Is Portugal a good place for Americans to visit?

This sunny European destination has it all — great beaches, incredible history, and color around every corner. It's definitely a safe place for travelers (as long as they follow a couple of common-sense guidelines). With some local help, we've put together this guide for staying safe in Portugal.



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As an added bonus, the Portuguese people are friendly, welcoming to all visitors regardless of where they come from and a large portion of the population speaks English.

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Portugal is one of the most affordable countries in Western Europe, with food available at affordable prices, cheap options for accommodation, and reasonable costs for transport.

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While the cost of living can vary depending on location and personal preferences, Portugal tends to be slightly cheaper than Spain for accommodation, food, and transportation. Both countries offer beautiful scenery, rich culture, and delicious food, making them great destinations for travelers on a budget.

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What are Portugal's prices for food and drink? Portugal's prices for food and drink are cheap. To eat out, you can pay as little as €15 for dinner, with a bottle of wine at a restaurant costing €10. You can choose to eat in cheaper places for just €10.

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Shorts are fine on the beach, but if you wear them around the city, you'll quickly brand yourself as a tourist. At nicer restaurants, bars and nightclubs, you'll want to follow the local lead and dress things up a bit.

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The majority of expats in Algarve are in Tavira, Vilamoura, Lagos, Faro, Albufeira, Alvor and Ferragudo. These towns also happen to attract a large amount of tourists each year, so they can get quite busy during high season. If you're more into quiet towns, then rural areas of the Algarve are perfect.

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While there are definitely far more beautiful places to see in Portugal, from Óbidos to the Berlengas Islands to Monsanto and beyond, there's no doubt that you can cover a bigger percentage of Portugal's top destinations in one trip than you can Spain's.

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The verdict. Deciding which country has the best beaches for you really depends on what you're looking for. Whereas Spain is graced by the warmer waters of the Mediterranean and the chilled-out beach life that comes with it, Portugal benefits from the lively waters of the Atlantic and some truly epic scenery.

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Big sister Lisbon is twice the size, more cosmopolitan, faster paced and 200 miles further south, so in summer it can be sweltering. Compact, walkable Porto has a more traditional feel and is cooled by Atlantic breezes through summer, though fog and rain can roll in via the same route during the winter.

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