Peak season:
Cheap flights to Portugal can be difficult to find during July and August as well as spring time and early autumn. Easter, Christmas and school holidays can also make cheap flight tickets hard to find. If you plan ahead then you have a better chance of booking cheap flights to Portugal but during these times you’ll find coastal areas extremely crowded. The prices of flights to Portugal do of course vary depending on exactly where you are hoping to travel too so do a bit of research beforehand and you might find some good deals.
Off Season:
January and February are the quietest times of the year and it is when you’ll find the cheapest flights to Portugal. You’ll have to settle for cooler weather and perhaps even a bit of rainfall but overall you can enjoy the off season thanks to the low amount of tourists. Cheap flights are available from October to November and March to April too, which are great times to visit thanks to the pleasant weather but small crowds. Just be sure to research any events or festivals as this will really drive up the cost of your flight tickets.
You’ll find the best times to book your flights to Portugal is around spring and autumn due to the weather, cheaper flight tickets and lower tourism rates. You’ll still want to secure your flight tickets a couple of months in advance but you’ll likely find the cheapest flights to Portugal. The off season also provides cheap flights to Portugal but you are sacrificing the weather aspect, however if you don’t enjoy being overly hot then the off season can be perfect. If you are flexible with your location and with the time of the year you want to travel then you’ll find the cheapest flights to Portugal, especially if you book in advance.
Flights from London to Lisbon: 2 hours 40 minutes
Flights from Manchester to Porto: 2 hours 30 minutes
Flights from Birmingham to Lisbon: 6 hours 10 minutes
Flights from Glasgow to Faro: 3 hours 10 minutes
There are several airlines that provide cheap flights to Portugal although the front runners are Ryanair, easyJet and British Airways. If you are after the cheapest possible flight tickets available then you’ll want to go with a budget airline such as Ryanair, although they do charge a considerately higher amount of money for checked in luggage during the summer. British Airways offer a slightly higher level or comfort and service as well as complimentary food and drink onboard however they are more expensive. Once you’ve decided on exactly where you want to go in Portugal you’ll have a better chance of comparing the airlines together.
Lisbon Airport:
At only 7km away from the centre, it is relatively easy and cheap to get to the city after your flights to Portugal. The easiest method is to jump onto the metro directly from the airport. The journey takes about 30 minutes and you might have to change lines depending on your final destination but generally it’s the best way of travel. Failing that buses are on offer but you can only board them if you have no more than 1 piece of hand luggage with you. Taxis are also a viable option but you’ll be paying a lot more than the other alternatives.
Porto Airport:
Again the metro is probably the best choice here if you are looking for cheap and quick transport. You can travel to practically any part of the city as well as neighboring towns making trains a great option for you. There is a selection of private buses too that provide drop-offs anywhere on request and can be organized once you arrive at the airport after your flights to Portugal. If you don’t want to take a bus or jump on the metro then a taxi will set you back around 30 euros, just make sure to agree on a fee before you travel to avoid be over charged.
Faro Airport:
There are no trains available from the airport in Faro but there is a bus which goes directly to the centre. When you leave the airport on the left hand side you’ll see the bus Terminal. The buses run around every hour so you shouldn’t be kept waiting too long to get one, although they can be quite crowded sometimes. On the right hand side as you leave the airport is the taxi stand. A taxi is considerably more expensive than the bus but you won’t have to wait around and you can split the fare if you’re not travelling alone.