How to travel to Portugal from the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Mexico and Ireland

Travel to Portugal from the USA

Flights

Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport is Portugal's main long-haul gateway, and some airlines fly direct from several US cities to Lisbon at times, mainly on the East Coast, such as New York, Newark, Boston and Miami, and in some seasons from other cities too. Some routes also reach Porto, and Ponta Delgada in the Azores has had direct flights from the US East Coast at times. Check current schedules. Flight time from the East Coast to Lisbon is usually roughly 6.5–8 hours. From the West Coast, connecting through an East Coast city or a European hub, a total of roughly 13–17 hours is common.

Entry

Portugal is in the Schengen area. US passport holders can usually visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, counted across all Schengen countries together. The EU Entry/Exit System registers non-EU travellers at the border, and ETIAS is a planned travel authorisation; check travel-europe.europa.eu for current timing and travel.state.gov for advice.

Time difference and jet lag

Mainland Portugal is usually 5 hours ahead of New York and 8 hours ahead of the West Coast. The Azores are one hour behind the mainland. Overnight flights land in the morning, so stay awake until evening, walk outside and keep the first day relaxed.

Planning tip

Lisbon is a popular first stop on a wider European trip. If you fly into Lisbon and home from another city, make sure your total Schengen days stay within 90.

Travel to Portugal from the UK

Flights

The UK has a very wide choice of flights to Portugal. Some airlines fly direct from London and from regional airports such as Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh and Glasgow at times, to Lisbon, Porto and Faro, with routes to Madeira and in some seasons the Azores. Check current schedules, as many routes vary by season. Flight time to Lisbon or Porto is usually roughly 2.5 hours, and to Faro roughly 2.5–3 hours.

You can fly into Porto and home from Lisbon or Faro, which saves backtracking on a north-to-south trip.

Entry

Since the UK left the EU, British passport holders are treated as non-EU visitors. They can usually stay in the Schengen area visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180 days, and are registered under the EU Entry/Exit System on their first crossing. Check gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/portugal and travel-europe.europa.eu for ETIAS timing.

Time difference

Mainland Portugal uses the same time as the UK all year, as both change their clocks on the same dates. The Azores are one hour behind. There is no jet lag, so a long weekend or one week works well.

By land and sea

Some travellers take the train through France and Spain, or a ferry from the UK to northern Spain and then drive or travel by train into Portugal. It is slower but suits a longer trip.

Travel to Portugal from Canada

Flights

Some airlines fly direct from Toronto and Montreal to Lisbon at times, with some routes to Porto, and flights have also linked Toronto with the Azores in some seasons; check current schedules. Flight time from Toronto or Montreal to Lisbon is usually roughly 6.5–7.5 hours. From Vancouver, Calgary or other cities, most travellers connect through Toronto, Montreal or a European hub, with a total journey of roughly 13–18 hours.

Canada has a large Portuguese community, especially in Ontario, which is one reason transatlantic links are fairly good, particularly in summer.

Entry

Canadian passport holders can usually visit the Schengen area, including Portugal, visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. You will be registered under the EU Entry/Exit System, and ETIAS is planned for visa-exempt visitors; check travel-europe.europa.eu for its current timing and travel.gc.ca for official advice.

Time difference and jet lag

Mainland Portugal is usually 5 hours ahead of Toronto and Montreal and 8 hours ahead of Vancouver. The Azores are one hour behind the mainland. Take an overnight flight, sleep if you can and get daylight on arrival. Lisbon's hills are tiring, so plan a short walk and an early night on day one.

Planning tip

Flying into Lisbon and out of Porto, with the train between them, is an easy shape for a first trip of a week or ten days.

Travel to Portugal from Australia

Flights

There are no direct flights from Australia to Portugal. Most travellers connect through a Middle Eastern hub such as Doha, Dubai or Abu Dhabi, an Asian hub such as Singapore, or another European city, then fly on to Lisbon or Porto. Total journey times are usually roughly 23–30 hours from the east coast and a little less from Perth, depending on connections.

Many Australians include Portugal in a longer European trip, often flying into Lisbon and home from another city on a multi-city ticket.

Entry

Australian passport holders can usually visit the Schengen area, including Portugal, visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. That limit is shared across all Schengen countries, which matters on long European trips. Check smartraveller.gov.au and travel-europe.europa.eu for EES and ETIAS details before you go.

Time difference and jet lag

Mainland Portugal is usually 9–11 hours behind Sydney and Melbourne, depending on daylight saving in both countries, and 7–8 hours behind Perth. The long journey is tiring, so a stopover night in Asia or the Middle East can help. On arrival, get outside in daylight and avoid sleeping before the evening.

Seasons

Portugal's best months, usually April to June and September to October, are the Australian autumn and spring. The northern summer, July and August, coincides with the Australian winter and is popular but busy and hot inland.

Travel to Portugal from Mexico

Flights

The most common routes from Mexico connect through Madrid or another European hub, or through a US city, then fly on to Lisbon or Porto. Check whether any direct service between Mexico and Lisbon is running on your dates, as routes change. Mexico City to Madrid is usually roughly 10–12 hours, and Madrid to Lisbon about an hour, so plan on roughly 13–18 hours in total including the connection.

