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Portugal

Europe's most underrated country — extraordinary food, affordable cities and the best surf on the continent.

Europe
🥐 Pastéis de Nata🍷 Port Wine🏄 Atlantic Surf🏰 Medieval Castles

Backpacking Portugal

Portugal is the best value in Western Europe. Lisbon has the energy of a city twice its size with prices half that of Paris. Porto is genuinely one of Europe's most beautiful cities. The Algarve has cliff beaches that beat anything in the Mediterranean. And pastéis de nata exist.

£40–£70/day avg daily budget
Key Info
Euro (€)PortugueseType FDrive Right
Not obligatory — round up or add 5–10% at restaurants
Weather
Best: Apr–Jun & Sep–Oct
Summer (Jul–Aug) — Algarve packed, prices up 50%
April–June is the sweet spot. September is excellent and uncrowded.
Health
Tap water safe throughout Portugal
No vaccines required
Transport
ComboiosFlixbusUber
✈️ LIS Lisbon / OPO Porto
CP trains between cities are cheap and reliable.
Emergency
👮 Police112
🚑 Ambulance112
🔥 Fire112
The Highlights

8 Things to Do in Portugal

01
Eat pastéis de nata at Pastéis de Belém in Lisbon — queue worth it, eat them hot
02
Take the tram 28E through Alfama — the old Moorish quarter of Lisbon
03
Day trip to Sintra — fairy-tale palaces in the hills 40 minutes from Lisbon
04
Porto: cross the Dom Luís bridge, drink port in a cellar in Vila Nova de Gaia
05
Surf Nazaré or Ericeira on the Atlantic coast — some of Europe's best waves
06
Drive the Alentejo wine region — cork oaks, medieval villages, extraordinary Alentejo wines
07
Hike along the Via Algarviana through the Monchique mountains
08
Visit Évora — the Roman temple, the bone chapel and the best-value restaurants in Portugal
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Insider Knowledge

What Most Guides Don't Tell You About Portugal