Portugal
eSIM

Portugal for Digital Nomads

Portugal introduced the D8 Digital Nomad Visa in 2022 and has become one of Europe's most popular remote work destinations. Lisbon, Porto, and Lagos in the Algarve all have thriving co-working communities. MEO and NOS are both strong carriers for tethering and hotspot use — critical for laptop workers who need a reliable connection from cafes, parks, or beach bars. Our unlimited plans have no tethering restrictions.

Algarve Coastal Coverage

The Algarve's golden coastline from Sagres to Tavira is fully covered by both MEO and NOS on 4G/5G. Cliff beach access points like Praia da Marinha and Praia do Camilo involve steep descents where signal can be intermittent. At the beach level, expect solid 4G in most Algarve resorts. The Serra de Monchique mountain interior has patchy 3G.

Madeira and the Azores: Atlantic Island Coverage

Madeira (Funchal and the rest of the island) has excellent 4G/5G from MEO and NOS. The Levada walks through the interior forest do have signal gaps in steep gorges. The Azores (9 islands) are also covered — São Miguel (Ponta Delgada) and Terceira (Angra do Heroísmo) have strong 4G. The smaller, more remote islands like Flores and Corvo have 3G only due to limited infrastructure.

Driving Portugal: The N2

The N2 road — Portugal's answer to Route 66, running 738km from Chaves in the north to Faro in the south — passes through small villages and mountain terrain. MEO has the best rural coverage along this route, maintaining 4G through most of the Alentejo plains. Download offline maps for the Serra da Estrela and Serra do Gerês mountain sections.

The Douro Valley Wine Region

The steep terraced vineyards of the Douro Valley (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) are surprisingly well-covered by MEO, even in the riverside villages. The Porto–Régua train route along the Douro has decent 4G connectivity, though the river gorge creates occasional signal dips.