Many travellers from Mexico combine Portugal with Spain. Madrid and Lisbon are linked by flights and by road, and you can travel overland between the two countries.

Entry

Mexican passport holders can usually visit the Schengen area, including Portugal, visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. You may be asked about your return ticket, accommodation and funds. The EU Entry/Exit System applies, and ETIAS is planned for visa-exempt visitors; check travel-europe.europa.eu and gob.mx/sre before you book.

Time difference

Mainland Portugal is usually 6 hours ahead of Mexico City in the northern winter and 7 hours ahead in summer, as Mexico City no longer changes its clocks. It is 5–6 hours ahead of Cancún. Overnight flights to Europe help: sleep on the long leg and stay awake until the evening after you land.

Language

Portuguese and Spanish are related, and many Spanish speakers can read signs and menus. Spoken Portuguese is harder to follow at first, but people in tourist areas often switch to English or Spanish.

Travel to Portugal from Ireland

Flights

Some airlines fly direct from Dublin to Lisbon, Porto and Faro at times, and seasonal routes from Cork, Shannon and Knock have run in some years; check current schedules. Flight time from Dublin to Lisbon or Faro is usually roughly 2.5–3 hours, and to Porto a little less. Madeira also has seasonal links in some years.

Travellers from Northern Ireland can use Belfast, where some routes run at times, or fly from Dublin.

Entry

Irish citizens are EU citizens and can travel to Portugal with a valid passport or Irish passport card. Ireland is not part of the Schengen area, so you still show your document at the border, but the 90-day limit, EES and ETIAS do not apply to Irish citizens. Check dfa.ie/travel before you go. If you are a non-EU resident of Ireland, Schengen rules for your nationality apply.

Time difference

Mainland Portugal uses the same time as Ireland all year, as both change their clocks on the same dates. The Azores are one hour behind. There is no jet lag, which makes Portugal an easy choice for a short break or a first solo trip.

Planning tip

Because flights are short, it is easy to fly into one city and out of another, for example into Porto and home from Faro after travelling south by train and bus. Check flight days first, as some routes do not run daily.

Arriving in Portugal on your own

Airport to city

Lisbon airport is close to the city. The metro's red line runs from the airport into central Lisbon, connecting with other lines, and taxis and ride-hailing cars wait outside; a trip to the centre usually takes around 20–30 minutes depending on traffic. Porto airport has a metro line into the city centre, and Faro airport is linked to the town by bus and taxi, a short drive away.

Arriving at night

Late arrivals are common. The metro stops running late at night, so check the last train time for your date. After that, ride-hailing apps or the official taxi rank are the easiest options. Lisbon's historic districts are hilly with steep, cobbled lanes, so a car to the door is helpful with luggage.

First hours

• Buy a rechargeable transport card at the airport metro station in Lisbon or Porto.
• Cards are widely accepted, but carry a little cash for small cafés.
• If you are from outside the EU, data roaming may be expensive; consider a local SIM or eSIM.
• Allow extra time at passport control on your first EES registration.

Joining a group trip on arrival

Group trips usually start in Lisbon or Porto. Arriving a day early is especially helpful after a long-haul flight and lets you explore the neighbourhood around the meeting point. Send your flight details to the organiser, check whether airport transfers are included and note the time of the welcome meeting.

Best time to fly to Portugal

Portugal is usually most comfortable from April to June and in September and October. July and August are peak season, when flights and rooms cost more and the Algarve is busy.

From the northern hemisphere

From the UK and Ireland, Portugal works almost all year thanks to short flights, with winter suiting city breaks and Madeira. From North America and Mexico, spring and early autumn give a good balance of weather and demand, and transatlantic schedules are often fuller in summer. Easter and the June saints' festivals in Lisbon and Porto are busy, so book early for those dates.

From the southern hemisphere

For Australians, Portugal's spring and autumn are the Australian autumn and spring. Many plan a longer European trip in those shoulder seasons and use Portugal as a first or last stop.

Booking tips

• Keep track of your total Schengen days if you are combining several countries.
• Flying into Porto and out of Lisbon or Faro, or the reverse, saves time.
• Allow a buffer day before a group trip starts on long-haul routes.

Combine Portugal with Morocco

Portugal and Morocco are close neighbours across the Atlantic edge of the Mediterranean, but there is no regular ferry for travellers between the two, so most people fly or travel through Spain.

Flying

Some airlines fly between Lisbon, Porto or Faro and Moroccan cities such as Marrakech, Casablanca and others at times; check current schedules. Flights are short, usually roughly 1.5–2 hours, which makes it easy to add Morocco to a Portugal trip, or the other way round.

Overland through Spain

Travellers with more time can travel from the Algarve or Lisbon into southern Spain, then take a ferry across the Strait of Gibraltar from Tarifa or Algeciras to Tangier. This is slower but lets you see Seville or the Andalusian coast on the way.

Entry and timing

Days in Portugal and Spain count towards the Schengen 90-day limit for many non-EU visitors; days in Morocco do not. Morocco has its own entry rules for your passport, so check them separately. Seasons fit well: spring and autumn are good in both countries, while summer is hot in inland Morocco and busy on the Algarve.