Before You Go
- Confirm passport validity and entry requirements.
- Check whether a tourist visa is required.
- Keep digital copies of important documents.
- Consider purchasing travel insurance.
Lisbon
Euro (EUR)
Portuguese
Apr–Jun and Sep–Oct
WET (UTC+0) / WEST (UTC+1)
Welcome to Portugal, a country where golden beaches, historic cities, and world-renowned wine come together along the Atlantic coast. Lisbon's colorful hillside streets, historic trams, and riverside views reflect centuries of maritime history. The Algarve's dramatic cliffs and golden beaches rank among Europe's most beautiful coastal destinations. Porto's riverside old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the birthplace of port wine and stunning tiled architecture. The Douro Valley's terraced vineyards offer some of the most scenic wine country in the world. Sintra's fairy-tale palaces, tucked into forested hills, feel like something from a storybook. Traditional fado music, filled with soulful longing, reflects Portugal's deep emotional and cultural heritage. Portugal invites travelers to experience a country of coastal beauty, history, and heartfelt tradition.
Helpful information to consider before and during your visit.
Discover some of Portugal's most popular flavors, traditional dishes and memorable local treats during your visit.
Bacalhau à Brás is a signature Portugal specialty known for its distinctive local ingredients, seasoning and traditional preparation.
This popular Portugal dish brings together familiar regional flavors and is commonly enjoyed in homes, markets or local restaurants.
A well-loved part of Portugal cuisine, Cozido à Portuguesa reflects the country's culinary traditions and locally available ingredients.
Francesinha is a comforting regional favorite, prepared in styles that may vary between families, cities and different parts of Portugal.
Visitors often seek out Sardinhas Assadas for an authentic taste of Portugal's everyday cooking and food culture.
This traditional favorite highlights the bold, savory or gently spiced flavors associated with cooking in Portugal.
Bifana is widely recognized in Portugal and is often served at casual meals, celebrations or community gatherings.
A memorable choice for travelers, Pastéis de Nata offers a flavorful introduction to the ingredients and techniques used across Portugal.
This classic food is an important part of Portugal's culinary identity and is best sampled freshly prepared.
Portugal is considered the oldest continuously established nation-state in Europe, with borders that have remained largely unchanged since the 13th century, making it one of the most stable national territories on the continent for the better part of 800 years. The country was also a pioneering force in the Age of Exploration, and Portuguese navigators were among the first Europeans to chart sea routes around Africa to Asia and to reach Brazil, briefly making Portugal one of the wealthiest and most far-reaching empires in the world.
Portugal is the world's leading producer of cork, harvesting it from cork oak trees without cutting them down, since the bark regenerates and can be sustainably stripped roughly every nine years over a tree's lifespan, which can span centuries. The country's capital, Lisbon, is one of the oldest cities in Western Europe, predating London, Paris, and Rome by centuries according to some historical accounts tied to ancient Phoenician trading settlements.
Portugal is also home to the Portuguese man o' war's namesake waters and to Nazaré, a coastal town famous for producing some of the largest rideable waves on Earth, drawing big-wave surfers from around the world to a underwater canyon just offshore that amplifies swells to extraordinary heights.
