Money Saving Tips for Travel in Portugal

Unlock the Secrets to Getting Great Value for Money

by Julie Dawn Fox

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This is an updated version (Feb 2017) of Money Saving Tips for Travel in Portugal – Unlock the Secrets to Getting Great Value for Money (2015) which was an updated and revised version of Money Saving Tips for Portugal: An Insider’s Guide to Making Your Travel Money Stretch Further by Julie Dawn Fox (2013).

Table of Contents Table of Contents About this book Disclaimer and Disclosure How to save money on accommodation Vouchers and discounts Key Portuguese vocabulary How to save money on transport in Portugal Getting to and from the airport How to save money on driving in Portugal Tourist cards How to save money on food and drink Attractions and activities Entertainment About Julie Dawn Fox

About this book

Portugal is still a relatively cheap country to visit or live in but unless you’re blessed with unlimited funds, you can still benefit from discovering simple ways of making your hard-earned cash last a little longer.

Whether you’re visiting Portugal for a weekend or moving here for good, this book gives you practical advice on finding fabulous discounts, avoiding that nasty ‘just been ripped-off’ feeling and generally making the most of your travel funds.

Reader reviews:

“A very easy to digest guide that really does help you find your feet (and save money) quickly when travelling in Portugal, or for those who live here as we now do. It will save you the purchase price many times over.” - SwaziJohn

“We’ve lived here in Portugal in the north, mid-country, and now near Lisbon, for over a year and a half. The money saving tips you share with your readers are invaluable, especially the “Tapas aren’t free” one. (I’m sure we were the laughing stock of the restaurant, when we visited Coimbra ten years ago). And every one of your blog posts provokes a “We’ve been there!” or “We must go!” You do an awesome job with this. Thank you!” Tricia Pimental

Through living in, travelling around and writing about Portugal for several years, I’ve learned several insider tips and tricks that you can use to avoid paying more than necessary for accommodation, transport, food and drink, sightseeing and entertainment. With the money you save, you can treat yourself to something extra special or maybe even stay for longer.

Most of the tips in this book are easy for anyone to access and apply. A few relate to discount websites that only exist in Portuguese at present. Just in case your Portuguese is shaky at best, I’ve included some relevant vocabulary and instructions to help you understand the bargains they offer.

For more inspiration and practical information about living and travelling in Portugal, visit my blog, Julie Dawn Fox in Portugal.

Disclaimer and Disclosure

Disclaimer I have done my best to check that the information in this book was correct and up to date before publishing but prices, products and services are subject to changes beyond my control. As such, I do not assume responsibility or liability for any Third Party material, products or opinions.

Disclosure This book contains a few select affiliate links to products and services I know and love. Should you use these links to make a purchase, you won’t pay any extra but I may earn enough to buy an occasional coffee and maybe a cake.

How to save money on accommodation

Look for bargains My first point of call when planning a trip is usually Booking.com. I’ve found some excellent deals that have enabled me to stay in special hotels at reduced prices and have never had problems with reservations I’ve made through their website.

My rule of thumb is to look for accommodation with a minimum review score of 8/10. I then check the photos, map and descriptions to find the most attractive option. There are usually plenty of reviews for each lodging written by people who have actually stayed there to help you decide if a place is right for you.

Whether you’re looking for a bunk bed in a hostel dorm or 5-star luxury, Booking.com offers a wide selection for most destinations in Portugal. If you use them often enough, you’ll qualify for extra 10% ‘Genius’ discounts.

HotelsCombined.com is also worth checking as a comparison engine but it hasn’t managed to win me over from Booking.com yet!

Go local Alternatively, you could rent a room, an apartment or a villa from a local through Airbnb.com. Not only does this option give you the chance to save some money, you might also get a glimpse of Portuguese life and sound recommendations through your hosts.

I’ve stayed in some wonderful apartments that feel like a real home from home, often in residential areas with no other tourists in sight. At the time of writing, you can get you a 35 Euro credit if you sign up but I don’t know how long this offer will be available for.

Hostels If you’re on a tight budget, don’t be afraid to consider hostels. I stayed in an all-female dorm room for the first time in over 12 years and was amazed at how far hostels have come in that time. The new breed of ‘super hostels’ are usually clean, comfortable and secure with lots of freebies, including breakfast, making them a viable option if you’re travelling alone. Just try to avoid ‘party hostels’ if you’re staying in a big city and don’t want to join in the revelling.

