Portugal travel checklist: what to do before you go

The long-lead items are documents and money. Check your passport expiry date against the entry rules for your nationality, and if you need a Schengen visa, start the appointment now — summer slots fill early. Book flights once dates are firm; Lisbon and Porto in July and August sell out and prices climb.

Decide the shape of the trip before booking anything else. The parent guide's default is Lisbon 4 nights with Sintra as a day-trip, Porto 3 nights, linked by the Alfa Pendular train; add the Algarve only with a week or more. Buy travel insurance with medical cover at the same time as the flights, not later.

Book accommodation for the first and last nights at least, so arrival is not a scramble. In Lisbon and Porto, summer beds go fast; the Algarve in August is the tightest. Reserve the Alfa Pendular or Intercidades train between Lisbon and Porto if you are travelling in peak season, and any Douro Valley quinta stay.

Sort money and connectivity. Portugal uses the euro; cards work almost everywhere, but keep a little cash for small cafés and markets. Tell your bank you are travelling if it still requires it, and decide on an eSIM or a local SIM. Read up on tipping: rounding up or 5–10% in restaurants is the norm, and it is optional.

Re-check opening hours and any closures for the places you care most about — museums, monuments and some restaurants change schedules by season. Confirm your train times and download tickets offline. Save your accommodation address in Portuguese for taxi drivers.

Health: check that routine vaccinations are current, and ask a travel clinic about anything specific to your itinerary. Portugal is an EU country with good healthcare, but treatment is not free for visitors, which is what the insurance is for. Pack any prescription medicine in original packaging with a copy of the prescription.

Pack layers. Portugal's Atlantic coast swings between wet and windy and bright and hot within a day, and the north is cooler and rainier than the Algarve. Bring comfortable walking shoes — Lisbon and Porto are hilly and cobbled — plus sun protection for the south.

At the airport, have your passport, boarding pass and any visa documents to hand. On arrival, buy or activate your SIM, take cash from an ATM if you want some, and get to your accommodation. If you are driving, note that many Portuguese motorways are electronic-toll only, so arrange a transponder or a toll card before you set off.

Your passport is the one document that can stop the trip. Check the expiry rule for your nationality against current Schengen entry requirements, and confirm how many blank pages you need. US, UK, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and Irish passport holders can generally enter visa-free for short stays, but rules change — verify before booking.

If you need a Schengen visa, apply through the Portuguese consulate for your jurisdiction and allow several weeks. Carry a printed or offline copy of your insurance policy, your return ticket and your first night's booking; border officers rarely ask, but it is cheap to have ready. Keep digital and paper copies of everything.

Portugal uses the euro. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, including small restaurants and supermarkets, so you rarely need much cash. Carry a little for markets, small cafés and rural places. Use bank ATMs rather than standalone machines, which charge more.

Tipping is optional: round up or leave 5–10% in restaurants. Budget roughly by reading the site's trip-cost pages for 7 and 14 days, and check whether your card charges a foreign transaction fee before you rely on it.

No special vaccinations are required for Portugal, but routine shots — measles, tetanus, diphtheria and the rest — should be current. Ask a travel clinic four to six weeks out if you have specific concerns or a medical condition. Pharmacies are common and helpful for minor issues.

In an emergency call 112 for all services. For health advice, the SNS 24 line is 808 24 24 24. Travel insurance with medical cover matters because visitors are charged for treatment. Pack prescription medicine in original packaging with a copy of the prescription, and carry it in hand luggage.

Pack for two climates in one trip: the Atlantic north is cooler and wetter, the Algarve is warmer and sunnier. Layers, a light rain shell and comfortable walking shoes cover most of it. Lisbon and Porto are hilly and cobbled, so leave the new shoes at home.

Bring a Type C or F plug adapter for 230 V, sun protection for the south, and a refillable bottle. The site's packing list covers the detail; use it as the base and adjust for season and region.