The Portuguese have no knowledge of Spanish. They communicate in Portuguese. Vulgar Latin was introduced to the Iberian Peninsula (i.e., Spain and Portugal) by the Romans in the 3rd century BC, and it was still spoken throughout Portugal by the 13th century AD. King Denis of Portugal declared Vulgar Latin to be the official language of Portugal in 1290, naming it 'Portuguese.'

Portuguese is the sixth most widely spoken language in the world, with an estimated 220 million native speakers. Yes, it is comparable to Spanish (Speakt estimates that the two languages share 90% lexical similarity), yet Spaniards struggle to understand Portuguese speakers and vice versa.

Although English is widely spoken in the Algarve, Lisbon, and Porto, you should not expect that everyone you meet will speak it. Furthermore, outside of these large zones, there will be fewer English speakers (and possibly none in villages). Learn the basics of Portuguese, such as bom dia/tarde/noite (good morning/afternoon/night), as well as specific terms such as socorro (help!) and ajude-me (help me). It is critical to remember this key piece of information whenever you travel abroad.

Another thing should be taken into account is to keep an eye on personal belongings. No Joke! While travelers should always keep a watch on their personal belongings such as purses and backpacks, this is especially important in touristy areas.

Don't put your handbag on the floor, especially on café patios, and waiters may remind you to put personal belongings on unoccupied chairs near you (but don't count on them to warn you). Although theft is not a huge issue in Portugal, it is not unheard of, and some tourists have reported pickpockets in the downtown area.

Before crossing the road, pay attention to the traffic situation. Do not stand too close to the curb or to moving vehicles. Pay additional attention to anyone standing close by in case they're pickpockets; if a stranger calls, verify his or her name and the reason for phoning. If you have any doubts, please contact us again. Do not trust the words of strangers. This is definitely one of the top Things to Know Before Traveling to Portugal to protect yourself in a strange country while traveling.

Although Portugal is a budget-friendly location, there are some restaurants and accommodations that are significantly more expensive. It's one thing to pay for a five-star hotel or a Michelin-star meal, but it's quite another to pay outrageous fees for a simple Airbnb or an apparently ordinary dining establishment.

Check prices and compare them to similar spots in the same neighborhood before choosing on a certain location or venue. Also, keep in mind that prices vary by season and may be greater in the summer than in the winter.

• Portugal may be visited for 40 EUR per day on a backpacker's budget. Staying in a dorm room, cooking all of your meals, limiting your drinking, taking public transportation to go about, and sticking to free activities like free walking tours and enjoying the beaches are all options on this budget. If you intend to drink, add 5-10 EUR to your daily budget.

• Staying in a private Airbnb or private hostel room for 110 EUR per day, eating at cheap local restaurants and cooking some meals, taking public transportation and the occasional taxi, taking the train between cities, enjoying some drinks at the bar, and doing some paid activities like visiting museums or taking a wine tour are all possible on this budget.

• You can stay in a hotel, eat out every meal, drink anything you want, drive a car, and visit as many museums and attractions as you like on a "luxury" budget of 210 EUR or more each day. However, this is only the first level of luxury; if you really want to go all out, you can simply pay more!

Portugal experimented with far-right politics. From 1933 until 1974, the Estado Novo dictatorship ruled for 41 years, culminating in a revolt and a widespread desire for something more left-wing. This helps to understand why the Socialist Party was elected to power in Portugal in 2015.

Portugal's socialist government has achieved significant achievements, including raising the minimum wage, nearly erasing the budget deficit (which stood at 11% of GDP in 2011), cutting unemployment, upgrading public transportation, and offering free textbooks to students.

Indeed, the Socialist Party performed so well that the Portuguese people elected them to power again in 2019, with the party boosting its vote share from 32% to 37%.

In terms of government perks, there is relatively little red tape that prevents foreigners from purchasing property in Portugal. Most of the time, all you need is a personal fiscal number, which you may receive from your local tax office.

Furthermore, if you spend at least €500,000 on Portuguese real estate, you may be eligible for a Golden Visa, which grants you and your dependents a free Portuguese resident card. You can even upgrade this to Portuguese citizenship after five years if you pass a simple language test and 'show ties to the country.' Setting up shop in Portugal for the long haul is simple if you have the cash. The average asking price for a house in Portugal in March 2020 was €354,757 ($419,344).