Camping There are plenty of campsites all over Portugal, especially in coastal regions. That doesn’t mean you have to sleep in a tent, of course – most of them have bungalows for rent. Some are run by local councils, others are privately owned or part of chains like Orbitur. Check the websites of chains and camping clubs for offers and multiple passes which can give you significant savings.

Stay for free If you’d rather not spend any money at all on a place to sleep, Couchsurfing is an option, even in tiny villages. Don’t worry; you don’t have to sleep on the sofa if you don’t want to – many hosts offer private bedrooms to travellers in return for a cultural exchange through conversation.

House sitting is another way of staying in Portugal without forking out for accommodation. It requires more planning and commitment as you’ll be looking after someone’s house and usually animals while they’re away but it can be a great way of getting to know a new place. One of the most popular and trustworthy websites for matching potential sitters with homeowners is Trusted Housesitters.com.

If you want to read a detailed guide to house sitting, this book should answer all your questions and more besides: Break Free: The Ultimate Guide to Housesitting.

Travel off-peak and book ahead It might seem obvious but the time of year really does make a difference when it comes to prices and availability. July and August are the busiest months and prices skyrocket, especially in coastal areas.

Many hotels and villas block-let their accommodation to travel agents each summer so you need to plan ahead to get a reasonable price or look out for special offers. Easter and Christmas are naturally expensive periods but prices and availability can also be affected during local festivals and events.

If prices seem higher than you expected, try searching for alternative dates to see what difference that makes. During low season, not only are the standard rates lower, you can often get great discounts, either through booking sites or by negotiating directly with hotels. You will get significantly cheaper rates if you book up your summer holidays before the end of March.

Vouchers and discounts

Voucher sites are increasingly popular in Portugal and you can find deals offering up 70% discounts on accommodation, restaurants, beauty treatments, products and activities.

To get the discounted price, you buy a voucher then redeem it directly with the retailer. In most cases, you need to print off the voucher and hand it in when it’s time to pay. You’ll also need to book the restaurant/accommodation/service in advance and tell them at the time that you have a voucher and which deals website you got it from.

Of the Portuguese voucher sites, I’ve used LetsBonus and Lifecooler successfully and there are others such as Groupon.pt. Once you register with one of these sites, they will start bombarding your inbox with offers so you may want to unsubscribe from daily promotional emails unless you’re actively on the lookout for a great discount.

Even if you don’t speak Portuguese, you can still have a look at what’s on offer, using Google Translate or my list of useful vocabulary to help. If a deal looks tempting enough, the sign up form is usually fairly standard – just make absolutely certain that you understand what is and isn’t included and what conditions are involved, for example date restrictions, before you buy.

If you need help with the language, here’s a quick guide to translating websites using Google Translate with Google Chrome as your browser:

 click the Settings icon (three lines at the top right of the browser)  click ‘Settings’ from the drop-down menu  click ‘Show Advanced Settings’ (at the bottom of the page)  scroll down to ‘Languages’  select ‘Offer to translate pages that aren’t in a language that I read’  click ‘Manage Languages’  make sure ‘Portuguese’ ISN’T listed, or if it is, highlight it and select the box on the right that says ‘Offer to translate pages in this language’  click ‘Done’  A pop-up box will appear in the right hand corner of web pages in foreign languages offering to translate them for you. Just be aware that the Google translations are far from perfect! Key Portuguese vocabulary

Alternatively, these Portuguese words and phrases should help you get the gist and decide whether or not an offer is of interest or use to you.

Portuguese English cidade city propostas do dia deals of the day espetáculos shows viagens travel tudo incluido all inclusive desconto discount ferias holidays / vacations ver agora see now ver opções see options oferta offer destaque Highlight / feature criança child pessoa person grátis free T1,2,3 (etc) 1,2,3 (etc) bedrooms pequeno almoço breakfast almoço lunch jantar dinner refeição / refeições meal / meals noite night dia day bebidas drinks alojamento accommodation reserva reservation disponível / disponíveis available quarto duplo double room (usually 1 bed for 2 people) atividades activities saude health beleza beauty parque temático theme park menu de degustação tasting menu à escolha of your choice regime AP bed and breakfast regime meia pensão (MP) Half board até up to com with

For more free resources for learning Portuguese, check out my article: How to Learn European Portuguese for Free.

