Is Portugal Worth Visiting? 21 Reasons to Go in 2027

If you’re wondering, “Is Portugal worth visiting?” my answer is absolutely yes! Portugal is a fantastic destination to visit, especially if you’re planning your first trip to Europe or want a destination that feels exciting without being overwhelming.

I’ve visited Portugal three times, both by land and by cruise, and every trip has made me want to go back. Between the colorful cities, beautiful coastline, incredible food and wine, easy day trips, and generally relaxed pace, Portugal offers a lot of variety without requiring you to constantly pack up and move around.

As an award-winning travel advisor and luxury ocean and river cruise specialist, I’ve also helped travelers decide where to go, how long to stay, and which experiences are actually worth booking. For first-time visitors, I especially love Portugal because you can combine cities like Lisbon and Porto with beaches, wine regions, historic towns, and coastal escapes all in one trip.

Personally, I’m a city culture and a beach girlie, and Portugal offers the best of both.

That said, Portugal isn’t perfect for every traveler. Some areas are hillier than people expect (we have solutions for that!), popular destinations can get crowded (but let’s plan your trip in the low season), and trying to squeeze Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve, and multiple day trips into one short vacation can quickly become exhausting.

Below, I’m sharing 21 reasons Portugal is worth visiting, based on my own trips, along with the places, tours, food experiences, and travel tips I’d recommend most to someone planning their first visit.

One thing I’ve learned from both traveling through Portugal myself and helping travelers plan their trips is that the hardest part usually isn’t deciding whether to go—it’s deciding where to spend your limited time.

Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve, Sintra, the Douro Valley, and Portugal’s cruise ports can all work beautifully in one trip, but trying to squeeze in too much can turn a relaxing vacation into a race across the country.

As a travel advisor who specializes in Europe, I help my clients figure out which stops actually fit their travel style, how many nights to spend in each place, and which experiences are worth booking ahead.

Get in touch if you’d like to hire me to help you plan your upcoming trip to Portugal. I have some of the very best contacts in the region and can help you design the best way to travel Portugal for YOUR personal interests and needs.

If you plan to piece your trip together, read why I recommend Viator and see if I can score you any discounts here. And, take advantage of the tour links in this article.

1. Bask in the Sunshine

Portugal offers a great climate throughout most of the year. It has particularly great weather during shoulder season – April, May, September, and October.
It’s best to travel during shoulder season instead of prime summer because crowds are smaller and therefore prices are lower, to meet demand. In these months, there’s still lots of sunshine. The temperatures are much more comfortable compared to the sweltering summer.

Additionally, the sun sets to the west, offering onlookers incredible sunsets over the sea!

By chance, every time I’ve traveled to Portugal it’s been in October, which I really do think is the best month to visit. It’s felt like summer weather, and I’ve enjoyed both city experiences AND the beach (Cascais, Algarve, Portimão), without it being TOO hot!

Portugal is a particularly good fit if you want warm weather and beach time without planning your trip around peak summer heat. You can also acknowledge the opposite: travelers who want guaranteed hot beach weather may prefer summer, while city-focused travelers may enjoy shoulder season more.

2. It’s Affordable

Portugal is generally an affordable place to visit. Accommodations, transportation, food, and drinks tend to cost less than in other European vacation spots (like Rome, Barcelona, Athens) and most major metros in the US.

I was shocked to buy an entire bottle of wine for only 5 euros at a winery stop in the Douro Valley! Table wine at moderate, casual restaurants in major cities like Lisbon and Porto is generally around 5 euros a glass.

As Portugal, especially Lisbon, is becoming more of a tourism hub, prices are going up, up, up. Hotel prices in Lisbon have climbed quickly over the last few years, so it pays to know the best areas to stay in Lisbon before you book.

3. Portugal is Generally a Safe Country

Portugal is considered a safe country to travel to. I traveled in a group of I’ve visited Portugal with two other young women and traveled there solo twice. I felt safe on each trip.

