Portugal Travel Risk Overview
Is Portugal safe right now? Checked 16 October 2026
Portugal scores 21/100 on our travel risk index (Low). The US State Department rates Portugal Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions, updated 23 Dec 2025); the UK has no advice against travel; Canada says: exercise normal security precautions. No change in government advice in the last 7 days.
Portugal has a Travel Risk Calculator score of 21 out of 100 (low risk tier); city-level files are available for 60 cities. The score combines five layers (security, crime and scams, health and medical access, natural hazards, current alerts) built from government advisories and open data. This page also covers nine safety categories (crime, disease & health, government advisory, political & civil unrest, natural disaster & weather, transport & route, environmental, digital security, money safety), the current US State Department advisory, GDACS disaster alerts, CDC health notices for Portugal, recent news headlines, plus links to every city we have an editorial file for.
Run a personalized Portugal assessmentAI safety snapshot · refreshed Oct 15, 2026
Portugal maintains a low risk safety profile with a baseline composite score of 21 out of 100 and a US State Department advisory level of 1. A Level 1 Global Dengue health notice is in effect from the CDC. Recent reports highlight the country as a safe destination for investors.
AI-summarized strictly from the live public-source data below (US State Dept advisory, GDACS, CDC, Google News). Auto-refreshed at most once per day on the first visit. Not official advice.
Live conditions last refreshed: Oct 16, 2026 05:44 UTC
How safe is Portugal to visit in 2026?
Portugal currently sits at 21/100 on Travel Risk Calculator's five-layer score, which puts it in the low-risk tier. Travelers can usually treat Portugal as a low-friction destination with standard precautions; the per-city files below cover any city-specific concerns. The full live US State Department advisory text for Portugal, current GDACS disaster alerts, CDC health notices, and recent news headlines are shown in the Live conditions section below. For city-specific files (Porto, Lisbon, Rio de Mouro), see the City Risk Files section below — they include neighborhood-level scam patterns, transport notes, and medical-access details where available.
Country score
Driven by: security (24/100) and natural hazards (31/100).
Portugal's score of 21 is higher than the scores of 9% of the 241 countries we cover.
Data file
| Source | calibrated 2026-05-09 v1.0 (knowledge-based; State Dept advisory tiers, GPI, OSAC patterns) |
|---|---|
| Last updated | 2026-05-09 11:01:52 |
| City files | 60 |
Assessment memory
Anonymous assessments help Travel Risk Calculator identify which country and city files deserve deeper review.
| Saved assessments | 0 |
|---|---|
| Average composite | No saved signal yet |
Score layers
Safety categories
Official Government Travel Advisories
Cross-referenced official travel advice from the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, normalized to a unified 1–4 risk scale.
Department of State
Exercise normal precautionin Portugal. Portugal is generally a safe destination for travelers. Travelers should remain vigilant against petty theft, particularl…
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
FCDO travel advice for Portugal. Includes safety and security, insurance, entry requirements and legal differences.
Global Affairs Canada
Health – editorial change
UK content contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Canadian advice provided by Global Affairs Canada under open government terms. US advice provided by the US Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs.
Entry Requirements & Local Laws
Official travel advice summary from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
🛂 Entry Requirements
This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of the current rules for the most common types of travel. The authorities in Portugal set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Portuguese Embassy in the UK. Passport validity requirements Portugal follows Schengen area rules. Your passport must: have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive – if you renewed your passport before 1 October 2018, it might have a date of issue that is more than 10 years ago, making it invalid for entry to the Schengen area have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area (the expiry date does not need
Summary of UK FCDO advice, updated Aug 11, 2026 · Full requirements →
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Travel Advisory Level History
Historical official advisory level changes over time.
What Changed This Month in Portugal
Chronological record of verified security, advisory, health, and hazard updates over the past 30 days.
- Oct 2, 2026 CDC Notice Level 1 - Global Dengue (Watch).
- Sep 23, 2026 CDC Notice Level 2 - Global Polio (Alert).
