Portugal

There are 21 UNESCO World Heritage Sites to choose from in Portugal including the Convent of Christ in Tomar and the beautiful Monastery of the Hieronymites. Overall, I found that the finest Portuguese historical architecture was in Lisbon, Sintra and Porto. All three cities had medieval town centers, castles and historical churches. Portugal is also an amazing country to enjoy fresh seafood from the coast. I hope this short summery of Portugal will help you plan your next trip.

Best Time to Visit

Portugal is best enjoyed in spring (March–May), when the country is in bloom or in the autumn (September–October), when the sun is still shining but there is less of the summer crowd (June–August) can get very hot, particularly in central Portugal and is not an ideal time to go.

Food

Surrounded by beautiful coastline, Portugal has cultivated a culinary practice that takes advantage of the fresh fish caught off its shores. In general, Portuguese cuisine places emphasis on the freshest ingredients and embraces meat, seafood and fresh fish. Three popular dishes to try when in Portugal is Bacalhau which is Codfish which is traditionally served with onions chips and olives. Second dish is Cataplana which is a seafood stew served with rice or chips. The final dish to try is Caldo Verde which is a Portuguese soup made with smoked sausage, potatoes, collard greens and olive oil.

Transportation

Air: Portugal has three international airports they are in Lisbon, Faro and Porto. Airlines such as Portugália Airlines and TAP Air Portugal operate flights from within and outside Portugal. There are also many budget airlines like EasyJet that fly directly to Portugal from London.

Roads: The roads in Portugal are paved and well maintained. There are also electronic tolls which you pay for in advanced. Drivers drive on the right-hand side of the road.

Rail: There are metro services in two cities in Portugal, Lisbon and Porto, both networks are clean, modern safe and efficient. Portugal also has a large network of trains connecting all the major cities in the country. There is also an international train service from Portugal to Spain which takes 11 hours.

Taxi: Most taxis are beige in Portugal, although there are still a few green or black taxis. All taxis are metered, and drivers will charge you more if you have luggage. Uber is available in most large cities.

Ferry: A few tour operators operate ferry services at different ports around Portugal. In Lisbon There are five ferry routes, but the best one for tourists wanting to take in the views are Cais do Sodre in Lisbon.

Bus: Getting around major cities by bus is quite easy, in Lisbon there are 78 bus lines, 5 tram lines and 4 elevators to carry you up hills. There are also coach services running between all major cities and long-distance coaches that run services to and from Spain

Visa

Visas are not required for all E.U, U.S, Canadian and Australian nationals for stays of up to 90days over a 6month period.

Language

The official language spoken in Portugal is Portuguese. However, English is also widely spoken.

Money

The official currency in Portugal is the Euro (EUR). ATMs accept all major credit and debit cards. Credit cards are also accepted at some sit-down restaurants and most bars and bus stations. Be aware that foreign cards usually incur charges.

Tipping

In restaurants, a tip between 5% to 10% would be expected for good service. For taxi drivers, you can round up your fare to the nearest euro.

Social etiquette

The predominant religion in Portugal is Roman Catholic. Smoking is banned in all enclosed public spaces, if you caught smoking, you could pay a fine of €70.There are specially designated areas in bars and restaurants for smokers.

Adaptor

There is one plug associated with Portugal the standard Type F plug with the two-pins

Wi-Fi

There are many Internet cafes throughout Portugal, most hotels and restaurants provide free Wi-Fi also.

Things to do and see

1. Alfama District: Is a popular district in Lisbon with a maze of narrow streets and historical houses and buildings. Alfama District is best explored by foot, each plaza, has its own wonderful viewpoint.

 

2. The Algarve: Is in Portugal’s Southern coast and well known for its jagged cliffs, sandy beaches and golf courses.

3. The Douro Valley’s: Can be explored on a day trip from Porto which includes a boat ride on the Douro river. The Douro valleys are covered with beautiful A great place for wine tasting and sampling some great Portuguese sea food.

4. Benagil Caves: Can be visited from Portimao. Most tours will take you on a small boat to travel into the caves where you will discover natural rock formations. When visiting the Benagil caves you will also be able to enjoy the unique beaches forming around the caves.