Portugal is a fun and affordable destination. Lisbon has tons of fun activities, a great public transportation network, delicious restaurants, great hotels and is an ideal base for some amazing day trips. Porto also has great things to do, its own thriving culinary scene and an impressive selection of comfy places to stay.
Check out our INSIDR guides to Lisbon and Porto for the lowdown on two of our favorite Portuguese cities. We’ve also created the ultimate itinerary for two days in Lisbon or Porto.
Rabelo boats, one of the most popular symbols of Porto, used to carry barrels of Porto wine from the Douro valley vineyards to the Port Wine cellars.
INSIDR Lisbon & Porto must see guide
INSIDR Guide to the main sights in Lisbon & Porto
INSIDR practical travel tips for Lisbon & Porto
Tipping in Portugal
Traditional Portuguese cuisine is hearty, good for the soul and relies rather heavily on meat and potatoes. However, both Lisbon and Porto have a hopping restaurant culture and you’ll be able to find tons of delicious options.
You’ll need to know the deal on tipping in Lisbon and Porto to fully enjoy your meals there. In restaurants, it’s common to leave up to 10% of the bill, depending on the service level. Though rare, sometimes the gratuity (or serviço) is directly added to the bill, so make sure to check to avoid paying twice.
Calls
To make calls during your time in Lisbon and Porto, you’ll need to add the Portuguese country code 351 before dialing a local number. Make sure to add 00 or + before the local number if calling from a non-Portuguese number. If you need to contact emergency services, call the European emergency number 112.
SIM Card & Wifi in Lisbon & Porto
We definitely recommend renting or buying a local phone during your travels. It’ll make your time more enjoyable in Lisbon and Porto and allow you to access local information quickly without expensive roaming charges! The INSIDR smartphone can also assist you with full high-speed 4G connectivity, a pocket travel Wifi hotspot, including local calls and texts. The best travel essential apps are also installed. Using the INSIDR smartphone, you will also get the most authentic and tailor made travel tips recommended by our local experts.
How to Travel around Lisbon & Porto
Lisbon has an excellent public transportation network with multiple bus, tram and metro lines to get you anywhere around the city. Porto also has an efficient bus and tram system that can get you around the city in no time!
Traveling between the two cities is a breeze. Porto is approximately 310 kilometers to the north of Lisbon. Public transportation (bus or train) takes around 3 hours and is definitely your cheapest option. You can also rent a car and drive from Lisbon to Porto but the road tolls can add up and the electronic collection system can be confusing.
Post Box in Portugal
It’s hard to miss the red post boxes all around Lisbon and Porto. You can buy stamps at the Portuguese Post Office, or Correio. Offices are closed on Sundays and make sure to check hours for Saturday. You can also purchase postage at many of the local newsstands, they often have longer opening hours as well.
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