- Oct 14, 2026 Score Change Calheta risk score moved from 25 to 23 (Daily recalculation (scoring v2)).
- Oct 14, 2026 Score Change Câmara de Lobos risk score moved from 24 to 22 (Daily recalculation (scoring v2)).
- Oct 14, 2026 Score Change Caniço risk score moved from 24 to 22 (Daily recalculation (scoring v2)).
City Risk Files in Portugal
Showing 60 destination files with city-specific safety data in Portugal, ranked by demand and population.
Porto
Tier APorto
Lisbon
Tier ALisboa
Rio de Mouro
Tier BLisboa
Costas de Cão
Tier BSetúbal
Oeiras
Tier BLisboa
Matosinhos
Tier BPorto
Valongo
Tier BPorto
Faro
Tier BFaro
Gondomar
Tier BPorto
Oliveira do Hospital
Tier BCoimbra
Caxias
Tier BLisboa
Vila Nova de Gaia
Tier BPorto
Santarém
Tier BSantarém
Albufeira
Tier BFaro
Chaves
Tier BVila Real
Lagos
Tier BFaro
Vizela
Tier BPorto
Meixedo
Tier BBragança
Alfena
Tier BPorto
Anta
Tier BAveiro
Arganil
Tier BCoimbra
Alijó
Tier BVila Real
Avintes
Tier BPorto
Idanha-a-Nova
Tier BCastelo Branco
Torre de Moncorvo
Tier BBragança
Figueira da Foz
Tier BCoimbra
Rio Tinto
Tier BPorto
Fafe
Tier BBraga
Amora
Tier BSetúbal
Esposende
Tier BBraga
Benavente
Tier BSantarém
Arcos de Valdevez
Tier BViana do Castelo
São Tiago de Custoias
Tier BPorto
Sobrado de Paiva
Tier BAveiro
Castro Daire
Tier BViseu
Aldeia de Paio Pires
Tier BSetúbal
Ferreira do Zêzere
Tier BSantarém
Braga
Tier BBraga
Almada
Tier BSetúbal
Odivelas
Tier BLisboa
Funchal
Tier BMadeira
Palmela
Tier BSetúbal
Ovar
Tier BAveiro
Lamego
Tier BViseu
Cacém
Tier BLisboa
Alcochete
Tier BSetúbal
Cabeceiras de Basto
Tier BBraga
Sobreda
Tier BSetúbal
São Brás de Alportel
Tier BFaro
Famalicão
Tier BBraga
Barcelos
Tier BBraga
Barreiro
Tier BSetúbal
Amarante
Tier BPorto
Montijo
Tier BSetúbal
Silves
Tier BFaro
Cantanhede
Tier BCoimbra
Arrentela
Tier BSetúbal
Albergaria-a-Velha
Tier BAveiro
Cascais
Tier BLisboa
Guimarães
Tier BBraga
All towns in Portugal (194 additional local facts pages)
These localities carry verified regional geography, nearest hospitals, airports, and natural hazard records with the country baseline risk score.
Live conditions in Portugal
Country-scoped real-time data — official advisory from the US State Department, disaster alerts from GDACS, health notices from the CDC, news from Google News. For city-specific weather and air quality, open any city page below.
Official travel advisory
Level 1 · Exercise Normal Precautions
Portugal - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions
Read full advisory → · US Department of State
Track Portugal’s advisory
Get one email if the US State Department travel-advisory level for Portugal changes. No account, unsubscribe anytime.
Traveller notes from government advice
Advice for women travellers
Attacks including sexual assaults, are rare but do occur. The risk is highest late at night around popular nightlife locations. In an emergency, call 112.
Avoid splitting up from your friends, do not go off with people you don’t know and don’t let a friend walk back to their accommodation alone. Set up a group chat to keep in touch. Save the location of your accommodation on your maps app, so it’s easy to find or take a photograph of the name and address of your accommodation. For further tips and advice, see TravelAware ‘Stick with your mates’ and getting help if you are a victim of crime abroad.
