Top Things You Need to Know Before Visiting Portugal
Top Things You Need to Know Before Visiting Portugal
Top Need to Know Before Visiting Portugal. Portugal is currently quite popular with international tourists due to its laid-back lifestyle, wonderful food, and (relative) affordability. Want to find out more about visiting Portugal in 2022? This guide will cover all of the important topics.
- Must-know culture and customs in Portugal
- The top experiences for travelers
Before traveling to Portugal in 2022, make sure to read these top 10 tips.
How Hard Is It on the Wallet?
Portugal’s comparative affordability to other Western European countries is one of the factors contributing to its current popularity. Plan to spend between $50 and $60 per day while in Portugal (less if you’re particularly resourceful, more if you want to indulge). Travelers may expect to pay roughly $1,400 USD on average per month in Portugal. Additionally, the average monthly take-home pay for Portuguese citizens is about 900 Euros after taxes.
The cost of living in Lisbon and other large cities is rising, but you may still find the lowest costs in Portugal in some of the smaller seaside villages. Here is a brief price breakdown:
Housing and lodging: The cost of rent varies greatly in Portugal. Rent for tourists in Lisbon currently costs more than $1000 per month; however, a place outside the city or in a less expensive location, such Porto, can be had for $500 per month or less. According to the website Nomadlist, a hotel in Portugal typically costs around $70 per night, and an AirBnB costs around $100. The average hotel price across Portugal is 70-95 euros.
Food: You can get lunch for $5, dinner for less than $10, and a morning cappuccino for little more than $2. What more could you want?
Even while eating out is affordable in Portugal, particularly by European standards, performing a daily market run and preparing the majority of your meals at home will be less expensive. Here is a short breakdown of how much food costs on average in Portugal.
Transportation: The public transportation system in cities like Lisbon are efficient and cheap. In the capital, the cost of a single ride on the bus is 2 Euros and the tram is 3 Euros per ride. Save money and buy a day pass for 6.40 Euros, which gives you access to all the bus, tram, and metro lines in Lisbon.
How Friendly Are the Locals?
Portuguese people in general are warm and inviting. It won’t take long for locals to start giving travel advice and their recommended restaurants with you once you get on Portugal time and truly start exploring.
This also implies that it’s crucial to respect local traditions and customs and to follow the crowd. Doing so will make it much simpler to get along with the individuals you meet on a daily basis and have fruitful relationships with them.
Learn some Portuguese and soon enough, you’ll feel like a local during your daily visits to the market and when ordering a pastel de nata at a streetside café (and let’s face it, you’ll probably be doing that a lot!).
Customs and Culture: Do’s and Don’ts
While Portugal is welcoming to foreigners, it’s still a good idea to respect the local culture. If you’re visiting for the first time (or maybe you’re returning!) here are some of the important customs to follow:
The religion practiced in Portugal is mostly Roman Catholic. People are traditional and they dress modestly (this means not showing your shoulders and anything above the knee) if you’re entering a church.
Don’t casually compare Portugal and Spain. Even though Spain is right next door, it doesn’t mean that these two countries are very similar. Don’t get on someone’s bad side by comparing Portugal to Spain, seriously!
Don’t worry about being always on time. No need to rush here in Portugal. If you want to have a good experience, get on Portuguese time because it’s common to be 15 minutes late.
This may seem like an odd one, but another thing not to do in Portugal is to eat on the street. Grab and go isn’t necessarily a thing here (as for beer, that’s another story), as the Portuguese value sit-down time. Meals offer an opportunity to are a time to chat and relax, so best to respect that if you don’t want to be looked at like you’re a weirdo.
Local Eats and Drink
The culinary delights served up daily in Portugal is another big draw for travelers. Be prepared for lots of seafood, fruity spirits, spicy meats, veggie soups, and lots of delectable desserts.
One staple food throughout Portugal is bacalhau, a salted cod mixed with potatoes, eggs, and black olives. Another big one is caldo verde (soup with potatoes and collard greens topped with chourico, a spicy sausage).
Finally, port—know it, love it. For a cocktail at dusk or at a late-night celebration, port wine is Portugal’s traditional sweet aperitif. Any Portuguese party is sure to feature tasty, locally produced liqueurs like Ginja. Don’t claim we didn’t warn you; several of these beverages are delicious but deceptively potent.
What Are the Best Experiences?
From a sailing trip in Lisbon to surfing in The Algarve, there’s so many popular experiences in Portugal.
If you find yourself in the capital city, one of the best things to do right now is to book a trip on a sailboat and you and your travel buddies can have an unforgettable day seeing Lisbon from a different perspective.
The southern region of The Algarve offers amazing experiences for just about every type of traveler, and with epic views to boot. Head here for a week-long getaway (or more!) to enjoy the stunning cliffs, caves, and beautiful beaches. Go surfing, adventure out on a hike along the coast (there’s SO many to choose from!), and explore the historic castles that tell a story of this region’s past.
How Long Can I Stay?
Portugal is officially part of the EU and Schengen Zone, which means that travelers with a passport from outside of the Schengen Zone (so the US, UK, Canada, for instance) can stay in Portugal for a total of 90 days for tourism or business without needing a visa. Returning to Portugal is only possible after that if you’ve left the Schengen Zone for at least 90 days.
Escape to Portugal and you won’t regret it.
Of course, there’s lots to know before visiting Portugal but we hope this post gives you the gist. Make sure your passport is renewed, bring a sweater (or two), a bathing suit, a sense of adventure, and a big appetite, and go see what Portugal has in store for you.
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