Lisbon and Porto are great cities for groups of young adult friends and solo travelers, as there are many other travelers around, lots of things to do, and a good nightlife scene. Solo travelers or friend groups can join a bar crawl (we did the one linked here) – that’s how we met people and enjoyed the nightlife during our first trip there.

When traveling anywhere, you should remain cautious and aware of your surroundings.

Get in touch with me to talk about my itinerary planning services! Through my travel-advisor network, I can also help clients arrange accommodations, private transfers, tours, and other Portugal trip logistics.
el@elevateyourescapes.com

4. English is Widely Spoken

Friends always ask me how I communicate in the countries that I visit. English is widely spoken in most places I’ve visited.

Many Portuguese people who work in high tourism areas are fluent in English, especially as it’s taught in schools. Still, it’s polite to learn and use a few Portuguese words.

• Olá – Hello
• Bom dia – Good Morning
• Por favor – Please
• Obrigado/a – Thank you

I’ve had no issues communicating with locals in Portugal.

5. Absorb the Many Colors of Lisbon

Lisbon is a gorgeous waterfront city with many colorful buildings.

Things To Do in Lisbon

⭐️ I highly recommend taking a walking tour like this one. The guides share so much current, local information, so take this early in your trip.

You can absolutely walk around Lisbon on your own, but I recommend taking a guided walking tour early in your trip. It’s one of the easiest ways to get oriented in the city while actually understanding the neighborhoods, history, and landmarks you’re passing instead of simply taking photos of them.

I especially like doing this on the first day because you can make note of restaurants, neighborhoods, and places you want to come back to later. For a first-time visitor, it takes a lot of the “Where do I even start?” feeling out of exploring Lisbon.

This my recommendation for visiting any major city but the tour is particularly useful in Lisbon because you have a lot of opportunity to learn about locals and various neighborhoods while visiting this incredible city.

⭐️ For those who have trouble walking, those who want to beat the heat, have limited time, or just want to conserve energy and enjoy the day, I strongly recommend this TukTuk tour. Lisbon is a VERY hilly city, and the tiles are often very slippery.

Lisbon is one city where I think paying for the transportation can genuinely improve your experience.

If you’re even questioning it, take the TukTuk. You can wander later if you feel up to it.

⭐️ Explore the gorgeous Alfama neighborhood, where the saying is “Alfama é linda” – “Alfama is Beautiful”. While this was once a “hidden gem”, it’s now become a tourism hotspot that’s impacted locals. Please be kind and respect the local residents.

⭐️ Take a few hours to wander Belém.

You can visit Belém independently, but we chose an organized tour because I didn’t want to spend part of our vacation figuring out transportation and logistics between stops.

That decision paid off in an unexpected way: our guide knew how to get us our famous Pastéis de Belém without us waiting through the long line!

A guide also makes Belém feel like more than a collection of monuments because you get the history and context behind what you’re seeing. If you’re short on time in Lisbon, I think having someone else organize the route is worth it.

If traveling independently, first, savor Pastéis de Nata. After that, see the famous Torre Belém (Belém Tower) and the Padrão dos Descobrimentos monument, stroll around Jardim Vasco de Gama (gardens), and enter the impressive Igreja Santa Maria de Belém (Church) – all are free.

⭐️ Have a drink on the Pink Street

⭐️ Ride Tram 28

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Where to Eat in Lisbon

🍽 Bonjardim: Search “best-roasted chicken in Lisbon”. Bonjardim is #1.
A local guide recommended Bonjardim to us, and we loved it. I opted for the roasted chicken sans sauce, but my friends enjoyed the spicy peri-peri sauce.

🍽 Time Out Market: Sample an array of Lisbon favorites. Our favorite booth was Croqueteria (back right corner) – it had the longest line, so we figured that it was the spot. The croquettes did not disappoint!

I really enjoyed the Avocado Shrimp Boats from Tartine.

🍽 Maria do Carmo Restaurante: Enjoy sitting in a beautiful outdoor courtyard. I enjoyed the Mirandese steak, which also came with fries.

