Travel and Accomodation Travel information

• Getting to Portugal

  Entry Formalities
  
  Identity card for citizens from the European Union, Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Malta, Norway and Switzerland. Minors are required to present authorization from their parents

  Passport valid for at least three months after the end of their stay (up to 90 days) for citizens from Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, United States, Uruguay, Vatican, Venezuela and Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China in Hong Kong and Macao.

  Visa to enter Portugal, which may be requested at the Portuguese Embassy or Consulate of their country for stays of up to 90 days, is required for citizens from all other countries not listed above.

  Under the terms of the Convention Implementing the Schengen Agreement, flights between Schengen states are considered to be internal flights and passengers do not need to obtain another visa.

  More information:
  Portuguese Embassies Abroad - www.mne.gov.pt/mne/pt/ministerio/missoes/
  Portuguese Consulates abroad - www.secomunidades.pt/web/guest/PostosConsulares
  Portuguese Immigration Authority - www.sef.pt
  
  
  Travelling to Portugal
  
  By plane
  There are international airports at Lisbon, Oporto, Faro, Funchal (Madeira), Ponta Delgada (São Miguel Island-Azores) and Lages (Terceira Island-Azores). The national airlines are TAP Air Portugal and Portugalia.

  More information:
  www.ana.pt/portal/page/portal/ANA/

  By train
  Daily international trains run between Paris-Lisbon (Sud Express), crossing the frontier at Vilar Formoso; between Lisbon-Madrid, crossing the frontier at Marvão; and between Oporto-Vigo, crossing the frontier at Valença.

  More information:
  www.cp.pt

  By coach
  There are three companies running services between many European cities and Oporto (Inter-Norte), Lisbon (Inter-Centro) and Faro (Inter-Sul).

  More information:
  www.rede-expressos.pt/

• Money

  Currency
  The unit of currency is the Euro (€). Reception in most hotels will change money and they are entitled to charge a small extra amount to cover fluctuation exchange rates. Traveller cheques and Eurocheques are accepted by all Portuguese banks and exchange bureaus. Visa, Amex, Eurocard, Diner Club and Master Card are the most useful credit cards.

  Banking
  Banks are open from 8.30am to 3pm Monday to Friday, closing on public holidays. ATMs are everywhere and besides banks, they can be easily found on stations, hospitals, and even shopping centres.

  If your credit card gets lost or stolen, please contact:
  - Visa: Tel. 800 811 107 (free call)
  - MasterCard: Tel. 800 811 272 (free call)

• Transportation

  Bus/trams
  In cities, you pay the driver a flat fare. In Lisbon and Oporto there are special tourist tickets at Carris (Lisbon) and the Lisbon Underground or STCP (Oporto) information kiosks, open form 8 am to 8 pm.
  
  More information:
  www.carris.pt/
  www.metrolisboa.pt/
  www.stcp.pt/

  Lisboa Card
  It's the easiest and most affordable option to use Lisbon's public transportation system. There are 1, 2 and 3-day cards available which also offer discounts at Monuments and Museums.
  
  More information:
  www.askmelisboa.com

  Taxi
  Plentiful and cheap, they are usually beige, although the classic black with green hood can still be found. They have an illuminated taxi sign at the top. In the city they charge a standard meter fare; outside the city's limits they charge per kilometre and are entitled to charge for the return fare. In cities, luggage travelling in the booth adds a surcharge. From 10 pm to 6 am there is a surcharge of about 20%. The usual amount to tip is 10% of the fare.

  Train
  There are Express trains from Lisbon through Coimbra to Oporto (Alfa trains) and regional trains (Inter-cidades and Inter-regionais) connecting the different areas of Portugal.

  First and second class are available except for local and suburban trains. Special tickets include tourist tickets (valid for 7, 14 or 21 days). There are special rates on "Blue Days" offering return tickets with discount for trips over 100 km. People over 65 are entitled to have special discounts. For international, long and medium distance express services, it's advisable to make reservations. Train timetables are available from information desks at stations and tourism offices.
  
  More information:
  www.cp.pt

  Coach
  Services are run in express or ordinary coaches, linking the country's main cities and towns all over.
  
  More information:
  www.rede-expressos.pt/

  Car hire
  Car hire companies can be found in all major towns, and at the international airports. You must show proof of identity (Identity Card for EC citizens and passport for other nationals) and a valid driving license. A green card is essential and it's wise to take out insurance coverage and collision insurance. Cars cannot be hired out to anyone under 21.

  Driving
  All motor vehicles drive on the right. Unless otherwise indicated, vehicles approaching from the right have priority at junctions. Seatbelts are obligatory. The law is strict regarding drinking and driving. The maximum speed in towns is 50 km p/h and on main roads and highways is 90 and 120 km p/h respectively. Petrol stations are open from 7am to 8pm. On highways services stations are open 24 hours a day.

