Flights from Palma (Majorque) to Portugal

Travel to Portugal from Palma de Mallorca

Lisbon and Porto are both around 2 hours from Palma de Mallorca on Vueling’s direct flights, so you leave the island without having to change planes on the mainland.

Each city opens up a different trip. Lisbon means light, hills and a cultural scene that goes well beyond fado. Porto is more compact, with the Douro, the port wine cellars and the green north just behind it.

What documents you need to travel to Portugal

Portugal and Spain are both in the European Union and the Schengen Area, so Spanish and other EU citizens only need a valid national ID card (the DNI, for Spaniards) or passport, with no visa or extra paperwork.

Schengen flights require the physical DNI. The digital DNI is only valid on flights within Spain, not on international routes such as this one. Check the expiry date before you book, as you cannot board with an expired document. If you are travelling with children, each one needs their own documents. For any other nationality, the travel documents page explains what you need.

What to know when you land in Portugal

From the airport to the city centre. Both airports are close to their cities, which is not that common. In Lisbon, the red metro line gets you to the centre in about 20 minutes. In Porto, the metro from Francisco Sá Carneiro to the central area takes around 40 minutes.

Time difference. Portugal is 1 hour behind mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands all year round. Both countries change the clocks on the same dates, but they sit in different time zones. Set your watch back when you land.

The train between Lisbon and Porto. The journey takes under 3 hours, so you can fly into one city and home from the other without doubling back. It is the combination that works best for a week, and both cities have direct flights from Palma.

Climate by region. The north, Porto included, has an Atlantic climate and is rainy in autumn and winter, far more so than Mallorca. Lisbon has mild winters and dry summers, while the Alentejo and the Algarve go above 35°C in July and August.

Portugal uses the euro, and plugs are type C and F, at 230V. Portuguese is the official language, and Spanish is fairly widely understood in tourist areas.

What to do in Portugal

Lisbon

In Lisbon, the Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower, both World Heritage Sites, are where the classic sightseeing happens. Alfama, Mouraria and LX Factory feel like 3 different cities inside one. You can cover them on foot, apart from the hills, which are steeper than they look in photos.

Porto and the Douro

Porto is more compact than Lisbon and easier to get to know in a few days. The wine cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia across the river, the Bolhão Market and the Lello bookshop will easily fill a weekend. Further inland, the Douro Valley adds terraced vineyards and quintas where you can stay the night.

The Alentejo, from Lisbon

90 minutes by road. This is the most inland and least crowded region in the country: cork, vineyards and walled towns such as Évora, with its Roman temple and its Chapel of Bones. The local, produce-led cooking is reason enough for the detour.

Sintra and the Atlantic coast

Half an hour from Lisbon on the suburban train, Sintra brings together Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira in a wooded setting, and it is a World Heritage Site. Cascais and the beaches of the Estoril coast are close by, facing an Atlantic that has little in common with the Balearic Mediterranean.

Luggage for your flight to Portugal

On flights from Palma de Mallorca, your fare sets what luggage you can take. The simplest fare includes a personal item that fits under the seat in front, and from there you can add cabin or checked luggage.

For a weekend away, cabin luggage is usually enough. If your trip links Lisbon and Porto by train, deciding this when you book saves you carrying more than you need between stations. Check the current conditions in Vueling’s luggage policy.