How to save money on transport in Portugal

Long distance Trains If you’re travelling long distance by train, your best options are the Intercidade (IC) and Alfa Pendular (AP) services. As is the case for almost all train services in Portugal, they are operated by Comboios de Portugal (CP). AP trains are more modern and slightly faster and more expensive than the Intercidade service but they do offer free Wi-Fi. IC trains are comfortable and clean so if you’re not restricted by timetables, I’d go for the cheaper option if you’re on a tight budget.

To travel on either service, you need to buy a ticket in advance, either online (www.cp.pt) or from a ticket office, which will guarantee you an obligatory allocated seat.

Although both types of train offer 1st class carriages, 2nd class is perfectly adequate and comfortable for most people. When booking tickets online, just make sure you select classe turística (2nd class) not confort (1st class). I learned the hard way when I forgot to select the correct option and overpaid for a trip to Porto.

There are significant discounts for senior citizens and children, as long as you have proof of age. Even if you don’t qualify for these fare reductions, you can still get discounts for some timetables by booking your ticket online. Just be aware that a child fare may not necessarily be the cheapest option. Always check what other offers are available before making your final choice.

For example, you can save up to 65% on certain journeys if you book between 5 and 60 days in advance. There’s also a group/family discount of 50% at weekends and similar savings through Train Sharing on weekdays.

CP have recently introduced a range of Tourist Travel Cards for unlimited travel within the Lisbon, Porto and Algarve regions.

If you do qualify for a discounted fare, the online ticket price is not automatically readjusted unless you take specific action. You’ll need to select the relevant price option from the drop down menu when buying your ticket via the CP website and click ‘recalculate fare’ to make sure your discount is applied.

For full details of current promotions, go to www.cp.pt, select the English option and click on Discounts and Benefits.

It’s worth reading the small print as CP often throw in extra discounts for hotels and attractions they have partnered with. As an example, if you take the train from Lisbon to Porto, your ticket entitles you to a 25% discount on the Carristur sightseeing bus so don’t throw it away. Similarly, if you fly to Portugal with SATA Azores Airlines or Emirates, you may be able to claim a 20% discount on your train fare if you keep hold of your boarding pass.

Coaches/buses You’re very likely to use Rede Expressos if you travel long distance in Portugal by coach/bus, in which case, you can save 5% by booking online. The service tends to be reasonably comfortable and efficient and there is free Wi-Fi on board.

If you’re living in Portugal, apply for a free Reflex card. It’s a bit fiddly to set up but will give you increasingly substantial discounts on off-peak fares, up to around 50%. Seniors, i.e. over 65s, and youth card holders qualify for cheaper fares. Kids under 4 travel free but aren’t entitled to a seat and those aged between 4 and 12 pay half price.

Budget airlines As the train takes less than 3 hours, it’s hardly worth flying from Lisbon to Porto although the option exists. For trips between Porto and Faro, a cheap flight could make more sense in terms of time and money. I use Skyscanner.net as a starting point to get an idea of flight options and prices.

Urban public transport and travel cards If you’re spending time in a city, public transport is usually the cheapest and most efficient way of getting around. Depending on how long you’ll be there and how much you plan to use public transport, it could be worth getting a travel card of some kind. Porto and Lisbon have tourist cards which include unlimited public transport as well as discounts on attractions, tours, restaurants and shops so consider them first to make sure you get the best deal.

Lisbon You can buy a daily travel pass from metro stations, major bus terminals and train stations for 6.15 euros that gives you unlimited use of buses, trams, elevators and the metro for 24 hours. There are other daily passes if you want to use ferries or trains as well.

However, my preferred method of paying for public transport in Lisbon is called Zapping and it covers all forms of transport. For this payment system you have to buy a rechargeable green Viva Viagem card for 50 cents and load it with credit. The initial minimum is 3 euros but after that, you can just add whatever you need to cover the number of journeys you’re going to make so there’s no waste. Each fare is cheaper than the normal rate, significantly so in some cases. For more information, read my article on Zapping: The Best Way of Paying for Public Transport in Lisbon.

