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Introduction to Portugal

Portugal is a small country in located on the western portion of the Iberian peninsula which it shares with Spain. A maritime superpower in the 16th century, Portugal saw its fortune wane over the centuries, and by the middle of the 20th century, it was one of the poorest countries in western Europe. The end of dictatorship and the introduction of democracy has seen significant enhancement in the quality of life in Portugal.

Portugal is small enough to be covered in a day. While many from Britain crosses over to Portugal for golfing holidays, there is much more that Portugal offers.

Fast Facts about Portugal

  • Official Name: Republic of Portugal
  • Capital: Lisbon (2,600,000)
  • Population of Portugal: 10,366,000
  • Languages: Portuguese
  • Currency: Euro
  • Religions: Roman Catholic, others
  • Size: 91,950 sq km (35,502 sq miles)
  • Continent: Europe

    • When to visit Portugal

    For the most agreeable weather, go between mid-June to September, but expect it to be the most crowded time. The summers, especially in the south, tend to be warm with little rain.

    What to wear in Portugal

    Light to medium weight clothing is advised.

    Getting into Portugal

    By Plane
    There are three major international airports in Portugal, in Lisbon, Porto and Faro. In addition, some airlines also fly to Madeira and the Azores islands.

    By Train
    One can also go to Portugal by train. There are services between Lisbon and Madrid. For details, visit the Portuguese Railways website.

    By Road
    Roads are generally good, although highways are almost always tolled.

    Portugal Entry Requirements

    No visas are required for nationals of Australia, Britain, Canada, the United States and EU countries. You need a passport with at least 3 months validity.

    Where to stay in Portugal

    Click on the name of the towns listed below to view hostels and budget accommodation available for booking there. Alternatively, you can also use the Budget Accommodation Guide to help you look for suitable budget accommodation anywhere in the world.

  • Agua de Moura
  • Albufeira
  • Alcanena
  • Alenquer
  • Apulia
  • Assumar
  • Bemposta
  • Braga
  • Bussaco
  • Caldas da Rainha
  • Carvoeiro
  • Cascais
  • Castelo de Vide
  • Coimbra
  • Costa da Caparica
  • Esposende
  • Faro
  • Fatima
  • Figueira da Foz
  • Funchal
  • Fundao
  • Guarda
  • Lagos
  • Leiria
  • Lisbon
  • Lisbon-Alenquer
  • Lisbon-Queluz
  • Miranda do Douro
  • Monchique
  • Nazare
  • Obidos
  • Peniche
  • Peso da Regua
  • Pinhao
  • Ponta Delgada
  • Porches-Algarbe
  • Portimao
  • Porto
  • Porto-Villa do Conde
  • Quarteira
  • Santa Clara a Velha
  • Santa Clara-a-Velha
  • Sao Pedro do Sul
  • Serra D'el Rei-Peniche
  • Setubal
  • Sintra
  • St Antonio da Caparica
  • Tabua
  • Tavira
  • Torres Vedras
  • Viana do Castelo
  • Vila de Prado
  • Vilamoura-Loule
  • Viseu

    Budget Travel within in Portugal

    Domestic flights are provided by TAP Air Portugal and Portugália Airlines.

    Where to go in Portugal

    The following are the main travel destinations in Portugal:
  • Lisbon
  • Porto
  • Porto Santo
  • Madeira
  • Faro
  • The Azores

    Things to see and do in Portugal

    Money matters in Portugal

    Portugal uses the Euro, €. Banknotes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 while coins are in denominations of €2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents. Banks are open Mon-Fri, 0830-1500.



    • Find lowest price for your Hotel Room

    Before booking a hotel room, make sure you are getting the lowest price for it. Different hotel booking websites offers the same room at different prices. If you stick with one site all the time, you could be paying more for the same room. Now why pay more?

    The form below is a Research Engine. It doesn't take bookings. Instead it lets you find the hotel booking website that offers the room you want at the lowest price. You can see and compare what different sites are offering, and then click to choose the one with the best price. Do this, and you're guaranteed to save a whole lot of money on your room reservations!



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    Flight Checker

    Our Flight Checker helps travelers compare flights and get the lowest fare for their trips. If you're flying somewhere, use our Flight Checker to compare the rates from different airlines. To use it, enter where you will be flying from, where you will be flying to, your departure date and return date. Select the number of passengers, and then click search.

    Our engine will return you a list of possible flights that you can take. You can compare the fare of different airlines for your trip. Click on your selected airline, and we transfer you to the airline website.





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