Internet in Portugal: Complete 2026 Guide for Nomads & Travelers
Everything about internet in Portugal — eSIMs, local SIMs, WiFi speeds, coworking spaces, and the best connectivity options for digital nomads in Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve.
Portugal has quietly become one of Europe’s best countries for digital nomads and remote workers — and the internet infrastructure is a big reason why. With fiber broadband averaging over 200 Mbps, aggressive 5G rollout across Lisbon and Porto, three competitive mobile carriers, and a cafe culture practically designed for laptop work, staying connected in Portugal is rarely a problem. Add in the dedicated Digital Nomad Visa, affordable cost of living (by Western European standards), and a thriving expat community, and it’s easy to see why tens of thousands of remote workers have made Portugal home.
We spent three months living and working across Portugal — from the coworking hubs of Lisbon to the quieter cafes of Porto, from the surf towns of the Algarve to Madeira’s government-backed nomad program. This guide covers everything you need to know about getting online in Portugal in 2026, from the best eSIM options to city-by-city connectivity breakdowns.
Portugal Internet at a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Average Broadband Speed | 200+ Mbps (fiber) |
| Average Mobile Speed | 50-100 Mbps (4G/5G) |
| 5G Available | Yes — Lisbon, Porto, Algarve, and expanding |
| Main Carriers | NOS, Vodafone, MEO (Altice) |
| eSIM Supported | Yes (all major carriers) |
| WiFi Quality | Excellent in cities, good in tourist areas |
| VPN Needed | No (open internet), but useful for public WiFi security |
| Nomad Score | 9/10 |
| Monthly Cost (Data) | €10-30 |
Portugal consistently ranks in the top tier of European countries for internet speed and coverage. The country invested heavily in fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) infrastructure, and ANACOM (the national telecom regulator) reports that over 90% of Portuguese households have access to fiber broadband. For a country of its size and price point, Portugal punches well above its weight on connectivity.
Best eSIM Options for Portugal
If you’re visiting Portugal for a few days to a few weeks, an eSIM is the fastest way to get connected. No queuing at a Vodafone store, no passport bureaucracy — just scan a QR code before your flight lands at Lisbon Portela and you’re online the moment you clear customs.
Here’s how the top eSIM providers compare for Portugal coverage:
| Feature | Airalo | Holafly | Saily |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal Plans | 1GB-20GB | Unlimited | 1GB-20GB |
| Starting Price | $4.50 (1GB/7 days) | ~€19 (5 days) | $3.99 (1GB/7 days) |
| 10GB Plan | $16 (30 days) | N/A (unlimited only) | $14.99 (30 days) |
| Europe Plans | Yes (1GB-20GB) | Yes (unlimited) | Yes |
| Network | NOS / Vodafone | Vodafone | NOS |
| 5G Access | Select plans | No | No |
| Hotspot/Tethering | Yes | No | Yes |
| Top-Up Available | Yes (in-app) | Yes (extend days) | Yes |
| Visit Airalo | Visit Holafly | Visit Saily |
Airalo — Best Overall Value
Airalo is our top pick for Portugal. Their Portugal-specific plans start at $4.50 for 1GB over 7 days, scaling up to $50 for 20GB over 30 days. The sweet spot for most travelers is the 5GB/30-day plan at $14 — more than enough for maps, messaging, ride-hailing apps, and occasional video calls.
What makes Airalo particularly useful for Portugal is their Europe-wide plans. If you’re hopping between Portugal, Spain, and France (a common nomad circuit), a single Airalo Europe eSIM covers all three without buying separate plans per country. Airalo connects through the NOS and Vodafone networks in Portugal, which together cover virtually the entire country. We measured 55-85 Mbps download speeds consistently across Lisbon and Porto during our testing.
For a deeper dive into pricing and performance, check our full Airalo review.
Get Airalo Portugal eSIMHolafly — Best for Unlimited Data
If you’re a remote worker who refuses to ration data, Holafly is your answer. Their Portugal unlimited plan starts at approximately €19 for 5 days, €27 for 10 days, or €47 for 30 days. No caps, no overages, no stress about accidentally burning through your allowance during a long Zoom call.