Porto In Porto, you’ll need a rechargeable blue Andante card (www.linhaandante.com) to travel on the metro, buses and urban trains. You can buy a 24-hour Andante Tour pass for 7 euros or a 3-day pass for 15 euros or just put the number of individual journeys you need on the card.

Think carefully about how many individual journeys you should buy, especially if you’re starting at the airport. You can’t change the zone level of your card until it’s empty so if you buy four journeys at the airport but use two of those to travel within the city centre, you’ll be paying more than you should for those journeys.

Coimbra Instead of paying 1.60 euros per journey on board buses and trams in Coimbra, you can buy multi-journey, family or ‘park and ride’ passes for significant discounts from several places listed on the SMTUC website. An unlimited daily ticket is 3.50 euros.

Funchal Horarios do Funchal operate the bus services within Funchal and have multi-ride passes and rechargeable prepaid Giro Cards for use within the city and for other destinations on Madeira. Note that they don’t cover the entire island so check which bus company you need before buying an Interurbano ticket. Rodoeste cover the west of the island while SAM cover the east (and the Aerobus). Their Flexicard is the best option for multiple journeys.

This extremely helpful guide will help you plan your journey around Madeira by bus.

Getting to and from the airport

Lisbon By taxi You’re less likely to get ripped off by taxi drivers if you do as the locals do and head upstairs to the Departures area where you’ll find plenty of taxis waiting. Alternatively, you can buy a prepaid taxi voucher from the tourist information desk.in Arrivals. In either case, turn right when you enter the arrivals hall from Customs.

Despite strong opposition from local taxi drivers, Uber is operating in major Portuguese cities.

By Aerobus The Aerobus into the city centre cost you €3.50 on board or €3.15 online. If you buy two tickets, you only pay €5.50, or €4.95 online. The ticket also gives you a 10% discount on sightseeing tour buses so it’s worth considering, especially if you’ve got bulky luggage.

By Metro It only takes about 30 minutes to get from the airport into the city centre by metro and can cost as little as €1.30, depending on how you choose to pay for your ticket. If you travel by metro, this is the best time to buy your Zapping credit or get a daily pass. If you’ve decided that a Lisbon Card is your best option, buy it online or at the tourist information office in Arrivals so you can use it on the metro.

Some metro stations can only be accessed via stairs so bear this in mind if you have heavy suitcases or reduced mobility.

Porto By Metro The easiest and cheapest way to get from Porto airport into the city centre is by Metro but bear in mind that the service only runs every 20 to 30 minutes and takes around 30-40 minutes.

Just as with Lisbon, if you intend to make use of the Porto Card, buy it online or in Arrivals so you can use it to get into the city centre. Otherwise, you’ll need to buy an Andante card but unless you’re buying an Andante Tour pass, or don’t intend to use public transport to get around Porto, only buy one journey. The airport is in Zone 4 but most of your trips in the city centre will be classed as C1, which is a cheaper rate.

Remember to validate your ticket by swiping the card against one of the electronic panels you’ll see at the entrance to the platforms.

By bus If you’re not spending any time in Porto and just need to get to the Batalha coach terminal, Transdev run hourly buses for 2.70 euros. You’ll also find details of other city buses that run to the airport, including the 3M night service, at stcp.pt.

By taxi or shuttle service There are a range of airport transfer services if you prefer private or shared pick-up services so shop around to find the best deal and book ahead.

Faro Only two local buses connect the airport with Faro city centre (#14 and #16). In most cases, you’ll need to arrange for a taxi or transfer service to take you to your hotel in another part of the Algarve.

It’s best to book a transfer in advance with a company like Yellow Fish Transfers rather than jumping into a taxi outside the airport. Your hotel could be a lot further away than you realise.

Algarve Bus Info is an unofficial but very comprehensive and helpful website with information about to getting from Faro airport and around the Algarve.

Funchal There’s an airport shuttle bus that will drop you off at the larger hotels. If yours is not on the route, check the nearest drop-off location and walk or take a taxi from there. A return ticket will save you money but check the timetable to make sure you can use it. A Funchal Card includes 2 Aerobus journeys.

How to save money on driving in Portugal

Car hire It really does pay to shop around to get the best price and you’ll usually get a discount for booking online. I usually use AutoEurope car rental search engine to find the best price.