• Communications

  Phones
  All over Portugal, there are crediphones where phone cards can be used. These can be bought in post offices and newsagents. At post offices, calls can be paid for at the end of the conversation. To phone abroad, dial 00 then the country code and city/local code.

  Postal services
  Post offices are open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 6pm. In main cities there is always one post office station open on Saturdays.
  Stamps are sold here and also on shops bearing the sign of the red horse. The Portuguese word for post office is "Correios" and for stamp is "selo".

  More information:
  www.ctt.pt

• Health

  Medical facilities
  Medical assistance is available in hospitals providing 24 hours a day emergency service. There are also many clinics open from 8am to 8pm In case of emergency dial the number 112. In case of road accident use the nearest SOS phone (orange). For further information see Phone Directory.

  Chemists
  Are open 9am - 1pm / 3pm - 7pm Monday to Friday and Saturday mornings. In every area, you can always find one that is open all night or on Sunday. See the sign on the door (white cross on green background) to find your nearest chemist. The Portuguese word for chemist is "Farmácia".

• Opening times

  Street shops are open 9am - 1pm / 3pm - 7pm Monday to Friday and Saturday mornings until 1pm. In shopping areas most shops are open during lunchtime and until 8pm.
  In nightlife areas like Bairro Alto it's common to have shops open until quite late, after midnight.

  Shopping Centers are open 7 days a week from 10am to 11pm or midnight.

  Most restaurants serve lunch usually from 12am to 3pm and dinner usually from 7pm to 10pm and close one day of the week, usually on weekends.

  National Museums are open 9am to 5pm Tuesday to Sunday. Entrance is free on Sunday mornings.

• Useful Information

  Official Time
  During wintertime, i.e. from 1am on the last Sunday in October to am on the last Sunday in March, the official time in mainland Portugal and Madeira is the Universal Time Coordinated (UTC).

  The rest of the year (between 1am on the last Sunday in March and 1am on the last Sunday in October), summer time is in effect and the official time in mainland Portugal and Madeira is Universal Time Coordinated plus one hour.

  Electricity
  The current is 220 volts AC, with a continental round pin plug.

  Drinking Water
  It is perfectly safe to drink water straight from the tap in Portugal. However, for those who prefer bottled mineral water, local supermarkets and grocers usually carry a sizeable selection.

  Smoking
  Smoking is not permitted in public service vehicles, museums, libraries, lifts, theatres, cinemas, air-conditioned restaurants, hair salons, supermarkets, department stores and government offices. While it is an offence to smoke in air-conditioned eating places, smoking is permitted in air-conditioned pubs, discos, karaoke bars and nightspots.

  Some useful words and sentences 

  Thank you	Obrigado (if you're male)  Obrigada (if you're female)	one	um
  Please	Por favor	two	dois
  Good morning	Bom dia	three	três
  Good afternoon	Boa tarde	four	quatro
  Good evening	Boa noite	five	cinco
  Yes	Sim	six	seis
  No	Não	seven	sete
  Bank	Banco	eight	oito
  Change	Câmbio	nine	nove
  How much is it?	Quanto é?	ten	dez
  Do you speak English?	Fala inglês?	hundred	cem
  I don't understand	Não compreendo	thousand	mil

   

• Useful telephone numbers

  National Emergency Number
  112 (free call)

  National Information Number
  118

  Tourist Information
  808 781 212 / 800 296 296

  Tourism Police
  Palácio Foz (Restauradores)
  213 421 634 / 213 421 623
  lsbetur@psp.pt

  Credit Cards
  American Express - 800 205 59
  MasterCard - 800 811 272
  Visa - 800 811 107

  Lisbon Airport
  218 413 500 / 218 413 700

  Taxis
  217 996 460 / 218 413 700

  Lisbon Hospitals
  Santa Maria - 217 805 000 / 217 805 111 / 217 805 222
  São José - 218 841 000 / 218 854 150
  Saint Louis - 213 216 500
  British Hospital - 213 943 100 / 217 213 400
  CUF - 213 926 100 / 210 025 200 / 210 025 200
  SAMS - 218 422 000
  Cascais - 214 827 700
  Amadora Sintra - 214 348 200 / 214 348 444

  Portuguese Red Cross
  21 391 39 33 / 21 940 49 90 (Emergency) / 21 771 40 00 (Hospital)

  Mobile Phone Operators
  Optimus: 16103
  TMN: 1696
  Vodafone: 16912

  Post Office (CTT)
  707 26 26 26