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Visas & entry
Portugal is in the Schengen Area. Citizens of the US, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand and many other visa-exempt countries can generally visit for up to 90 days in any 180-day period across all Schengen countries; visa-required travelers need a Schengen short-stay visa via their main destination. Passports generally must be issued within the previous 10 years and valid at least three months beyond Schengen departure; verify current ETIAS requirements and do not use third-party ETIAS agents.
Getting in
- Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport: The default international gateway and the most useful arrival point for a first mainland trip; it also has domestic links to Porto, Faro, Madeira and the Azores.
- Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, Porto: Best for northern Portugal, the Douro and open-jaw itineraries that depart from Lisbon or Faro.
- Faro Airport: The practical gateway for an Algarve-first or beach-only trip; service is heavily leisure-oriented.
- Madeira Airport, Funchal: Madeira’s gateway; use it for an island-first trip rather than treating the island as a day-trip extension.
- João Paulo II Airport, Ponta Delgada: The Azores’ principal gateway and regional hub, especially for São Miguel.
Getting around
Use CP trains for the Lisbon–Porto spine, Coimbra, and Lisbon–Faro: they are the sensible option between major mainland cities. Rent a car for Alentejo, rural Algarve, Douro backroads, Minho beyond the cities, Madeira and São Miguel; expect tolls, narrow streets and poor historic-center parking, so do not keep one in Lisbon or Porto. Fly for mainland-to-island travel; Lisbon–Porto is usually slower by air once airport time is counted.
Money
Portugal uses the euro. Visa and Mastercard, contactless payments and Multibanco ATMs are widespread, but carry cash for small cafés, markets, rural businesses and parking. Tipping is modest rather than compulsory: round up small bills and leave about 5–10% for notably good restaurant service if no service charge is included.
Book before you land
Pena Palace interior, Sintra — timed entry; book a date and time once plans are firm, especially April–October. · Madeira classified hiking trails requiring reservations — reserve the specific route in advance and re-check trail status immediately before hiking.
- Ask for the bill; it is not always brought automatically: “A conta, se faz favor.”
- Do not drive into central Lisbon or Porto just to have a car in a garage; use metro, trams, walking and trains instead.
- Tram 28 is crowded transport theater, not an efficient sightseeing strategy.
- Allow for municipal accommodation taxes, notably Lisbon and Porto, which may be added to the hotel bill.
- Expect one or two weekly restaurant closing days in smaller towns; in summer resort towns have the opposite problem, with too few tables for demand.
- Never drive after a long Douro tasting lunch, and do not underestimate heat or road time in rural Portugal.
Entry rules change — verify visa requirements for your passport before booking this country.