Portugal is a true less known gem of Europe. It surprised us time and again and exceeded all our expectations. If you are planning a trip to Portugal and not sure where to go and how to plan your trip, this guide will help you plan a perfect trip. Find out!
Our first introduction to Portugal was an island hopping trip in the Azores, years before we even started this blog. These little islands hidden in the middle of the Atlantic were still very much undiscovered to the big crowds at that time. It’s one of the most authentic locations we have visited in Europe.
Many years have passed until we finally decided to visit mainland Portugal as well. We booked the flights to Lisbon and made a 10-day road trip through Central Portugal. We were completely blown away! Every town, every village we visited was so lovely and each completely different from another. We never realized that Portugal had so much more to offer than a city break in Lisbon or Porto or a beach vacation in Algarve…
Talking about which. The moment we returned back home from our road trip, we knew we wanted to go back and explore more of Portugal. So we immediately booked the flights for next year and went back again.
This time we decided to visit the island of Madeira. At the same time, we made just a short stopover in Algarve and Alentejo coast. Just long enough to get us planning yet another trip to the region…
Yet a few years later, we traveled back to the Azores and loved it even more than the first time…
In the meantime, we go to Portugal several times a year, and we never want to leave.
It’s safe to say that Portugal truly captured our hearts. It has all of the ingredients for an unforgettable vacation for any type of traveler. Whether you are looking for history, architecture, food, local traditions, or beach and outdoors – Portugal has it all.
Below, you can find an overview of our blog posts about some of our most recent travel experiences in Portugal. It’s not a complete guide to Portugal, but it should give you plenty of ideas about the best places to see and the best things to do in various regions of Portugal. Find out!
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Portugal Travel Tips & Destination Guides
- Best Things to Do in Portugal (Bucket List)
Central Portugal
- Best Towns and Cities in Portugal
- 10 days in Portugal: Trip Itinerary from Lisbon to Porto
- Nazaré Fishermen’s Village
- Portugal with Kids
- Lisbon:
- Best Things to Do in Lisbon
- How to See the Best of Lisbon in One Day
- Sintra:
- Best Things to Do in Sintra
- Sintra Itinerary for 1 to 3 days
Algarve
- Best Things to Do in Algarve (Must-sees)
- Where to Stay in Algarve
- Algarve Travel Tips
- Algarve Itinerary (Perfect for the first trip)
- Best Beaches in Algarve
- Benagil Cave (+ Is Benagil Cave Closed? Recent Updates).
- Seven Hanging Valleys Trail
- Best Places for Kayaking in Algarve
- Towns:
- Best Towns to Visit in Algarve
- Best Things to Do in Sagres
- Best Things to Do in Faro
- Best Things to Do in Tavira
- Alte, Algarve
- Albufeira:
- Best Things to Do in Albufeira
- Best Beaches in Albufeira
- Where to Stay in Albufeira
- Best Restaurants in Albufeira
- Lagos:
- Best Things to Do in Lagos
- Where to Stay in Lagos
- Ponta da Piedade
- Kayaking at Ponta da Piedade
- For families:
- Best Things to Do in Algarve with Kids
- Best Water Parks in Algarve
- Zoomarine Algarve
Madeira
- Best Things to Do in Madeira
- Best Things To Do in Funchal
- Best Hikes in Madeira
- Hidden Gems of Madeira (That Most Tourists Never See)
- Whale and Dolphin Watching in Madeira
- Achadas da Cruz Cable Car – Madeira’s Best Kept Secret
The Azores
- Best Things to Do in São Miguel
- Best Things to Do in Ponta Delgada
- Best Things to Do in Sete Cidades
- Best Things to Do in Furnas
- Where to Stay in São Miguel Island
Plan Your Trip to Portugal
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Portugal depends on what you are planning to do.
For the best weather, sightseeing, as well as beaches, the best time to visit is between May and September. July and August are the peak months, especially at the beaches, and it gets really hot for sightseeing in the cities.
For milder weather for sightseeing, the best time to visit Portugal is in the shoulder season. April-May and September-November are great months for that.
- What it’s like to visit Portugal in April
- What it’s like to visit Algarve in April
- What it’s like to visit Algarve in November
- What it’s like to visit Algarve in December
Good to know: Both – Madeira and the Azores – are year-round destinations with milder weather than in mainland Portugal. In summer, it usually doesn’t get nearly as hot as in Portugal; and in winter, you can expect spring-like temperatures, but also more wind and some rain.
Flying to Portugal
There are many international flight carriers flying directly to Portugal and you can find the best flight deals by searching on the most popular flight comparison sites. There are also many airlines flying to Portugal, so a lot depends on where you are coming from/traveling to.
TIP: If you are looking for flights to Madeira, the Azores, but also for flights to Portugal from abroad, it’s usually best to check the FlyTAP website. TAP Air Portugal is the main airline in the country offering the best selection of flights to all Portuguese destinations.
Also, TAP sometimes has good deals for flights that include a free stopover in Lisbon. We once took advantage of that and could visit two Portuguese destinations in one trip at no extra cost.
Accommodation in Portugal
Accommodation is quite affordable in Portugal, especially outside of the biggest cities and the most popular tourist attractions. There are accommodations for all budgets and it’s quite easy to find good quality for a reasonable price. We always use Booking.com for hotels as well as private rentals in Portugal.
Car Rental in Portugal
Portugal is one of the most affordable countries in Europe for car hire too. Still, it’s best to book in advance or you risk paying a couple of times more, especially if traveling in the high season and booking last minute.
We always use the RentalCars website when renting a car and have often found some amazing deals in Portugal.
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