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Useful Information
For those visiting or planning a holiday in
Portugal, here is some general information that may be useful.
Further help is available from ICEP offices or at tourist
information posts within Portugal.
Getting there
International airports are: Lisbon, Oporto, Faro,
Funchal (Madeira), Ponta Delgada (S. Miguel, Azores) and Lajes
(Ilha Terceira, Azores). The national airline is TAP Air Portugal.
The regional air company, SATA, flies connections to the Azores
Islands. There are also air links between Funchal (Madeira)
and Porto Santo. Every day international trains run between
Paris and Lisbon (Sud Express), crossing the border at Vilar
Formoso; the Lisbon-Madrid train crosses at Marvao, while the
Oporto-Vigo train crosses the border at Valenca.
Getting around inside the country
Urban public transport - In the main
towns there is a complete public transport network. In Lisbon
there are buses, the underground, and electric trams. One may
also use public elevators (lifts). Tourism Information Points
at Carris (Lisbon) and STCP (Oporto) sell tourist tickets every
business day from 8 am to 8 pm.
Taxis - These are both black and green,
with a roof-light to identify them. These colours, however,
are being gradually changed over to cream. In towns they use
taximeters, but once outside urban boundaries the service is
charged by the kilometre, and includes the price of the driver's
return trip to his starting point. From 10 pm to 6 am the rate
increases by 20%. It is normal to give a tip of 10% on top
of the fare. Luggage weighing more than 30 kg is charged according
to a fixed rate. All taxis have an updated chart in two languages.
Trains - Express trains between Lisbon
and Oporto stop in Coimbra (Alfa trains), while regional trains
(Inter-city and Interregional) connect the different parts
of Portugal. These trains have first and second class carriages,
except for local and suburban trains, where there is only one
class. Special tickets - including tourist tickets valid for
7, 14 or21 days - may be bought, while there are special return
ticket discounts on 'blue days", for trips exceeding 100 km.
Car rental - There are self-drive rental
services in all main towns and also at international airports.
Proof of identification (an ID card for EC nationals and valid
passports for other nationalities) is required, as well as
a valid driving licence. A green card is essential, and it
is advisable to have extra insurance. The minimum age for car
rental is 21.
Driving
Portugal drives on the right. Except when otherwise
indicated, all vehicles approaching from the right have priority
at intersections. Safety belts are compulsory. Drink-driving:
the upper limit for alcohol in the bloodstream is 0,5 g/l.
The maximum speed in towns and villages is 50 km/h, except
where otherwise indicated. On main roads and motorways speed
limits are 90 km/h and 120 km/h respectively. Petrol stations
are generally open from 8 am to 12 pm, and some work 24 hrs
a day.
Weather
The weather in Portugal is gentle, without great
variations of temperature. Winter is not very cold nor is it
very hot in summer because of the influence of the Gulf Current.
In the Azores, the weather is mild and pleasant, always softened
by the Atlantic winds, while on Madeira the climate is especially
favourable, with a climate that remains mild throughout the
year.
Accommodation
As well as having an excellent range of hotels,
many of the establishments run by the state are located in
such privileged spots as old monasteries, castles or palaces
that have been transformed into hotels. These are called pousadas and
are divided in three categories: regional pousadas, pousadas in
historic sites and pousadas in national monuments. In
this kind of lodging we recommend you book in advance. Tourism
in the country (TER, Turismo no Espaco Rural) concentrates
on private houses where one is ensured a very personal welcome
when lodging at wonderful mansions and quintas. In these
entire TER, hotels, restaurants, and travel agencies there
is a complaints book that must be shown whenever clients showing
an identification card request it.
Public holidays
1 t January, 25th April, Good Friday, 1st May,
Corpus Christi (beginning of June), 10th June,l5th August,
5th October, 1st November, 1st, 8th and 25th December. There
are also some local holidays.
Business hours
Banks: From 8:30 am to 3 pm from Monday
to Friday; closed on official holidays.
Shops: From 9 am to 1 pm and from 3 pm
to 7 pm (working days). On Saturdays, most shops close at 1
pm. In the shopping centres located in larger towns, shops
are normally open too on Saturdays, Sundays and other holidays
from 10 am to 11 pm.
Museums: Open from 10 am to 12:30 am and
from 2 pm to 5 pm. Closed on Mondays. Some palaces also close
on Wednesdays.
Credit cards
Credit cards most accepted in Portugal are Visa,
Amex, Eurocard, Eurocheque, Diners Club and Mastercard.
Emergencies
Dial 115 any time of the day or night anywhere
in the country. In case of a road accident, use the nearest
orange coloured SOS telephone,
Chemists : Open from 9 am to 1 pm and from 3
pm to 7 pm, Monday to Friday, and Saturday mornings
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