The tradeoffs: Holafly doesn’t support hotspot/tethering on most plans, and speeds typically sit around 30-50 Mbps — solid for most tasks but slightly below Airalo’s peak. Holafly also offers an excellent Europe-wide unlimited plan if you’re traveling across the continent. Read our full Holafly review for the complete picture.
Get Holafly Portugal Unlimited eSIMSaily — Best Budget Option
Saily (by Nord Security, the company behind NordVPN) offers Portugal plans starting at just $3.99 for 1GB. Their 10GB/30-day plan at $14.99 is competitive with Airalo. The app is clean and modern, setup takes under two minutes, and the NOS network coverage in Portugal is excellent. A strong option if you want a no-fuss, budget-friendly eSIM from a trusted brand.
Get Saily Portugal eSIMWhich eSIM Should You Choose?
- Short trip (under 7 days): Airalo or Saily 1-3GB plan — pay for what you need, nothing more.
- Medium trip (1-4 weeks): Airalo 5-10GB plan — best balance of price and data for active travelers.
- Remote workers / heavy users: Holafly unlimited — no data anxiety, period.
- Multi-country Europe trip: Airalo or Holafly Europe plan — one eSIM, continent-wide coverage.
For a full comparison of all eSIM providers and our testing methodology, check our Best eSIM Providers 2026 guide. If you’re traveling across the continent, our Best eSIM for Europe roundup breaks down the best regional plans.
Local SIM Cards: NOS, Vodafone, and MEO
For stays longer than a couple of weeks, a local Portuguese SIM card delivers better value than any eSIM plan. Portugal’s three carriers — NOS, Vodafone, and MEO (owned by Altice) — all offer competitive prepaid packages.
Where to Buy
- Airport: Vodafone and NOS have small kiosks in the arrivals hall at Lisbon Airport (LIS). Expect limited plan options and slightly higher prices than in-town stores. Porto Airport (OPO) has similar counters.
- Carrier stores: Vodafone, NOS, and MEO stores are found in every shopping center (Centro Comercial) across Portugal. Staff speak English in tourist areas. The largest malls — Colombo and Vasco da Gama in Lisbon, NorteShopping in Porto — all have dedicated carrier shops.
- Newsagents and tobacco shops: Many tabacarias sell prepaid SIM starter kits for €10-15. A convenient option if you don’t want to make a special trip to a carrier store.
- Supermarkets: Continente and Pingo Doce sometimes carry prepaid SIMs at the checkout or electronics section.
Prepaid SIM Comparison
| Feature | NOS | Vodafone | MEO (Altice) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prepaid Starter | ~€10 | ~€10 | ~€10 |
| Data (Prepaid) | 15GB / 30 days | 15GB / 30 days | 12GB / 30 days |
| Monthly Top-Up | €10-15 for 15-30GB | €10-15 for 15-30GB | €10-15 for 12-25GB |
| 5G Access | Yes (add-on) | Yes (select plans) | Yes (select plans) |
| Coverage | Excellent nationwide | Excellent urban, good rural | Best overall network size |
| English App | Yes | Yes | Limited |
What you need: Your passport or EU ID card. Portuguese law requires identity verification for all SIM purchases. The store staff will register the SIM to your name — the process takes about 10 minutes.
Which Carrier is Best?
NOS is our recommendation for most travelers. It has excellent nationwide coverage, competitive pricing, and the best balance of urban and rural performance. Their app is English-friendly and top-ups are straightforward. Vodafone is the strongest in Lisbon and Porto urban cores, with the most aggressive 5G deployment. MEO has the largest overall network (inherited from the legacy Portugal Telecom infrastructure) and can be marginally better in very rural interior areas, but their prepaid plans tend to offer slightly less data for the money.
Pro tip: If you’re staying 1-3 months, buy a basic €10 starter SIM from NOS or Vodafone and immediately load a monthly “pacote” (data package) through the carrier app. NOS’s 30GB monthly package runs about €12.99 — dramatically cheaper per-gigabyte than tourist eSIM plans.
