General information about Portugal
Portugal ins one of two countries on the Iberian Peninsula and is populated by 10 million souls. The country gained its influence on the world during the Age of Discovery which gave Europe sugar and potatoes from the americas. Portugal is one of the poorest countries in Europe and has benefited from its membership in the EU.
Travel to Portugal
If you travel to Portugal by air you most problaby will arrive Faro in the south, Lisbon in the center or Porto in the northern part of the country. Portugal is easily accessable by car or coach from Spain. If you have planned to arrive by coach from Spain check out Alsa.es. There are no trains operating between Spain and Portugal. If you are looking for low cheap airline-tickets to Portugal check out TAP.pt.
Traveling within Portugal
Traveling within Portugal is easy as long as you travel along the coast. The railways is operated by Comboios de Portugal and coaches are operated by InterNorte, InterCentro and InterSur depending on what part of the country you have planned to visit. If you have planned to travel long distances you could save some time by travel along the coast before you travel to the destination inland. Portuguese are quite good at speaking english and is a friendly and open people.
Places to visit and when to go there
Which part of Portugal you should visit depends on what you want to do. In Algarve you will find white beaches and lots of sun. The climate in the southern part features mostly rolling plains and a climate somewhat warmer and drier than in the north. In northern Portugal the landscape is mountainous in the interior with plateaus indented by river valleys. The largest cities, Porto and Lisbon, are both situated along the coast and offers an relaxing atmosphere and friendly inhabitants.
Places to sleep
There are many types of tourist accommodation, ranging from hotels, pensions and rented villas. You may use i.e. hotels.com, booking.com or hostelworld.com to find somewhere to sleep.
Money and banking
Portugal is part of the European Union and the Eurozone. Because of this Euro have replaced the local currency. If you want to exchange money, you can do so at any bank where you can also cash in your traveller's cheques. Currency exchanges, once a common sight, have all but disappeared since the introduction of the Euro. Credit cards are well accepted in Portugal. Most ATMs will allow you to withdraw money with your credit card, but you'll need to know your card's PIN for that.
Vaccine and health
Major cities are well served with medical and emergency facilities. Public hospitals are at European standards. Bottled/spring water (água mineral) is recommended but the network's water is perfectly safe. You dont need to take any vaccines before traveling to Portugal.
Visa
Portugal is a member of the Schengen Agreement. For EU and EFTA citizens, an officially approved ID is sufficient for entry. In no case will they need a visa for a stay of any length. Others will generally need a passport for entry. There are no border controls between countries that have signed and implemented the treaty. A visa granted for any Schengen member is valid in all other countries that have signed and implemented the treaty. But be careful: Not all EU members have signed the Schengen treaty, and not all Schengen members are part of the European Union.
Crime
Portugal is a safe country to travel in. I have been backpacking Portugal for two weeks and have always felt safe. As regarding violent crime, Portugal is generally safe. This does not mean that you should throw caution to the wind and let down your guard. In particular, there is a refreshing lack of boozy stupidity at the weekends, despite the profusion of bars open to all hours in the major cities. Also, there are no internal conflicts to speak of, and no terrorism-related danger.
Like any big city, there are some areas of Lisbon and Porto that you might want to avoid, especially at night. Also like in any other tourist areas, you might want to have in mind that pickpockets do tend to target tourists more frequently - but some common sense should be enough to keep you safe. Wear a money belt or keep your documents and money in an inside pocket. Public transport places and queues are the most usual places for pickpockets.
Portugese cuisine and drink
Pastéis De Belém is the best pastery I have ver tasted. If you buy them outside Bélem they are simply called Pastéis de nata as they do not come from the original recipe in Bélem. The largest bakery in Belém makes 25.000 Pastéis De Belém each day. Francesinha is a dish from Porto which is tasy. The Portuguese cuisine is influenced by their former colonial possessions and is closely related to the Mediterranean cuisine.
Cascais and Estoril
I recommend a trip to Cascais and Estoril which is located 40 minutes from Lisbon by train. Cascais and Estoril have long been the playground for the richest families in Portugal. During World War II many of Europe's royal families lived here because Portugal was neutral. In Estoril you will find Casino Estoril which is supposed to be the largest casino in Europe. Both cities are famous for their beaches.
Cascais is situated in one of the richest municipalities in Portugal. Due to Portugal's neutrality in World War II and the town's elegance and royal past, Cascais became home to many of the exiled royal families of Europe. Nowadays, Cascais and its surroundings are a famous vacation spot for the Portuguese and foreigners, aiming at both the "jet-set" and normal tourism, who seek to enjoy its beaches.
