Why Portugal Belongs on Your Travel List

Portugal has a way of making people want to come back. From laid back coastal towns and historic cities to vineyard covered valleys and golden Atlantic beaches. It's a destination that blends relaxation, culture and scenery effortlessly. Add in the warm climate, incredible seafood, famous wines and welcoming atmosphere, and it's easy to see why Portugal remains such a popular choice for Irish travellers.

Lisbon tram on a colourful street

Lisbon is full of character, and sits on steep hills beside the Tagus River. The city is known for its yellow trams, tiled buildings, colourful streets and scenic viewpoints stretching across the rooftops. Wander through historic neighbourhoods like Alfama and Bairro Alto. Enjoy fresh pastries and coffee in sunny squares. Spend evenings listening to traditional fado music drifting from local restaurants and bars.

Algarve coastline with cliffs and beaches

Beyond the capital, Portugal opens up into a huge variety of landscapes and experiences. Porto charms visitors with its riverside setting, historic bridges and world famous port wine cellars. The Algarve is home to dramatic cliffs, hidden coves and long sandy beaches that attract sunseekers year after year. The Douro Valley is known for its vineyards and river cruises through one of Europe's oldest wine regions. Alentejo provides quieter countryside escapes filled with whitewashed villages, olive groves and medieval towns. Madeira, sitting out in the Atlantic Ocean, offers spectacular mountain scenery, hiking trails and mild temperatures throughout the year.

Of course, even the most relaxing holidays can come with unexpected problems. Flights may be delayed; baggage can go missing and medical emergencies can happen without warning. That's where Switched On Travel Insurance can help. Our policies give you the confidence to enjoy your trip to Portugal knowing you're protected if something doesn't go to plan.

What's Covered with Switched On Travel Insurance?

Our travel insurance for Portugal is designed to help protect you throughout your trip, whether you’re heading for a city break in Lisbon, a beach holiday in the Algarve or a golfing escape along the coast. From medical emergencies and cancellations to baggage issues and travel disruption, our policies provide cover for the things that matter most while you’re away.

Our policy benefits include:

Please note: All cover limits shown are per person, per trip. Sub-limits apply to specific items such as single articles, valuables and cash. Please read the full Switched On Policy Wording for full terms, conditions and exclusions.

Add Ons to Tailor Your Cover in Portugal

Skier carving down an Alpine slope

Winter Sports

Planning a ski or snowboarding trip to Portugal's Serra da Estrela mountains? Or combining Portugal with a wider European winter holiday? Add Winter Sports cover for protection while skiing, snowboarding and enjoying other winter activities, all for a small additional premium. Cover also includes ski equipment, piste closure, ski hire and off-piste skiing within resort boundaries and in line with our policy terms.

Airport departure board showing flight times

Travel Disruption

Protect yourself against major unexpected events that could impact your holiday, including terrorism, natural catastrophes and air traffic control failures. You can add Travel Disruption cover to your policy for an additional premium.

Phone, tablet, smartwatch and tech accessories laid out flat

Enhanced Gadget Cover

Taking valuable tech away with you? If you choose our Standard cover level, gadgets such as phones, tablets, laptops and smartwatches won't automatically be covered for accidental damage, loss or theft. By adding Enhanced Gadget Cover, you can help protect your devices while travelling in Portugal. Premium and Ultimate policies already include gadget cover automatically, with €750 included on Premium cover and €1,000 included on Ultimate cover. If you'd like a higher level of cover, you can choose to increase this too for an additional premium.

Cruise ship sailing at sea

Cruise Cover

Portugal is a popular stop for Atlantic and Mediterranean cruises. Lisbon, Porto and Madeira welcome thousands of cruise visitors throughout the year. Adding Cruise Cover for a small additional premium increases your baggage cover to €3,500. You'll also be protected if you're confined to your cabin, miss excursions or your itinerary changes suddenly.

Golf flag on a putting green

Golf Cover

Portugal is widely regarded as one of Europe's top golfing destinations. The Algarve offers world class coastal courses attracting golfers from around the world. Golf Cover helps protect your golfing equipment against loss, theft, damage or delay. It also covers lost green fees if illness or injury prevents you from playing. You can add Golf Cover to your policy for a small additional premium.

What's Not Covered

As with all insurance products, some things fall outside our standard policy. Common exclusions include:

  • Travel against Foreign Affairs advice at the time of travel
  • Pre-existing medical conditions not declared at the time of purchase
  • Incidents arising from alcohol or drug misuse
  • Extreme sports and hazardous activities not listed in your policy
  • Unattended baggage in public areas
  • Losses not reported to local police within 48 hours
  • Business equipment and samples

This is not a full list of exclusions, so it's important to read the full Policy Wording before travelling to ensure you have the right level of cover for your trip to Portugal.

