PORTUGAL
I can confidently say that I have never met a single person who has not loved Portugal. Its warm climate, fabulous colors, and proximity to the water make it one of Europe’s most desirable travel destinations! There isn’t a bad time of year to visit this Western European nation; you can easily spend two weeks drinking port wine, walking the cobblestone streets, and sunbathing all year round!
Updated COVID-19 Travel Information:
Currency:
The official currency of Portugal is the Euro (EUR) (€)
$1 USD = €0.92
Pricing for Leisure Travelers:
Average Hotel Expenses = €150-€300/Night ($165-$325 USD/Night)
Average Food/Drink Expenses = €45-€90/Day ($50-$100 USD/Day)
Pricing for Backpackers:
Average Hostel Expenses = €18-€28/Night ($20-$30 USD/Night)
Average Food/Drink Expenses = €20-€35/Day ($22-$38 USD/Day)
Communication:
Locals speak Portuguese which is oftentimes considered a mixture of Italian and Spanish. As a tourist, you can easily get by with English (or Spanish). There are plenty of Italian speakers, too. French is less common but you’ll see menus in restaurants catering to French speakers.
Transportation:
Bus: Traveling by bus to get around Portugal is your best option. For traveling inside Portugal, purchase tickets through their national bus service, Rede Expressos. For international traveling, buy tickets through Bookaway.
Train: Trains are another good option if you are looking to travel more comfortably than the buses. Naturally, they’ll be more expensive than the buses but also slightly faster. For traveling inside Portugal, purchase tickets through Comboios de Portugal. For traveling internationally, purchase tickets through Rail Europe. A Eurail Portugal Pass (for three trips within a month) costs €92.
Airplane: Ryanair has cheap flights from Porto to Lisbon and visa-versa (for as cheap as €25). If you are traveling from country-to-country in western Europe though, I think traveling by bus or train makes more sense.
Taxi/Uber: Uber was once illegal in Portugal but now is available in the main cities. You can find taxis relatively easily as well - just be sure they run the meter (as opposed to agreeing on a price beforehand).
Miscellaneous:
Portugal is known as the gateway to Europe because it is perfect for any type of traveler! It’s great for romantic getaways, hiking, surfing, drinking, and soaking in marvelous architecture!
There are many famous Portuguese islands but the two most famous are the Azores (São Miguel, Terceira, Santa Maria, etc.) and Madeira Island. If you’ve got the time, check these out!
Are you a wine aficionado? If so, you’ll have to try Portugal’s port wine. This wine is distilled from grapes grown in the Douro Valley in Northern Portugal. Typically, this wine is served with desserts because of its sweet flavor.
