Discover the Douro Wine Region

Good to Know

Travel Information

Safety, Passport, Visa and Health Information

We strongly recommend that you check your government's travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination: safety and security, entry requirements, health, local laws and customs. For UK citizens, check the latest Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advice.

If you are planning to travel to Portugal or another EU country (except Ireland), or Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino or Vatican City, you must follow the Schengen area passport requirements. Your passport must be issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country, and valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave. Check your passport meets these requirements before you travel – if it was issued before 1 October 2018, extra months may have been added to its expiry date.

You can travel to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. Make sure your whole visit to Portugal and any other Schengen countries stays within the 90-day limit – visits within the previous 180 days count towards it. To stay longer, or to work or study, you will need to meet the Portuguese government's entry requirements.

Check your passport is stamped by the border officer when you enter and exit Portugal – you can use staffed immigration booths or, if aged 18 and over, the e-gates for UK and some other non-EU nationals (hand your passport to the border officer for stamping after passing through the e-gate). Border guards use passport stamps to check compliance with the 90-day visa-free limit. If you're missing entry/exit stamps, you can show evidence such as boarding passes and tickets and ask the border officer to add the date and location to your passport.

There are no longer any COVID-19 vaccination, testing or passenger locator form requirements for entry to mainland Portugal, Madeira and the Azores. If you're travelling via other countries such as France or Spain, check their entry requirements too. It is a condition of booking with Our Local Tour that you have adequate valid travel insurance, fully covering medical expenses, emergency repatriation and (if trekking at altitude) with no upper altitude limit that might restrict cover.

What to Bring

Depending on when you are travelling, lightweight clothing is essential in midsummer, though a warmer jumper is advisable for cooler evenings. A good waterproof is essential, and you should consider waterproof trousers in case of poor weather – a hat is essential for sun protection. There is a laundry available in most hotels. Lightweight trail/walking boots plus comfortable shoes/trainers and sandals are recommended footwear.

Please allow yourself one main piece of luggage and a day-sack. We recommend sunscreen, a torch, insect repellent and a water bottle – binoculars are good for bird and animal spotting, and a solar charger for your phone and other electronics is a good idea.

While You're There

Portugal is a member of the European Union and uses the Euro. Cards are widely accepted in shops, restaurants and hotels, and ATMs are readily available in towns and cities along the route – it's worth carrying some cash for smaller local businesses and rural stops. Portugal's electricity supply is 230V/50Hz with the standard European two-pin plug.

Tipping isn't compulsory in Portugal, and we work hard to ensure our local guides all receive a fair wage – but you might want to recognise particularly good service with a tip. It's very much down to personal preference, but a guideline of around £15-£20 per person per week for your guide is reasonable. Restaurant and cafe prices vary by location, with rural spots off the beaten track typically less expensive than those in central Porto or Lisbon.