Portugal is the country we keep coming back to. Our first trip was back in 2010, we have lived in Cascais, and today we call the Algarve home. It is also where we run the Portugal Travel Tips Facebook groups and our dedicated Portugal site, Travel Portugal Now.
This page pulls all of it together: our own Portugal stories and guides here on Sunset Travellers, plus the most useful practical guides from Travel Portugal Now, in the order you will need them.
Updated October 2026: Portugal key facts
- Entry: the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) has been fully live since 10 April 2026, so non-EU passports are scanned and fingerprinted instead of stamped. ETIAS has not started yet and is expected in 2027. See our Portugal entry requirements guide.
- Algarve motorway: tolls on the A22 Algarve motorway were scrapped in 2025, but most other motorways still charge. Here is how Portugal’s tolls work.
- Lisbon: the Santa Justa lift and the Glória, Bica and Lavra funiculars are still closed, so plan to walk or take the tram.
- Belém: Belém Tower reopened in May 2026 (€15), and Jerónimos Monastery is €18.
- Algarve beaches: land access to Praia do Camilo near Lagos is closed after a cliff collapse in 2026.
1. Planning your trip
- 17 best places to visit in Portugal: our favourite places, from Lisbon to the islands.
- First trip to Portugal: 55 essential tips: everything we wish we had known.
- Best time to visit Portugal: month by month, with crowds, prices and weather.
- Things to know before visiting Portugal: the little things that catch visitors out.
- 10 days in Portugal itinerary: from the Algarve up to Porto.
- Money in Portugal: cards, cash, ATMs and tipping.
- Best eSIM for Portugal: get data sorted before you land.
- Portugal on a budget: how to make your euros go further.
2. Lisbon, Sintra and Cascais
- 11 amazing day trips from Lisbon: including a few secret spots.
- 5 things we wish someone told us before visiting Sintra: avoid our mistakes.
- 20 top things to do in Cascais: from the town we used to call home.
- Where to stay in Lisbon: the best areas for your first visit.
- 3 days in Lisbon itinerary: a day-by-day plan.
- Lisbon airport to the city centre: metro, bus, taxi or Uber.
- Lisbon public transport guide: trams, metro and tickets.
- Best tours in Lisbon: the ones worth booking.
- Best Lisbon viewpoints: the miradouros and when to go.
- Sintra in one day: how to fit in the palaces without the queues.
- Cascais day trip from Lisbon: getting there and what to see.
3. The Algarve
- 7 most beautiful beaches in the Algarve: with a map.
- Where to stay in the Algarve for couples: our favourite places to stay.
- Algarve road trip itinerary: 7 days in southern Portugal.
- Discover Olhão: the hidden gem of the eastern Algarve.
- Where to stay in the Algarve: every town compared.
- Faro airport to Albufeira, Lagos and Vilamoura: transfers, buses and car hire.
- Benagil Cave: the current rules and the best way to see it.
- Best Algarve boat trips: caves, dolphins and sunset cruises.
- Lagos and the western Algarve: cliffs, coves and Sagres.
- Tavira and the eastern Algarve: the quieter side of the coast.
4. Porto and the north
- Aveiro day trip from Porto: Portugal’s colourful canal town.
- Porto vs Lisbon: which one to choose (or how to do both).
- 2 days in Porto itinerary: the best of the city.
- Where to stay in Porto: the best areas.
- Lisbon to Porto by train: tickets, times and tips.
- The Douro Valley without a tour: trains, boats and wineries.
- Braga and Guimarães: an easy day trip north of Porto.
5. Road trips and driving
- Alternative road trip from Lisbon to the Algarve: the scenic coastal route.
- The ultimate Portugal road trip: top to bottom.
- Driving in Portugal: the rules, roads and parking.
- Renting a car in Portugal: insurance, deposits and the catches.
- Lisbon to the Algarve: train, bus or car.
6. The Azores and Madeira
- 20 unmissable things to do on São Miguel: the biggest island in the Azores.
- The 36-hour nightmare flight to the Azores: and what to do if it happens to you.
- Azores travel guide: which islands and how to get around.
- São Miguel itinerary: how to spend your days.
- Madeira travel guide: the island of eternal spring.
- Madeira levada walks: including the new trail booking rules.
7. Food, drink and fun
- What to eat in Portugal: the dishes you have to try.
- Best pastel de nata in Lisbon: the custard tart showdown.
- Fado in Lisbon: where to hear the real thing.
- Portugal’s wine regions: from the Douro to the Alentejo.
- Portugal Instagram captions: for all those photos.
- 100+ Lisbon captions for Instagram, 100+ Algarve captions and Azores captions
Looking for even more? Travel Portugal Now has a full list of the best things to do in Portugal, linking to every guide on the site.
Planning your trip to Portugal?
- Booking.com: hotels and apartments all over Portugal
- Discover Cars: compare car hire for your road trip
- Portugal tours: day trips, food tours and boat trips
- Azores tours: whale watching, hot springs and crater lakes
- Airalo: a Portugal or Europe eSIM
- Wise: spend in euros without bank markups
- True Traveller: the travel insurance we use
Planning a trip and stuck on something? Join one of our Portugal Travel Tips Facebook groups, or leave a comment on any of the guides above and we will do our best to help.
Steve and Sabina
Some links are affiliate links. If you use them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.