| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lisbon | 11 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 23 | 20 | 16 | 14 |
| London | 6 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 15 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 15 | 10 | 7 |
Below is an information overview. The conditions of entry, as well as the political and health situation, can change anywhere in the world at any time. We therefore recommend checking before your trip. Please check the website of the Foreign Office (www.gov.uk) before your departure.
Most westerly point of the European continent and the Iberian Peninsula; North-south expansion: 577 kilometres; East-west expansion: 286 kilometres
Parliamentary Republic. As President, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has been the head of state since 9 March 2016. As Minister President, Luis Montenegro has been the head of government since 2 April 2024.
Lisbon (Lisboa), city centre 540,000, incl. fringes (‘Grande Lisboa’) 2,08 million inhabitants.
85 – 95% per cent Roman Catholic
Portuguese
Atlantic and Mediterranean climate
Electricity in Portugal is supplied at a voltage of 220 / 400 V and in the form of alternating current with a frequency of 50 Hertz. An adapter is required.
The time in Portugal is Central European Time (CET) – 2 with summer / winter time changes. Throughout the year there is no time difference to the United Kingdom.
To make phone calls to the UK, pre-dial 0044 (+44). To make phone calls from the UK to Portugal, pre-dial 00351 (+351).
If you are planning to travel to an EU country you must meet the Schengen area rules. Your passport must meet 2 requirements:
– less than 10 years old on the day you enter (check the ‘date of issue’)
– valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)
You can travel to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. Check your passport is stamped if you enter or exit the Schengen area through Portugal as a visitor. Border guards will use passport stamps to check you’re complying with the 90-day visa-free limit for short stays in the Schengen area. If relevant entry or exit stamps are not in your passport, border guards will presume that you have overstayed your visa-free limit. Nationals of other countries are advised to inquire at the Portuguese Embassy about the entry requirements applicable to them.
From November 2024, the new EU Entry / Exit System (EES) will start for all non-EU nationals, including British nationals, travelling in or out of the Schengen area. The Schengen area is made up of 29 European countries, 25 of which are EU Member States. The EES is a digital border system which registers non-EU visitors travelling into the Schengen area instead of stamping their passports. You will need to have your fingerprints and your photo taken when entering the Schengen area. You may experience longer queues at borders when the new system starts (https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees_en). Next to this the EU will implement a new visa waiver system in 2025, called ETIAS, which will be valid for three years. British passport holders travelling to the EU will need to apply and pay for an ETIAS, via an online system (https://etias.com/).
Whilst we endeavour to provide guidance where necessary, we can not be responsible for any problems encountered (whether at any point of entry or elsewhere) in the event that passport and visa requirements are not satisfied.
Your expert tour guides will be able to provide you with detailed information about the country, people, history, culture etc., and offer advice and assistance for organising your trip. They can also help with room allocation and look forward to welcoming you with initial information. Here you will find out all you need to know and useful information about the trip. We have put together a varied programme including numerous highlights, enabling you to experience the culture and diversity of landscape that Portugal has to offer, and learn all about the country and its people.
Although your trip already includes a comprehensive package, you also have the option of choosing added extras. We recommend booking the following packages:
Gourmet package: The package includes 7× tasty evening meals in buffet or menu form: only £199 per person.
Explorer package: The package includes the 3 fascinating excursions ‘City tour of Lisbon incl. entry to the Monastery of the Hieronymites (UNESCO World Heritage)’, ‘Guided tour incl. entry to Coimbra University (UNESCO World Heritage)’ and ‘Breathtaking Douro boat trip & visit to a winery in Porto incl. wine tasting’: only £179 per person.
The currency is the Euro. Exchange rate (as at november 2024): 1 GBP = 1,20 EUR; 1 EUR = 0,84 GBP.
Purchases can be paid for in cash and using the most popular credit cards. This payment system is typical in Portuguese shops; the symbols of credit cards accepted are usually displayed at the entrance to shops. ID cards are required when paying by credit card. Travellers’ cheques (in dollars or Euro) can also be cashed in banks. It is also possible to withdraw cash from ATMs using EC / Maestro cards but high fees may be charged by the respective bank.
Private persons travelling can carrying goods – personal items and / or purchases – not intended for commercial purposes, in the amounts permitted by law and whose circulation is not prohibited or restricted. If you are transporting cash or monetary assets in an amount equal to or greater than 10,000 euros, or an equivalent in a different currency, you must declare it.
Important: If you are travelling to Great Britain from outside the UK, your personal allowances mean you can bring in a certain amount of goods without paying tax or duty. If you go over your allowances you must declare all your goods and pay tax and duty on all the goods in that category. Please inform yourself about the current customs regulations: www.gov.uk/bringing-goods-into-uk-personal-use/arriving-in-Great-Britain.
Pepper spray is covered by the Weapons Act in Portugal; possession is only authorised for holders of a cat. E firearms licence. Violations usually result in criminal charges.
Crime: Vigilance should be exercised regarding pickpockets and petty crime in larger tourist centres in particular. The number of pickpocket thefts has significantly increased in recent months. In Lisbon, the historical trams are traditionally affected to a particular degree. As for any holiday trip, the rule is to only ever carry what is absolutely necessary when out for a walk or on an excursion. Large amounts of cash and original identification documents should always be deposited in the hotel safe. If necessary, only carry secure credit cards (protected by PIN) on your person. Take photocopies of your documents with you when you travel. Alternatively, you can save the files on a private e-mail account, enabling them to be accessed wherever you are in the world. You should try to steer clear of large groups of people and keep an eye on your valuables at tourist spots, airports, including in the security area, railway stations, the metro, buses etc. Keep your valuables close to your body.
At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the latest country-specific health advice from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC – https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries) on the Travel HealthPro website. Each country-specific page has information on vaccine recommendations, any current health risks or outbreaks, and factsheets with information on staying healthy abroad.
The quality of medical care is generally satisfactory. In Portugal, anyone with state insurance in the UK is entitled to medical treatment – where urgently necessary – by doctors, dentists, hospitals etc. registered with the foreign statutory health insurance association. You are urgently recommended to take out travel health insurance for the duration of your holiday which covers risks not assumed by the statutory health insurance companies (e.g. repatriation to the UK in the event of illness, treatment by private doctors or in private hospitals). You can also contact your health insurance company for information on current regulations. Please note that the excursions are accessible by foot only and that the buses used for the roundtrip are not customised to transport wheelchairs or similar devices.
Customers must ensure that they are in good physical and mental health in line with the trip in question. Customers must enquire about the physical mobility and psychological autonomy required for this trip.
All information is subject to change/Last updated: november 2024
Travel highlights
Europe
Asia
America
Africa