Every major guidebook company from Lonely Planet to Let’s Go makes at least one Portugal guidebook.
Most guidebook companies make a book on Portugal as a whole, but the country’s territory and diversity of places to visit make for enough material for a full guidebook on specific regions like the Algarve and cities like Lisbon.
If you’re only planning on visiting only one city in Portugal, getting a specific guidebook for the city is a good idea. For example, Lonely Planet’s book on Lisbon gives good in-depth coverage of Lisbon and the surrounding area.
If you’ll be visiting lots of places in Portugal, getting a larger guidebook like The Rough Guide to Portugal is a good idea. If you’re handy with scissors, you can cut out the chapters you need and leave the rest of the guidebook at home to save room as you pack your bags.
Once you know what size Portugal guidebook you need, shop around for a guidebook that fits your travel style. If you’re backpacking, Lonely Planet, Let’s Go, and the Rough Guide are some of the best Portugal guidebooks.
If you’re going upscale, look into guides like the Hg2 Lisbon (A Hedonist’s Guide to Lisbon) or the Wallpaper Guide to Lisbon that offer more high-end suggestions for Lisbon hotels, restaurants, nightlife, and shopping.
If you love sightseeing, consider picking up the Eyewitness Travel Guide to Portugal. With photos and illustrations on every page, the Eyewitness Portugal guidebook is great for explaining the details of Portugal’s many historic buildings and landmarks.
On a budget? A lot of the best deals on Portugal guidebooks can be found on websites where travelers that have just returned from Portugal are selling their books. If you’re lucky you can get a copy with good notes and suggestions written in!
One last tip on finding the best Portugal guidebooks: check the date the guidebook was published. If it is more than a year old, don’t buy it. Things change so quickly in Portugal that an old Portugal guidebook will be of little use to you today.
