Solo Travel in Portugal: Route, Hostels and Safety

Portugal is one of the best countries in Europe for solo travel: it’s safe, friendly, affordable and easy to get around, with brilliant social hostels and plenty of group tours where you can meet people. Here’s our guide to travelling Portugal alone.

Quick answer: start in Lisbon (social hostels like Home Lisbon or Goodmorning), then Porto by train, and finish on the Algarve in Lagos, the backpacker capital. Join free walking tours, food tours and surf camps to meet people. Portugal is very safe, but watch your bag in busy spots.

Why Portugal is great solo

• Safety: Portugal regularly ranks among the safest countries in the world. See is Portugal safe?
• English is widely spoken in cities and tourist areas, and younger people especially are happy to help.
• Great hostels with family dinners and activities. Many also have private rooms if you want your own space.
• Easy transport: trains and long-distance buses link the main cities, so you don’t need a car.
• Good value compared with much of Western Europe.
• Eating alone is normal: plenty of locals eat lunch on their own at the counter of a café or tasca.

A solo route (10–14 days)

• Lisbon (4 nights): free walking tour, Alfama, Belém, a food tour and a day in Sintra. See the best hostels in Lisbon.
• Porto (3 nights): port cellars, the Ribeira and a Douro day tour. See the best hostels in Porto.
• Lagos (4 nights): beaches, kayaking, boat parties and nightlife. See things to do in Lagos.
• Optional: a surf camp in Ericeira or Sagres. See surfing in Portugal.

Getting between the stops

• Lisbon to Porto: about 3 hours on CP’s Alfa Pendular or Intercidades trains. Book early on cp.pt for cheaper promo fares. See Lisbon to Porto by train.
• Porto to Lagos: a long travel day. The simplest option is the train back through Lisbon, then a train or coach on to the Algarve. Break the trip with a night in Lisbon if you can.
• Lisbon to Lagos: direct Rede Expressos and FlixBus coaches take about 4 hours. The train needs a change at Tunes. See Lisbon to the Algarve.

Meeting people

• Hostels: many run nightly dinners, pub crawls and day trips. Home Lisbon is known for its home-cooked family dinners, and Goodmorning runs free walking tours and evening events. Check recent reviews, as the atmosphere changes with the staff and season.
• Free walking tours in Lisbon and Porto. Guides work for tips, so pay what you think it was worth. See Lisbon walking tours.
• Group tours: food tours, wine tours and day trips. See the best tours in Lisbon and in Porto.
• Surf camps are very social, with shared meals and lessons.
• Walking the Camino: the Portuguese Way to Santiago is full of solo walkers, and you’ll share dinners in pilgrim hostels. See the Camino Português.
• Our Facebook groups: ask questions and find travel buddies among 305,000+ members. Join the groups.

Eating alone

Lunch is the easy meal. Look for the prato do dia (dish of the day) board outside small restaurants, sit at the counter if there is one, and you’ll eat well for not much. Food markets like the Time Out Market in Lisbon have shared tables, which makes it easy to chat. Dinner starts later than in the UK, often from about 8pm, and a solo diner is never turned away. Remember the bread and olives that arrive first aren’t free. Send them back if you don’t want them.

Safety tips for solo travellers

• Bags: keep them zipped and in front on trams and at viewpoints. Tram 28 and the Baixa are known for pickpockets.
• Street sellers: men in the Baixa and Bairro Alto may quietly offer you drugs. Just say no and keep walking. What they sell is often fake.
• At night: busy nightlife areas are generally fine; stick to lit streets and use Uber or Bolt late at night. See Uber vs Bolt vs taxi.
• Drinks: keep an eye on yours, as anywhere.
• The sea: swim at lifeguarded beaches, especially alone. Atlantic currents are strong.
• Hiking: tell someone your plans and check trail status.
• Share your plans: send your accommodation details to someone at home.
• Emergencies: call 112.

Money

Single rooms cost more, so hostels with private rooms are great value. A dorm bed usually costs about €20–45 a night in the cities, more in summer. Cooking in the hostel kitchen and eating the prato do dia at lunch keeps costs down. See how much a trip to Portugal costs and Portugal on a budget.

When to go solo

May, June, September and early October are ideal: warm, with hostels busy enough to be social but not packed. July and August are fun in Lagos but expensive and crowded. In winter, the cities are quiet and cheap, but the Algarve hostel scene is much smaller.

Working while you travel?

See digital nomads in Portugal.

More: things to know before visiting Portugal and Portuguese phrases.

Prices and details change, so please double-check before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Tell us in the groups.