If you're travelling against the advice of the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade, your policy will not be valid. Always check ireland.ie before departure.

Before You Go – Portugal Essentials

Currency

Portugal uses the Euro, so there's no need to exchange currency if you're travelling from Ireland. Card payments are widely accepted across the country, particularly in Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve and other popular tourist areas. However, it's still useful to carry a small amount of cash for local cafés, markets, smaller towns and family run restaurants where card payments may not always be preferred. ATMs are easy to find throughout Portugal, including at airports, train stations and in most town centres.

The official language spoken in Portugal is Portuguese. In larger cities, tourist hotspots and hotels, English is commonly spoken and understood. However, in quieter towns and more rural areas this can vary, so learning a few simple Portuguese phrases is always appreciated. Saying olá (hello), por favor (please) and obrigado/obrigada (thank you) can go a long way with locals.

Portugal uses a 230V supply with Type F plugs, which feature two round pins. Irish plugs are not compatible with Portuguese sockets, so it's important to pack a European travel adapter before you go. Many hotels provide USB charging points or universal sockets, but it's always best to check in advance if you're travelling with multiple devices.

Travel Insurance for Every Type of Portugal Trip

City Breaks & Weekend Escapes

Planning a few days in Lisbon or Porto? From delayed flights to lost baggage and unexpected cancellations, travel insurance helps protect your trip so you can focus on enjoying Portugal's historic streets, waterfront cafés and vibrant nightlife.

The Algarve is one of Ireland's favourite holiday destinations, and it's easy to see why, with over 300 days of sunshine a year and some of Europe's most beautiful beaches. Whether you're based in Lagos, Albufeira or Vilamoura, travel insurance gives you the peace of mind to relax and enjoy every moment.

From the famous links of Vilamoura to the clifftop courses of Sagres, Portugal is a golfer's paradise. Our Golf Cover add-on protects your equipment and covers lost green fees, so an unexpected illness or injury doesn't spoil the trip.

Lisbon is one of Europe's most popular cruise departure points, with transatlantic crossings, Mediterranean itineraries and island hopping routes all on offer. Adding Cruise Cover gives additional baggage protection and cover for missed excursions, cabin confinement and itinerary changes.

Doctor reviewing a patient's medical notes

Medical Care in Portugal

Portugal has a well-developed public and private healthcare system, offering good facilities in the main cities and tourist regions. Irish travellers should carry a valid Irish-issued EHIC card, alongside their Switched On Insurance policy documents, when travelling in Portugal.

Your EHIC gives you access to medically necessary state healthcare on the same basis as Portuguese residents. This is useful in an emergency, though it's worth noting that public hospitals in some areas can have longer waiting times and access to English-speaking staff may vary outside the main cities.

It's important to remember that an EHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance. It does not cover private treatment, repatriation to Ireland, travel disruption or lost belongings. This is where your Switched On Travel Insurance policy helps to keep you protected.

With your Switched On Insurance policy, you'll also have access to Air Doctor. The service provides you with fast and convenient medical support while abroad. Through the Air Doctor app, you can quickly find trusted local doctors, book appointments and access treatment for minor illnesses and injuries. For more information, see our dedicated Air Doctor page.

Emergency responder on a call

Emergency Numbers in Portugal

Before travelling, it's a good idea to save important emergency numbers in your phone. In any serious or life-threatening situation, dial 112. This is the universal European emergency number and will connect you to the appropriate emergency service in Portugal.

Other useful numbers include:

  • 112 – Police, Fire & Medical Emergency (single number for all services)
  • 808 24 24 24 – SNS Health Line (non-emergency medical advice)

If you need emergency medical help during your trip, Switched On Insurance customers can contact our 24/7 Emergency Medical Helpline. Our team can guide you on what to do and help you get the right treatment.

Whether you’re wandering through Lisbon’s historic streets, unwinding on the beaches of the Algarve, teeing off on Portugal’s famous golf courses or exploring the volcanic landscapes of Madeira, Switched On Insurance helps you travel with added peace of mind. With flexible cover options, emergency medical protection, Air Doctor support abroad and cover for over 120 sports and activities, you can enjoy every part of your Portuguese adventure knowing support is there if you need it.

Get a quick quote online today and choose the level of cover that’s right for your trip to Portugal.