By Georgia Pearson

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Portugal has introduced new rules targeting tourist behaviour, particularly in popular tourist areas such as Albufeira. The rules are outlined to curb antisocial behaviour and are to maintain public order and the image of these destinations.

In general, it is crucial to purchase travel insurance before travelling abroad and to research and sign up for travel alerts for Portugal, including its surrounding islands. Stay tuned so you can learn more about Portugal’s travel laws and conduct so you can guarantee your trip will be one to remember!

Portugal, including islands like Madeira, is a very popular holiday destination with beautiful beaches and stunning cityscapes which attract millions of tourists every year.

Albufeira, Portugal’s party capital, sees large influxes of holidaymakers visiting every year, especially across the summer months. Its vibrant nightlife, charming Old Town and expansive beaches make for the perfect mates’ holiday.

Printing off your digital travel insurance so you have a spare copy, creating meeting points for certain times on nights out and dedicating the name of your hotel to memory are simple steps you can take to make sure you and your mates stay safe in this busy part of Portugal.

Specific to Portugal, new laws and regulations are worth knowing for your safety during your trip. You can check the latest travel advice for Portugal on gov.uk.

Party Culture and IDs

Going out clubbing and venturing into Albufeira’s rich nightlife is worth every penny as ‘the strip’ is lined with various bars, clubs and restaurants. It’s important to point out that when prompted, you must always present your ID to get into over-18s venues and if the police ask you to. If you don’t have a driving license (or provisional), you can take a copy of your passport out with you to avoid potentially misplacing it when you’re partying. You may be asked to present your real passport at a later stage if required.

Gambling

As well as taking care with budgeting and gambling habits more broadly so that you don’t get carried away and overspend, it’s important to flag that gambling is only legal in licensed premises, such as casinos.

Nights Out and The Strip

Albufeira has an extensive party scene and is known as one of Europe’s party capitals. As with any night out, it’s important to watch your and your friends’ drinks, only buy drinks from licensed places and avoid accepting drinks where you can’t see them being prepared. Never leave drinks unattended.

In Albufeira, there's a code of conduct which bans inappropriate behaviour in public places. This includes partial nudity, drinking in the street and unsociable behaviour, such as spitting. Remember to treat the country you’re visiting with respect.  Fines ranging between €150 and €1,500  can be issued for breaking these laws.

Sticking with your mates on nights out can really help avoid issues happening. Have a group chat, arrange meet up locations in case anyone gets lost or loses their phone, and saving your hotel address and details in your phone can also avoid a long journey back to where you’re staying.

If you’re getting a taxi, be sure to use a licensed one. Not only could an unlicensed taxi invalidate your travel insurance, should anything go wrong, but you could face a fine for using one.

Drugs and Illegal Substances 

 Possessing or using Illegal drugs, including cannabis, can carry penalties and fines. Cannabis is decriminalised in Portugal, but it’s not legal. This means recreational use and growing remains illegal and travelling with any illicit substances to and from Portugal is illegal. 

Keep your activities safe

Remember to purchase travel insurance which covers the full duration of your trip and covers  any activities you’ll be doing such as water sports and quadbiking. Remember to check what you’re covered for – some might not cover you if you’ve had any alcohol or are not wearing safety equipment, and some policies will have excess fees if you need medical cover – so it’s worth checking the policy so you know what’s covered.

For more information visit the Gov.uk travel advice page for your destination.