Bear in mind that unless you’re hiring from an airport or major city, the limited opening times of car hire offices may mean you have to pay for an extra day so check drop-off options before you book. For example, Coimbra car rental offices all close by 1 pm on Saturdays and don’t reopen until Monday morning.

More tips here: How to rent a car n Portugal and avoid sneaky extra charges

Share a car Portugal isn’t a particularly good country for hitchhiking, which is a risky way of getting around anyway. If you’re prepared to contribute towards fuel and tolls, there are better, safer ways of getting a lift in Portugal. BlaBlaCar.com connects drivers with spare seats with potential passengers. You can choose how chatty you want to be and restrict your search for travel companions to certain age groups or sex. If you want to get to know local people, this could be a great way to do it. You can register on the English version of the website then search for or offer rides within Portugal.

Petrol You can avoid paying full price for petrol by using supermarket petrol stations or discount vouchers. Some supermarkets, such as Intermarché and Jumbo discount the pump price for all users. Other supermarkets, like Continente, give you a voucher entitling you to discounted petrol from Galp.

Find out which is the cheapest petrol station in your area with this online petrol price checker. It’s in Portuguese but fairly easy to work out. Gasolina is petrol and gasóleo is diesel. Most cars take gasolina 95.

Tolls Watch out for toll roads and factor the extra cost into your planning as the fees can really mount up. Almost every major motorway in Portugal is now subject to tolls and some of them only have electronic systems so you can’t pay as you go.

Whether you’re driving a foreign-registered car or one with Portuguese plates, you can find out more about the various payment options and use the route calculator at portugaltolls.com to see how you can save money by using alternative roads.

Having said that, I would do this in conjunction with a driving time calculator like Google Maps; it’s often worth paying the toll to avoid spending two or more excruciatingly slow hours negotiating winding, hilly roads.

If you choose the EasyToll option, just be sure to register a card that won’t charge you a fee for each foreign currency transaction as this can quickly mount up because the tolls are divided into short sections of road. Some only cost 5 cents to travel on so it will grate if you end up paying a transaction fee that’s 20 times that amount.

If you haven’t got a Via Verde device and you’re not sure if your payment option covers manual toll roads, avoid the green Via Verde lane and collect a ticket as you enter the toll road. If you haven’t got a ticket when it’s time to leave the toll road, you’ll be charged for the entire stretch of motorway. This mistake cost me 50 euros when I first moved here so don’t let it happen to you.

Further reference: 25 Essential Tips for Driving in Portugal Without Losing Your Cool

Tourist cards If you aren’t able to take advantage of the free entrance on the first Sunday of the month at many museums, it’s worth considering a local tourist card.

Lisbon Card Not only do you get free, unlimited use of public transport while your Lisbon card is valid, but many museums and attractions are free or discounted. You also get discounts at certain shops and restaurants, although if you plan on doing a lot of eating out and shopping you may find it’s worth combining it with the Eat & Shop Card.

If you’re thinking of heading out to Sintra, the Lisbon card covers the train journey there, but not the bus in Sintra. Cards are available for 24, 48 or 72 hours and are activated the first time you use them.

Porto Card As well as the usual discounted entry to major attractions, the Porto Card offers the option of unlimited public transport. Otherwise, you can buy the cheaper ‘Walker’ card. Various options cover 1 to 3-day visits.

Centro Card For the centre of Portugal, you can buy Centro Cards from Tourist Information Offices which save you money at participating hotels, restaurants, tour and car hire companies but don’t cover public transport. These also come with a small amount of phone credit.

Algarve Pass The Algarve Pass provides similar discounts and support for tourists but because of the number of transport operators in the region and the distances involved, it doesn’t include free transport.

The Algarve Pass scheme is still in its early days and the website is not as clear or user-friendly as it could be but if you’re planning on spending time in the area, it could save you money. If nothing else, it grants you access to free WiFi at some of the region’s most popular beaches.

Other local passes Some municipalities, such as Palmela, have developed their own travel card. Check the local council website for places you plan on spending considerable time in to see if such a thing exists. Note that most of these sites are only in Portuguese.

Madeira (Funchal) The Funchal Card offers a range of discounts on attractions plus return rides on the Aerobus but not normal public transport.

