The Ultimate Packing guide for a Trip to Portugal

Packing for your Portugal trip is probably one of the easiest trips to plan for. Its sunny days, beautiful beaches and amazing seafood are just a few reasons Portugal is the perfect travel destination. But anyone that is unfamiliar with the cobblestones, stairs, and many hills might find themselves spending more time handling luggage than enjoying their journey. So if you are thinking about traveling to Portugal, let us help you decide on the best things to pack!

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The best way to pack for Portugal is to Travel Light!

One of the most asked questions I see on social medial and other sites about traveling to Portugal is what luggage should I take? Portugal and Europe are known for their cobblestone streets and sidewalks and lugging around big heavy luggage can get very tiresome very quickly especially if you are in a hilly city such as Lisbon or Porto.

We usually pack light meaning that we can get away with carry-on luggage for a week or two easily. We pack for the weather and make sure that there is a washer or a way to wash our clothes. Most of the time, we figure this in about half way through our trip.

Carry-on luggage is a good option for several reasons. One, many discount airlines will only allow one carryon and that’s it. Plus, we don’t like to take the chance of the airline misplacing our bags. Furthermore, smaller luggage makes it much easier to climb steps, navigate very bumpy and narrow streets and sidewalks and there is always the chance that your Air B&B doesn’t have a lift. I speak from experience.

Plus, if you are on and off trains and buses, you sometimes need to move very quickly. Having luggage you can carry makes this much easier, especially when your traveling partner goes to the bathroom right before boarding and you are in charge of all the luggage (this has happened more than once). A carry-on bag also means you can store your bag above your seat or next to you on a train which prevents theft and tampering.

Backpacks are also a good choice for traveling light if you are in good shape and don’t mind carrying all the weight at one time. A duffle bag to me seems too awkward and heavy to carry, but if it is a small bag, it might be a good choice for you.

Wear practical and comfortable shoes

Portugal sidewalks are cobblestones and they are NOT smooth. Plus, you are probably going to do lots of walking. Good walking shoes are an excellent choice. Plus, since we are packing light, you don’t want to pack too many pairs of shoes. They add weight and take up a lot of space.

I know, this is sometimes hard, especially if you are thinking about going out to a nice dinner and sneakers ruin the outfit. I will sometimes take a pair of sandals, but mostly they are hiking sandals and can deal with the cobblestones.

If you are planning any back country trips or hiking along the cliffs of the Atlantic Ocean, you may want to consider hiking shoes. I have a pair of Keens that I wear on trips that can handle dirt trails and sidewalks and my feet are comfortable all day.

Packing Clothing

This really depends on what you feel comfortable in, but many people will ask about what to wear in Portugal. You are a tourist, so you are going to stand out no matter what. But, I will say that most Portuguese people dress well. They do not come out of the house in sweats or unkempt clothes (unless they are going to the gym and even then, they look good).

Summer Months

In the summer, it is usually quite warm, but cools down at night. You might want a light jacket or pants to wear out to dinner. I find it best to always dress in layers. I have been known to be at a dinner in the middle of August and wish I had brought a jacket.

If you are headed to the Algarve and beach areas, it does get hot–very hot–in the summer. Pack shorts, light coloured shirts, and don’t forget your bathing suit! I’d also take a hat and pack sunglasses too.

Also, remember you are trying to stay light so being versatile in your choices helps a great deal. For a two week trip, I usually pack 3 pairs of shorts, 4 shirts, a jacket, pair of pants, and underwear and socks for 6-8 days. I know that around the time I am low on underwear, laundry definitely needs to be done. There is always a laundromat that usually washes and dries clothes in about an hour.

Your hotel might also have a service for you. If you stay in Air B&B’s, you are likely to have a washer but not a dryer. Sometimes you have to be creative.

Winter Months

During the months of October to April, it rains here a lot so bring a rain jacket and and umbrella that does well in the wind. It can get rather cold here especially on rainy days so it is a good idea to bring a heavier winter coat and hat for the strong winds. Porto especially is chilly even in March! I used a light down coat and a hat most of the time.

Packing Electronics

In Portugal, the power plugs and sockets are of type F. The standard voltage is 230 V, and the standard frequency is 50 Hz per second. What does that mean?