WiFi and Broadband in Portugal
Portugal’s fixed broadband infrastructure is among the best in Europe, thanks to a massive fiber rollout over the past decade. This translates directly into excellent WiFi at apartments, cafes, and coworking spaces.
Apartment and Airbnb Broadband
If you’re renting an apartment for remote work (the standard setup for nomads in Portugal), expect fiber broadband to be the default in most urban areas:
- Lisbon apartments: 100-500 Mbps fiber is standard in most neighborhoods. Nearly all Airbnbs in Santos, Príncipe Real, Alfama, and the newer developments around Parque das Nações include high-speed internet. We consistently measured 200-350 Mbps in our Lisbon rentals.
- Porto apartments: 100-300 Mbps fiber in most of the city. Newer buildings in Cedofeita, Bonfim, and Foz do Douro perform best. Some older buildings in the Ribeira historic center rely on DSL or have thick stone walls that weaken WiFi signals.
- Algarve rentals: 50-200 Mbps in towns like Lagos, Faro, and Albufeira. Villas outside town centers can drop to 30-50 Mbps. Always ask your host for a speed test screenshot before booking if internet is critical to your work.
- Madeira: 100-200 Mbps fiber in Funchal and Caniço. Rural areas on the north coast have more variable speeds.
Cafe WiFi
Portugal’s cafe culture is legendary, and many cafes cater to the laptop crowd (especially in Lisbon). WiFi quality varies:
- Specialty coffee shops: 20-80 Mbps in nomad-popular spots. Places like Fabrica Coffee Roasters, Copenhagen Coffee Lab, and Dear Breakfast in Lisbon invest in solid internet because they know their clientele.
- Traditional cafes (pastelarias): 5-20 Mbps. Fine for email and browsing, not reliable for video calls. The charming old-school pastelaria with €1 espresso often has charming old-school internet to match.
- Chain cafes (Starbucks, Padaria Portuguesa): 15-40 Mbps. Consistent but not fast. Outlets can be scarce.
Our recommendation: Never rely solely on cafe WiFi for critical work in Portugal. The cafe experience is wonderful for lighter tasks, but always have a mobile data backup (eSIM or local SIM with hotspot) for important video calls. Portuguese cafes also tend to get loud during lunchtime and after 4 PM — plan your deep-focus work accordingly.
Best Coworking Spaces in Portugal
Portugal’s coworking scene is mature and well-developed, especially in Lisbon. Prices are significantly lower than London, Paris, or Berlin, making it excellent value for nomads.
Lisbon
| Space | Day Pass | Monthly | WiFi Speed | Vibe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Second Home | €25 | €275 | 100-200 Mbps | Stunning design, plant-filled, creative |
| Heden | €20 | €200 | 80-150 Mbps | Modern, central (Marquês de Pombal) |
| Selina Secret Garden | €18 | €180 | 60-120 Mbps | Social, community events, garden |
| Factory Lisbon | €15 | €150 | 80-150 Mbps | Large space, events, startup-focused |
| Outsite Lisbon | €22 | €250 | 70-130 Mbps | Coliving + coworking, Santos area |
Lisbon’s coworking is concentrated in three zones: Santos/Cais do Sodré (the nomad epicenter, walkable to the river and nightlife), Príncipe Real/Chiado (upscale, cultural, great cafes), and Parque das Nações (modern, corporate, near the Expo area). All are well-served by the Metro and tram system.
Second Home deserves special mention — it’s housed in the beautifully restored Mercado da Ribeira (Time Out Market building) and is one of the most visually striking coworking spaces in Europe. It’s pricier than alternatives, but the experience is exceptional and the internet is rock-solid.
Porto
| Space | Day Pass | Monthly | WiFi Speed | Vibe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Porto i/o | €15 | €120 | 60-120 Mbps | Community-focused, multiple locations |
| CRU Cowork | €12 | €100 | 50-100 Mbps | Intimate, affordable, central |
| Selina Porto | €16 | €160 | 60-100 Mbps | Social, hostel + coworking combo |
| LACS Porto | €18 | €180 | 80-140 Mbps | Design-forward, creative community |
Porto’s coworking scene is smaller but growing rapidly. Prices are 20-40% lower than Lisbon, reflecting the city’s lower overall cost of living. Porto i/o is the standout — it has multiple locations across the city, a strong community of local and international freelancers, and regular networking events.
