Why You Should Visit Portugal This Summer

Portugal is one of those places that looks good in photos and then somehow exceeds expectations when you actually show up. Especially Lisbon. But only if you go outside of rainy season! The city turns into a grey, kinda miserable place to be if you're there during the wrong months.But the summer brings out the best of it. The coastline lights up, the cities get loud and boisterous, and the whole country feels like it's celebrating something. If you're debating where to go this summer, Portugal should be at the top of the list. 

This is why.

Quick checklist. What you need to know before you go:  

• Visa requirements: US, UK, Canada, Australia citizens don't need a visa for stays up to 90 days. Can literally walk right through. 
• Accommodation costs: Lisbon averages $66-$102/night budget to mid-range, Porto $60-$90/night, Algarve $70-$120/night in summer. It does get pricey fast tho so try and book accommodation in advance.
• Best for: beach life mixed with city culture, epic road trips, world-class seafood, foodie destinations, and a ridiculous party scene. 
• Pro tip: rent a moped or motorcycle in Lisbon, the city and coast open up completely

1. Lisbon Gives You City and Beach Without Having to Choose One Over the Other

Lisbon is one of the most picturesque cities in Europe that absolutely pops in the summer. You get the mix of dense city life and pristine beach access that doesn't exist in many other places. Trams cut through narrow streets, the neighborhoods stack up hillsides, and then 20 minutes west or south and you're at the beach. It's pretty incredible in the summer.

Cascais is the go-to day trip that sits directly west of the capital. It's a coastal town that feels upscale without being stuffy, although you will find some stuffy folks just about anywhere you go in Portugal. There you can find clean beaches, good restaurants, and a vibe that attracts locals as much as tourists. You can take the train from Lisbon for a few euros and be there in 1 hour or drive and enjoy the coastal scenery the whole way there. 

If you want something different, drive to Parque Arrábida. It's a protected natural park south of Lisbon with some of the best beaches in the region that fill up suuuper quickly during summer time. Crystal clear water, white sand, and way fewer people than you'll find closer to the city.

Pro tip: rent a moped or motorcycle while you're in Lisbon. The city opens up so much when you're not stuck in traffic or waiting for public transport. You can hit multiple beaches in a day, explore the hills, and actually see the parts of the city tourists never make it to.

Image of Lisbon, Portugal

2. The Whole Coast Is one Epic Road Trip

Portugal's coastline is dotted with incredible towns and cities, making it one of the best road trip destinations in the world. You can start in the north near Porto and work your way south to the Algarve, hitting coastal spots the entire way where you find that every town has something different. Some are quiet fishing villages, others are surf towns, and a few are full-blown resort areas- those are mainly int the South and by god you should avoid those at all costs. But, be grateful they exist, for they attract all the tourists you wish to avoid into one single place.

The drive itself is half the experience. The roads hug the coast, the views are never ending, and you're never more than 20 minutes from a beach worth stopping at. You don't need to plan every stop, you can literally just drive and pull over when something looks good- finding something you don't like is rare.

In the south, you hit the iconic beach towns. Faro is the gateway to the Algarve and just absolutely rules. Lagos has the dramatic cliffs and rock formations everyone posts about. Luz is quieter, more residential, and perfect if you want to slow down for a few days. It has a bit of a sad history to it that I won't go into, but that is part of the reason it is much quieter and more affordable. Look it up for yourself, but all good, the place is completely safe. In general, all of them deliver on the beach experience Portugal is known for.

3. World-Class Seafood Everywhere

Portugal's seafood scene is unmatched, only to the Basque region in Spain. The country sits on the Atlantic, fishing is part of the culture, and you will taste their obsession with quality in every bite. You're not eating seafood that was frozen and shipped, what you're eating was caught that morning.

Grilled sardines are everywhere in the summer. Street vendors, local restaurants, beachside cafes where they're cheap, fresh, and they're one of the best things you'll eat in Portugal. Octopus is another staple and is probly the best I've ever had in the world. It rivals Japan. It's grilled, in rice, in salads, its prepared a dozen different ways and all of them work.

Lisbon itself is a major foodie hub with influence from all over the world. You can find traditional Portuguese restaurants next to Brazilian spots, African cuisine, Asian fusion, superb tacos, and everything in between. The city pulls from its colonial history and the result is a food scene that goes way beyond just seafood.

Pro tip: try the pastel de nata in Belém. The original bakery is Pastéis de Belém and it's been making them since 1837. The line is long but it moves fast so don't worry if you see it snaking out the door. Get a few, take them to the nearby park, eat them warm, and don't skip this.

Image of Van in Portugal

4. Mountains and Beach Towns in the Same Trip

Portugal isn't just coastline, you have beautiful mountain regions like Sintra and Parque Gerês in the north that give you a completely different experience from the beach towns. Sintra sits about 30 minutes outside of Lisbon and feels like a different country. Palaces, castles, forests, and hiking trails that wind through the hills. What's cooler is that you can still see the ocean from this city. It does have a very strange mystical history to it. Ask about it if you visit there. Lots of crazy stuff happened / happens there. So if you like the occult, this is a gem for you.

Pena Palace is the most famous spot in Sintra. It's a colorful palace sitting on top of a hill with views over the entire region. The architecture is wild, the colors are bright, it's surrounding park is super green. You'll find some awesome trails that satisfy those who are hungry for nature. 

Parque Gerês is farther north near the Spanish border. It's Portugal's only national park and it's full of waterfalls, hiking trails, and small villages that haven't changed much in decades. If you want to get away from the coast and into nature, this is the spot! 

The beauty of Portugal is that you can do both in one trip: spend a few days in the mountains, then head to the Algarve and finish on the beach. It's doable to experience both in as little as a week. The country is small enough that you're never more than a few hours from a completely different landscape.

Image of Sintra, Portugal

5. Quick Access to the Azores and Madeira

Portugal's mainland is just a piece of the larger pie- you also have quick and cheap access to the Azores and Madeira Islands, both of which are incredible summer destinations. Flights from Lisbon to either island are usually under $100 and take less than two hours. You can often find flights as low as that even in the summer time. 

The Azores are volcanic islands in the middle of the Atlantic. Think dramatic coastlines, crater lakes, hot springs, and hiking that rivals anything in Europe. It's less developed than the mainland, so you get a more rugged, untouched feel. It's basically equidistant between North America and Europe. If you look at it on the map while you're there, you will feel like you are truly in the middle of nowhere.

Madeira is subtropical and known for its hiking, wine, and year-round mild weather. The island has levada walks, which are irrigation channels that double as hiking trails, winding through forests and along cliffs. It's beautiful, peaceful, and way less crowded than most European islands in the summer. It's also where Christiano Ronaldo was born. 

If you've already been to mainland Portugal or you're looking for something different, adding one of the islands to your trip is an easy call.

Image of Azores, Portugal

Ready to book?

Portugal delivers in the summer. Lisbon gives you city and beach life without having to compromise. The coast is an epic road trip with towns and beaches worth stopping at every few miles. The seafood is world-class and the food scene in Lisbon pulls from cultures across the globe. You can mix mountain regions like Sintra and Parque Gerês with iconic beach towns in the Algarve. And if you want to go further, the Azores and Madeira are just a short cheap flight away.

Don't forget to party with YARD at their various locations across the country. They throw some of the best events and know how to make a night memorable.

When you land, staying connected is easy. Grab an eSIM for Portugal before you leave and you'll have data the second you touch down. No hunting for WiFi, no dealing with airport SIM card shops. You land, you're online, and you're already moving.