Spain surpassed the Algarve as the preferred destination for Portuguese during July and August, accounting for 13% of transactions made by domestic consumers, an 11% increase compared to summer 2025. The Faro district came in second place with 12% of operations, recording a 5% decline compared to the previous year. Lisbon also represented 12% of transactions, but with 2% growth. Across all operations in Portugal and abroad, the number of payments increased by 6%, while the total value moved grew by 3%.
Considering only payments outside the country, the preference for Spain becomes even more evident, concentrating 46% of operations abroad. France occupied second position with 14%, followed by Italy with 7%. Belgium and Germany each represented 4% of transactions. The leisure and restaurant sectors led consumption growth, with leisure recording 20% more transactions and restaurants 10% more.
In Lisbon, the hotel sector faces signs of pressure despite investor interest. Real estate investment associated with hotels in Portugal reached 508 million euros between January and June 2026, surpassing the 494.7 million euros recorded during the entire year of 2025. Greater Lisbon concentrated 61% of that investment, attracting international funds and family wealth management structures. However, revenue per room in five-star hotels fell 15% in July, and airport limitations constrain demand growth, leading the sector to request a carrying capacity study for the city.
