Travelling in Portugal
Portugal is a compact Atlantic country where a single trip can combine characterful cities like Lisbon and Porto, terraced vineyards in the Douro Valley, the Algarve coast and the open plains of the Alentejo. Add two volcanic archipelagos, Madeira and the Azores, and a cuisine built on fresh fish and salt cod.
When to go
Spring (March to June) and early autumn (September and October) are ideal: warm days, green countryside or the grape harvest in the Douro, and quieter beaches. In summer the Alentejo and the interior get very hot, while the Algarve is in peak season. The north is wetter in winter. Madeira is mild all year, and the weather in the Azores changes fast, settling best between May and September.
Where to go
Lisbon
A city of hills on the Tagus estuary: the lanes of Alfama and Mouraria, Belém with the Jerónimos Monastery and its tower, the viewpoints of Graça and the Bairro Alto at night. Sintra and Cascais are a short train ride away.
Porto and the Douro Valley
Porto is a walking city of the Ribeira waterfront, Livraria Lello, the azulejos of São Bento station and the port wine lodges of Vila Nova de Gaia. Upriver, the Douro unfolds in terraced vineyards, wine estates and villages like Pinhão.
Algarve
The south coast mixes golden cliffs and coves in the west, around Lagos and Ponta da Piedade, with long beaches and sandy barrier islands in the Ria Formosa near Tavira and Faro. At the far western tip stand Sagres and Cape St Vincent.
Alentejo
Plains of cork oaks and olive trees, whitewashed villages and a slow pace. Évora keeps its Roman temple and walled old town, Monsaraz overlooks the Alqueva reservoir, and the coast offers wild beaches between Vila Nova de Milfontes and Zambujeira do Mar.
Madeira
A volcanic island of green slopes and sea cliffs in the open Atlantic. Funchal is the base for walking the levadas, climbing Pico do Arieiro, swimming in the natural pools of Porto Moniz and trying espetada with a glass of Madeira wine.
The Azores
Nine volcanic islands in the middle of the Atlantic. São Miguel has the crater lakes of Sete Cidades and the hot springs of Furnas; Pico has Portugal's highest mountain and vineyards on black lava; Faial and Flores offer green, little-visited landscapes.
What to do
Petiscos and Portuguese cooking
Food is simple and generous: grilled sardines, bacalhau à brás, seafood rice, caldo verde and pastéis de nata, best warm from the oven in Belém. In Porto, try a francesinha; in the Alentejo, pork with clams and bread with olive oil.
Listen to fado
Fado, a slow, melancholic song accompanied by the Portuguese guitar, is heard in small houses in Alfama, Mouraria and the Bairro Alto in Lisbon. Coimbra has its own tradition, sung by men and closely linked to university life.
Walk the levadas of Madeira
Levadas are old irrigation channels that run through Madeira's mountains, and the paths beside them cross laurel forest, tunnels and ravines. Caldeirão Verde and the 25 Fontes trail are among the best-known walks on the island.
Surf the Atlantic coast
The west coast gets waves almost all year. Ericeira and Peniche have surf schools for beginners and breaks for experienced surfers, the Costa Vicentina is wilder, and in winter you can watch the giant waves of Nazaré from the lighthouse.
Beaches of the Costa Vicentina
Between the Alentejo and the western Algarve, a natural park protects a coast of cliffs and almost undeveloped beaches: Odeceixe, Amado, Arrifana and Bordeira. The water is cold and the sea can be rough, but the scenery is worth it.
Lisbon with children
The Oceanário in Parque das Nações, the cable car along the river, the yellow trams and the gardens of Belém make Lisbon an easy city for families. For beach time, the Cascais train line stops at calm sandy beaches close to town.
Practical tips
- The Atlantic is cold even in summer along the west coast and in the north; the Algarve, especially its eastern half, is noticeably warmer.
- Alfa Pendular trains link Lisbon, Coimbra and Porto comfortably; for the Alentejo, the Douro or the Costa Vicentina, renting a car is far more practical.
- Lisbon and Porto are hilly and paved with Portuguese cobblestones that get slippery in the rain, so bring comfortable shoes with good grip.
- Restaurants often bring bread, olives or cheese when you sit down; they are charged if you eat them, so you can ask for them to be taken away.
- English is widely spoken in cities and tourist areas, but a simple obrigado or obrigada, meaning thank you, is always appreciated.
As a couple, family or with friends
Portugal is easy to plan as a group: Lisbon and Porto for friends, the Algarve or the Cascais coast for families, the Douro and the Alentejo for couples after a slower pace. Wine estates and country houses with several bedrooms work well for groups. In Gata you can save ideas and choose together where to stay at each stop.
Save ideas and stays and decide as a group with the Gata app.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need for Portugal?
With a week you can see Lisbon, Sintra and Porto, or combine Lisbon with the Algarve. With ten days to two weeks you can add the Douro, the Alentejo or the Costa Vicentina. Madeira and the Azores deserve a separate trip of at least five days.
When is the best time to visit Portugal?
Spring and September offer the best balance of good weather and fewer crowds. Summer is ideal for the beach, though the interior is very hot. In winter Lisbon and Madeira remain pleasant, while the north is wetter and greener.
Should you visit Lisbon or Porto?
If you can, see both: they are well connected by train. Lisbon is bigger and more varied, with very different neighbourhoods and easy trips to Sintra and the coast. Porto is more compact, built around the river and its wine lodges, and is the gateway to the Douro Valley.
Do you need a car to travel around Portugal?
Not for Lisbon, Porto or Coimbra: trains and city transport work well and parking is difficult. For the Douro, the Alentejo, the Costa Vicentina and much of the Algarve, a car gives you far more freedom, as it does on Madeira and the Azores.
