Flights to Portugal

Portugal is a great destination for a short or long vacation. It is located in the nearby continent of Europe, but, like some of its neighboring countries, it enjoys wonderful weather, which is very similar to that of Israel and less so to that of other cold European countries. Flights to Portugal depart from Ben Gurion Airport with a relatively high frequency and throughout all seasons and are offered by a variety of airlines. You can find direct flights and you can also easily find flights with intermediate stops, which usually stop at the destination halfway for several hours and from there continue on, directly to Portugal. Most of these flights are low cost flights, some of which are from foreign airlines. 

Since it is suitable to travel in Portugal throughout the year and every season is wonderful to visit, flights to Portugal are considered to be in high demand like others, especially those arriving in the big cities: Lisbon and detailed. You can use the various search engines to find the appropriate flight or contact travel agencies to find them at a reasonable cost. Either way, a market survey before booking is much more than a recommendation and is an excellent way to find a cheap flight even when it is the peak of the season (the European tourist season - the summer months, between June and August).

Prices

The price range for flights to Portugal is wide and is determined according to various parameters. Direct flights, the length of which is about 5 hours and 55 minutes for the outbound flight, and 5 hours and 10 minutes for the return flight, will often be more expensive than those that include an intermediate stop (connection), with the average today being between 300 and 700 dollars American. The more you make sure to book a flight in advance (several months before the date you want to leave), the cheaper the price, but many times you can also find last minute flights at particularly affordable prices. The secret is to keep your finger on the keyboard and follow attractive promotions and good flight deals. 

When should you fly?

As mentioned, there is no particular season in Portugal that is considered more recommended than others, if only thanks to its comfortable and pleasant weather throughout the year. Unlike other European countries, the weather in Portugal during the winter months is absolutely tolerable and even if you come there during this period you can enjoy the beauty of a vacation. The summer months are pleasant and warm (very similar to the Israeli weather), when the peak of heat is usually in the months of July and August. The transition seasons, spring and autumn, are very pleasant and the days are cool and comfortable. 

The advantage of vacationing in the summer months is the possibility to include a "back belly" if you want and go hiking. The downside is the fact that in the hot months quite a few tourists tend to come to it, especially Europeans looking for the warming sun. The advantage of a winter vacation in Portugal is the relatively small number of tourists and the ability to more easily find available accommodation. At the same time, in recent years, given that it is a destination that is becoming more and more popular both among Israeli travelers and among travelers from other destinations, it is very worthwhile to make sure to book accommodation in advance, regardless of what season the vacation is planned for. 

how do you fly

The flight to Portugal, as mentioned, takes over five hours, but if you choose to book a flight with an intermediate stop it will be longer (depending on the duration of the stop). Direct flights from Israel to Portugal arrive in Lisbon, the capital city, while those that are not direct also arrive in Porto. The possibilities are many and they are a wonderful way to find the right solution, taking into account the route you plan to take in Portugal and also the duration of your stay there. 

Airlines

The flights to Portugal are operated, as mentioned, by a very wide variety of airlines, departing from Israel to the destination. Some of the flights are regular flights, some charter or low cost flights, some direct and some with intermediate stops. In the list of these airlines it is possible to find the following companies: El Al, Top Air Portugal, Air France, Air Berlin, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa, Turkish Airways, Swiss, Wizz Air and more. 

The airports of Portugal

There are about 19 active airports in Portugal, scattered throughout the country. The two most prominent, and also the ones that mostly serve Israeli tourists, are: Lisbon Airport (Humberto Delgado Airport) and Porto Airport (Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport). Lisbon airport is a large and very active international airport. It is officially used as the main gateway to Portugal and is the 18th largest in the world list. It is only 7 km from the center of Lisbon and in the coming years it is expected to undergo a massive renovation and expansion with an investment of over one billion euros. Porto Airport, which is 11 km from Porto itself, is the second busiest airport in the country, after the airport of Lisbon, and quite a few flights from Israel also arrive there after making a short or long stopover at some destination on the way. 

Getting from Portugal's airports to the neighboring cities is possible through various transportation solutions, such as buses, taxis, hotel shuttles, and trains. Many travelers choose to rent a car and pick it up after landing at the airport to continue independently to the nearest city and from there to other destinations throughout the country.