Madeira (Funchal)
| Space | Day Pass | Monthly | WiFi Speed | Vibe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Nomads Madeira | Free (registration) | Free | 50-100 Mbps | Government-backed, Ponta do Sol |
| Cowork Funchal | €15 | €130 | 60-100 Mbps | Central, professional |
| Selina Madeira | €16 | €165 | 50-90 Mbps | Oceanfront, community-driven |
Madeira is a special case. The regional government launched the Digital Nomads Madeira program in Ponta do Sol in 2021, providing free coworking space, community events, and a purpose-built nomad village. While the initial hype has mellowed, the program is still active in 2026 and remains a unique draw. Funchal itself has a handful of proper coworking spaces and a growing cafe scene popular with remote workers.
Algarve
| Space | Day Pass | Monthly | WiFi Speed | Vibe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lagos Cowork | €15 | €120 | 50-90 Mbps | Surf + work culture, relaxed |
| Loulé Criativo (Loulé) | €10 | €80 | 40-80 Mbps | Artsy, affordable, inland |
The Algarve is still emerging as a coworking destination. Lagos is the most developed hub, attracting surfer-nomads who split their time between the beach and the laptop. Faro has a couple of options too. The scene is smaller than Lisbon or Porto, so if coworking is essential to your workflow, the Algarve works better for shorter stays supplemented by home office work from your rental.
5G Coverage in Portugal
Portugal has been rolling out 5G since 2022, with NOS, Vodafone, and MEO all investing heavily in the technology. Here’s the state of play in early 2026:
- Lisbon: Broad 5G coverage across the city center, Parque das Nações, Belém, and major transport corridors. NOS and Vodafone offer the strongest 5G presence. We measured 150-400 Mbps on NOS 5G in the Baixa/Chiado area.
- Porto: Growing 5G coverage in the city center, Foz, and Matosinhos. Not yet as widespread as Lisbon, but expanding steadily.
- Algarve: 5G available in Faro, Albufeira, and parts of Lagos. Coastal resort areas are prioritized.
- Rural interior: Limited 5G. Alentejo and inland Trás-os-Montes areas remain primarily 4G.
For most visitors, the practical difference between 4G and 5G in Portugal is minimal. 4G speeds of 50-80 Mbps are more than sufficient for any remote work task. 5G matters if you’re doing bandwidth-intensive work (large file uploads, 4K video streaming) or if you want the lowest possible latency for real-time applications.
VPN Recommendations for Portugal
Do You Need a VPN in Portugal?
Not for censorship — Portugal has open, uncensored internet. There are no government firewalls, no blocked social media platforms, and no website filtering for political content. Portugal ranks as one of the freest countries in the world for internet access.
That said, we still recommend a VPN in Portugal for two practical reasons:
- Public WiFi security. Portugal’s cafe culture means you’ll likely spend hours on shared WiFi networks. A VPN encrypts your traffic, protecting passwords, banking credentials, and work data from packet sniffing on open networks.
- Streaming geo-restrictions. If you want to access your home country’s Netflix library, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, or other geo-locked content while in Portugal, a VPN lets you connect through a server in your home country.
Our Top VPN Pick for Portugal
NordVPN is our top recommendation. It has servers in Lisbon, delivers minimal speed impact (5-10% reduction in our tests), and reliably unlocks streaming services. The Threat Protection feature blocks malware and trackers even when browsing without the VPN active — useful on those cafe WiFi networks.
We used NordVPN daily during our three months in Portugal with zero connection drops or blocked services. For the full breakdown, read our NordVPN review or browse our Best VPN for Travel 2026 guide.
Get NordVPN for PortugalDigital Nomad Visas for Portugal
Portugal offers two main visa pathways for remote workers, making it one of the most legally accessible countries in Europe for digital nomads.