Brazil's annual Carnival festival has gotten a lot of attention, although it has its roots in Portuguese colonialism. Every year, Portugal, like every other primarily Catholic country, celebrates Carnaval.

Carnival is traditionally held on Shrove Tuesday (a Portuguese public holiday), the day before Lent begins, and hence the day before six weeks of fasting. Because Catholics are meant to abstain from eating meat during Lent, the festival's name is derived from the word 'carnavale,' which means 'to put away the meat.'

Carnival was created to allow people to let loose after such a long time of privation.

As a result, large festivals abound, complete with outlandish clothing and dancing, delicious meaty food, copious amounts of wine, and general decadence. The main premise is that by severely overdoing it, one might cleanse the spirit of temptation. Who says being Catholic isn't enjoyable?

Does it surprise you that Portugal is so big on fishing with such a lovely coastline to catch fish from? Portugal, according to Our World In Data, is the world's sixth greatest fish consumer, devouring over 57kg per inhabitant per year.

Fresh fish is plentiful in Portugal, however the two most popular are sardines and cod. For ages, probably millennia, these two have been staples of the Portuguese cuisine. Sardines (sardinha) are caught all year, but they taste best in the months that do not begin with the letter 'r.' (so, May-August). The Portuguese traditionally eat whole grilled sardines with a slice of bread (the bones are soft enough to crunch through).

Meanwhile, salted fish (bacalhau) appears in a variety of recipes, from modest lunches to extravagant special occasion dinners. Bacalhau com todos, for example, is a traditional Christmas Eve dish that translates "salted cod with everything" in Portuguese.

The beaches of Portugal are always beautiful, therefore they deserved their own section. Once you've arrived in Portugal, simply head west or south until the land ends, and you'll almost certainly be pleased with the results.

If you're searching for some white sand and turquoise sea vibes, or something a little more crash-and-awe, Portugal has plenty of both. Our personal favorite is Castelejo Beach, which is located on the Algarve's west coast but defies the stereotypes of an Algarve beach. Castelejo has huge black schist cliffs, deafening Atlantic surf, and stretches of misty golden sand instead of smooth sand and pleasant seas. This is, after all, a surfer's beach.

In Portugal, going to the beach is a requirement, and the country is blessed with lots of sunny days. But remember to use sun protection whether you plan to meander through one of the many wonderful cities, picnic in a park, or catch some rays!

Also keep in mind that the hottest time of the day is between 12 and 3 p.m., when the sun is at its strongest. Wear a hat and drink plenty of water to stay out of direct sunshine. Keep this idea in mind when visiting any section of the country, but especially in the Algarve, which is the hottest and where most activities are focused on the outdoors.

If you're considering migrating to Portugal for the weather, you've come to the correct place. The country is known for its sunshine, with year-round temperatures in the south averaging 18°C (64°F) and summer temperatures reaching 40°C (104°F).

However, relocating to Portugal is not always a permanent solution to the cold of winter. Temperatures in central and northern Portugal can drop below freezing in December and January, and there will almost probably be rain. Even the Algarve's warm climate has been known to endure frost and snowfall.

Expect generally sunny skies, but carry a coat just in case. But this is definitely one of the top Things to Know Before Traveling to Portugal to enjoy your trip at fullest while traveling.

The ideal months to visit Portugal during the summer are July to September. Because Portugal is not recognized for having warm beaches, the water on the beaches may not be as warm as you may think. If you want to visit Porto, the months of July and August are the hottest. Autumn occurs between September and October, and these are the months when you will view the city's vibrant colors, however it will be chilly at night.

However, budget travelers should avoid visiting Portugal during the summer months and major holidays like Christmas and Easter. Flight and hotel expenses surge during these seasons, when most people plan their long weekends and holidays, even outside of large cities. January and February are the most cost-effective months in general, with late spring and late autumn equal for second.

The Portuguese coast isn't recognized for having particularly warm water, so early summer temps may be chilly. The warmest months are July through September, which means the water temperatures will be optimum. Plan a trip to the Algarve, the Azores, or Madeira during the summer months, when the sea temperatures are slightly warmer.