Portugal has become one of the most recommended first stops in Europe, and for good reason. English is widely spoken in tourist areas, the country is compact, and the food is honest and inexpensive by western European standards. None of that means it runs itself. The details below are the ones that trip up first-time visitors most often.
Money and cost of living
Portugal uses the euro, and cards are accepted almost everywhere, including small cafes and taxis. Carry a modest amount of cash for markets, some bakeries, and the odd rural guesthouse that still prefers it. Contactless withdrawal fees vary by bank, so check your card's foreign transaction terms before you leave. Prices for meals and transport remain noticeably lower than in France, the UK, or the Netherlands, though Lisbon and Porto city centres have caught up in recent years.
Getting around the country
The train network connects the major cities well: Lisbon to Porto takes about three hours, and both cities connect to smaller towns via regional lines. Buy tickets in advance for the intercity Alfa Pendular service during peak weekends, since seats do sell out. For the Algarve coast or the Douro valley, a rental car is genuinely useful, since bus schedules thin out considerably once you leave the main routes.
- CP is the national rail operator; book online for the fastest fares
- Renting a car requires an international permit for some nationalities, check before you fly
- Lisbon and Porto both have compact, walkable centres where a car is a liability, not an asset
Weather and when to go
March through June and September through October give you warm days without the July and August crowds or heat. Summer in the Alentejo and the Algarve is genuinely hot, often past 35 degrees inland, and popular coastal towns fill up completely. Winter is mild by northern European standards, rarely freezing on the coast, but short days and the occasional stretch of rain cut into sightseeing time.
Food and dining customs
The bread, olives, and small dishes placed on your table when you sit down are not free, and you can decline them without offence. Lunch is typically the larger meal for locals, often taken between noon and two, and many family-run restaurants close for a few hours in the afternoon. Seafood is priced by weight in many places, so ask for the price before ordering anything unfamiliar looking.
Etiquette and everyday manners
A polite greeting when entering a small shop, bom dia or boa tarde, goes further than most guidebooks suggest. Tipping is appreciated but not obligatory; rounding up or leaving five to ten percent at a sit-down restaurant is normal, and nothing is expected at cafes or for takeaway coffee. Portuguese people are generally reserved with strangers at first, warmer once a conversation starts.
- Rounding up the bill is a fine tip in most restaurants
- Dress modestly when visiting churches and monasteries
- Quiet voices are appreciated on public transport, especially early trains
Common mistakes to avoid
Visitors often underestimate the hills in Lisbon and overestimate how much of the country they can see from a single base. Trying to do Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve in under a week leaves you spending more time in transit than in any one place. Skipping travel insurance because the trip feels low-risk is another common error, since medical costs for non-EU visitors are not covered by the public system.
What to skip
Sintra's palaces are worth a full day, not a rushed morning trip squeezed between other plans, so either commit to it properly or leave it for a return visit. Heavily marketed port wine cellar tours in central Porto tend to be crowded and rushed; a smaller producer across the river in Vila Nova de Gaia usually gives a better experience for a similar price.
Read the Lisbon route guide before you build your itinerary.