From record-breaking visitor numbers to hidden gems waiting to be discovered, Portugal's tourism landscape in 2023 tells a compelling story of a nation that has firmly captured the world's imagination.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, Portugal received 27.4 million international tourists
- In 2022, tourist arrivals reached 18.2 million
- UK tourists to Portugal numbered 2.8 million in 2023
- Tourism revenue reached €25 billion in 2023
- Tourism GDP contribution 13% in 2023
- International tourist spending €18 billion in 2023
- 75,000 hotel rooms available in 2023
- Hotel occupancy rate 78% in 2023
- Lisbon hotels 85% occupancy
- Lisbon Castle visited by 500,000 tourists yearly
- Jerónimos Monastery 800,000 visitors in 2023
- Belém Tower 600,000 visitors
- 55% of tourists aged 25-44 in 2023
- 60% female international tourists
- Repeat visitors 40%
Tourism surged in Portugal last year with a record-breaking 27.4 million visitors.
Accommodation
- 75,000 hotel rooms available in 2023
- Hotel occupancy rate 78% in 2023
- Lisbon hotels 85% occupancy
- Algarve peak occupancy 95% in summer 2023
- Porto hotels average RevPAR €120
- New hotels opened: 50 in 2023
- Airbnb listings 100,000 in Portugal
- Average room rate €130/night in 2023
- Madeira hotels 85% full in 2023
- Azores lodging occupancy 72%
- Hostels occupancy 65% average
- Luxury hotels 5-star: 120 properties
- Rural tourism beds 50,000
- Camping sites 20,000 pitches
- Aparthotels growing 10% yearly
- Total overnight stays 100 million in 2023
Accommodation Interpretation
Portugland is booming, with hotels nearly full and even the sheep in rural tourism are busy, yet clever travelers are clearly weighing the ever-growing options between snagging that €130 city room, chasing the sun to a packed Algarve beach, or escaping to an Airbnb that, by the looks of it, might outnumber the locals in some towns.
Arrivals
- In 2023, Portugal received 27.4 million international tourists
- In 2022, tourist arrivals reached 18.2 million
- UK tourists to Portugal numbered 2.8 million in 2023
- Spain contributed 2.5 million visitors in 2023
- Germany sent 2.1 million tourists to Portugal in 2023
- France visitors totaled 1.9 million in 2023
- US tourists increased by 25% to 800,000 in 2023
- Brazil sent 650,000 visitors in 2023
- Netherlands arrivals at 1.2 million in 2023
- January 2023 saw 1.1 million arrivals
- Peak month August 2023 had 3.2 million tourists
- Lisbon airport handled 26 million passengers in 2023
- Porto airport passengers up 15% to 13 million in 2023
- Faro airport recorded 9.5 million passengers
- Madeira arrivals grew 12% to 2 million in 2023
- Azores tourists reached 700,000 in 2023
- Overnight stays by international tourists: 70 million in 2023
- Average stay length 7.2 nights in 2023
- 2023 growth in arrivals: 22% over 2022
- Lisbon metro area: 10 million visitors
- Algarve region: 7 million tourists in 2023
- Porto region: 4.5 million arrivals
Arrivals Interpretation
Even with nearly the entire population of Canada descending upon them in 2023, the Portuguese still managed to politely show everyone their spectacular coastlines, historic cities, and legendary *pastéis de nata* while expertly ensuring the average visitor stayed for a blissful week.
Attractions
- Lisbon Castle visited by 500,000 tourists yearly
- Jerónimos Monastery 800,000 visitors in 2023
- Belém Tower 600,000 visitors
- Pena Palace Sintra 1.2 million visitors
- Algarve beaches 10 million swimmers annually
- Porto wine cellars tours 1 million
- Fado shows attended by 300,000 tourists
- Douro Valley cruises 200,000 passengers
- Madeira levada walks 400,000 hikers
- Azores whale watching 150,000 participants
- Golf courses rounds 1.5 million yearly
- Surf schools students 100,000 annually
- Fatima Sanctuary 6 million pilgrims
- Óbidos medieval village 500,000 visitors
- Nazaré big waves spectators 200,000
Attractions Interpretation
While the faith of six million pilgrims converges at Fatima, Portugal’s true national religion might just be a devotion to its diverse charms, from the sun-soaked Algarve beaches hosting ten million swimmers to the fantastical spires of Pena Palace drawing over a million admirers.
Revenue
- Tourism revenue reached €25 billion in 2023
- Tourism GDP contribution 13% in 2023
- International tourist spending €18 billion in 2023
- Average spend per tourist €650 in 2023
- Hotel revenue €6.5 billion in 2023
- Algarve tourism revenue €5 billion
- Lisbon generated €8 billion from tourism
- Jobs in tourism: 900,000 in 2023
- Tax revenue from tourism €4.2 billion
- Domestic tourism spending €7 billion
- Per capita tourism spend €2,400 annually
- Growth in tourism exports 20% in 2023
- Restaurants revenue from tourists €3 billion
- Retail tourism spend €2.5 billion
- Car rental revenue €800 million
- Cruise tourism revenue €150 million
- Events and conferences €1 billion
- Wine tourism revenue €500 million
- Golf tourism €300 million annually
- Health and wellness tourism €400 million
Revenue Interpretation
Portugal’s economy is so thoroughly seasoned with tourist euros that if the visitors stopped coming, the nation would need to start a very aggressive lemonade stand.
Trends
- 55% of tourists aged 25-44 in 2023
- 60% female international tourists
- Repeat visitors 40%
- Summer season 65% of arrivals
- Sustainable tourism certified hotels 30%
- Overtourism complaints up 15% in Lisbon
- Digital bookings 80% of reservations
- Adventure tourism growth 18%
- Cultural tourism 70% motivation
- Food tourism 55% of visitors
- Low-cost carriers 50% of flights
- EV charging stations for tourists doubled
- LGBTQ+ friendly destinations top 10 Europe
- Remote work visas issued 5,000
- Cycling tourism routes 10,000 km used by 200,000
- 35% tourists from Europe, 15% Americas
Trends Interpretation
Portugal is a sun-kissed siren, luring a young, female, and digitally savvy crowd who return for its culture and cuisine, but as she dances between sustainable ambitions and overtourism complaints, her future depends on balancing the romance of a repeat visitor with the influx of low-cost flights and remote workers mapping new trails.
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