World Guide

Portugal

Country · Europe, Southern Europe

Belém Tower
Pictured: Belém Tower · Photo: Rehman Abubakr, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Portugal is a country in Southern Europe, bordering Spain, with its capital in Lisbon. Covering an area of 92,225 square kilometers, it has a population of about 11 million people. The country offers travelers a rich array of historic monuments and cities to explore.

Highlights

The site covers 34 sights. Key cities include Lisbon, Sintra, Almada, and Porto. Notable sights span famous architectural and historical locations such as Belém Tower, Jerónimos Monastery, Quinta da Regaleira, Pena Palace, 25 de Abril Bridge, Monument of the Discoveries, São Jorge Castle, Christ the King, Cabo da Roca, Capela dos Ossos, Vasco da Gama Bridge, Praça do Comércio, Alfama, Lisbon Cathedral, Livraria Lello, Santa Justa Lift, Lines of Torres Vedras, Porto Cathedral, Castle of the Moors, and Batalha Monastery.

Food and drink

Traditional food and drink items include marmalade, Port wine, sangria, chorizo, Madeira wine, pastel de nata, feijoada, quince cheese, francesinha, caldo verde, jamón ibérico, and São Jorge cheese.

When to go

The climate at the capital features daily highs and lows. January brings highs of 14 °C and lows of 9 °C with rain on about 9 days. February sees highs of 15 °C and lows of 9 °C. March has highs of 17 °C and lows of 11 °C. April reaches highs of 18 °C and lows of 12 °C. May warms to a high of 20 °C and a low of 14 °C. June has highs of 23 °C and lows of 16 °C with less rain. July and August are the warmest months, with highs of 25 °C to 26 °C and lows of 18 °C, alongside very little rain. September brings highs of 24 °C and lows of 18 °C. October cools to a high of 21 °C and a low of 15 °C with increased rain. November and December are cooler and wetter, with highs of 15 °C to 17 °C, lows of 10 °C to 12 °C, and rain on about 9 to 12 days.

Practical notes

The currency is the euro. The official language is Portuguese. Driving is on the right side of the road. Plugs of types C and F are used, operating at a voltage of 230.0 V. Time zones observed are UTC−01:00 and UTC±00:00.

Cities

Food and drink to try in Portugal

  • Marmalade
  • Port wine
  • Sangria
  • Chorizo
  • Madeira wine
  • Pastel de nata
  • Feijoada
  • Quince cheese
  • Francesinha
  • Caldo verde
  • Jamón ibérico
  • São Jorge cheese

Top sights in Portugal

  1. Belém TowerUNESCOBelém TowerLisbon
  2. Jerónimos MonasteryUNESCOJerónimos MonasteryLisbon
  3. Quinta da RegaleiraQuinta da RegaleiraSintra
  4. Pena PalacePena PalaceSintra
  5. 25 de Abril Bridge25 de Abril BridgeLisbon
  6. Monument of the DiscoveriesMonument of the DiscoveriesLisbon
  7. São Jorge CastleSão Jorge CastleLisbon
  8. Christ the KingChrist the KingAlmada
  9. Cabo da RocaCabo da RocaSintra
  10. Capela dos OssosCapela dos OssosÉvora
  11. Vasco da Gama BridgeVasco da Gama BridgeLisbon
  12. Praça do ComércioPraça do ComércioLisbon
  1. Alfama · Lisbon
  2. Lisbon Cathedral · Lisbon
  3. Livraria Lello · Porto
  4. Santa Justa Lift · Lisbon
  5. Lines of Torres Vedras · Torres Vedras
  6. Porto Cathedral · Porto
  7. Castle of the Moors · Sintra
  8. Batalha Monastery · BatalhaUNESCO
  9. Peneda-Gerês National Park
  10. Cape St. Vincent · Sagres
  11. Sintra National Palace · Sintra
  12. Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte · BragaUNESCO
  13. Belém Palace · Almada
  14. Museu CR7 · Funchal
  15. Pico Ruivo
  16. Vilamoura · Quarteira
  17. Palace of Mafra · Mafra
  18. Calouste Gulbenkian Museum · Lisbon
  19. Carmo Convent · Lisbon
  20. Convent of Christ · TomarUNESCO
  21. Alcobaça Monastery · AlcobaçaUNESCO
  22. Águas Livres Aqueduct · Lisbon
  23. Palácio da Bolsa · Porto
  24. Almendres Cromlech · Évora
  25. Estádio Cidade de Coimbra · Coimbra
  26. Roman Temple of Évora · Évora
  27. Chapel of the Apparitions · Fátima
  28. Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary · Fátima
  29. Old Cathedral of Coimbra · Coimbra
  30. Arrábida Natural Park · Setúbal
  31. Monastery of the Holy Cross · Coimbra
  32. Madeira Botanical Garden · Funchal
  33. Monastery of Jesus of Setúbal · Setúbal

UNESCO sites in Portugal →

Weather by month

The warmest month is August, with an average high of 26 °C. The wettest is December, with about 119 mm of rain.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Average high, °C141517182023252624211715
Average low, °C9911121416181818151210
Rainfall, mm907355684815463398116119
Rainy days97995311410129

Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Lisbon (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.

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