In the past, Portugal, located at the southwestern tip of Europe,has remained somewhat isolated from Spain and has its own unique culture. Today, Portugal is a great value as a travel destination. The countryside is beautiful, the cities are lively, and the landscape is diverse thanks to its north to south location along the Iberian Peninsula’s western shore. One day trip takes you from the glamorous beaches near Algarve across the desert-like landscape in the Alentejo region and on to the lush green mountains in the north.
Portugal is a member of the Schengen Agreement, and no border patrols exist between them and any other European Union nations that have implemented the treaty. Be sure to check ahead, because not all EU members are a part of the treaty, and there may be spot customs checks. Non-EU citizens who are visa-exempt such as Australia and New Zealand, EEA, EU, and citizens of Switzerland only need a passport valid for their stay in Portugal. Other nationals requiring a visa must have a passport valid for three months beyond their stay.
You can get a flight from most any major airline to Portugal. Additionally, the country has its own airlines (TAP Portugal and SATA/Azores Airlines). A few no-frills airlines like Monarch and easyJet offer flights to Lisbon, Porto, and Faro at competitive prices. US residents can fly to Lisbon from Philadelphia, Boston, Oakland, and Providence with SATA International/Azores Airlines. United flies from Newark and Washington. TAP Portugal flies from Newark, New York, Miami, and Boston. All of these flights are seasonal.
Submitted by Dev Randhawa. Follow Dev Randhawa, a US born travel blogger, for tips and tricks to make full-time travel easier.
