Chicago to Vila Baleira (MDW–PXO) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

US passport holders enter Portugal visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period across the entire Schengen area. No advance application is needed. Portugal is an EU member and Schengen member. Passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the planned departure from the Schengen area. At Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS), Porto Francisco Sa Carneiro (OPO), or Faro (FAO), immigration stamps your passport at the non-EU line.

The 90-day Schengen clock runs across all 29 Schengen countries. Days spent in Spain, France, or any other Schengen state count toward the same 90-day limit. Portugal's train network connects Lisbon to Porto in 2 hours 40 minutes on the Alfa Pendular for EUR 25 to EUR 35 ($27 to $38). Lisbon to Faro (Algarve) takes 2 hours 50 minutes. The Madeira and Azores archipelagos are autonomous regions of Portugal: both are in the Schengen area, so no separate visa is needed. TAP Air Portugal connects Lisbon to Funchal (Madeira, 1 hour 35 minutes) and Ponta Delgada (Azores, 2 hours 15 minutes).

Direct flights from New York JFK and Newark to Lisbon run about 7 hours on TAP, United, and Portuguese carriers. Boston to LIS runs about 6 hours 30 minutes. Direct service also operates from Miami, Washington Dulles, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. TAP offers free Lisbon stopovers on transatlantic flights. Portugal uses the euro, trading at roughly $1.08 per EUR 1. Card payments and contactless tap work at most businesses. Lisbon's metro has 4 lines with single tickets at EUR 1.65 ($1.78). The Viva Viagem card works on metro, buses, trams, and ferries. Tram 28 climbs through Alfama for the standard EUR 3.80 cash fare or EUR 1.65 with the Viva Viagem card. A restaurant meal with wine runs EUR 12 to EUR 25 ($13 to $27). Pasteis de nata (custard tarts) cost EUR 1.20 to EUR 1.50 at most pastelarias.