You will need an adapter if you are coming from outside the EU. We use this one. It has two plugs and 4 USB jacks including a lightening jack. If you have an Apple product, the voltage automatically converts so your product is fine. Others, check about using a converter, especially for electric razors, toothbrush, hair dryer, etc. But remember, you are packing light anyway! Your hotel or Air B&B will probably provide a hair dryer anyway. Just check with them first.

Phone battery backups and SIM cards

You might also want to bring a battery back up or power pack for your phone or camera. Most newer phones can go 24 hours before needing a charge but the more you use the camera, google, and google maps, the more you use that battery. We take a small one with us just in case.

Check with your phone carrier about phone plan deals when traveling overseas. We used to be on a plan with Verizon where we paid about $10 a day for phone service. That can get expensive when you are here for more than a week. Most mobile carriers here have some sort of SIM or eSIM you can purchase. I have used the Vodafone data card before and it works perfectly, plus it is only €20 for 30 days. There is a Vodafone kiosk in the Lisbon airport, but I recommend going into any Vodafone store.

Most places have free WIFI you just have to ask. We have a friend that only uses WIFI when she travels and she did just fine for a couple of weeks here.

Cosmetics and Lotions

Packing certain cosmetics and lotions are personal choices. Since we only bring a carryon, I usually end up with hair gel and contact solution. Many hotels and Air B&B’s have shampoo and body wash but if they don’t, you can get them fairly cheaply here. The one thing that is really expensive is sunscreen, and in the summer months, you need it! Depending on how long you are staying, I would bring a small tube (or several) with you especially if you burn easily.

Bags and Backpacks

Portugal is one of the safest countries in the world but there is still pickpocketing and petty theft, especially in tourist areas. In most of the countryside, we see people leave their purses and phones on tables and go inside to use the bathroom or pay for food. DON’T DO THAT IN BIG TOURIST AREAS.

When we go into Lisbon or Porto (or any big city) we usually use public transportation so we take our bags that have locks on them. Beth loves the Travelon Hobo bag It does not look like a hobo bag, but it has lots of pockets and locks down. I like Pacsafe products. I really like this Metrosafe bag. It looks small but I can fit lots of stuff in it and I can attach it to my chair or table with the adjustable strap. It doubles as my day pack. It’s lightweight until I start filling it up, but I carry not only my wallet and keys but a change purse, notebook, tripod/selfie stick, a jacket, glasses, and other small items. Plus, we use this as a personal item when we fly and it makes it easy to pack a lot in one bag.

I also have a Venture Pal pack that I will take on occasion, especially if I know I am going to the beach or for long days on a tour. It is foldable so it is easy to pack and it allows me to pack a towel or bathing suit if needed.

Packing Other Really Important Travel Essentials

There are a few other essentials to mention as you are getting reading for the best trip ever. One, make sure you have a travel-friendly bank card. This will help with all purchases and will also help with exchange rates on ATMS. ALWAYS use a Multibanco ATM and not a Euronet. Reject the conversion rate twice so that your bank gives you the exchange rate and not Euronet. Credit Cards are used a great deal in bigger cities but in small villages and stores, make sure you have some cash.

We have several covers for our Passports but never use them. We always have to take them out of the carrier when presenting them so we have let them sit in a drawer for now.

Water bottles are also something many people want to bring along. Personally, my bag doesn’t handle a large water bottle so I always buy a small one and refill it with tap water or water from the meal. You usually don’t see many people walking around with big water bottles, but know that you usually have to pay for water with your meals.

One important thing you should not leave without is travel insurance. It will help cover the cost of lost luggage, canceled flights, health services and other problems that may come up. We always use World Nomads. They are affordable and have different plans to chose from.

So what should I pack?

You know that old travel quote that says “when you are traveling layout all your clothes and your money. Then take half your clothes and twice the money.” It’s true. You always need less than you think (except for money.) And Portugal is not a third world country so you will be able to buy what you need. My aunt used to only bring one or two shirts and buy t-shirts as souvenirs and wear them as she went. Sure she looked like a tourist but she always had room in her bag for goodies!

Wondering where you should go in Portugal? Check out our Podcast for trip ideas, tips, and for fun adventures!