Portugal
Europe · not on the board yet
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Votes for PortugalThe short answer
April to June is the sweet spot. Warm, green, and before the summer prices arrive.
Lisbon and the Algarve are not the whole country. The Douro valley, Porto and the Alentejo are quieter, cheaper and arguably better.
When to go
Best months: Apr to Jun, Sep to Oct
What a day costs
Per person, not counting flights.
- Hostel bed$25
- Pastelaria and set lunches$15
- Trams and trains$15
- Guesthouse$70
- Eating out$40
- Trains and tickets$15
- Boutique hotel$160
- Restaurants and wine$65
- Car and tours$35
What your whole trip would cost
1 vote = $1 US Dollar, charged by Stripe. No prizes, no refunds.
Votes for PortugalHow far it is
- New York to Lisbon6h 50m
- London to Lisbon2h 45m
- Dubai to Lisbon8h 25m
- Getting aroundCheap trains along the coast, a car for the wine country
- When to avoidThe Algarve in August, when it fills up and doubles in price
Nonstop times from a few big hubs, to give you a sense of the distance. We have no idea which airport you are actually leaving from. Fares move weekly, so we leave those out.
When you land
- Airport to townThe red metro line runs from the airport into the centre in about 25 minutes. Buy a Navegante card and use it for everything.
- Cash or cardCards nearly everywhere. Withdraw from Multibanco machines rather than the yellow Euronet ones, which charge.
- Getting onlinePrepaid from MEO or Vodafone in town is cheap and quick.
- What catches people outThe bread, olives and cheese put on your table are not free. Wave them away if you do not want them.
What not to miss in Portugal
- Lisbon on foot, uphillThe tram queues are long and the walk is the point. Wear real shoes, the pavement is slippery.
- The Douro valley by trainOne of the great train rides in Europe, and it costs almost nothing.
- Grilled fish in a back streetWhole fish, salt, olive oil, nothing else. The plainest places do it best.
- The Atlantic coast north of LisbonEriceira and Nazare. Cold water, big waves, almost no crowds.
Still deciding?
🧳 Plan your trip to Portugal
Good to know
Curated with 
Nemo
Written and checked by hand. Nothing here about visas or entry rules: those change often and depend on your passport, so check an official source.