when you plan to go. May, June, September and October are less congested and still offer great weather for walking about the cities and towns.

Travelling by train through the country is easy and inexpensive. We like to spend several days in a town or city with day trips to some of the surrounding areas.  We recommend 4-5 days in Porto and 4-5 days in Lisbon.  If you have the time to spend a few extra days in the country it’s worth hoping a train down to the south for some relaxing beach time in one of the many picturesque towns including Praia da Marinha, Lagos and Albuferia.

Portugal is considerably less expensive than its western European neighbors with food and lodging in Lisbon and Porto costing only a fraction of what you would spend in Rome, Paris, or Barcelona. Most major cities in Europe and North America have reasonably priced direct flights to Portugal’s major cities. Portugal’s major airline – TAP Air Portugal – is a good quality and reasonably priced airline offering 2,500 flights weekly to more than 34 countries worldwide. Lisbon or Porto are also great add-on cities for a European vacation.  You could find yourself saving hundreds in airfare by taking advantage of the less expensive flights into one of these Portuguese cities before moving on to another European destination.

Language – Of course, Portuguese is the official and most commonly spoken language in Portugal.  However, English is the second most popular language, which is generally well understood and spoken in most areas visited by tourists such as Porto and Lisbon.  English is now actually taught as a second lanugage in most of the schools and is gaining popularity, in no small part because of English and American films and television.  Spanish and French are also spoken in Portugal, but with somewhat less frequency.

Architecture – Originally introduced by the Moors, occupying Portugal in the middle ages, azulejos – colorful glazed ceramic tiles have become the hallmark of Portuguese architecture.  Covering the facades and interiors of many homes, churches, and public buildings, these tiles usually tell a story of sorts depicting religious or historical events or the origin of the owners.

Black and white limestone and balalt arranged in mosaic patterns on the sidewalks and squares throughout Lisbon, Porto, and other large urban areas are another notable Portuguese feature.  These handcrafted blocks are placed by skilled craftsman and serve as public art as well as a durable necessary element of infrastructure.

Wine, Food & Port – Salt cod is the national dish in Portugal, which has an interesting history considering that cod is not fished in Portugal.  Fracesinha is an interesting and uniquely Portugesue sandwich made with steak, ham, cheese with gravy and an egg on top – a must try if you’re so inclined.  Vinho verde, or “green wine” is a fresh, crisp wine made from young harvest grapes, giving it a greenish tint.  Port wine, one of Portugal’s most famous exports, is a sweet red wine, fortified through by adding additional alcohol.  Port comes in several styles, but the two most popular include a ruby red port, which has more berry and chocolate notes and a tawny colored port, which has tones of caramel and nuts.  Pastel de Nata, a delicious custard tart, are a universally favorite sweet treat, that originated long ago from the excess of egg yolks available after egg whites were used to starch clothing.

Entertainment – Originating in Lisbon in the early 1800’s, Fado music is a unique, melancholy form of singing that must be experienced live in a restaurant or café to be fully appreciated. The expressive soulful sound of Fado depicts the realities and hardships of daily Portuguese life. One does not need to understand Portuguese to feel the sense of struggle and longing the music and songs express. The traditional fado singer is dressed in dark colors and is usually accompanied by one or two guitarists.

What to Know Before You Go

Like most of Europe, Portuguese locals usually enjoy a long 2-3 hour lingering lunch between 12-3. This is often the biggest meal of the day.  Locally owned shops and businesses are often closed during this time. Late night shopping and dining are common in urban areas.  Restaurants, cafes and bakeries are often open until 11pm and some as late as 2am. In touristy areas, you can get a meal just about any time as many restaurants cater to the needs of visitors.

Currency – Portugal uses the Euro as its currency.  Follow this link for current exchange rates.  If you are traveling from a country that does not use the euro, look for a good currency exchange institution in your area and exchange some money in advance. We recommend having 200 hundred euros or so before entering the country.  Twenty-four-hour ATM machines, called Multibanco, are plentiful in Portugal in larger cities as well as small towns.  Most ATM’s have a limit of 200 euros per withdraw with a maximum of 400 euros per day. The fees vary per establishment usually ranging from 3-5 euros per transaction.

Major credit cards are accepted in most places throughout the country, but it is always a good idea to have some cash on hand just in case.  Check with your credit company in advance to see what exchange rate they offer and what fees they charge if any.

Tipping – Although not mandatory and seen as a reflection of the service provided, tipping 5-10% in restaurants is appreciated as salaries in this industry are quite low. It is not necessary to tip for a coffee/ expresso or other beverages ordered in a café but leaving a small bit of change is common if you are happy with the service.

Tipping tour guides if you are extremely satisfied with the service is customary.  Usually, 20 euros for a day trip from foreigners is typical.  For shorter 2-3-hour group tours, 10 euros is appreciated, more if it is a private tour. Multi-day trips, 50 euros or more is normal depending on the length of the trip and the satisfaction of the service provided.

Electricity – The Portuguese electrical grid uses 230 volt power with a standard frequency of 50 Hz.  The outlets used in Portugal are known as “type F”.  Be sure to check the compatibility of your devices that you plan to use while in Portugal to ensure that they can accommodate 230 V and 50 Hz.  You may also require an outlet adapter to ensure that you can plug in your devices.  More information can be found in our “Shedding Some Light on Electricity” post.

Transportation – Portugal has a safe reliable and affordable public transportation system including planes, trains, trams, metros, taxis, and Uber. Renting a car is an option but not necessary unless you plan to explore less populated rural areas. Driving and parking in urban areas can be challenging and create unnecessary stress on travelers. Most locals who work in the public transportation industry speak English and are friendly and helpful.

Once in the country, traveling from one city to another by train is convenient, comfortable, and typically stress-free. Purchasing tickets in advance is recommended.  Visit Comboios De Portuagal to get your tickets.

When choosing your accommodations within the city or town you are visiting, always look at a map to see where the areas of interest are.  It is worth spending a little extra on your hotel or apartment to be within walking distance of the major attractions.  Walking from place to place is a great way to experience the culture, get the true vibe of the area, and use up those extra calories you consume as you taste some of the delicious traditional pastries. We have found Uber to be very reliable and inexpensive for those times when walking is not an option.

Portugal is a great country to visit, steeped with history and tradition with an abundance of beautiful sights and attractions.  The people are warm and friendly and the weather is generally excellent, with more sunny days than any other European region country.  While the culture is similar to other Western European countries, Portugal has many uniquenesses that make it an excellent stop as you wander your world.