Portugal Packing Guide

Everything I Packed for a Shoulder Season Trip to Northern and Central Portugal

Portugal is consistently named as a “top European travel destination” for so many reasons. For a relatively small country, it is an impressive powerhouse of culturally-rich attractions, a buzzy food scene, and playground for water sport enthusiasts.

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It also has a surprisingly diverse climate and typography. While the South is sunny and warm nearly year round, the North tends to be a bit cooler and rainier with a temperate maritime climate. How you pack for your trip to Portugal really depends on where you will be and when.

This packing guide is geared more towards shoulder season travel (spring, late summer, and autumn) in the North and Central regions of Portugal. We went in early September while temperatures will still pretty warm, but not sweltering hot. If you are traveling during the hottest part of the summer or headed South to the Algarve, you’ll want to leave the sweaters at home and throw in some shorts, swim wear, and flip flops instead:)

Our main draw to Portugal was the historic sites of Porto, Lisbon, and the cities in between. We didn’t have any activities planned that required special gear or had a dress code, except for modesty in the convents and churches. So, packing was straight-forward with a bunch of mix-and-match layers.

Given the amount of walking involved on uneven terrain and steep inclines, comfortable footwear is essential. I wore tennis shoes all-day-everyday except for changing into a pair of flat sandals for our nicer dinners. A crossbody bag (or belt bag) is a must so you can be hands-free to take photos.

Everything fit in my 25″ Travelpro Check-in Hardside Spinner. I also brought a personal tote bag with plenty of room to spare for the loads of pottery and souvenirs I amassed along the way.

This post will cover:

• Mix-and-match outfits for northern Portugal
• Outfit inspiration for Lisbon
• The final packing list
• Shopping links

Mix-and-match outfits for Porto, Coimbra, and the Central Monasteries

Just to re-iterate, modesty in churches is expected as a show of respect. I always had a scarf, sweater, or light jacket with me to cover my shoulders for chilly mornings, blasting air conditioning, and religious places.

Our first day in Porto commenced from the airport, so I was stuck in my travel clothes. I love the coordinates from Bleusalt. Everything is made from incredibly soft fabric that is actually acceptable to wear outside the house. So, I didn’t look or feel completely underdressed.

To keep things simple, I only took a few accessories. Some simple gold jewelry and a colorful, vintage Loewe scarf dressed up my daytime outfits for dinner.

Above: Outfits for Porto, Coimbra (first 3), Tomar, Central Monasteries, and Sintra (last 3)

Light, breezy layers for Coastal Towns and Lisbon

I didn’t even pack a bathing suit because I knew the northern beaches would be entirely too cold for me. However, the warm climate of Lisbon and the Silver Coast called for light layers. Don’t forget to pack a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen!

Above: Outfits for Lisbon

Above photo: Coastal vibes in Newport

The final packing list

Here’s my final packing list for a 9-day road trip from Porto to Lisbon, minus all the necessary toiletries, phone and camera gear, and document organization:

Shopping links

Portugal is the perfect place to pull out your wide-leg pants, bohemian dresses, and feminine eyelet tops. I had a vintage silk scarf that was my color inspiration of blues and golden yellow. Soft, breathable fabrics that you can easily wear from day-to-night will help economize luggage space (and leave more room for treasures to bring back home!).

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