Portugal Travel Guide

• Portugal boasts good weather year-round, making it an anytime destination.
• It has a varied and fascinating landscape from beautiful beaches with turquoise waters to the rugged mountainous region in Central Portugal.
• There's plenty of history and culture to explore, especially in cities like Lisbon and Porto
• It's the perfect destination if you love food and wine - think fresh seafood, delicious sweet treats like Pasteis de Nata, and delicious wine, all at a reasonable price!
• Include a visit to nearby islands, Madeira or the Azores whilst you're there.
• Great nightlife! In the bigger cities, you'll always find somewhere to have a drink and dance.
• You'll find some of the biggest waves in the world to surf. 

Portugal has recently become one of the world's best foodie destinations, and despite its fairly small size, the cuisine varies from region to region. You'll find some of the freshest seafood, delicious roasted meats seasoned with Piri-Piri, comforting traditional stews and plenty of bakeries serving up tasty sweet treats.

Although probably most famous for producing Port, Portugal has also stepped into the limelight for its wines, boasting some of the best in Europe alongside places like France and Spain. If you prefer an ice-cold beer, make sure to grab a Sagres - one of the most popular beers in the country.

Portugal enjoys a temperate climate, with plenty of sunshine year-round. In the north, it is slightly cooler and rainy, and as you move south it gets warmer. The far south of the Algarve enjoys and dry, sunny microclimate throughout most of the year. The border with Spain experiences a slightly more varied climate due to the mountain ranges.

Visa Assistance

Visas may be required in order to enter or transit through certain countries depending on your passport nationality, your reason for travel and how long you intend to stay.

Visa, passport and entry rules are subject to change and you should check the most up-to-date information from the relevant embassy or visa specialist.

To make things easier we have teamed up with The Travel Visa Company who are one of the UK’s leading travel visa specialists. You can use their website, alongside embassy websites,  to find out the specific entry requirements for the countries you intend to travel to.

For a fee, their dedicated team of experts can also apply for visas on your behalf, taking away the hassle and streamlining the process for you if you wish. For more details on the services they provide please click here – The Travel Visa Company

Entry Requirements for UK Travellers

This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of the current rules for the most common types of travel.  

The authorities in Portugal set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Portuguese Embassy in the UK.

Passport validity requirements

Portugal follows Schengen area rules. Your passport must:

• have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive – if you renewed your passport before 1 October 2018, it might have a date of issue that is more than 10 years ago, making it invalid for entry to the Schengen area

• have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area (the expiry date does not need to be within 10 years of the date of issue)

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has either been reported lost or stolen or is damaged.

Dual nationals

When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual citizenship.

Visa requirements

You can travel without a visa to the Schengen area, which includes Portugal, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This applies if you travel:

• as a tourist
• to visit family or friends
• to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events
• for short-term studies or training

The requirements for working in Portugal are different.  

If you’re travelling to other Schengen countries as well, make sure your whole visit is within the 90-day visa-free limit. Visits to Schengen countries in the 180 days before you travel count towards your 90 days. If you overstay the 90-day visa-free limit, you may be banned from entering Schengen countries for up to 3 years.

At Portuguese border control you may need to show:

• an onward or return ticket
• proof you have enough money for your visit

Staying longer than 90 days in a 180-day period

If you’re visiting Portugal and need to extend your visa-free stay for exceptional reasons, such as a medical emergency, you must apply to AIMA using their contact form (access is only available to users in Portugal). If you’re in Portugal with a residence permit or long-stay visa, this does not count towards your 90-day visa-free limit.

If you’re in Portugal with a residence permit or long-stay visa, this does not count towards your 90-day visa-free limit.

Read about entry processes if you live in Portugal.

Travelling with children

Non-resident children travelling to Portugal

Children aged 17 and under travelling to Portugal alone, or with a person who is not their parent or legal guardian, must:

• carry a letter of authorisation to travel from their parent or guardian, together with a copy of their parent or guardian’s passport.

Make sure the letter includes:

• the child’s full name, date of birth and passport number
• the child’s dates of arrival and departure
• the name of the adult in Portugal who will be responsible for them during their stay
• the full names, dates of birth, passport numbers and contact details of the parent or guardian
• the parent or guardian’s signature and date of issue
• a copy of the parent or guardian’s passport

If you bring a child to Portugal without a letter of authorisation, your entry will be delayed and may be refused.

Teenagers aged 17 and under who travel alone, or with friends of the same age, and who are not being met on arrival by a parent or guardian, may be refused entry if they do not have a letter of authorisation.

Non-resident children leaving Portugal

Non-resident children aged 17 and under who leave Portugal alone, or with a person who is not their parent or guardian, must have a letter of authorisation unless they are returning to their country of origin.

Resident children leaving Portugal

A child aged 17 or under who is resident in Portugal must carry a properly certified letter of authorisation if travelling without their parent or legal guardian. See more details in the Living in Portugal guide.

Vaccine requirements

For details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s guides for Portugal, The Azores, Madeira and Porto Santo.

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods that can be brought into and taken out of Portugal. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Taking food into Portugal

You cannot take meat, milk or products containing them into EU countries. There are some exceptions such as powdered baby milk, baby food and special foods or pet feed required for medical reasons.

If requested by the police or judicial authorities, you must show some form of identification such as your passport. 

If you are caught taking or in possession of drugs for personal use, you may be subject to a fine or another sanction. Selling or trafficking drugs is a criminal offence and is subject to severe penalties. 

Gambling is only legal in establishments properly licensed by the government, like official casinos. Games of chance, including bingo, are illegal if they’re held on unlicensed premises. The police may act on reports of illegal gambling on unauthorised premises without warning. Organisers, participants and anyone on the premises may be arrested, charged with a criminal offence and fined or imprisoned. If in doubt, you should ask whether the establishment you’re entering is legally licensed.

Portugal is generally a safe European destination and crime rates are low but pickpocketing, handbag snatching and theft from cars and holiday properties are common in major tourist areas and can be accompanied by violence. Keep an eye on your belongings at all times and be aware of thieves using distraction techniques. Be especially vigilant on public transport and at busy railway and underground stations and crowded bus and tram stops.

Always buy your own drinks and keep them in sight at all times, to avoid the risk of spiking. Only use officially registered or licensed taxis.

Take warning flags on beaches seriously - if a reg flag is flying you should not enter the water. 

Look out for signs warning of cliff erosion, especially in the Algarve where falling rocks are a hazard. 

British travellers should get a free UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) before leaving the UK. If you already have an EHIC it will still be valid as long as it remains in date. 

We do not recommend hiring motorbikes, scooters, ATV vehicles, quad bikes or other types of motorised vehicles whilst abroad. Safety and quality of vehicles vary considerably and the traffic conditions can be much more dangerous than what UK travellers are used to. Should you wish to go against this advice, you should ensure you are hiring from a reputable company and that your travel insurance covers you for such activities.