Small country, big variety
The Algarve’s beaches and golf, Lisbon’s hills and trams, Porto’s riverside and port cellars, and Madeira’s year-round spring — Portugal is easy, great value and under three hours from the UK.
Where to go
Sea caves, golden cliffs and family-friendly resorts from Lagos to Vilamoura.
Trams, viewpoints and pastéis de nata, with a day trip to Sintra.
Port cellars, riverside dining and vineyard cruises up the Douro Valley.
Garden island with mountain walks and mild weather all year.
Volcanic lakes, whale watching and green, unspoilt islands.
Culture and customs
Portuguese people are relaxed, polite and proud of their food and history.
Carry photo ID. Police can ask to see photo ID, and carrying ID is compulsory when you are driving.
Beach flags. Supervised beaches use flags: red means don’t enter the water and yellow means paddling at the water’s edge only. If a rip current catches you, swim parallel to the shore until you are clear of it.
Swim safely. Don’t dive into unknown water, and avoid swimming where a river runs into the sea.
Albufeira rules. Albufeira has a code of conduct banning inappropriate behaviour in public places, with on-the-spot fines of €150 to €1,800.
Licensed gambling only. Gambling, including bingo, is only legal in government-licensed venues such as official casinos — if in doubt, ask whether a venue is licensed.
Drugs. Illegal drugs, including cannabis, carry severe penalties, and smuggling — even when transiting the airport — brings a long jail sentence and heavy fines.
How far is Portugal from you?
Distances are great-circle estimates and flying times are typical, not timetabled. Message us for live fares and routes.
Portugal, month by month
Hover overTap a month for average day and night temperatures, sunshine and rainy days.
Long-term averages from national weather services (Faro, Funchal, Lisboa / Instituto Geofísico). Actual weather varies year to year.
Ready-made holidays, coming soon
We’re adding Portugal packages you can browse and filter by trip type, length and budget. Until then, tell us what you’d like and we’ll send ideas and prices — usually the same day.
Tell us about your Portugal trip
Holiday, flights only or just a hotel — send us the details and our team will come back with options and prices, usually the same day during opening hours.
- Flights issued by our own IATA-accredited team
- Internal flights, transfers and tours arranged
- Visa and passport help from our documents team
- One team to message before, during and after
Read the full official entry requirements
See the official GOV.UK entry requirements for Portugal.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Updated automatically from GOV.UK travel advice.
Travelling to Portugal — quick answers
Can’t see your question? Send us a message or WhatsApp us.
Do I need a visa for Portugal with a British passport?
No — for holidays you can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area. Your passport must have been issued less than 10 years before you arrive and be valid for at least 3 months after you leave. You may need to register for the EU Entry/Exit System (EES), and border officers may ask for a return ticket and proof that you have enough money for your stay. If you hold another passport, we can help with a Schengen visa.
How long is the flight to Portugal?
About 2½ to 3 hours from the UK to Faro, Lisbon or Porto, and around 4 hours to Madeira.
When is the best time to visit the Algarve?
May to October for beach weather; spring and autumn are quieter and great for golf and walking.
Can you combine Lisbon and the Algarve?
Yes — they’re under three hours apart by train or car, and we can arrange both stays.
Please note: the information on this page is a general guide, checked when it was published. Entry rules, health advice, weather, seasons, flight routes and local conditions can change at any time and vary from person to person, so we can’t accept responsibility for changes or for decisions based on this page alone. Always check the latest GOV.UK travel advice and official travel health advice before you travel. It is your responsibility to check the entry, health and travel requirements that apply to you before you travel. See our terms and conditions.