The Digital Nomad Visa (D8)
Launched in late 2022 and refined through 2024, the D8 Digital Nomad Visa is specifically designed for remote workers employed by foreign companies or freelancing for international clients.
- Requirements: Proof of remote work (employment contract or freelance income), minimum monthly income of 4x the Portuguese minimum wage (approximately €3,480/month in 2026), health insurance, clean criminal record
- Duration: 1 year (renewable for up to 5 years), with a path to permanent residency
- Tax: Taxed as a Portuguese resident, but you may qualify for the IFICI regime (see below)
- Application: At a Portuguese consulate in your home country, or in-country conversion from a tourist visa in some cases
The D7 Passive Income Visa
The D7 is the older pathway, originally designed for retirees but widely used by freelancers and remote workers with demonstrable passive or remote income.
- Requirements: Proof of sufficient passive/remote income (approximately €9,120/year minimum), health insurance, Portuguese accommodation proof, clean criminal record
- Income threshold: Lower than the D8, making it accessible to a broader range of applicants
- Duration: 2 years initial, then renewable for 3-year periods
Tax Considerations: NHR to IFICI
The famous Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) tax regime — which offered a 20% flat tax rate on Portuguese-sourced income and tax exemptions on many foreign income types — was officially discontinued for new applicants in 2024. It has been replaced by the IFICI (Tax Incentive for Scientific Research and Innovation) regime, which is more restrictive in scope. If you qualified under NHR before the cutoff, your existing benefits run for the full 10-year period. New arrivals in 2026 should consult a Portuguese tax advisor to understand the current landscape — the rules have changed significantly.
Practical tip: The bureaucracy around Portuguese visas and SEF (immigration service, now AIMA) appointments can be slow. Start your visa application process well in advance and consider hiring an immigration lawyer (€500-1,500) to handle the paperwork, especially if you don’t speak Portuguese.
City-by-City Internet Guide
Lisbon — 9.5/10
Lisbon is the undisputed hub for digital nomads in Portugal and one of the best-connected cities in Southern Europe. Fiber broadband runs 200-500 Mbps in most neighborhoods, 5G blankets the city center, and you’re never more than a 5-minute walk from a cafe with decent WiFi. Average mobile speeds regularly exceed 70 Mbps, and we recorded peaks of 350+ Mbps on NOS 5G near Cais do Sodré.
Best neighborhoods for nomads:
- Santos / Cais do Sodré: The nomad epicenter. Walking distance to Time Out Market, the river, and multiple coworking spaces. Trendy, lively, excellent transport links.
- Príncipe Real: Upscale, leafy, great cafes and restaurants. Slightly quieter than Santos. Beautiful views.
- Intendente / Mouraria: Up-and-coming, more affordable, increasingly popular with younger nomads. Multicultural food scene.
- Graça: Residential, authentic, stunning miradouros (viewpoints). A bit hilly but rewarding.
Power and internet reliability: Lisbon is extremely reliable. During our three-month stay, we experienced zero broadband outages and only one brief mobile slowdown (during a large festival event at the Terreiro do Paço).
Porto — 9/10
Porto is Lisbon’s cooler, more affordable sibling — and the internet keeps pace. Fiber broadband runs 100-300 Mbps in most of the city, 4G/5G coverage is strong, and the coworking scene is growing fast. The city attracts nomads who want European charm and good connectivity without Lisbon’s rising prices.
Best neighborhoods for nomads:
- Cedofeita / Rua Miguel Bombarda: The creative quarter. Galleries, specialty coffee, and a concentrated cluster of coworking spaces.
- Bonfim: Residential, authentic, growing cafe culture. More affordable than the center.
- Foz do Douro: Oceanfront, quieter, premium rentals with fast fiber. Good for focused work away from the tourist bustle.
- Ribeira / Historic Center: Beautiful but touristic. Older buildings can have weaker WiFi due to thick stone walls. Better for exploring than working.
Notable: Porto’s cost of living is roughly 15-25% lower than Lisbon’s. A furnished apartment with fast internet runs €800-1,200/month in desirable neighborhoods, versus €1,000-1,600 in Lisbon.