Cascais is surrounded by popular beaches, such as Guincho Beach to the west, and the lush Sintra mountains to the north. Some of its shoreline is cliffy which attracts tourists for its seascapes and other natural sights such as the Boca do Inferno (which means Hell's Mouth in Portuguese). It is also becoming a popular golf destination, with over 10 golf courses nearby. Surfing, sailing, windsurfing, and kitesurfing are also popular in the region around Cascais due to favourable weather, wind, and sea conditions.
Estoril used to be a significant fishing port. Due to the vision of Fausto Cardoso de Figueiredo and his business partner Augusto Carreira de Sousa it became an international tourist destination both during and after the Second World War. During this time a high number of dignitaries in exile came to Estoril. Miklós Horthy, the regent of Hungary, lived and died in exile in Estoril after the Second World War. Juan Carlos I of Spain, Umberto II of Italy and Carol II of Romania also lived in Estoril during this time.
The hill town of Monte Estoril is situated between Estoril and Cascais. The town, which houses the Verdades-Faria Museum, was built in 1917 by Jorge O'Neil. Later on, in 1942, the building was bought by Mantero Belard and dedicated to the support of the arts and artists. Following his death, the building was donated to Cascais Council under the name of Verdades Faria and eventually housed the Regional Portuguese Music Museum. At present, this Museum hosts an important collection of musical instruments related to popular music, assembled by Michael Giacometti. The museum is open for temporary exhibitions, concerts, and guided visits on request.
Faro
Faro is the capital in the Algarve coast. The town is famous for the white beaches and tourist resorts and there is really not much to see in Faro from a cultural-historical perspective.
Lisbon
Lisbon is the largest city in Portugal. In the case of Lisbon city, it is quite a lot to see. Everything is in walking distance from each other so you do not need to use tram or bus to get around. The fortress Castelo de São Jorge is located on a hill in the middle of town and allows a 360 degree views over Lisbon and surrounding areas. The Lisbon cathedral is a 5-7 minute walk from the castle. Ponte 25 de Abril bridge is the name of the sister bridge to the Golden Gate in San Francisco and worth a visit. The bridge was named Ponte Salazar after António de Oliveira Salazar who was a dictator in Portugal from 1932 to 1968. The name was changed to Ponte 25 de Abril bridge after the revolution in april 1974. On the opposite side of the river that Lisbon is located at the statue Cristo-Rei which is a statue inspired by Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro.
The Alfama neighborhood in lisbon is quite close to the castle. This is the oldest part of Lisbon and it can be a bit tricky to navigate your way in the narrow streets. Baixa is the heart of Lisbon and has a relatively new architecture. In Baixa you will also find the Santa Justa Lift which was designed by Raul Mesnier de Ponsard who was s pupil of Gustave Eiffel. Parts of Lisbon was destroyed by the great earthquake of 1755 which is why there are mainly new buildings in the city. Chiado is the shopping area of town where Luís de Camões Square is located. Chiado is named after António Ribeiro. Bairro Alto is another part of central Lisbon and this is where the best nightlife of Lisbon exist.
If you have planned to stay a couple of days in Lisbon you should do a daytrip to Bélem, Cabo Da Roca, Cascais, Estoril and Sintra.
Porto
Porto is the secound larges city in Portugal and is situated in northern Portugal. The city is called Oporto in english and is located at the banks of the Douro river. The Alto Douro (a wine district in Portugal) is situated upstream from Porto. The historic centre of Porto is declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Vila Nova de Gaia lies on the opposite side of Douro than Lisbon. The latin name of the city, Portus Cale, is the origin of the name of Portugal. In porto there are lots of shoe shops. The Oporto cathedral is the longest surviving structure in Porto and one of the most important Romanesque monuments in Portugal. In Porto everything is within walking distance.
Sintra
Sintra is in many ways a unique place. The town is on UNESCO's World Heritage list. Visiting Sintra you should visit Pena castle, The Pena Park and the Castelo dos Mouros which was built by the Moors. Pena castle has a very special architecture, which is definitely worth visiting. The Pena Park is one of the nicest places I have ever been to and could look somewhat similar to what Middle-earth would look like.
Vila Nova de Gaia
Vila Nova de Gaia is on the other side of Duoro river from Porto and is where the world famous Port wine is stored and aged. The lodges where the Port wine is stored have become a major tourist attraction and is worth a visit.
