Portugal is a small country, full of teeny tiny towns and cities that are pretty easy to navigate. But… some of the city names like Lisboa vs. Lisbon and Lagos vs. Lagoa can cause confusion for visitors when one letter makes all the difference. This article shares some commonly confused town names to make sure you end up in the right spot on your next Portuguese holiday.
What’s the difference between Lisbon and Lisboa?
Nothing! Lisbon and Lisboa are the same place. Lisbon is the English word for Lisboa, which is in Portuguese.
You’ll find that the capital city of Portugal is more commonly referred to as Lisboa by Portuguese-speaking countries and Europeans (especially Spaniards). Lisbon is the more commonly used word for visitors from English-speaking countries like the UK, US, and Canada.
You’ll see how interchangeable Lisbon & Lisboa are when you notice both words in souvenir shops as you explore the city.
Because I use the Portuguese words for cities here when speaking to people, I find Lisboa more easily rolls off the tongue now and is fun to say.
This is, by far, the city that brings the most confusion because it’s the same thing… but there are a lot of towns throughout Portugal where one letter makes a huge difference.
What’s the difference between Lagos and Lagoa?
About a 20-minute drive – Lagos and Lagoa are both located in the Algarve region of Portugal, but they are completely different towns.
Lagos is more popular among visitors and has a beachy vibe with lots of activities. If you’re coming for a holiday (or even to move abroad to Portugal), I’d recommend Lagos over Lagoa. Admittedly, I’m super biased because it’s where I live!
Lagos, Portugal is also home to Eyes of the Algarve: the weekend of Grateful Dead music that we’re hosting this year. One more point to Lagos because of this.
Lagoa, on the other hand, is more residential, family-friendly, and a bit inland. It’s the closest “big” town to Carvoeiro. It has a huge water park and lots of activities for young children and some vineyards for wine tasting.
Both Lagos and Lagoa have bus & train stations, usually on the same route. So, when booking your transportation to either one, make sure to check the spelling first. I have an article with tips on the best way to get to Lagos if you need more insights.
In Portuguese, Lagos means lakes and Lagoa means lagoon – so they even have different literal translations as well. This tie to the Portuguese language brings us to the next confusing city name.
Check out some of our favorite spots in Lagos:
What’s the difference between Porto and Oporto?
Porto is the oldest city in Portugal, and it’s originally named after being a port city. O porto means the port in Portuguese. The correct name for this city is Porto (pronounced, POR-too).
However, you’ll hear some English-speakers say Oporto when referring to Porto. This comes from the English (like UK English) that started coming down, making wine, and incorrectly hearing the words o + porto. Over time, the English started saying Oporto and it kind of just… stayed that way for generations.
You’ll commonly hear British say Oporto – or other visitors that learn about Porto from British travelers. Many English-speaking content creators that cover Portugal come from the UK, so this pronunciation is spreading to other countries as well.
If you want to say it like a local (or anyone that knows the city name), call it Porto with a “oo” sound at the end.
Even more confusing Portuguese town names
Here are some other – lesser known fumbles of cities that are so similar in spelling or pronunciation that I still get confused when speaking to people about them.
- Odiáxere vs. Odeceixe
- Odiáxere is a town just east of Lagos that I’m very familiar with – it’s a small town with lots of farmers and where Ziggy and Ditto sometimes stay when we’re out of town.
- Odeceixe is a small town on a beachy river just outside of Aljezur (a cool beach town with great live music). It lies on the border of the Alentejo and Algarve regions.
- Cascais vs. Cais
- Cascais is about 45 minutes west of Lisboa; it’s known as a more luxury beach suburb on the coast with relatively easy access to the city. It has a high concentration of larger resorts, big homes, and beautiful beaches. You’ll find Instagrammable places during the days, calmer nights, and family-friendly stays here.
- Cais is shorthand for Cais do Sodré – a party-forward neighborhood in Lisboa. If you’re looking for lively nightlife that feels like it never ends, the famous “Pink Street”, or the station where the metro connects to the Cascais train line, this is where you go.
- Oeiras vs. Olaias vs. Odivelas
- Oeiras is home to one of our favorite music festivals, NOS Alive. It’s just outside of Lisboa and you’d take the Cascais train line to get to this town. It’s a popular residential area as well – many of my colleagues in the creative spaces live here!
- Olaias is more centrally located in Lisboa and a stop on the red metro line. My experience here is limited, but I often see it and get it confused with the other two.
- Odivelas is north of Lisboa and is accessible on the yellow metro line. It has a suburban feel, and it’s where Mike had his AIMA appointment for immigration.
- The key is – none of these places are that close to each other and it takes a while to get between the three, so if you need to be specifically somewhere in one of these areas, make sure to check your spelling before booking accommodations.
I’m going to keep this list going as I continue to get confused during my Portuguese adventures. Follow along as we help each other navigate this beautiful country!
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