Madeira / Funchal — 8.5/10
Madeira offers a unique proposition: year-round mild weather (18-26°C), subtropical landscapes, and a government that actively courts digital nomads. Funchal has reliable fiber broadband (100-200 Mbps) in most of the city, and 4G coverage is solid along the south coast. The north coast and mountain interior have weaker mobile signals.
Best areas for nomads:
- Funchal city center: Best infrastructure, most amenities, walkable to coworking spaces and cafes.
- Ponta do Sol: Home of the Digital Nomads Madeira program. A small seaside town (population ~8,000) with free coworking, community events, and a tight-knit nomad group.
- Caniço: Residential, slightly cheaper than Funchal, good fiber coverage, quieter pace.
The reality: Madeira is ideal if you want a focused, slower-paced nomad life away from the big-city hustle. The community is smaller and tighter than Lisbon’s. If you thrive on networking events, meetups, and a large nomad scene, Lisbon is the better choice. If you want peace, nature, and solid internet, Madeira delivers.
Algarve — 7.5/10
The Algarve is Portugal’s sun-and-surf region, stretching along the entire southern coast. Internet infrastructure has improved dramatically as the region attracts more year-round residents (not just summer tourists), but it’s still a step behind Lisbon and Porto.
Best areas for nomads:
- Lagos: The emerging nomad hub of the Algarve. Surf culture, growing coworking scene, cafes with reliable WiFi, and a young international crowd. Fiber broadband in newer buildings averages 80-150 Mbps.
- Faro: The regional capital, quieter and more local. Decent fiber coverage and a university that helps keep the tech infrastructure modern.
- Albufeira / Vilamoura: Tourist-heavy, better infrastructure in resort areas but can feel soulless off-season. Summer congestion can impact network performance.
Seasonal consideration: The Algarve is markedly seasonal. Summer (June-September) brings massive tourist influx, which can strain mobile networks in popular beach areas. Winter is quiet, affordable, and surprisingly mild — a great time for focused work. Many nomads split the year: Algarve in winter/spring, Northern Europe or cooler destinations in summer.
Starlink in Portugal
Starlink has been available in Portugal since 2022 and continues to expand its user base. As of early 2026:
- Availability: Active across the entire country
- Hardware cost: Approximately €349 for the Standard kit
- Monthly service: Residential plans from €40/month
- Roaming: Available with the Roam plan at higher monthly rates
- Speeds: 50-150 Mbps download in our tests, with variability during peak evening hours
Is Starlink Worth It in Portugal?
For most nomads, no. Portugal’s fiber and 4G infrastructure is so strong that Starlink is rarely necessary in cities or coastal areas. A €12.99/month NOS data plan gives you 30GB of 50-80 Mbps mobile data — far cheaper and more portable than a Starlink dish.
Starlink makes sense in Portugal if you:
- Live in the rural interior (Alentejo, Trás-os-Montes) where fiber and 4G coverage is limited
- Stay in a remote quinta (farmhouse) or agro-tourism property without fixed broadband
- Need a backup connection for mission-critical work with zero downtime tolerance
- Are a van lifer exploring Portugal’s less-developed inland areas
For the digital nomad community concentrated in Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve coast, Starlink is an unnecessary expense.
Cost of Staying Connected in Portugal
Here’s what you can expect to spend monthly on connectivity:
| Expense | Budget | Mid-Range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile data (eSIM/SIM) | €8 (Airalo 5GB) | €13 (NOS 30GB local) | €25 (Holafly unlimited) |
| Coworking | Free (Madeira program) | €120 (Porto i/o monthly) | €275 (Second Home monthly) |
| VPN | — | €3 (NordVPN annual plan) | €3 (NordVPN annual plan) |
| Apartment broadband | Included in rent | Included in rent | Included in rent |
| Total | €8/month | €136/month | €303/month |
Even at the premium tier, connectivity costs in Portugal are a fraction of what you’d pay in London, Amsterdam, or Zurich. And the budget option — a basic eSIM plus Madeira’s free coworking — makes Portugal one of the cheapest places in Western Europe to work remotely.