How to save money on food and drink

Eating out in Portugal is likely to be one of the highlights of your trip but it can be a major drain on travel funds. Luckily, it’s easy to eat well for relatively little money if you do as the locals do.

Lunchtime meal deals One way of dining for less is to have your main meal at lunchtime. Most restaurants offer a set menu that includes a drink, bread, soup or starter, a choice of daily specials as a main course and dessert / coffee for anything from €5 to around €15. Some places charge more but the average is about €7 to €8. Look out for these words: menu do dia (menu of the day), diária (daily special) or prato do dia (dish of the day), or sometimes ementa turística (set menu).

Whatever it’s called, just check what’s included before you order and don’t assume that everything the waiter offers you is part of the deal. For example, it’s usual to end a meal with a coffee so you’ll be asked if you want one even if it’s not included. Some deals offer coffee or a dessert but not both.

The ‘tapas’ aren’t freebies! It’s standard practice in Portuguese restaurants to bring little dishes of cheese, ham, olives and other tasters to your table without you asking. Whilst they are usually delicious, you could be left with a nasty taste in your mouth when the bill comes as they are not free, although by law, you don’t have to pay if you didn’t order them. I would rather avoid a confrontation though.

Olives and bread tend to be cheap, and I usually have them to nibble on while waiting for my meal to come, but the other little dishes can soon mount up. If in doubt, you should politely send it back or check the price before tucking in.

Share your meals Go to any traditional Portuguese restaurant and you’ll notice that local families are probably sharing their food. A meal will typically start with olives and bread, then soup followed by one main dish split between two people. That’s why you’ll often see half portions, or meia dose, on menus.

If you’re on your own or unwilling to share, go for the half portion if there is one; it’ll still be plenty of food. If you’re not sure, ask the waiter whether the portion is intended for one or two people.

Feast on vouchers You can buy vouchers for restaurants and bars, especially in the larger cities, from deals websites like Letsbonus and Lifecooler. As an example, I paid less than €20 for a delicious 3-course dinner for two people in a beautiful beachfront restaurant using Lifecooler. It’s best to double check opening days and times directly with the restaurant before buying the voucher if you’re only here for a short time. I’ve found a couple of mistakes, one of which resulted in the restaurant owner opening up especially for us because I had no flexibility in my itinerary and had planned around the information on the voucher.

Other discounts The Fork restaurant booking site is not only useful for checking reviews, it also offers discounts at selected restaurants. They have a loyalty programme based on ‘yums’ that I haven’t worked out yet but might be of interest since it’s a global platform.

Restaurant Week Twice a year, participating restaurants in Porto and Lisbon create a special menu at around €20 a head, giving you the opportunity of tucking into fine cuisine in swanky restaurants at a fraction of the normal cost. This usually takes place in May and October but check The Fork website for updates.

Be breakfast savvy If your accommodation rate doesn’t cover breakfast, think twice before forking out for expensive hotel breakfasts. Wherever you’re staying, there’s likely to be a café or bakery nearby where you can enjoy a coffee and toast or a cake for less than two euros. It’s also a great opportunity for mingling with locals.

Drink Portuguese beer Imported beer will inevitably cost more than local brews. Why pay over the odds when you can get a fino (small thin glass) of lager for 1 euro or a pitcher for 5 euros?

Be warned that the recent craze for craft beers is far from cheap. Check prices before ordering as some cost over 12 euros a pint! House wine is fine Unless you’re a wine buff, you can save a lot of money in restaurants by ordering the house wine. This may be served in a glass or terracotta jug while some restaurants have their own-label bottled wine, or a brand they’ve selected as their house offering. I have rarely been disappointed by any of them.

Portuguese wines are extremely good value for money. If you buy a bottle from a supermarket, 2-3 euros will get you something that’s perfectly drinkable. Spend more than 6 euros and you can expect a really nice drop.

Picnics, barbecues and self-catering Whether you’re in a city or the countryside, you should be able to find a pretty spot to eat al fresco in warmer weather. Look out for parques da merendas (picnic areas) in parks, river beaches and at the roadside, some of which have built-in barbecue stalls.

Many supermarkets have in-store bakeries and delicatessen counters so if you want to stock up for a picnic, take a number from the dispenser to get in the queue and order when your number comes up. Pointing and gestures will work just fine if the assistant doesn’t speak English. Most of the markets that sell fresh produce start early and finish by lunchtime so factor this into your plans if you’re self-catering.

