Travelling to Portugal is amongst the most popular destinations for Irish travellers. Whether you are willing to travel for leisure, to visit family or friends, or for business purposes, Portugal has what you need!
However, organising your trip to Portugal demands a little preparation. Hopefully, this useful article written by our experts at Trazler will guide you through the most important steps to make the most out of your trip to Portugal!
From the culturally-filled cities of Lisbon, Sintra or Porto to the picturesque beaches of the Algarve region and the beautiful landscapes of the Douro Valley, Portugal is the ideal destination for all purposes of travel! Read along to find out more.
Preparing your trip to Portugal: all there is to know
Make sure you have the appropriate travel documentation
Ireland and Portugal both being European Union member states, no travel visa is required for Irish travellers going to Portugal. All you need is an up-to-date passport or passport card, valid for the entirety of your stay.
Also, no Covid-19 proof of vaccination or immunity is required to travel to Portugal, so travelling to Portugal from Ireland is really as easy as it gets!
Register for a European Health Insurance Card
We can only hope you won’t need health treatment on your trip, but one can never be so sure! As such, make sure you register for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before you leave! This useful card enables you to access free medical care from any European Union member state, get yours now via this link.
Stay in touch with your Irish representatives
This goes without saying, it’s important to stay in touch with your diplomatic and consular representatives whilst travelling abroad. This is useful to get any updates and alerts on specific situations. Make sure you follow the Irish Embassy in Lisbon on Twitter and the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs’ Travel Advice Twitter page. For all other useful travel information, make sure you have a look at their handy “Know before you go” guide!
Save emergency contact information on your phone
One can never be so sure of unforeseen circumstances, so make sure you keep the following contact numbers with you at all times:
- All emergency services in Portugal can be reached by dialling 112;
- The Irish Embassy in Lisbon can be reached at +351 21 330 8200;
- A duty officer at the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs can be reached at +353 1 408 2000.
Please note: the country-specific dialler code in Portugal is +351.
Make sure you bring your Irish driver’s licence with you
If you’re planning on getting around in Portugal with a car, we’ve got good news. Your normal Irish driver’s licence is valid for driving in Portugal. Simply make sure it’s still valid, and you’re good to go. However, please note that cars drive on the right side of the road, that traffic is usually much faster, and that the car accident rate is higher than in Ireland. With this in mind, you’re good to go!
No need to change currency!
Both Ireland and Portugal use the euro (€) as their local currency, so you won’t have to make any prior currency arrangements! Make sure you have a Visa or Mastercard bank card as these are the most commonly accepted in Portugal. Moreover, be sure to bring some cash with you, as some smaller establishments may not accept card payments.
Booking your best holidays to Portugal from Ireland
Choose which airport to leave from
Flying to Portugal from Dublin Airport (DUB) is probably the easiest choice. Indeed, you’ll be able to get direct flights to all Portuguese major cities, including Lisbon, Porto and Faro. Transfer options to get to Dublin airport from all parts of the country include bus, taxi, and car transfers, so you should be able to get there without hassle.
You may also consider flying to Portugal from Ireland West Airport in Knock (NOC). This could be an appropriate choice if you’re from the North or West of Ireland, given that flights are usually quite cheap from Knock airport! Consider your transfer options, and get ready to book!
Choose which airport to arrive to
Flying from Ireland to Portugal may seem pretty straightforward, but in reality, there’s a wide range of destinations for you to get to.
- From Dublin, enjoy a direct flight to either Lisbon, Porto or Faro, depending on where you’re looking to stay.
- From Knock, get yourself a direct flight to Faro, or a connecting flight to all other major airports, connecting flights in either Dublin or London.
- From either airport, consider a connecting flight to Madeira, the famous Portuguese archipelago off the northwestern coast of Africa. This may be an interesting travel destination if you’re looking for a more exotic getaway!
Book your flights
Booking your flights from Ireland to Portugal is simple and easy thanks to Trazler’s smart online booking platform. Head to our website now, and start booking! Simply enter your selected airport, and your inbound and outbound date preferences, and let us do the magic! Our platform instantly compares airline prices and options to help you make the most informed choice!
Trazler’s useful tips for smarter bookings
If you’re looking to save both time and money on your holidays from Ireland, then you’ve come to the right place! Consider the following useful booking tips to get you on the right track.
- Be sure to book your flights to Portugal in advance. Although this may seem obvious, we can only emphasise this enough. The best way to save is to book ahead. For instance, booking your journey over a month in advance could help you save up to 40% on your overall travel costs!
- Travel to Portugal during off-peak season. Indeed, one of the best tips we have for you is to avoid booking holidays for the peak of the summer, i.e. from June to August. For instance, travelling in September instead of the midst of the summer can get you up to 50% total savings on your trip, quite significant!
- Book midweek and early morning or late evening flights to ensure you have the best value for your money! Indeed, bargain flights are usually at times when people don’t usually consider travelling, i.e. during the week and at inconvenient times.
- Consider booking a transfer flight instead of a direct flight! Yes, this is less convenient than flying straight from Dublin to Lisbon, but potential savings could be more interesting than you think, so be sure to keep this in mind.
Hopefully, following all of these handy tips will help you save both time and money on booking your holiday to Portugal. Head to our smart online booking platform at Trazler now to make your booking experience as easy as it gets!
Using Trazler to book smarter
Step one: select your flights
Selecting your lights is now a whole lot easier thanks to Trazler’s smart online platform. Select your inbound and outbound dates, preferred airports, and let us do the rest! You’ll be able to choose between flying from Knock or Dublin, comparing prices in a couple clicks! Read our dedicated article about booking flights to Faro here.
Step two: book your accommodation in Portugal
Once your flights are selected, it’s time to book your accommodation. Luckily for you, this happens all in one place on Trazler’s booking platform, so you’ll be ready to travel in only a couple clicks.
Forget comparing stays on tens on internet tabs, we’ve combined everything in a single ergonomic tool at Trazler! Our platform lets you compare options from a wide range of prices, consumer ratings, and consumer reviews! For instance, if you’re planning to travel to Faro, we’ve got your back with over 20 suitable stays in the surroundings. Check them out now!
Step three: book your airport transfer options or car rentals
Once again, Trazler’s got you covered for booking your airport transfer options or car rentals. Once you’ve selected your flights and hotel, you’re only a couple clicks away from selecting your dream airport transfer or car.
Driving around in Portugal can be an interesting choice if you’re looking to get to the countryside! Select your car, bring your driver’s licence, and you’re good to go! Read our dedicated article about car rentals in Faro here.
Step four: enjoy your stay in Portugal!
Whether you’re going to Lisbon, Porto, Faro, or Madeira, Trazler has got your back to make sure you enjoy your well-deserved holiday! Head to our useful blog page to see all our best recommendations on travelling to Portugal from Ireland. Get booking now!
Conclusion
Travelling to Portugal is a great idea for any leisure or business trip from Ireland! Hopefully, this article will have provided you with all the most important key steps for travelling to Portugal.
First and foremost, make sure you have all the appropriate travel preparation for your trip. Find out all there is to know on the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs’ website.
Once you’ve got that done, head straight to booking your trip! Use Trazler’s smart and efficient online booking platform to make your booking experience as easy as it gets. Select your desired travel dates, the number of people you are travelling with, your desired destination, and let us do the rest!
