Tips for Traveling to Portugal

Documents

• Flight (Printouts of e-tickets may be required at the airport).
• Insurance info (High Recommended).
• Passport.
• Vouchers.

Essentials

• Hand Disinfectant Gel and Mask (Covid-19: Use of masks in public outings).
• Camera (With extra memory cards and batteries).
• Cash and credit cards.
• First-aid kit. It should contain lip balm with sunscreen, sunscreen, whistle, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, band-aids/plasters, anti-histamines, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, rehydration powder, extra prescription drugs you may be taking.
• Medications: You can’t buy medication on the hotels (such as Ibuprofen or Imodium).
  If you have an allergy or other health problem, we advise you to buy it before.
  You can buy aspirin, Ibuprofen, Imodium, and ointment in the supermarket or pharmacy. Another prescription you have to make an appointment with a doctor.
• Footwear. Flip-flops or heels are not very good for walking in the city for 3 hours. The Portuguese sidewalk (“calçada Portuguesa”) is not the friendliest type of pavement, so leave your high heels at home. The Pavements in Portugal are usually made of small square cobblestones. The streets are covered in beautiful mosaic patterns symbolizing the elements of nature and history of the country. The Portuguese sidewalks get incredibly slippery when wet or just on a steep hill. We recommend you watch your step and wear your most comfortable pair of shoes while in Portugal.
• Hat.
• Locks for bags.
• Fleece top/sweater.
• Long pants/jeans.
• Shorts/skirts (Longer shorts and skirts are recommended).
• Winter Coats / Jacket / Anorak / Windproof rain jacket.
• Outlet adapter.
• Personal entertainment (Reading and writing materials, cards, music player, etc.).
• Reusable water bottle.
• Shirts/t-shirts.
• Sleepwear.
• Sunglasses.

Credit cards and debit cards are handy for cash advances. Visa and MasterCard are the most widely accepted cards. No one accepts American Express cards here in Portugal!

While ATMs are widely available. There are no guarantees that your credit or debit cards will work in Western Europe. Please check with your bank! You should be aware that to purchase products or services on a credit card, a fee of 5%-10% usually applies.

A combination of Euros and cards is best. Please also make sure you have access to at least an additional USD 200 (or equivalent) as an ’emergency’ fund.

Tip and gratuity are not included. In Portugal, there are no customs around tipping. Indeed not an obligation nor a matter of etiquette.

Our Guides

You may tip if you feel you’ve had excellent service, and your guide will undoubtedly be glad about it. In general, most people give gratuity between €10 and €50 for assistance. Mind you, though, that your excellent review on Facebook or Google is more important for us. More so than a monetary tip.

Drivers

5€ per person is appropriate.

Restaurants

Tipping 5% in restaurants is excellent. However, tipping is always done if you are happy with the service. No tipping is required for a cup of coffee or a drink. But some people will leave the change rounding up from the nearest Euro. For a sandwich in a bar, the change from the nearest Euro is enough. For high level or Michelin star restaurants, a 5% tip is standard. Attention! If you pay by credit card, we recommended you to leave a cash tip because the staff does not receive the gratuity left on credit cards.

Visit this website.

That is rare to snow in Portugal. The last time was in 2006!
We sometimes have snow in Serra da Estrela. It’s the highest mountain range in Continental Portugal. The highest point has 1993 meters (6539 feet).

Winter in Portugal:
Winter, from December to February, is mild on the coast, even in the northern part, since the average temperature in January is around 9 °C (48 °F) in Porto and 11 °C (52 °F) in Lisbon.
In winter, there are periods of good weather when the Azores Anticyclone settles in the country. For example, the last February 27th (2019) was 22º C in Porto! But there are also waves of bad weather, with rain and wind.

Yes, if you book a one-week vacation in Portugal, our driver will be waiting for you at the airport arrivals with a sign displaying your name.

The driver will be waiting for you inside the airport. After you pick up the luggage, you will pass a glass door. And then, you will see a lot of people and signs (papers). Your name will be on one sign. If you don’t see your name, please use WhatsApp. The airport has free Wi-Fi. Please contact us if your flight was canceled. We can reschedule your transfer.