Source: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (Open Government Licence v3.0), updated 11 Aug 2026. Full advice
Local laws and customs
Personal ID
You must provide photo ID if asked by a police officer. The police have the right to hold you at a police station until they have confirmed your identity. It is mandatory to carry ID when driving.
Gambling
Gambling is only legal in places licensed by the government, such as official casinos. Games of chance, including bingo, are illegal if they’re held on unlicensed premises.
The police may act on reports of illegal gambling in unauthorised premises without warning. You could be arrested, charged and fined or given a prison sentence. If in doubt, ask if the venue is licensed.
Illegal drugs
Illegal drugs, including cannabis, carry severe penalties. You should expect a long jail sentence and heavy fines for smuggling illegal drugs, including when transiting through the airport.
Airports in Portugal have excellent technology and security for detecting illegal items. This is also used to scan the baggage…
Read the full UK government advice
Source: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (Open Government Licence v3.0), updated 11 Aug 2026. Full advice
Entry requirements
This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of the current rules for the most common types of travel.
The authorities in Portugal set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Portuguese Embassy in the UK.
Passport validity requirements
Portugal follows Schengen area rules. Your passport must:
have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive – if you renewed your passport before 1 October 2018, it might have a date of issue that is more than 10 years ago, making it invalid for entry to the Schengen area
Check the official entry requirements for your nationality before you travel.
Source: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (Open Government Licence v3.0), updated 11 Aug 2026. Official entry requirements
Disaster alerts
No active GDACS disaster alerts matched Portugal as of the last successful refresh.
Health notices
Health Notices for this Destination
-
Level 1 - Global Dengue WATCH · 2026-10-02
Dengue is a year-round risk in many parts of the world, with outbreaks commonly occurring every 2–5 years. Travelers to risk areas should prevent mosquito bites. Country List : Colombia, Vietnam, Maldives, Bolivia, Cambodia, Kenya, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Mar
-
Level 2 - Global Polio ALERT · 2026-09-23
Some international destinations have circulating poliovirus. Before any international travel, make sure you are up to date on your polio vaccines. Country List : Afghanistan, Algeria, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger, Nig
-
Level 1 - Global Measles WATCH · 2025-05-28
Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel. Country List : Afghan
Source: CDC Travelers’ Health · fetched 2026-10-15 19:24:31 UTC
Recent headlines
No recent national headlines were returned for Portugal. This is not evidence that conditions are quiet; check local and official sources.
1991–2020 climate normals
Seasonal risk & best time to visit Portugal
The most weather-stable two-month window for Portugal is June–July, when typical daily temperatures run from about 17°C to 26°C and monthly rain averages 8 mm.
No threshold-level heat, cold, wind, or cyclone flag appears in the stored normals; November is the wettest typical month at about 104 mm.
Climate normals are planning context, not a short-range forecast. Source: Open-Meteo Climate API. Refreshed Aug 17, 2026.
Calculate risk for these travel dates Compare seasonal windows →
Diplomatic assistance
Embassies in Lisbon
Consulado do Brasil and Embaixada de Malta and 3 other embassies are mapped in Lisbon.
OpenStreetMap coverage is a location aid, not an official diplomatic directory. Before travel, save the address and emergency contact details published by your own foreign ministry.
Emergency Numbers
| Police | 112 |
|---|---|
| Ambulance | 112 |
| Fire | 112 |
| General emergency | 112 |
Essential local emergency phrases
Show this screen to first responders, hotel staff, or passersby if you cannot speak the local language during an emergency.
Latest AI-assisted briefing for Portugal
Planning a trip to Sines, Portugal involves monitoring regional cyber incidents affecting energy infrastructure and managing port congestion. Travelers should also prepare for the implementation of entry authorization rules like ETIAS.
Top risk drivers
-
Cyber incidents at Sines energy port
· digital_security
Qilin ransomware recently targeted MEISA Sines at Portugal's Sines energy port, indicating digital security risks in the industrial sector.
