The treasures of Portugal are not only the flaky Pastel de Nata and the multicolored Pena Palace. Countless beauties and attractions are waiting to be discovered. Culture, history, nature, cuisine, arts, you name it! Can’t wait to immerse yourself in the nostalgic Fado music? Go ahead and start planning your trip to Portugal. Don’t forget to follow the tips below.
1. Off-Season Offers Better Experience
The peak season in Portugal tourism is during summer, especially around July-August. Not only would it be crowded, but the weather can be scorching hot, too. The comforting atmosphere of Portugal is best to enjoy when the weather is warm with fewer people in every attraction. As a bonus, you might get the best deals for your tickets and accommodations.
2. Plan Your Itinerary
The distance between attractions can be long. Plan your itinerary based on the locations to be efficient with your time on the roads. Research your transportation options and consider how long it will take for each trip you take from one place to another.
3. Bring A Lot of Small Cash
Most small businesses only take cash as payments. Yet, paying in large notes may cause problems if the vendors don’t have enough small notes as your changes. If you can’t find an ATM to withdraw cash in small denominations, try finding a money-changer establishment.
4. Eat More Than Pastel de Nata
The Portuguese egg tart is a must-try but not the only one. There are many other traditional delicacies you should never miss out on, such as arroz de pato (a flavorful rice dish with crispy duck), caldo verde (green soup), bacalhau (dried and salted codfish), and many others.
5. Know How Eateries Work in Portugal
Many tourists complained about getting ripped off in restaurants while it was just them failing to understand how typical restaurants work in Portugal. The breads and side dishes served are not free nor included with your order. Those are optional menus that you have to pay for each item you take. Many tourists think those are complementary to the restaurants, so they go all out and taste everything. Hence, they end up with spiking bills. Anytime a server puts something on your table that you didn’t order, make sure to always ask for the price.
6. Research Multiple Port Wineries Before Choosing Your Tour
Portugal has plenty of port wineries spread all over the country. Most of them offer fun activities instead of just selling beverages. If you are interested in exploring port wines in Portugal, you must research your options first before choosing one to book. Besides considering the location and access, it is best to opt for a port wine tour that offers tasting of rare/specialty products, food-pairing, and wholesome wine-producing and tasting experiences.
Bonus Tips: Get MySecondLine for Your Portugal Mobile Number
Texting is essential to maintain communication with your local friends in Portugal. With MySecondLine, you can get a Portugal mobile number that allows you to send and receive text messages at very low rates. This virtual mobile number system only requires an app to operate and your ID to verify your number.