So you’re going to Portugal?!? Well good for you. However, now it’s time to pack. I don’t know about you but I always feel so much pressure to pack correctly. Suitcases are inconvenient to transport at best and an extra cost at worst. Whenever possible, we ditch the suitcase and go with a carryon and an under-seat item. Thats what we did for our 10-day trip to Portugal. And it worked well! We even had extra room in the carryon to bring back a small bit of port – in sample size bottles. Keep reading for our essential Portugal packing list, including our capsule wardrobes for both men and women.
Travel Essentials
- Sunglasses & sunscreen – it gets really sunny in Portugal, in addition to getting really rainy. Make sure you wear sunscreen even when not at the beach so you don’t get burnt after walking around the city.
- Comfortable shoes (2 pairs each) – Portugal is full of cobblestone streets. You need COMFORTABLE shoes with good traction. Cobblestone streets are uncomfortable on the feet and super slippery when wet. Heels or flats with a thin sole will at best leave you sore and at worst send you in to a less fashionable medical boot.
- Passport – passport holders from the USA, EU and Britain do not need a visa, just a valid passport, to travel to Portugal for 90 days. If you aren’t staying somewhere with a travel safe, this passport holder is a good option for keeping it safe while you’re out and about.
- Cash
- Credit/Debit card with no foreign transaction fees – we love our Capital One card
- Lightweight rain jacket – rain showers a fog are very typical in Portugal. Make sure to pack a rain jacket with a hood so you can skip the umbrella. Umbrellas are heavy, rain jackets are light and stuffable. Choose a rain jacket.
- Day pack – we typically travel with our Camelbak backpack. It is a great day pack and it has built in water.
- I also used a crochet bag like this one in cities. It was great to stuff in a pocket and only get out when I needed a bag.
- Refillable water bottles – if your day pack does not have a hydration bladder in it, you’ll want refillable water bottles. Tap water in Portugal is safe to drink. We love these water bottles as they are very lightweight when empty.
- Toiletries – pack light on toiletries as most hotels include some, especially soap and shampoo. This will save you some weight in your carryon.
Portugal Extras
- Comfortable sandals – if visiting during the spring-fall months, sandals may be something you’re interested in. I love sandals (translation: hate socks) so I packed some sandals that had a good thick sole and I was securely strapped in to. We would not recommend slide on sandals as they do not work well on the slippery streets.
- Power Adapter – Portugal uses the type F outlet. You’ll need an outlet adapter if you’re coming from outside of continental Europe. We love this one that works in lots of different outlets and is easy to travel with
- Swimming gear – if you’re visiting the Algarve or the beaches around Lisbon, you’ll want to pack your swimsuit and towels. Beaches in Portugal are beautiful! We love these quick dry towels and beach blankets so much!
- Extra Portugal extra packing could include your own snorkel gear, if you’re visiting the Algarve. On calm days, snorkeling can be a fun activity.
- Camera, phone and/or GoPro – wherever you are going, make sure you have the right camera for it. We rarely used our DSLR camera and instead opted for our GoPro and our phone camera a majority of the time.
- Portable battery pack for your phone
Portugal Clothing
Portugal’s climate reminds me of a California coastal climate. It’s warm year-round. However, there is frequently a cool breeze or a damp fog rolling in. The secret to your Portugal packing list is layers, layers and layers.
For Women
- Underclothes
- Socks
- Sweater or Cardigan – for cool evenings
- Jean jacket
- 2 pairs of pants
- 1 pair of shorts
- 3 short-sleeved shirts
- Summer
- 2 lightweight, breathable dresses
- Winter
- 2 more pants
- 2 long shirts or sweaters
- puffer vest or puffer jacket
- hat, gloves, scarf
For Men
- Underclothes
- Socks
- Half-zip sweater or sweatshirt – for cool evenings
- 1 pair of pants
- 5 short-sleeved shirts
- Summer
- 3 pairs of shorts
- Winter
- 3 more pairs of pants
- 1 sweater
- puffer vest or puffer jacket
- hat, gloves, scarf
What Not To Pack For Portugal
- Heels or dress shoes – comfy shoes only
- Extra dressy clothes – Portugal is super chill. Even nights out included relaxed clothing and comfortable shoes.
- Portable speaker for the beach – these are not allowed on most beaches
- A suitcase – Portugal’s streets and hotels are generally not suitcase friendly. Narrow hallways, no elevators and cobblestone streets means that toting a suitcase around is more work than it is worth. Use luggage that you can lift and carry easily.
- Hot hair tools – plan for a natural hair look. The humidity can be rough. Also, voltage in Europe is different. While the outlet adapter helps, you may still have trouble so just skip those energy exhaustive hot tools.
We hope this Portugal packing list has helped you to plan for your perfect Portugal vacation. For more information on planning a Portugal vacation, please check out our posts here.
