Portugal Travel Basics
Portugal Transport I Lisbon
Transport I Visas
I Banking I
Post I Phone
I Public Holidays I Health
I Language
I Internet
Cafes I Dialing
Codes
Portugal Transportation
Domestic Flights
Flights
within Portugal are expensive. Unless you have an under-26 discount
card, you may want to consider other travel options - especially
considering the short distances from place to place.
TAP Air Portugal (in Lisbon:
218 43 11 00; USA & Canada: 800-221-7370; UK: 845 601 09 32) is
Portugal's national carrier. PGA Portugalia Airlines (in Portugal:
218 42 55 59; UK: 087 075 500 25) also flies between many cities.
Rail
For most travelers, the train
and/or bus
will suffice. The state railway, CP (Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses),
is often less expensive than long-distance buses. It is best used
for trips around Lisbon and for those who stay on the Lisbon-Coimbra-Porto-Braga
main line.
Three types of service are available: Regional (R on timetables),
interregional (IR), and rapido or intercidade (IC). Within the final
category are the fastest trains, or Alfa Pendular, which are fairly
expensive and, depending upon the route, only a bit faster. You
can save 10% by buying a return ticket. Children under 12 and people
65 or older receive a 50% discount.
Bus
In addition to the former national bus service, Rodoviaria (213
54 57 75), which was recently privatized, there are also private
bus companies such as Rede Expressos, Renex, and EVA that offer
several types of service. Expresos, which run between cities, are
fast and comfortable. Buses
are also in most cases the cheapest way to get from point A to B.
Car
With the highest fatality rate on Western European roads, you may
want to reconsider driving in Portugal. Roads in recent years have
been improved, but Portuguese drivers often have a cavalier attitude
towards road regulations. Also, gas is expensive. Be careful driving
in Lisbon. That being said, driving in Portugal need not be hazardous
as long as drivers drive with extra care. It is possible to rent
a car in Portugal. If possible, do this in advance from your
home country, which will be considerably cheaper.
Lisbon Transportation
From the airport the easiest and most convenient option is the
Aero-Bus, which is 2.30 EUROS (plus an additional 1.50 for luggage).
It leaves at twenty minute intervals from the Arrivals Terminal.
Please note that buses only run until 9 pm. You can get into town
in about 40 minutes depending upon traffic.
TAP passengers ride for free by showing their boarding pass. Ordinary
buses (#44) do run from the airport for 0.90 EUROS but they are
slow and those with luggage would be better off taking the Aero-Bus.
The tourist offices and Ask Me Lisboa booths have free maps of
the Lisbon bus and tram network
Inside the city itself, there are several reliable ways to get
around.
The Companhia Carris de Ferro de Lisboa (213 613 060) runs all
public transportation in the city except for the subway.
Buses cost 0.90 EUROS in the city, which is paid on the
bus.
A passe turistico which is good for unlimited travel on CARRIS
is very convenient. 1-day (2.30 EUROS), 3-day (5.50 EUROS), 4-day
(9 EUROS), and 7-day (13 EUROS) passes are available. Passes are
sold in train and subway stations.
The Lisbon Metro
The subway or Metro (213 55 84 57) costs .65 EUROS per
ride (return 1.05 EUROS). The subway system has four lines in the
center of Lisbon that run from 6.30am until 1 am. 10 tickets can
be bought for 5.10 EUROS.
The Gare do Oriente train station and Parque das Nacoes can both
be reached by metro. A link to the Santa Apolonia train station
is due to be completed in time for Euro 2004.
In Lisbon, the underground (‘Metro’) is the quickest,
easiest and cheapest way of getting to both the Estadio
da Luz (home of Benfica and venue for 3 group matches, a quarter
final and the final) and Estadio
Jose Alvalade (home of Sporting Lisbon and venue for 3 group
matches, a quarter final and a semi final).
The Metro trains are fast and frequent and the system easy to
use. Moreover, the fares are cheap (compared to Britain) and crime
is rare.
The system consists of four colour-coded lines - yellow, blue,
green and red.
Trains run from 6.30 am until 1.00 am.
Stations can be seen easily from a distance, as there are clear
signs with an ‘M’ for Metro (in white with a red background)
at all stations.
Maps of the Metro system are available free from Tourist offices
and the ‘Ask Lisboa’ booths (information booths) in
the city centre.
The Metro system is shown as part of a free ‘map of Lisbon’,
which shows the main streets and sights of the city, as well as
the public transport network.
Exit signs (‘Saida’ in Portuguese) are easily visible
at the stations.
Lisbon Metro Fares
Single - 0.65 EUROS (any distance/zone)
Return - 1.05 EUROS (any distance/zone)
One Day Ticket (‘Bihete Diaro’) - 1.40 EUROS (valid
for all stations/zones)
7 Day Ticket - 4.80 EUROS (valid for all stations/zones)
10 Journey Ticket - 5.10 EUROS (valid for all stations/zones)
Buying Tickets
These can be bought from automatic machines, which are plentiful
at all stations (queues to use them are rare). Instructions are
in Portuguese, English, Spanish and French.
The machines accept 5, 10, 20 and 50 cent coins and 5, 10 and
20 euro notes and can dispense change.
There are also ticket offices at all stations and information desks
at most stations, where the staff mostly speak some English and
are helpful.
