Portugal
A small country on the Atlantic edge — tiles, fado, the longest beach coast in Europe, and the slow generous food of an old maritime empire.
Portugal is the western edge of Europe, small enough to cover end-to-end on a two-week trip and varied enough that it doesn’t read like one country. The country has become significantly busier in recent years; the slower pages emphasize off-peak months and the inland and northern alternatives to the headline coastal towns. Schengen 90/180 visa rules apply. The currency is the euro, the language is Portuguese (don’t reflexively try Spanish — locals will understand but it lands wrong), and English is widely spoken in tourist areas.
Cities & Regions
When to Go
Portugal is one of Europe’s most year-round destinations — the south stays warm through winter, the north has snow inland but is mild on the coast. April through June and September through October are the marquee months for the cities and the Douro. July and August are the peak season for the Algarve beaches and the most crowded everywhere. November through March is the cheapest window for Lisbon and Porto, with mild days, occasional rain, and almost no tourists. Madeira’s flowers peak in April; whale watching off the south coast is May to October.