Portugal
Portuguese Republic
Southern Europe · PRT
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Portugal
Portugal is a strong first Europe pick for travelers who want historic cities, Atlantic coast, and food-heavy stops in a compact trip. It suits shoulder-season touring, Lisbon-and-north itineraries, and repeat visits that add Sintra, the Douro, Braga, or Madeira instead of trying to cover everything at once.
Popular For
Things To See
- Lisbon
- Cultural Landscape of Sintra
- Historic Centre of Oporto, Luiz I Bridge and Monastery of Serra do Pilar
- Alto Douro Wine Region
- Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte in Braga
- Laurisilva of Madeira
Best Months
Know Before You Go
- June through September is the easiest broad window in the current brief, but shoulder season is a comfortable fit for city-heavy routes.
- Lisbon pairs naturally with Sintra and one or two northern heritage stops, so most first visits do not need to reach every corner of the country.
- Madeira is strong enough to justify its own trip rather than being squeezed into a short mainland itinerary.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Portugal.
Guidebooks
Tours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Portugal.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Lisbon
- Population
- 10,749,635
- Area
- 92,090 km²
- Region
- Southern Europe
Languages
- Portuguese
Currency
euro (€)
EUR
1 USD = 0.85 EUR
Cost of Living (World Bank)
55.9
Price level index (US = 100)
- Groceries
- 46.9
- Restaurants
- 45.6
- Rent
- 25.2
Safety & Peace
higher score = safer everyday environment · derived from World Bank homicide data
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Lisbon (38.72°N, 9.13°W).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
90/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 100/100
- Lived safety
- 70/100
This traveler-facing score is lower than the legal protections score because lived-safety context is weaker, based on broader traveler safety and development conditions.
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal✅
- Relationship recognitionMarriage
- Adoption recognition✅
- Anti-discrimination laws✅
- Employment protections✅
- Legal gender recognition✅
- Conversion therapy ban✅
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.890
Very high human development
- 5-year change
- +0.024
- 10-year change
- +0.041
- Trend
- improving
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 1.000
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.076
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.797
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (17)
- 🏛️
Royal Building of Mafra – Palace, Basilica, Convent, Cerco Garden and Hunting Park (Tapada)
Inscribed 2019
- 🏛️
Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte in Braga
Inscribed 2019
- 🏛️
University of Coimbra – Alta and Sofia
Inscribed 2013
- 🏛️
Garrison Border Town of Elvas and its Fortifications
Inscribed 2012
- 🏛️
Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture
Inscribed 2004
- 🏛️
Historic Centre of Guimarães and Couros Zone
Inscribed 2001
- 🏛️
Alto Douro Wine Region
Inscribed 2001
- 🌿
Laurisilva of Madeira
Inscribed 1999
- 🏛️
Prehistoric Rock Art Sites in the Côa Valley and Siega Verde
Inscribed 1998
- 🏛️
Historic Centre of Oporto, Luiz I Bridge and Monastery of Serra do Pilar
Inscribed 1996
- 🏛️
Cultural Landscape of Sintra
Inscribed 1995
- 🏛️
Monastery of Alcobaça
Inscribed 1989
- 🏛️
Historic Centre of Évora
Inscribed 1986
- 🏛️
Convent of Christ in Tomar
Inscribed 1983
- 🏛️
Monastery of Batalha
Inscribed 1983
- 🏛️
Central Zone of the Town of Angra do Heroismo in the Azores
Inscribed 1983
- 🏛️
Monastery of the Hieronymites and Tower of Belém in Lisbon
Inscribed 1983
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 22.8%
- Forest cover
- 36.2%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 15
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 17
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
68/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Winter Sports
21/100
Ski infrastructure & alpine pedigree
Combines ski resort depth, ski resort density, and Winter Olympic skiing results. Separate from climate comfort.
Luxury Infrastructure
92/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
Exercise normal precautionin Portugal. Portugal is generally a safe destination for travelers. Travelers should remain vigilant against petty theft, particularly in crowded tourist areas and on public transportation. Review our travel guidance for Portugal to learn how to prepare for a safe trip.
Read full advisory →Data current as of May 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data