Why Portugal is the ‘safer bet’ for Americans traveling to Europe

Lisbon: The best way to describe a Portuguese vacation boils down to one word: easy. During a recent trip with G Adventures and a group of 13 international travelers, I was able to explore over six destinations across Portugal, making connections with locals at every stop.

“Portugal has always been quite popular with our U.S. travelers,” Simone Licciardello, regional operations manager for Western Europe at G Adventures, told USA TODAY in a statement. “I think part of the reason for that is because Portugal has a great balance between culture, food, history, and the outdoors. It is also a safe and affordable destination within Europe for Americans.”

When you look at Portugal on a map, you might wonder how such a small country fended off the Spanish for long enough to keep the coastline. Among the myriad political reasons and historical opportunities, one of them is that the Portuguese had good alliances. Remnants of those influences are all around the country.

There is no shortage of history and sites to visit, especially in Lisbon. And while an itinerary is yours to make, you’d be missing out on immersive sightseeing if you don’t treat yourself to a walking tour of the city.

“It’s a small country that’s easy to navigate. The cities are very accessible on foot. Everything’s quite straightforward in Portugal,” David Stone, Global Head of Sales at Unforgettable Travel Company, told USA TODAY. “You can experience quite a few different things in a short space of time. … If you were a solo traveler and you had any kind of apprehension or you weren’t that sure, I think it’s probably one of the safer bets out in Europe.”

American travelers seem to agree. U.S. interest in Portugal spiked in 2025. According to Booking.com data, year-over-year flight searches were up across every month so far.

The country boasts a plethora of scenic spots, a rich history that tourists can explore, affordable and quality meals, and easy access from most major U.S. airports. Even in places like Nazaré and Amarante, far away from the hordes of tourists at bigger cities like Lisbon and Porto, locals were accommodating in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Despite rising interest, Portugal still offers good value compared to some Western European neighbors. Coffee lovers can sip a “bica” (espresso) for around €1 (about $1.16), or a galão (coffee with milk) for €3 (about $3.48), in most smaller towns. In bigger cities like Lisbon and Porto, you can expect higher prices, but nothing prohibitive.

A full meal ran us about €11 (about $12.78) in a snack bar, around €25 (about $29.12) in a mid-range restaurant, and a little over €65 (about $75.51) at higher-end spots or traditional fado house. The cuisine tends to veer heavily toward fish (cod, specifically), red meat and starches, so make sure to pick restaurants wisely to ensure a good balance. There is plenty of variety, but sticking to typical dishes will have you craving some vegetables.

Train travel is equally wallet-friendly. The high-speed Alfa Pendular from Lisbon to Porto costs around €33.90 to €47.40 (about $39.38 to $55.06), but if travelers book well in advance, they can find lower prices. Day trips to Cascais or Sintra from Lisbon cost less than €3 each way. Trains could even make air travel cheaper or more convenient. During the late-July trip, a couple of people from our group took a train from Porto to Lisbon to catch their return flights, thus saving more than those who flew from Porto and had a stop in Lisbon.

City passes like the Lisboa Card (€31 or about $36 for 24 hours) or Porto Card (starting at €15 or about $17.42 for one day) can help travelers save on transit and museum admissions.

As a result of the growing interest from Americans, G Adventures is adding destinations “beyond just Lisbon to include Porto and the Algarve, and will be adding new trip itineraries that include Portugal, the Azores and Madeira later this year,” according to VP of Product Yves Marceau.

“We’re seeing a lot more people interested in food and wine experiences, but in a different way. People are better educated than they used to be when it comes to vineyards and wines,” Stone said, adding that his clients are increasingly booking experiences that go beyond standard sightseeing. “They actually come to us with quite detailed ideas and plans, especially up in the north of Porto – we’ve got the Douro Valley – so you can have this really nice combination of Porto, which is a beautiful city, and then you haven’t got too far to travel to get out to the Douro Valley as well.”

The Douro region, famous for port wine and terraced vineyards, is less than a two-hour drive or train ride from Porto. Heading there is an activity in itself, with beautiful scenery along the way.

Not every European city is celebrating the influx of Americans and other international visitors. In June, activists under the SET alliance – Southern Europe Against Overtourism – organized protests in Lisbon, Barcelona, Venice and other cities to draw attention to rising housing costs, crowded streets and strained local infrastructure.

“When (officials) say that we have to specialise in tourism, they are basically telling us that you have to get poorer so that other people can get richer,” Barcelona activist Daniel Pardo Rivacoba said.

Portugal hasn’t seen the same volume of protests as Spain, where Barcelona’s 1.6 million residents hosted 26 million tourists in 2024, but Lisbon was among the cities participating in the June demonstrations.

Nevertheless, during our visit, none of us felt unsafe or unwelcome across six different areas of the country.

Best time to visit: Spring (April–June) and fall (September–October) offer mild weather, fewer crowds than peak summer, and lower flight prices. The highest interest spike has been recorded in summer when searches were up by 40% followed by fall and winter when searches were up by 20%, according to data from Expedia based on average daily accommodation rates in March. During spring, Faro was 15% more affordable than Lisbon. Porto was highlighted as one of the most affordable summer destinations, with prices for some hotels such as Forte de Gaia, Autograph Collection dropping by nearly 40% in November compared to August.

New flight: United Airlines started the first U.S. nonstop flight to the island of Madeira in June, with three flights per week between Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport (FNC). The seasonal route is in addition to United’s existing service to four other cities in Portugal: Lisbon, Porto, Faro, and Ponta Delgada in the Azores.

Busiest flights: According to Booking.com, the most popular U.S. routes headed straight for Lisbon were Boston, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, Newark, New York and Washington, D.C. But travelers are also targeting Porto in the north and Ponta Delgada in the Azores.

Entry requirements: U.S. citizens can stay in Portugal and the Schengen area for up to 90 days within a 180-day period without a visa. Your passport must be valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure date. Note: According to the European Union, the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will be implemented for visa-free travelers in the last quarter of 2026, and an application will now cost 20 euros (about $23.20).

Getting around: Portugal’s compact size and solid public transportation make it easy to explore without a car. Urban buses and metro systems are affordable, while long-distance trains connect major cities.

Language: Portuguese is the official language, but English is widely spoken in tourist areas. In smaller towns, Spanish can also help bridge communication gaps.

Portugal’s blend of history, walkable cities, warm hospitality, and affordability is hitting the sweet spot for American travelers. Whether you’re sipping coffee at a café in Lisbon, catching waves in Nazaré, or tasting wine in the Douro Valley, the country offers a range of experiences that feel approachable for first-timers and rewarding for return visitors.

“The feedback we hear most often on our trips is that our travelers feel like they’re getting a more ‘real’ or authentic Portuguese experience,” Licciardello said. “Walking through neighborhoods with our knowledgeable CEOs (chief experience officers), meeting small-scale producers and artisans, and attending insightful food tours, just to name a few activities. Many solo travelers find the groups welcoming and easy to connect with, which makes it a great option for independent travelers.”