Time Zone
GMT/UTC 0 ()
Climate
Portugal's climate is temperate, and you'll find agreeable weather just about everywhere (except in the Alto Douro and the Alentejo where summers can be painfully hot and droughts common) from April to October, and nearly year-round in the Algarve. Overall the wettest season is from November to March: the soggiest regions are in the extreme north and in the Serra da Estrela mountain region in the country's centre. The ski season is from January to March but February is best.
Visa requirement
None required for EU nationals. Nationals of Canada, New Zealand, Australia and the USA can stay for 90 days visa-free. Everyone else needs a visa.
Being a member of the Schengen Agreement, business travellers from the Schengen group of nations can obtain a 90 day Schengen Visa when entering Portugal. |
Getting around
You can jet in from overseas to several airports in Portugal, most notably Lisbon, but if you're coming in from neighbouring Spain or other proximal countries, then bus, train or car or motorbike will suit you just fine.
| By air |
| TAP (Air Portugal), the national airline, has direct flights to Lisbon from a number of destinations, including England, France, Spain, the USA and Canada. There are also international flights to Porto and Faro. International departure tax is included in the price of your ticket. |
| By bus |
| Direct and regular bus services operate from France, Spain and England. |
| By rail |
| Train connections from France and Spain are just as routine, with a number of scenic stops en route. |
| By car |
| You can also drive to Portugal, with major border posts open around the clock. If you're driving from England, the quickest route is via the Plymouth-Santander or Portsmouth-Bilbao ferries to northern Spain and then on to Portugal. |
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