Travel · Portugal · Type F
Portugal: pack once for the whole Iberian trip.
Portugal uses Type F sockets at 230V / 50Hz, identical to Spain, and they accept the slim Type C Europlug as well. Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve, Madeira and the Azores all take the same adapter, so an Iberian itinerary is a one-adapter trip.
The socket, and what it takes
| Item | Portugal |
|---|---|
| Plug type | F (Schuko) — the round recess with earth clips on the rim |
| Also accepts | Type C (Europlug) and Type E plugs |
| Voltage | 230V |
| Frequency | 50Hz |
| Will not accept | US Type A/B, UK Type G, Swiss Type J, Italian Type L |
| Same as | Spain, Germany, Netherlands, Austria |
Because the Type C Europlug is the common denominator, the adapter you buy for Portugal is the same physical object you would buy for most of the continent. Only pay for the grounded Type F version if you are carrying something with a three-prong mains lead — a laptop brick with a detachable cord, a CPAP machine, studio audio gear. Two-pin USB chargers are double-insulated and have no earth pin to connect.
Adapter versus converter, settled in ten seconds
Find the tiny input line printed on your charger, usually on the flat face next to the folding prongs. If it reads 100–240V ~ 50/60Hz, that device is dual-voltage and needs a plug adapter only. Every USB-C charger sold in the US qualifies, as does every modern laptop brick, camera charger and shaver base.
If it reads 120V 60Hz with no range, it is single-voltage and 230V will destroy it. In practice that means heating elements and motors: hair dryers, curling irons, flat irons, travel kettles. Those need a genuine voltage converter sized above their wattage — for a 1,875W dryer that is a heavy, expensive box. A dual-voltage travel model is the smaller answer. Adapter vs converter compared lays out both paths.
The Portugal packing list
- Type C
Type C Europlug adapter (2-pin)
Cheap, slim, and correct: fits Portuguese and Spanish sockets and most of the continent besides.
- Fits
- C, E, F sockets
- Earth
- No
- Conversion
- None — pass-through
- Type F
Grounded Type F Schuko adapter
The version to buy if a three-prong laptop cord or a CPAP machine is coming with you.
- Fits
- Type F and E
- Earth
- Yes, rim clips
- Body
- Round, seats in the recess
- 65W
Statik 65W GaN 3-Port
One brick, one adapter, three devices — the standard laptop-plus-phone travel setup at 100–240V.
- Output
- 65W total
- Ports
- 2× C, 1× A
- Input
- 100–240V
Continuing east into Spain or north to France needs nothing new. The UK and Italy do. The Europe overview shows which borders change the socket, the travel hub covers the rest of the world, and plug types by country is the full reference table.
FAQ
Is the plug in Portugal the same as in Spain?
Yes. Both countries use Type F Schuko sockets at 230V / 50Hz, and both accept the Type C Europlug. One adapter covers an Iberian trip in either direction.
Do I need a grounded adapter in Portugal?
Only for equipment with a three-prong mains cord. Phone and laptop USB chargers are two-pin, double-insulated devices, so an ungrounded Type C adapter is both sufficient and safe for them.
Will my US phone charger work in Portugal?
Yes, at full speed. Read the input line on the housing: 100-240V means the charger handles Portuguese mains natively and only the plug shape has to change.
What about Madeira and the Azores?
Identical to mainland Portugal - Type F sockets at 230V / 50Hz. Nothing extra to buy for an island leg.