Portugal

US passport holders can stay in Portugal (Schengen) for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. ETIAS authorisation required from late 2026 (€7, valid three years).

For Lisbon and Porto, 6–7 days is ideal (3–4 nights each + train transfer). Add 3–4 days for the Algarve or the Douro Valley wine region. For a complete first trip — Lisbon, Porto, Douro, Algarve — plan 12–14 days. The Azores are their own week.

Cheaper than most of Western Europe. Mid-range daily budget runs $90–140 per person — a 3-star hotel, three meals, transit. Shoestring: $50–75. Lisbon and Porto's restaurant prices have climbed notably since 2022 but still beat Madrid or Barcelona.

Alfa Pendular trains connect Lisbon-Porto in under 3 hours (€30–50). For the Algarve, rent a car — the coast is 150 km and trains don't reach the best beach towns. The Douro Valley rewards a car too. City transit is cheap and efficient in both Lisbon and Porto.

Different rather than better. Lisbon is bigger, more international, with the famous trams and Alfama views. Porto is compact, riverfront, quieter, with the port-wine cellars. Most first-timers split their trip 60/40 Lisbon-Porto. Porto's food scene has quietly become Portugal's best.

Yes — drinkable across the mainland and islands. Locals often prefer bottled for taste reasons but there's no safety concern. Carry a reusable bottle; refill at the cafés (they won't mind).