-
Port congestion and terminal activity in Sines
· transport_route
Ongoing port congestion affects major Portuguese ports including Sines, impacting regional shipping and logistics operations.
-
Moderate regional crime baseline
· crime
Crime score of 25 indicates low theft risk, though standard situational awareness remains prudent.
Recent intelligence
- Qilin Ransomware Claims Six Victims Across Five Countries including MEISA Sines [source]
- ETIAS for Portugal: Complete Guide for 2026 [source]
- Portugal Safety Index rated ELEVATED CONCERN with thermal addendum [source]
- Port Congestion in Portugal – Real-Time Update on Sines, Leixões, and Lisbon [source]
Live intelligence cited 8 public-source snippets. Every claim above is grounded in one of them — verify any specific detail by following the snippet links on the full assessment page.
Frequently asked questions
Is Portugal safe to visit right now?
Yes, Portugal is generally safe for travelers. Standard precautions cover most situations. Specific cities and regions can differ — check the city files below. Composite baseline: 21/100 (Low risk). Always cross-check with your home country's foreign-ministry advisory within 7 days of departure; the live US State Department advisory is shown above. Last refreshed October 2026.
What is the current travel advisory for Portugal?
The current US State Department advisory level for Portugal is shown in the Live conditions section above and is re-fetched every 6 hours from the official RSS feed. UK FCDO, Canada GAC, and Australia DFAT also publish advisories — for high-stakes trips, cross-check at least one foreign-ministry advisory in addition to your home country's. See our travel advisory guide for how to read each tier system.
Is it safe to visit Portugal in October 2026?
For October 2026, the baseline composite for Portugal is 21/100 (Low risk). Live data — advisories every 6 hours, disaster alerts every 30 minutes, health notices every 12 hours, news every hour — is shown in the Live conditions section above. For a personalized risk briefing for your specific trip and traveler profile, use the Travel Risk Calculator linked above.
How are these country-level travel risk scores calculated?
Each category is scored 0-100 from government advisories (US State Dept), crime indices, Global Peace Index data, WHO/CDC health context, and curated regional editorial knowledge. The composite is a weighted sum across nine categories — see /methodology for the full weight breakdown. Live data (advisories, news, disaster alerts, health notices) is layered on top of the baseline at request time.
Where can I find city-specific safety information for Portugal?
City-specific files for Portugal are listed in the City Risk Files section above. Each city page covers the same nine categories at city scope, plus city-specific scam patterns, transport-hub safety notes, medical-access detail, and (where available) neighborhood-level guidance. Use the header search to find a specific city directly.
When was this page last reviewed?
The baseline scores for Portugal were last reviewed on May 9, 2026. Live intelligence (advisory, disaster alerts, health notices, news) refreshes automatically on the cadences described above.
Is this a substitute for an official travel advisory?
No. Travel Risk Calculator provides estimated risk information for planning purposes only. Always check your home country's official travel advisory and any health notices from your national health authority before traveling.
When is the best time to visit Portugal?
June–July is the most weather-stable two-month window in the stored 1991-2020 normals. The most weather-stable two-month window for Portugal is June–July, when typical daily temperatures run from about 17°C to 26°C and monthly rain averages 8 mm.
What is the rainy, hurricane, or severe-weather season in Portugal?
The stored 1991-2020 normals do not cross this site's seasonal hazard thresholds; check a short-range forecast before departure.
Community Safety Sentiment
Have you visited Portugal recently? What was your safety experience?
Vote to share your experience with travelers.
Popular country searches right now
Countries visitors are looking up most frequently this week.
Browse all destinations → · Compare two countries → · Popular city searches →
PAGE LAST UPDATED:
Disclaimer
Travel Risk Calculator provides estimated travel-threat information for preparation purposes only. It does not replace official government advisories, medical advice, emergency alerts, immigration rules, insurance advice, police guidance, embassy information, or professional security consultation.