🍽 Nicolau: Go for a healthy-style brunch with fantastic avocado toast. You may have to wait for a table.

🍽 A Tasquinha Canto do Fado: Now THIS is a local spot! The restaurant is known for Bacalhau à Brás, which is a creamy mix of cod, crispy matchstick potatoes, and fresh parsley. Delicious. If looking for something lighter, the octopus salad is the highlight here and was a must-try for me. Incredible. No notes. Order this!

You can also take a food tour. I’m a big fan of this walking food tour in Lisbon! It will take you to hidden gems you will NOT find on your own.

Plus, Lisbon is a hub for fantastic day trips to Sintra and Cascais.

6. Experience a Fairytale day in Sintra

Sintra is a must for any trip to Portugal. I have a strong opinion here!

You can visit Sintra independently, but this is one place where I would personally choose the guided day trip again.

This day-long tour took us directly to Pena Palace, and we arrived before the gates even opened. Instead of spending the morning figuring out trains, local transportation, palace logistics, and how to combine everything, we could simply enjoy the day.

Our trip also combined Pena Palace and free time in Sintra with Cascais, Cabo da Roca, and Belém. Trying to put all of that together ourselves in one day would have required significantly more planning.

It was raining when we visited Pena Palace, and we still had a fantastic day. Our guide was fabulous, and hearing his stories along the way added much more to the experience than simply arriving at each attraction on our own.

For first-time visitors who want to see a lot without worrying about the logistics, this is one of the Portugal tours I think is genuinely worth paying for.

7. Discover the History of Porto

Porto is an incredible city with lots of rich history.

Things to Do in Porto

⭐️ We also went on a day trip out to the Douro Valley wine region from our base in Porto. Highly recommend! Especially in the fall with all the autumnal colors, the views from the river are incredible. (This is where I found that 5 euros bottle of homemade wine!)

Where to Eat in Porto

🍽 Salve Simpatia for delicious Brazilian food

🍽 Nicolau for healthy brunch. We enjoyed beet hummus app, avocado toast with poached eggs, and pancakes for dessert. It’s right across from Selina.

You can also take a food tour, if you haven’t already! I strongly recommend Eating Europe.

8. Escape to the Algarve – it’s Definitely Worth Visiting in Portugal

The beaches and waterfront are incredible throughout the country but are particularly breathtaking in the Algarve region.

There’s so much to do – lay on the beach, enjoy a kayaking trip, hike, or explore sea caves.

Because Faro has an airport, we used the city as a base. It has great little restaurants, cafes, and bars.

Faro is a quaint small city, rich in history – a great getaway from metropolitan areas. There isn’t too much to do there, little nightlife, and it’s a bit of a trek to a beach. So, if you’re seeking more excitement, consider another Algarve beach area, like Lagos. Still, Faro is great for a short two-day trip (learn more here!).

⭐️Get immersed in the city on a walking tour or TukTuk tour.

⭐️ Take a photo at the Faro sign

⭐️ We enjoyed island hopping on this Ria Formosa Boat Tour. It’s a great value!

Where to eat in Faro

🍽 Vila Adentro for lunch or dinner
🍽 Demo Urban Bakery for breakfast. I loved the egg toast.
🍽 The Woods: fresh sandwiches and salads
🍽 Choco & Nut for delicious ice cream & waffles, crepes

9. Appreciate the Architecture

Throughout Portugal, you’ll see buildings decorated with colorful ceramic tiles called azulejos. The patterns are incredible. You can even take some pretty tiles home with you as a souvenir.

10. It’s Easy to Get to Portugal

We’ve covered a lot already, but what makes Portugal SO worth visiting is that it’s really easy to get there from the US and other major cities in Europe. So, there’s no reason not to go!

Lisbon is the main international hub but you can also fly internationally via Porto and Faro. United operates a nonstop flights from Newark to both Porto and Faro, too (as of the time of this update – October 2026)!

Typically, I’ve seen the best fares available on TAP Air Portugal, which is Portugal’s flag carrier.

