Flights from Paris to Portugal

Travel to Portugal from Paris

Lisbon, Porto and Faro all have direct Vueling flights from Paris, taking between 2 hours 20 minutes and 2 hours 45 minutes depending on the destination.

Flying into Faro is what changes plans the most: landing straight in the Algarve saves you the road or rail journey that almost everyone assumes they will have to make. Lisbon and Porto open up the Atlantic coast and the north, and both pair well on the same trip.

What documents you need to travel to Portugal

Portugal and France are both in the European Union and the Schengen Area, so French and other EU citizens only need a valid national ID card or passport, with no visa.

Even though there are no border checks between the 2 countries, you must carry your documents with you for the whole trip, and check they have not expired before you book. If you are travelling with children, each one needs their own. With the European Health Insurance Card, you are covered for public healthcare in Portugal. If you are not an EU national, check your situation on the travel documents page.

What to know when you land in Portugal

From the airport to the city centre. All 3 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. Faro is a few kilometres from the old town, and that is where connections to the Algarve beaches leave from.

Time difference. Portugal is 1 hour behind France all year round. Both countries change the clocks on the same dates, but they sit in different time zones. Remember to put your watch back an hour.

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 Paris.

Climate by region. The north, Porto included, has an Atlantic climate and is rainy in autumn and winter, not unlike northern France. Lisbon has mild winters, 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 English gets you by 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, with its narrow lanes and viewpoints, Mouraria and LX Factory feel like 3 different cities in one. Sintra is half an hour away on the suburban train.

Porto and the Douro Valley

Porto is more compact than Lisbon and easier to get to know in a few days, with its azulejo tiles, the riverfront and the wine cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia across the water. Further inland, the Douro Valley is a World Heritage Site, with terraced vineyards and quintas where you can stay the night.

The Algarve, from Faro

This is where the direct flight really pays off: you land and you are on the coast. Praia da Marinha, Lagos and Sagres have the best-known limestone cliffs. Outside the summer months, there are coastal walking trails and produce-led cooking that stands up to any comparison.

The Alentejo

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

Luggage for your flight to Portugal

How much luggage you can take comes down to the fare you book. 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. Sports equipment, musical instruments and bulky items have their own conditions, so check them before you travel. Check the current conditions in Vueling’s luggage policy.