{"id":32513,"date":"2024-01-10T21:22:50","date_gmt":"2024-01-10T18:22:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.journeys6senses.com\/10-advises-fory-visiting-portugal\/"},"modified":"2024-01-12T20:25:28","modified_gmt":"2024-01-12T17:25:28","slug":"10-advises-fory-visiting-portugal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.journeys6senses.com\/en\/10-advises-fory-visiting-portugal\/","title":{"rendered":"10 tips for those traveling to Portugal for the first time"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Tips for your first trip to Portugal: where and when to go for the first time, how to behave in a cafe, and what to take with you.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Portugal is one of my favorite countries and I come back there every year. But once I visited Portugal for the first time and didn’t know how to plan a trip before. I was a little surprised by some things that are different from other countries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traveling in Portugal is very easy, but I would like to give some tips to help make your trip better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Don’t try to see all in one trip<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Portugal<\/strong> is a small country, but it is so full of different attractions that it is almost impossible to see everything at once. There is a lot to see here: from the Lisbon hills and palaces of Sintra<\/a> <\/strong>to the port wine cellars in Porto<\/a> <\/strong>and the beautiful beaches of the Algarve, to the remote beaches of Costa Vicentina and the hilltop villages of Alentejo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are traveling to Portugal for the first time<\/a><\/strong>, I advise you to plan an optimal route to get acquainted with the well-known points of the country. And at other times, try to expand your interest and familiarity with other regions of the country more and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’ve been to Portugal 5 times: I walked three hiking routes in the north and south of the country, drove several car routes in a rented car, explored and compared the big cities of Lisbon and Porto. And even now I have quite a few white spots on the map of Portugal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, I have never been to the vineyards in the Douro Valley <\/strong> – the best time to do this is in the fall. Or did not walk on a wonderful route Via Algarviana<\/strong>. I have not seen Fatima and Braga, and many other wonderful places in this country. But it’s good to do all this when you’ve already seen the most famous cities and places in Portugal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Choose the best season to visit Portugal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Portugal is a good country for traveling at any time of the year. But you need to understand exactly why you are planning a trip. If you want to walk in big cities, choose spring<\/strong> and fall<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to lie on the beaches and swim in the ocean, summer<\/strong> will be the best season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In winter<\/strong>, it is good to walk along one of the hiking<\/strong> routes<\/strong> in Portugal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When planning the time and style of travel in Portugal – read about the weather conditions When is the best time to go traveling in Portugal<\/strong>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Book your accommodation in advance <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Portugal’s popularity is growing every year. If you look at any rating or travel guide, Portugal is everywhere. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This crazy popularity means that accommodation in some of the most popular destinations is booked several months in advance. That is, if you are traveling to Porto<\/a><\/strong> in the summer and want to find cheap apartments, you need to book in the spring. This is especially true if you travel during the peak months of June through August. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you travel during the off-season<\/strong> (November to March), you will have many more opportunities to find reasonable prices and good deals on hotels and apartments. Therefore, you can even book on Booking.com<\/a> <\/strong> for the first few nights and then travel around looking for accommodation today for tomorrow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Mix and match different things in one trip<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Portugal has many travel options – from the mountains and coast to the narrow streets of Porto and Lisbon. With a week at your disposal, you can combine a bit of urban adventure with scenic getaways nearby. If you go purely to Lisbon<\/strong>, you can plan several days together with day trips to Cascais<\/strong>, Sintra<\/strong>, and Cape Cabo de Roca<\/strong><\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A wonderful northern route combines Porto<\/strong> with a visit to the vineyards along the picturesque Douro River. Beach lovers can completely abandon city life and spend time in the Algarve<\/strong>, visiting beaches with cliffs, hidden coves, and sleepy fishing villages. If you’re planning something more active, plan a walking pilgrimage Camino de Santiago<\/strong> <\/a>– from Porto to the Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela. This way you will be able to see the coast, Portuguese towns and villages, cross the border on foot, and continue your route to Spain<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I advise you to read it: Diary of Camino Portugues – walking from Porto to Santiago de Cosmostela<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

5. Don’t worry about tips, but you will have to pay for compliments<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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In Portuguese restaurants, where people eat mostly locally, they don’t give tips at all. Most often, the change is rounded up (without a penny) when paying for food. But in tourist-oriented establishments, waiters expect a tip, usually about 10% <\/strong>. But when you get the check, check to see if the service charge is included. In this case, no tip is required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In cafes or bars, people don’t give tips. However, if you’re in a trendy upscale establishment, you should plan on tipping (approximately 1 euro for a signature cocktail). Rounding up the fare is also a common practice when using a taxi or carpooling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But there’s an interesting difference in Portuguese<\/strong> restaurants<\/strong>: when you place your order and wait for it, they bring you bread and a small compliment – cheese, olives, etc. All of this will be included in the bill, so you can refuse such a compliment right away (approximate price – 2-4 Euros). If you don’t need them, just say a polite “no, thank you” ( n\u00e3o obrigado<\/em>) – it’s okay and no one will say anything nasty to you for it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Forget cappuccino – Portugal has its own types of coffee brewing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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One thing that really annoyed me in Portugal when I first came here was that I couldn’t find a decent cappuccino. In a country that drinks coffee from morning to night, it’s a challenge to have a good cup of coffee with milk. Later I found out that there are not only proper names for types of coffee, but also proper brewing methods. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, if you come to Lisbon<\/a><\/strong> or Porto<\/a> <\/strong>there is a choice of coffee shops, you can even find specialty coffee. For example, the Fabrica<\/strong> coffee shop chain. But if you are planning to explore the country, it is better to understand the names and types of coffee in Portugal. One cup costs 1.5-3 euros<\/strong>, depending on the type of coffee you order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n