It’s standard practice for waiters to bring you little dishes of olives, bread, butter, shrimp, etc. However, they are not freebies. If you don’t want them, politely send them back untouched, and you won’t be charged. Please avoids confrontation. You can ask before how much are the appetizers.

In Lisbon: Read here.

In Porto: Read here.

In Braga: Read here.

The average food costs in Portugal are usually reasonable and affordable for most visitors. The price depends on the type of restaurants, and the part of the city you are dining at since restaurants in the city center tend to be more expensive.

Drink In The Streets: Unlike the USA, there are no open carry laws in Portugal.

Unfortunately, there aren’t that many options when it comes to vegetarian food. In contrast, this type of cuisine is gradually evolving more and more in the bigger cities. Don’t expect to find many vegetarian options in the countryside or small towns.

Moreover, be sure to ask for the ingredients of any dish that you order, because even vegetable soups are included some slices of chorizo, a traditional Portuguese sausage used to give flavor.

Food is essential to most Portuguese people, and lunchtime is respected with a sit-down meal from 12h00.

During the working week (Monday to Friday), many restaurants offer a menu do dia.  It is a set 2 or 3-course menu that usually includes drinks for a reasonable price.

Shops and public services, especially in smaller towns or low season, may close between 12:00 and 14:30. So, check opening times and plan accordingly. We don’t have a Siesta in Portugal!

Dinner times. Restaurants usually open at 7:30 or 08:00 pm.

While it’s entirely possible to get by in English in the major tourist areas. Learning a few simple phrases in Portuguese.

Please don’t speak Spanish! Do you want to say thank you in Portuguese? It’s Obrigado if you’re a man. And, Obrigada, if you’re a woman, by the way.

Tiles (called azulejos) are a constant feature in Portuguese architecture and pride. There is no other country where you will see them used to. Such an extent to adorn the interiors, ordinary houses, park seats, fountains, shops, and train stations. Of Muslim origin, the production of tiles in Portugal began in the late 15th century. But it reached its peak in the 17th century, with blue and white tiles. And other colors after the earthquake in Lisbon (1755), the idea was to cover the facades’ cracks.

You can learn about the history of tiles at the National Tile Museum in Lisbon.

Portugal’s long coastline is bathed by the Atlantic Ocean, which brought Portugal closer to other peoples and cultures.

The sun fills the beautiful white sands of our beaches with light and joy. Whether they are immense stretches of sand as far as the eye can see, or little coves sheltered by rocks, each beach has its own dazzling and surprising beauty.

In general, Portugal is a safe country. It is one of the 20 safest countries, according to the World Economic Forum. Still, it would help if you kept your guard up, especially in tourist areas and crowded trains/buses.

It is generally safe and healthy to drink public tap water in Portugal. If you order water in a restaurant, you will be served bottled water, but you can request tap water if you wish.

Contact your local embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements, or see your travel agent. It is your responsibility to have the correct travel documentation. We provide the following information in good faith. You must check yourself and understand that you are fully responsible for your visa requirements.

All visitors to the EU (European Union) and EEC (European Economic Community) countries require a valid passport (with a minimum of 6 months validity on an adult or child passport). USA,  United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand passport holders do not need a visa to visit the Schengen area. However, they may not stay longer than three months.

New Rules for 2022! Visa to enter Europe will be expected to apply for an ETIAS travel authorization.

As a tour booking website, Eco Trilha cannot organize visas for the passengers as the visa requirements are continually updated and vary from one traveler’s nationality to the next. For this reason that we recommend you contact your local embassy or consulate website for the latest up-to-date information.

UK:
You will not be able to take meat, milk, or products containing them into EU countries. For example, there are some exceptions, certain amounts of powdered infant milk, infant food, or pet food required for medical reasons.
You can take:
– beer – 42 liters
– wine (not sparkling) – 18 liters
You can also bring in either:
– 4 liters of spirits OR 9 liters of sparkling wine, fortified wine, or any alcoholic beverage less than 22% ABV.

USA:
It is illegal for travelers under the age of 21 to import alcohol – even as a gift.
You can take:
– 1 liter of spirits over 22% volume, or non-denatured ethyl alcohol with more than 80% volume; or
– 2 liters of spirits or aperitifs made of wine or similar beverages less than 22% volume, or sparkling wines or liquor wines; or
– 4 liters of wine.