11. And, It’s Easy to Get Around Once You’re in Portugal

If you’re nervous about renting a car in Europe, Portugal can be a good first European trip because you can build an itinerary around Lisbon, Porto, and Faro using trains and tours. If you want tiny towns, remote beaches, or a very spontaneous countryside trip, private transportation or a rental car becomes more useful. I’ve helped clients plan all different ways.

For many travelers accustomed to taking public transportation, it’s fairly to navigate yourself around Portugal via public transportation between major cities and areas discussed in this post. The train system is reliable and quick between major cities – Porto, Lisbon, and Faro.

However, it can be challenging to coordinate train times, navigate around massive stations, and schlep your luggage around with your family or travel-mates.

Private transfers are also an option – get in touch with me to learn more!

12. All the Food Makes Portugal Worth Visiting

The food in Portugal is incredible. It’s so fresh! We ate a lot of meat and cheese, as a friend I was traveling with is deathly allergic to shellfish.

The most famous local dish is the Francesinha, a combination of toast, meats, and a lot of cheese, with gravy covering it. You can order it with a fried egg, too.

We sampled quite a bit on our own, and some meat and cheeses were included in other tours, as well as special event food markets that we visited. I always love food tours for many reasons – here’s a good option in Lisbon!

Prepare to seek out salads and vegetables – they’re not as common in eateries.

Try a food tour to learn more about the local delicacies as you eat delicious nibbles. I took this Lisbon food tour, and it was a great way for me to learn more about what I was eating, learn more about local neighborhoods, AND socialize on my second trip (first solo trip) to Lisbon. We covered so much ground We covered a lot of ground during the tour, too, so it doubled as another way for me to explore the city.

Also, what’s better than having someone tell you what you should order?

(TIP: Wear sturdy shoes!)

13. Fresh Seafood

With so much coastline, seafood is a big part of the food experience in Portugal—and two of my favorite seafood dishes came in completely different settings.

At Time Out Market in Lisbon, I loved the shrimp served in an avocado. But one of the freshest seafood dishes I remember eating was octopus during our Ria Formosa boat tour in the Algarve. We stopped on one of the islands during the excursion, where I had incredibly fresh octopus right by the water.

That’s one of the things I love about eating in Portugal: you can have seafood in the middle of a busy Lisbon food hall one day and enjoy it on a small island off the Algarve coast another.

If fresh seafood is a major part of what you look forward to when traveling, Portugal is definitely a destination worth considering.

14. Pastéis de Nata

Pastéis de Nata, a custard tart, is the most famous Portuguese delicacy. Enjoy with a coffee in the morning or anytime you like. You can find a bakery on just about every block, and you can also find Pasteis de Nata as a treat in hotel lobbies.

The best and most famous is the Pastéis de Belém, which is in the neighborhood of Belém in Lisbon. Prepare – the lines may be LONG but they are well worth it. If you go with a guide, he will probably be able to cut the line to get you a sample!

If you don’t make your way to Belém, or if you’d like to compare pastries, head over to Pastelaria Santo Antonio in Alfama. This little shop has decadent Pastéis de Nata and other baked goods.

Similarly, you can also find many Pastéis de Nata making classes.

15. Incredible Wine and Sights in Douro Valley

The Douro Valley is a must for any wine lover. The wine tastes incredible and is a bit stronger than many wines I’ve tried. The Douro Valley also offers incredible views over the vineyards and river. We enjoyed our trip in mid-October, as the valley was in beautiful autumn colors.

You can go to the Douro Valley independently but it’s best to take a day trip from Porto. We did this day-long tour, which also includes lunch.

Tip: If your tour offers a boat ride, buy wine from the lunch restaurant and bring it on the boat with a few cups. Be discreet about it; your guide probably won’t want you to drink on the bus but you can drink it on the boat!

16. All the Wine, including Port

Wine is widely available outside the Douro Valley, and many wine tastings are available in various cities.
We went on this wine walk in Porto.

