What shoes should I wear in Lisbon and Porto?

Comfortable walking shoes with proper grip and support are essential. Lisbon and Porto are built on hills and paved almost entirely in calçada portuguesa — small limestone cobblestones that are beautiful but brutal on thin-soled footwear. Slip-resistant soles are important, particularly when the cobblestones are wet. Trainers or hiking shoes work better than sandals or fashion shoes.

Do I need a plug adapter for Portugal?

Portugal uses the EU standard Type F plug (two round pins, 230V). The same adaptor used in France, Germany, Spain, and most of Europe works in Portugal. UK travellers need a UK-to-EU adaptor. US/Canadian travellers need a US-to-EU adaptor and should check whether their devices support 230V (most modern electronics do — check the label).

Is sun protection important in Portugal?

Yes, particularly from April through October. Portugal's UV index in summer is among the highest in Europe — similar to southern Spain. SPF 50 sunscreen, a hat, and UV-protective sunglasses are essential for summer visitors. Sunscreen is available everywhere but significantly more expensive at beach resort shops than at supermarkets or pharmacies.

Do I need a wetsuit for surfing in Portugal?

Yes in most months. Water temperature ranges from 14°C in winter to 22°C in summer. A 4/3mm wetsuit is standard from October through April; a 3mm or 2mm is adequate from May through September. Surf shops in Ericeira, Peniche, and the Algarve rent wetsuits if you don't want to carry your own.

Is there anything I definitely don't need to pack for Portugal?

Formal dress beyond one outfit for a nicer restaurant. Heavy clothing unless visiting in January or February (and even then, a mid-weight jacket suffices in Lisbon and the Algarve). Large quantities of medications — Portuguese farmácias carry most common products and pharmacists are trained to advise on equivalents.

Portugal Packing List | The Portugal Guides

What to pack for Portugal depends significantly on when you are going, what you plan to do, and which regions you will visit. This guide covers the essentials for each season and specific activities, plus a list of items that seem necessary but typically aren’t.

Year-Round Essentials

Footwear — The Most Important Item

The most common complaint from first-time visitors to Lisbon and Porto is sore feet. Both cities are built on steep hills and paved almost entirely in calçada portuguesa — small, hand-set limestone cobblestones. These are distinctive, beautiful, and unforgiving on thin-soled shoes.

What works:

Running shoes or sturdy trainers with cushioned soles
Hiking shoes or light trail runners
Well-worn leather shoes with solid soles

What doesn’t work:

Fashion trainers with flat, thin soles
High heels of any height (functionally impossible on wet cobblestones)
Flip-flops or sandals for any serious walking
New shoes that haven’t been broken in

The cobblestones are also slippery when wet. Grip matters as much as cushioning.

Layers for Evenings

Even in July and August, Lisbon and Porto evenings cool. A light jacket or cardigan is useful on outdoor terraces after 22:00. In the Algarve, summer nights are warmer but a light layer remains useful.

Documents and Administration

Passport (essential — ID cards from non-EU countries are not accepted)
EHIC/GHIC card (EU/UK citizens)
Travel insurance documents (policy number, emergency line on paper)
Copies of passport (photo on phone + physical copy stored separately)
NIF (Portuguese tax number) if you have one — required for some purchases and receipts

Electronics

Plug adaptor: EU Type F (two round pins). Same as most of Europe. Voltage is 230V — check your device chargers (most modern devices handle this automatically).
Portable charger: useful for long city walking days
Offline maps: download Google Maps or Maps.me offline tiles for Portugal before travelling — useful in areas with patchy data coverage

Summer Packing (June–September)

Sun Protection — Essential, Not Optional

Portugal’s summer UV index regularly reaches 9–11 (extreme). Sunburn is faster than expected, particularly for visitors from northern Europe.

