Fun Facts About Portugal | Things You Didn't Know!

Discover fascinating facts about Portugal! We’ve learned a lot about Portugal during our travels, and here are some fun facts!

Oldest Border in Europe: Portugal has the oldest border in Europe with Spain, unchanged since 1297 after the Treaty of Alcanizes.
Peacocks in Fão: In Fão, peacocks are trained to manage traffic.
Largest Wine Barrel: Portugal boasts the world’s largest wine barrel with a capacity of 56,568 liters in Redondo.
Cats in Parliament: In the basement of the Portuguese parliament, cats are trained to catch mice.
Oldest Bookstore: Livraria Bertrand in Lisbon, founded in 1732, is the world’s oldest operating bookstore.
Ancient National Borders: Portugal has some of the oldest national borders in Europe, dating back to 1139.
Longest Cable Car: Portugal has the longest cable car in the world, stretching 8.5 km in Madeira.
University of Coimbra: The University of Coimbra is one of the oldest universities in Europe, founded in 1290.
Power Outlets: Portugal uses type C and F power outlets. You do need a travel adapter for Portugal.
Sun in the Algarve: The Algarve enjoys over 300 days of sunshine per year.
Stone Phone Booth: In Évora, there is a stone phone booth from 1871 that was used to eavesdrop on conversations.
Chapel of Bones: The Capela dos Ossos in Évora is a chapel entirely decorated with human bones.
First Global Power: Portugal was the first true global power, with colonies on every continent.
Tallest Wave: The tallest wave ever recorded, 30 meters high, was surfed in Nazaré in 2010.
Same-Sex Marriage: Portugal was the sixth country in Europe to legalize same-sex marriage in 2010.
Portuguese Language: Portuguese is the official language in nine countries besides Portugal, with around 220 million native speakers, making it the 6th most spoken language in the world. It’s a language of explorers, poetry, and saudade.
New Year’s Eve: On New Year’s Eve, people in Portugal eat 12 raisins at midnight – one for each month of the coming year. Each raisin is a small, sweet ritual of hope and longing.

Oldest Nation-State: Portugal appointed its first king, Afonso Henriques, in 1139. A land of ancient stones, stories, and royal bloodlines.
Portugal and Japan: In the 16th century, the Portuguese were the first Europeans to reach Japan, leaving words like “pan” (bread) and “sabato” (Saturday). A cultural encounter woven into language.
Shortest and Longest Reigns: Portugal holds the record for both the shortest reigning monarch (Luis Filipe for 20 minutes) and the longest reigning (Henrique for over 73 years). Royal extremes marking history.
Renewable Energy: In 2016, Portugal ran almost five consecutive days entirely on renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and water. A glimpse of a possible future.
Surf Paradise: With an 800 km Atlantic coastline and a mild climate, Portugal is a top surfing destination year-round. A place where the waves and the horizon meet.
Ferdinand Magellan: Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan led the first expedition to sail around the world. An epic journey that expanded the world’s boundaries.
Piri-piri Sauce: The popular piri-piri chili sauce originated in Portugal after the Portuguese brought chili peppers from South America to Africa.
Cork: Portugal produces more than 70% of the world’s cork from its vast cork forests.

Mighty Nation: Portugal was once an extremely powerful nation, owning half of the “New World” after the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494. An empire at the height of its glory.
1755 Earthquake: The Lisbon earthquake and tsunami of 1755 killed between 12,000 and 60,000 people, making it one of the deadliest natural disasters in history. A tragedy that redefined the city.
Salazar Dictatorship: Portugal lived under the fascist dictatorship of Antonio Salazar for over 40 years until the Carnation Revolution in 1974. A long-awaited liberation.
Maximum Prison Sentence: The maximum prison sentence in Portugal is 25 years, even for multiple murders.
Birth Rate: Portugal has one of the lowest birth rates in the EU at 7.7% in 2021. A demographic challenge for the future.

These facts offer just a glimpse of what Portugal has to offer. Do you know more interesting facts about Portugal? Let us know!