Make sure you try Vinho Verde, Portugal’s famous “green wine.” Despite the name, it isn’t green! I tried this bottle of Espigueiro Vinho Verde and loved how light and refreshing it was. Vinho Verde is usually crisp and can have a little bit of fizz, so if you prefer lighter white wines, this may be your new favorite Portuguese discovery.

17. Nightlife

Lisbon and Porto offer vibrant nightlife, suitable for visitors of all ages.
The nightlife generally has a fun, social atmosphere, with people dancing late into the night. Most bars and clubs close at 2 a.m. In Lisbon, Bairro Alto is essentially a big, crowded street party.

I also found alcohol less expensive than in many other European destinations and major U.S. cities.

Try Super Bock, the most well-known Portuguese beer. It’s available nearly everywhere.

Younger travelers may also try a guided pub crawl to meet other travelers at the top spots. These are popular among young adult travelers in Europe. We did this one, which begins with drinking games on a rooftop, so there’s already a social element to ease into from the start.

18. Escape to the Azores for a Nature-Focused Trip

Portugal isn’t limited to the mainland. The Azores are a Portuguese archipelago made up of nine volcanic islands in the Atlantic Ocean, with São Miguel being the largest and one of the most popular for first-time visitors.

The Azores offer a very different experience from Lisbon, Porto, or the Algarve. Think dramatic volcanic landscapes, crater lakes, hot springs, hiking, whale watching, and plenty of time outdoors.

If your ideal vacation is centered around nature and adventure rather than cities and nightlife, the Azores may actually be the part of Portugal that appeals to you most. They’re also worth considering as a separate trip rather than trying to squeeze them into a short mainland Portugal itinerary.

One important distinction: Madeira is also part of Portugal, but it is a separate archipelago and is not part of the Azores. Both can appeal to travelers looking for a more nature-focused Portuguese getaway, but they’re distinct destinations.

If you’re planning your first Portugal trip and aren’t sure whether you should spend all of your time on the mainland or add an island escape, I can help you decide what makes sense for your itinerary and travel style.

19. Fado Music

Fado is emotional music that is traced back to the 1820s. Performances are usually led by a vocalist, accompanied by both a Portuguese guitar and a classical guitar.

Casa da Guitarra (tickets here) puts on a great show, and I highly recommend the professional performance. Note: The building is difficult to find, especially at night, so plan to arrive early.

Some restaurants also offer a Fado night at no additional cost after the price of your meal.

20. See Where Harry Potter Originated

Porto is said to be where JK Rowling was said to have been inspired to write Harry Potter. (She lived in Porto in the early 1990s and there are striking similarities to attire from the book and uniforms of Porto students.) It’s surprising to see that the university students wear cloaks and carry paddles, appearing very similar to Hogwarts uniforms.

Visit Livraria Lello (Lello Bookstore) – that was JK Rowling’s inspiration for the Hogwarts library. Reports also say that JK Rowling spent afternoons writing at Café Majestic and Palácio de Cristal.

21. The World’s Most Beautiful McDonald’s

Anyone who knows me knows I love McDonald’s!

I especially love visiting McDonald’s in various countries around the world to see what they have to offer.
Even if you don’t like McDonald’s, this is something to see. Inhabiting a former famous coffee shop space, Porto’s McDonald’s is rated the most beautiful in the world! The spot boasts incredible architecture, stained glass windows, and chandeliers.

FAQs:

How many days do I need on a land trip?

This is where planning a first Portugal trip can get tricky.

It’s very easy to look at a map and think, “I’ll do Lisbon, Porto, Sintra, the Douro Valley AND the Algarve.” Technically, you can. But whether you should depends on how many days you have and how quickly you like to travel.

On one of my own Portugal trips, I packed a lot into 10 days. I saw so much, but there was very little downtime. If relaxation is an important part of your vacation, I would plan that itinerary differently for you.