Practical Tips for Staying Connected
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Get an eSIM before you fly. Install Airalo or Saily before departure so you have data the moment you land. Buy a local SIM later if you’re staying longer than two weeks.
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Test internet before signing any lease. Run a speed test at the apartment before committing. Ask which ISP serves the building — NOS and Vodafone fiber are generally the most reliable. Avoid ADSL-only buildings if fast internet is critical to your work.
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Protect yourself on public WiFi. Install NordVPN before arriving. Activate it automatically on untrusted networks. Portuguese cafes are generally safe, but an open WiFi network is an open WiFi network.
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Download carrier apps in English. NOS and Vodafone both have English-language versions of their apps. Use them for data top-ups, plan management, and checking your remaining balance — far easier than visiting a physical store.
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Use a portable power bank. Not for internet specifically, but Portuguese cafes can be stingy with power outlets (especially the older, more atmospheric ones). A 20,000 mAh power bank keeps your laptop and phone running through a full cafe day.
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Get travel and health insurance. SafetyWing offers nomad health insurance starting at $45.08/month with worldwide coverage. Health insurance is required for both the D7 and D8 visa applications, and it’s smart regardless — Portugal’s public healthcare system is good but can involve long waits for non-residents.
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Learn basic Portuguese. While English is widely spoken in Lisbon and tourist areas, carrier stores in smaller towns and the interior may have limited English support. Knowing enough to say “Quero um cartão SIM pré-pago com dados” (I want a prepaid SIM card with data) goes a long way.
Portugal Internet: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Excellent broadband speeds (200+ Mbps average)
- Widespread 4G/5G coverage across the country
- Large digital nomad community with visa options
- Affordable cost of living compared to Western Europe
Cons
- Rural areas (interior) can have patchy mobile coverage
- Peak season (summer) can congest networks in tourist areas
- Some older buildings have poor WiFi penetration
Our Testing Methodology
The data in this guide is based on real-world testing during our team’s three months in Portugal (November 2025 — February 2026). We measured internet speeds across all three major carriers using Speedtest by Ookla, tested in urban, suburban, and rural locations, and used each eSIM provider for at least one full billing cycle. Coworking speeds were tested during peak hours (10 AM — 3 PM local time) for accuracy. Pricing was verified directly from carrier websites and eSIM provider apps in February 2026.
We tested in Lisbon (6 weeks), Porto (3 weeks), the Algarve (2 weeks), and Madeira (1 week) to provide coverage-representative data across Portugal’s main nomad destinations. All speed figures represent averages across multiple tests at various times of day. Your actual experience may vary based on location, time, device, and network congestion. We update this guide quarterly to reflect the latest pricing and infrastructure changes.
For more country guides covering connectivity for digital nomads worldwide, browse our full collection. If Portugal is part of a broader European trip, don’t miss our Best eSIM for Europe guide for the most cost-effective way to stay connected across the continent.
Frequently Asked Questions
How good is the internet in Portugal?
Portugal has excellent internet infrastructure. Average fixed broadband speeds exceed 200 Mbps, and 4G/5G mobile coverage blankets urban areas. Lisbon and Porto rank among Europe's best cities for remote work connectivity.
Do I need an eSIM for Portugal?
An eSIM is the most convenient option for short stays. Airalo offers Portugal data plans from $4.50 for 1GB. For longer stays, a local NOS or Vodafone SIM gives better value at around €10-15/month for 15GB+.
Can I work remotely from Portugal?
Yes, Portugal is one of Europe's top digital nomad destinations. It offers the D7 passive income visa and the Digital Nomad Visa, strong WiFi at cafes and coworking spaces, and a growing remote work community especially in Lisbon, Porto, and Madeira.
Is VPN needed in Portugal?
A VPN is not strictly necessary for censorship (Portugal has free internet), but it's recommended for security on public WiFi at cafes and coworking spaces, and for accessing home country streaming content.
What's the best coworking space in Lisbon?
Popular options include Second Home (beautiful design), Heden (modern, central), Selina Secret Garden (community-focused), and Factory Lisbon (large, event-rich). Prices range from €15-25/day or €150-300/month.