SPF 50+ sunscreen: available everywhere but notably expensive in beach resort shops (a 200ml bottle can cost €15–20 in a Algarve beach shop vs €6–8 at a Continente or Pingo Doce supermarket). Buy at a supermarket on arrival if you haven’t brought enough.
Sunhat: essential for extended outdoor sightseeing or beach days
UV sunglasses: protective (UV400) sunglasses, not fashion lenses
Lightweight, breathable fabrics: linen and technical fabrics handle the heat better than cotton, which stays damp with sweat. Avoid dark colours in direct sun.

Beach Days

Reef-safe sunscreen (encouraged in protected coastal areas)
Dry bag for valuables at the beach (leaving phones and wallets on the sand while swimming is the leading cause of theft at Portuguese beaches)
Travel towel if you want to pack light (some Algarve beaches rent sun loungers and umbrellas from €5–10 each)
Waterproof sandals for rocky beaches

Evenings and Going Out

Summer dress code in Portugal is casual by Mediterranean standards. Smart-casual is appropriate for most mid-range restaurants. A single dressier outfit covers any occasion short of a formal wedding.

Winter Packing (November–February)

Waterproofs

Northern Portugal (Porto, Minho) gets significant winter rain — more annual rainfall than London, concentrated in the cooler months. A waterproof jacket with taped seams is more useful than an umbrella in Porto’s wind.

In Lisbon, rain is less persistent but still frequent. A mid-weight waterproof layer is sufficient. The Algarve gets much less rain than the north.

Warm Layers

Temperatures in Lisbon range 8–15°C in January. Porto is colder at 6–12°C. This is not extreme cold but requires real layering:

Base layer
Mid-layer (fleece or wool sweater)
Outer waterproof layer
Hat and gloves for evenings in Porto and northern regions

The Algarve in winter needs only a light jacket for daytime and a slightly warmer layer for evenings.

Surf Trip Packing

Portugal is a major surf destination, and surfing gear is available to rent at all main surf centres (Ericeira, Peniche, Nazaré, Alentejo coast, Sagres). If you’re travelling light, renting is entirely practical. If you prefer your own gear:

Wetsuits by Month

Month	Recommended wetsuit
October–April	4/3mm full suit + booties optional
May–June	3/2mm full suit
July–September	2/2mm shorty or 3/2mm

Water temperature peaks at 22°C in August (south Algarve) and drops to 14°C in February (north coast). The Atlantic coast is colder than the south coast year-round.

Surf Equipment

Surf shops in Ericeira (Ripcurl, Quicksilver, local shops), Peniche (several surf schools), and the Algarve rent:

Surfboards (€15–25/day)
Wetsuits (€10–15/day)
Bodyboards (€10/day)

If you’re a beginner or only surf occasionally, renting avoids the logistics of travelling with a board bag (and the associated airline surcharges, typically €50–80 each way on budget airlines).

What You Don’t Need to Bring

Large first-aid kit: Portuguese farmácias are excellent, widely available, and pharmacists speak reasonable English. Basic medications (antihistamines, pain relief, diarrhoea treatment, plasters) are cheaper than at home and easy to find.
Large quantities of sunscreen: buy at a Pingo Doce or Continente supermarket on arrival. Far cheaper than at beach resorts.
Formal clothes: Portugal is casual. A pair of trousers and a collared shirt covers virtually any dress code you will encounter.
Rain poncho: a waterproof jacket is more practical and less embarrassing.
Travel hairdryer: every hotel and most guesthouses provide one. Don’t pack it.
Portuguese phrasebook: Portuguese people in tourist areas speak excellent English. Learning 5–10 words of Portuguese (obrigado/a, por favor, bom dia) is polite and always appreciated, but a phrasebook is not necessary.

Currency and Money

Portugal uses the euro (€). Cards (Visa, Mastercard) are accepted at virtually all restaurants, hotels, petrol stations, and shops including small cafés. Even many market stalls now accept card.
Cash is useful for: small pastelarias, market stalls, public toilet attendants (€0.50), and tips
ATMs (Multibanco machines) are ubiquitous and generally charge lower fees than airport currency exchanges. Use ATMs attached to bank branches for security.
Notify your bank before travelling to avoid card blocks.

Portugal Packing List — What to Bring for Every Season