Using the tickets at stations is similar to the system used on
the London underground. The ticket is inserted into a slot (an arrow
on the ticket indicates the correct way to insert) and moves through
the machine, validating the ticket, before it reappears at another
slot. When the ticket is taken from there, see-through sliding doors
open automatically.
 The
fare for trams is 0.90 EUROS. This is perhaps the most graceful
and charming way to travel around town, although not if you are
in a hurry.
Line 28 is good for sightseeing, Line 15 for the nightlife areas
of Av. 24 de Julho and Docas Santo Amaro.
Funicular fares are 0.90 EUROS per ride.
Travelling by taxi is relatively cheap by European standards.
Taxis are normally cream (or a few older ones are black with cream
roofs). Recommended taxi companies include Radio Taxis de Lisboa
(218 11 90 00) and Autocoope (217 93 27 56).
All official taxis are light yellow in colour and clearly marked
as taxis - many are Mercedes.
They run 24 hours and are metered at an official rate. The meter
can be seen on the dashboard, so there are no problems with regard
to knowing the fare. They are less plentiful at night and more expensive.
They are also more expensive at weekends. However, compared to
Britain they are much cheaper. It cost 8 EUROS from the centre to
Estadio da Luz at night. The official taxi tariffs are listed on
the windows, so it is simple to check if you are being charged the
right fare.
A Lisboa Card grants you free use on nearly all city transportation
and discounts on museums and monuments. It also knocks 65% off of
bus and tram tours. You can buy them in 24-, 48-, or 72-hour increments.
A good value if you plan on doing a lot in a short time. Cards are
sold at kiosks and Turismo de Lisboa offices.
 Prices
for the Lisboa Card in Euros are as follows:
Adult tickets cost 12.75 (24 hours), 21.50 (48), 26.55 (72);
for children (ages 5-11), the prices are 5.70 (24 hours), 8.55 (48),
and 11.40 (72).
Lisboa Cards are also available at major hotels, Carris ticket booths,
the Lisbon Zoo, the National Art Museum, and other locations.
Visas for Portugal
EU citizens require only a valid passport or identity card to stay
indefinitely. US, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand citizens
with a valid passport can enter for up to 90 days. Other nationals
require a visa. Contact the Portuguese
embassy or consulate in your home country.
Banking & Money in Portugal
Normal banking hours are Monday to Friday 8.30am - 3pm.
There are numerous ATMs (Multibancos) in nearly all towns
and cities. All major credit cards are accepted.
 Portugal
Post
Post Offices (correios) are open Monday to Friday 8.30am
- 6pm. In Lisbon the main post office on Praça dos Restauradores
58 is open Mon. to Fri. 8.30am - 10pm; Sat. & Sun. 9am - 6pm.
In Porto the main post office on Praça General Humberto
Delgado is open Mon. to Fri. 8.30am - 9pm; Sat. & Sun. 9am -
6pm.
There is a poste restante service available in big towns and cities.
Postage Costs
Post cards and letters up to 20g in Portugal - Eur 0.30
Europe Eur 0.57
Rest of the world Eur 0.72
Post to Europe is delivered within 5 working days and to the rest of the world 7 working days.
Telephones/Internet in Portugal
Card operated public phones (credifones) can be used for
local or domestic calls. Cards in denominations of EURO 3, 6, 9
are readily available from post-offices, newsagents and kiosks.
Confirm whether the model of your mobile phone will operate in
Portugal.
Portugal 'Helpline' cards (see image right) available from tourist
offices allow access to free information on museums, restaurants
and other tourist resources in Portuguese, English, French and Spanish
between 9am-9pm daily.
- Check our Portugal
Internet cafes listing for Internet cafes in Portuguese towns and cities.
Large post-offices also have Internet posts which can be used
with a pre-paid card.
Important Telephone Numbers
Emergency Services - Police, Ambulance, Fire Service 112
Forest Fires 117
Directory Inquiries 118
Speaking Clock 151
International Directory Inquiries 177
International Operator 179
Operator Assisted International Calls 171
Lost Credit Cards - VISA/Mastercard 800 811 272
Diners Club 213 159 856
American Express 213 925 740
Embassies in Lisbon
City & Area Dialing Codes
Public Holidays
January 1 - New Year's Day
Good Friday - in March/April
April 25 - Liberty Day - celebrating 1974 Revolution
May 1 - Labor Day
Corpus Christi - usu. early June
June 10 - Dia de Camoes e das Comunidades (Portugal Day)
August 15 - Assumption
October 5 - Republic Day - celebrating the 1910 declaration of the Portuguese Republic
November 1 - All Saints'
December 1 - Celebrating the restoration of independence from Spain in 1640
December 8 - Immaculate Conception
December 25 - Christmas Day
Health in Portugal
Pharmacies
(farmácia) are widespread throughout Portugal and open Mon.
to Fri. 9am - 1pm & 3pm - 7pm; Sat. & Sun. 9am - 1pm. Details
of 24-hour pharmacies are listed on every pharmacy door.
In an emergency dial 112.
Hospitals
British Hospital, Rua Saraiva de Carvalho 49, Lisbon, 213 955067
Hospital Santo Antonio, Largo Professor Abel Salazar, Porto, 222
077 500
Hospital Distrital de Faro, near Farense football stadium, Faro,
289 891 100
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