Portugal vs Italy: Which to Choose?

Portugal or Italy? Both offer history, beautiful cities, great food and wine and stunning coastlines. Italy has more famous art and monuments, while Portugal is smaller, usually less expensive and often less crowded. Here’s how to choose.

Quick answer: choose Portugal for a compact, affordable trip combining cities (Lisbon, Porto), Atlantic beaches, wine country and islands, with fewer crowds. Choose Italy for world-famous art, ancient Rome, Renaissance cities, varied regional food and the Mediterranean coast.

The short version

You can’t really go wrong. The choice comes down to how much time you have, your budget and what you want to fill your days with. Portugal rewards a slower trip with beaches and long lunches. Italy rewards a busier trip packed with museums, ruins and famous sights. If you have been to Italy before, Portugal makes a good contrast.

Side by side

• Size: Portugal is compact and easy to cover in 1 to 2 weeks. Italy is about three times bigger and has much more to see, so most first trips only cover two or three regions.
• Cost: Portugal is usually cheaper for food, wine and hotels. A set lunch menu and a glass of local wine are still good value in most towns.
• Crowds: Italy’s big sights are very crowded, and places such as the Vatican Museums and the Uffizi need timed tickets booked ahead. Portugal is busy in hotspots like Sintra and central Lisbon but calmer overall.
• Food: Italy is world-famous. Portugal has superb seafood, pastries and wine. See what to eat in Portugal.
• Wine: both are excellent. Portugal is known for port, vinho verde and its native grapes. Italy has Chianti, Barolo, prosecco and much more. See Portugal’s wine regions.
• Beaches: Portugal has Atlantic beaches and cliffs, with cooler water and good surf. Italy has the warmer Mediterranean, with calmer seas and many paid beach clubs.
• Art and history: Italy has more famous masterpieces and more UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any other country. Portugal has Manueline monuments, azulejos and the Age of Discovery.
• Getting around: both have useful trains. Italy’s high-speed network links Rome, Florence, Venice and Milan quickly. In Portugal the main line runs Lisbon to Porto in about three hours, but for rural areas a car is often easier. See the Portugal train guide.
• Weather: both have hot, dry summers. Southern Portugal stays mild in winter, which makes it a good off-season choice.

Sample trips

One week

• Portugal: Lisbon and Sintra for four days, then Porto for three. Or swap Porto for the Algarve coast.
• Italy: Rome and Florence, perhaps with a day in Tuscany. Trying to add Venice too will feel rushed.

Two weeks

• Portugal: Lisbon, Sintra, Évora, the Algarve, Porto and the Douro Valley. You see most of the country.
• Italy: Rome, Florence, Venice and either the Amalfi Coast or the lakes. You still only scratch the surface.

Choose Portugal if

You want value, variety in a small space and a relaxed pace. It also suits you if you like surfing, coastal walks or wine tasting without big crowds, or if you want winter sun in Europe. See first time in Portugal and how many days in Portugal.

Choose Italy if

Art, ancient history and Mediterranean food are top of your list. It is the better choice if you dream of seeing the Colosseum, Renaissance paintings and hill towns, and you don’t mind paying more and queuing at the famous sights.

Practical tips

• Combine them: direct flights between Lisbon and Rome take around three hours, so one trip can cover both.
• Book ahead: in Italy, reserve major museums. In Portugal, reserve Sintra palaces and popular restaurants in summer.
• Bread and starters: in Portuguese restaurants, bread and olives put on the table are usually charged if you eat them. In Italy, a cover charge on the bill is common.
• Season: spring and autumn are the best times for both. See the best time to visit Portugal.

More: Portugal vs Spain and the best places to visit in Portugal.

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