When I create Portugal itineraries for clients, I look at things like:

• How many times you’re comfortable changing hotels
• Whether you prefer sightseeing or relaxation
• How much beach time you actually want
• Whether Lisbon or Porto deserves more of your time
• Which day trips make sense from each base
• Whether trains, private transfers, tours, or a combination make the most sense
• Which experiences are worth reserving before you arrive

If figuring all of that out sounds more stressful than exciting, that’s exactly what my itinerary-planning service is designed to help with.

Portugal is a great choice if you like a trip with variety. You can combine cities, beaches, wine country and day trips, but don’t mistake the country’s size for meaning you can comfortably see everything in one week! There’s a lot to see!

For more DIY information – important note – I conquered this itinerary in my late 20s!:

We moved around quickly but spent 10 days between travel, Lisbon (day trip to Sintra/Cascais), Porto (day trip to Douro Valley), and the Algarve (with Ria Formoso day trip).

We departed from JFK-Lisbon on Friday night (~7 hrs) and landed in Lisbon early Saturday morning. We dropped our bags, freshened up, headed out to explore, napped later, and then went on the pub crawl. The next day, we took a train to Faro (~3 hrs), where we spent a few days before flying to Porto (~1 hr). We enjoyed Faro for a few days, then took a train to Lisbon (~3 hrs) to enjoy some more time. This method leaves very little time for relaxation but it was worth it for us to see as much as possible!

(PS: All the tours we took are linked around this article!)

Have less time?

• <5 days: Lisbon, with day trips to Sintra & Cascais
• 6-8 days: Lisbon and Porto with day trips to Sintra & Cascais

Have more time?

• 9-14 days: Enjoy more time in Lisbon, Porto, and Faro with day trips to Sintra & Cascais, the Douro Valley, Lagos, and other smaller cities
• 14+ days: Consider adding on the Azores and parts of Spain

What is the currency?

Euro. Americans can order Euro from their banks (best option if no fees – CapitalOne, Chase, or AAA), withdraw in Portugal via debit card, or exchange USD.

What should I prioritize if I’m visiting Lisbon while on a cruise?

I’ve personally visited both Lisbon and Portimão as cruise port stops, and I send many clients to Lisbon on cruise port stops with Virgin Voyages, Explora Journeys, and Silversea.

With only one day in Lisbon, I would strongly recommend a great walking tour around the city – you may even opt for a Lisbon food tour, so you can taste AND learn at the same time!

Portugal is Worth Visiting – Additional Tips:

✅ As discussed above, I highly recommend tours. It’s easy to meet a tour in a central location and follow the guide around. You learn so much from the guide and never have to worry about how to find the sights on your own. We also met some cool people from the tours we joined.

✅ Wear comfortable shoes. The ground tiles are extremely slippery, especially when wet. Bring footwear with good traction. Older adults will want to be particularly careful in Lisbon, as it is hilly, too.

✅ Prepare for rain in Porto – bring rain boots or waterproof sneakers (like Vessi) and a rain jacket.

Final Thoughts: Is Portugal Worth Visiting?

I hope the 21 reasons above convince you – it truly is a magical country! I’ve enjoyed every trip I’ve taken there. If on a land trip, my must-dos are a walking tour of Lisbon, a food tour in Lisbon, guided tour to Sintra, a walking tour in Porto, a Douro Valley wine day trip.

Ready to Plan Your First Trip to Portugal?

If Portugal sounds like the right destination for you, your next step is deciding how you want to plan it.

If you enjoy planning your own trips, start with the tours and experiences I’ve personally recommended throughout this guide. Those are the options I’d look at first for Lisbon, Sintra, Porto, the Douro Valley, and the Algarve.

But if you’d rather have someone help you decide where to stay, how long to spend in each destination, how to get between them, and which experiences actually deserve a spot in your itinerary, I can help with that too.

As a travel advisor who has visited Portugal multiple times by land and cruise, I use both my firsthand experience and my professional travel-planning resources to build trips around the way you actually want to travel — not simply cram every famous Portugal attraction into one itinerary.

el@elevateyourescapes.com