Loyalty cards and coupons If you’re going to be in Portugal for a while, it may be worth getting a loyalty card for your local supermarket. Continente, for example, offer huge discounts on products which are credited onto your store card and can often be used the following day. They also give discounts for petrol and send extra money-saving vouchers to your house for use in-store.

If you understand Portuguese and are super organised, you can save heaps on your weekly shop and more besides thanks to poupadinhasecomvales.com, a blog dedicated to hunting down discounts and coupons that can be combined for maximum value for money.

Attractions and activities

Save the museums for Sunday If your visit spans a weekend, take advantage of the fact that many museums and art galleries waive the admission fee on the first Sunday of the month. You need to check first to find out if the offer is only on until 2 pm or lasts all day but this is an easy way of saving money if you are organised.

Work out which places you want to visit, save the more expensive ones for free Sundays and go to the ones which are cheap or always free on other days. Not all museums take part in this scheme and a few have free entry on different days so check individual venues first.

If you plan to visit a lot of attractions, it could be worth getting a tourist card but check the level of discount for the places you want to visit to make sure you’ll be getting good value.

Combined tickets Most attractions offer discounted family tickets but it’s also worth asking if there are combined passes for multiple monuments. In Sintra, for example, it’s possible to buy a pass that allows you to visit several sites at a discounted price. Similarly, the Monte cable car in Funchal allows you to buy a combined ticket with entry to the Monte Palace Tropical Gardens.

Grab a deal I’ve mentioned the voucher sites before and although their main focus tends to be on hotels, restaurants and beauty, they do offer discounts of up to 50% on some attractions. I’ve also found that when you buy a hotel voucher with Lifecooler, you can also claim a bonus which can be anything from a free drink to a 2-for-1 offer on an activity such as a jeep tour.

Kids’ deals If you have kids, sign them up for Jumbo supermarket’s Rik e Rok club for free. They’ll get a card which gives them free or discounted entry to attractions, museums, and activities throughout Portugal. This is the link to the list of participating organisations and discounts. It’s all in Portuguese so if you need help, use Google Translate to make sense of it.

Entertainment

Free events As well as the permanent attractions and sights of Portugal, there are plenty of events throughout the year. To spot concerts, exhibitions, fairs and workshops that won’t cost you a cent, look for the words entrada livre (free entry, grátis and à borla(free).

Dance for free Check out the flyers in cafés and bars for discounted entry to nightclubs. Many bars have DJs and live bands at the weekends which you can enjoy for the price of a drink.

All the fun of the fair Local fairs and festivals, especially gastronomy-related affairs, are often free to enter. You’ll have to pay for any food or drink but the prices are reasonable and they’re often a great opportunity to soak up local culture and sample regional foods and crafts.

There will often be folk music and traditional dances as well as big drum bands and pimba music.

About Julie Dawn Fox

The short story If you don’t already know me from my blog, Julie Dawn Fox in Portugal, I'm a British writer, photographer and travel addict living in central Portugal. I’m passionate about making it easier for people to explore the less touristy aspects of this wonderful country.

The slightly longer story My love of travel led to several years working in faraway countries. I moved to Coimbra, a small but beautiful city in the centre of Portugal, in 2007. I promptly fell in love in more ways than one: I met my husband, adopted a dog and found a place to call home in a country that fascinates me.

I spend much of my time exploring Portugal or at my computer, researching or writing about my trips and helping others create their ideal itineraries.

Over the years, I’ve learned a lot about the country and its culture. I’ve also managed to track down some of the harder-to-find information that’s often only available in Portuguese. I use this insider information to help you maximise your time in Portugal, no matter how long you’re staying.

If you’re not already a blog subscriber, join my mailing list to get free insider information about Portugal and a heads up on new releases and offers.

You’ll find plenty of travel inspiration and practical advice on my blog: juliedawnfox.com.

If you’re travelling to Portugal for the first time, you might want to start with these articles: 25 Essential Tips for Your First Holiday in Portugal A Guide to Packing for a Trip to Portugal

You might also want to check out the bookable itineraries I’ve created to save you the research time.

If you’d like my help to plan your trip to Portugal, I provide a range of personalised trip planning services.