Portugal is a country located on the western coast of the Iberian Peninsula in Europe. It is known for its beautiful beaches, historic villages, and delicious cuisine. The capital of Portugal is Lisbon, and the official language is Portuguese.
Portugal has a rich history that dates back to the Roman Empire. In the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal was a major global power, with colonies and trading posts in Africa, Asia, and South America. This period of exploration and conquest is known as the Age of Discovery.
Today, Portugal is a member of the European Union and a popular tourist destination. Visitors can enjoy the country's many beaches, explore its historic cities and towns, or sample its famous wine and cuisine. It is also known for its traditional fado music and dance, which is an important part of Portuguese culture. Plus the food is unreal. Spend at least two nights in the Algarve region or you are not seeing the real Portugal.
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Getting around Portugal is really easy by bus and train. It is a small compact country after all.
Buses 🚍
I always book Flixbus to get around Europe. Consisten brand and experience across the continent. Washrooms on board usually work. Plus I can book a buddy seat beside me for a couple Euros more to have that seat empty. There is Rede Expressos buses everywhere as well but I have not taken them
Trains 🚆
At least in Portugal, I find Omni has a lot of good train options. I also sometimes look at Trainline and Rail Ninja.
If it's not high season, odds are you can just walk up to the counter 30 minutes before a train leaves and buy a ticket. Price won't be much different vs buying 2 weeks out. I did more than a few last minute train trips in the Algarve region. One quirk in Algarve is they don't announce stops nor have digital signs that tell you where you are on the train. Have your phone charged so you can get off at the right station stop. You don't always see the station name when on the train. They do have washrooms on the train too.
<aside> 🎏 Checkout my Portugal food Reviews on Google Maps.
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<aside> 🏪 Pingo Doce is my favourite Portuguese supermarket. They are pretty much everywhere. Their in-store restaurant's are good. They sometimes sell jello!
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<aside> 💡 Pro Tip:
When you sit down at restaurants in Portugal, they put a few plates out with some snacks, bread, olives, etc. If you touch them, you pay for them. If you say no thanks, or just push them to the side, then you don’t have to pay for them! They are only a couple Euros each, but if you don’t want them, don’t eat them.
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