Five Quick Facts About Travelling In Portugal

1. Portugal is a safe country to travel in with a low crime rate however do apply common sense when travelling.
2. Portugal has a train network servicing the coastal towns and a reasonably good bus system to get around the country.  It is important to understand while a relatively small country Portugal has large areas that are sparsely populated and remote and as such if travelling on PT you will need to have a bit of a plan. If you are wanting to explore the Portuguese interior hiring a car might be the best idea. See Getting Around Tab for more information
3. English is spoken in main cities and tourist areas however inland and in less populated areas English is not as common. As always it is polite to learn a few basic works of the language.
4. Portugal is part of the Schengen Visa Area. See the Visa Tab for further details.
5. Health in Portugal is good so by exercising a normal hygiene regime, staying away from stray animals and eating well the risk to health while travelling in Portugal is low (although always have travel insurance just in case).

Portugal is a great place to travel to at any time of the year. Here is a guide to the different seasons and times of year.

High Season (July & August)

• The weather is hot.
• The Algarve and beach areas are heaving with people.
• Prices increase for accommodation.

Shoulder Season (April to June & September to November)

• Milder weather
• Wildflowers are in bloom in spring.
• Busy but less crowded.

Low Season (November to March)

• Cold rainy weather with freezing temperatures in the mountains.
• Fewer people around and no crowds.
• Some attractions are open shorter hours or are closed.

Portugal Currency

The currency in Portugal is the Euro which is the currency of the 24 other EU member states plus Andorra, Kosovo, Monarco, Montenegro, San Marino and the Vatican.

ATMs can be found throughout Portugal. It is advisable to always carry a small amount of cash as no all eftpos maching accept foreign cards.

Portugal Visa Policy

Portugal is part of the Schengen Area Visa Policy.

Nationals / Citizens from Schengen States have right of movement and entry without a visa but will need a passport as proof of identity.

The policy applies to the Schengen Area which is 22 E.U member states and 4 non E.U states which are part of the EFTA – Iceland, Liechenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia and Romania are not part of the Schengen Area but have visa policies based on Schengen acquis.

Schengen Visa Policy Map

Schengen Area Map

Source: Wikipedia

Train

Portugal has a limited train network. Areas around Lisbon and Porto have good services and the coast is serviced by a high speed train as shown in the below photo.

Trains also run from Lisbon and Porto to Spain.

Portugal Train Route

Bus

The main intercity bus company is Rede Expresso which has buses running between main towns and cities and into more remote villages.

What To Pack In Portugal

Packing List

Clothing

1 pair jeans – I know they are heavy and take ages to dry but I wear them constantly and find them comfortable
1 pair black travel type pants – Black pants are little smarter than jeans so good if going somewhere a little dressier. Mine is the lightweight fabric in the style of jean,
2 x pair of shorts. 1 denim and one lightweight travel fabric
2 x singlets – good for layering and sleeping in
4 x short sleeve cotton shirts, lightweight and breathable
1 x long sleeve sloppy joe.
1 x zip-up shell jacket
1 x lightweight raincoat – packable version that packs down into a small bag.
5 x socks
5 x underpants
2 x bras

Shoes

1 x pair walking or hiking shoes.
1 x pair slip on flats
1 x pair flip flops (great for hostel showers)

Toiletries
Shampoo & Conditioner
Bar of Soap
Deodorant
Razor
Tweezers
Brush / Comb
Hair Ties

Electronics

1 x Earbud headphones.Light and small,
1 x IPad
1 x 6S iPhone
Charging leads for above
2 x USB
1 x power bank
1 x Cable organiser which keeps everything tidy
1 x 14” laptop – we run a business so this is essential for us.

Photography

This year I have left behind my DSLR and lenses to travel only with a GoPro and a LUMIX TZ80. At the end of the day it came down to weight when travelling a long way and having to carry a pack – so let’s see how we go….

1 x GoPro Hero 5
2 x Spare GoPro Batteries
1 x LUMIX TZ80
Spare micro SD Cards

Other Stuff

1 x padlock
1 x headlight or torch
1 x Swiss knife
1 x medical kit
Ziplock bags