Social ConventionsThe Portuguese way of life is leisurely, and old-fashioned politeness is essential. Warm hospitality is the norm. The country has a deeply individual national character, although each province has its own traditions and folklore. Casual wear is widely acceptable, although beachwear should not be worn in towns. In restaurants, it is usual to smoke only at the end of the meal. Smoking is prohibited in cinemas, theaters and on buses.
International Travel:Getting There by AirPortugal’s national airline is
TAP Air Portugal (TP) (website:
www.flytap.com).
Departure TaxNone.
Main AirportsLisbon (LIS) (Portela
de Sacavem) (website:
www.ana-aeroportos.pt) is 7km (4.5 miles) north of the city (journey time - 35 minutes).
To/from the airport: Carris buses run from the airport to the city and the main railway stations. A special ‘Aerobus’ departs to the city center every 20 minutes during the day. Taxi services to the city are available, with a 20% surcharge between 2100 and 0600, at weekends and on holidays.
Facilities: Bureau de change, banks, tourist information, post office, duty-free shops and car hire.
Faro (FAO) (website:
www.ana-aeroportos.pt) is 4km (3 miles) west of the city (journey time - 30 minutes).
To/from the airport: EVA buses link the airport with different parts of the city. Taxis are available.
Facilities: Duty-free shop, bank/bureau de change, car hire and a bar/restaurant.
Porto (OPO) (Oporto Sá Carneiro) (website:
www.ana-aeroportos.pt) is 20 km (7 miles) from the city.
To/from the airport: Underground trains, buses and taxis to the city are available.
Facilities: Duty-free shop, bank/bureau de change, car hire and a bar/restaurant.
Getting There by WaterMain ports: Lisbon (website:
www.portodelisboa.com),
Leixões (Porto) (website:
www.apdl.pt),
Funchal (Madeira) (website:
www.portosdamadeira.com) and
Portimão (Algarve) are served by major
cruise lines.
Getting There by RailTraveling from the UK, the quickest way is to travel by
Eurostar through the Channel Tunnel to Paris (journey time - 2 hours 40 minutes) and, from there, to Portugal. The
Sud-Expresso runs between Hendaye/Irun (linked to Paris by TGV) and Lisbon, offering first- and second-class seats, sleepers and a restaurant car. For further information and reservations, contact
Eurostar (tel: 0870 518 6186, in the UK
or +44 1233 617 575 , outside the UK; website:
www.eurostar.com)
or Rail Europe (tel: 0870 537 1371, in the UK; website:
www.raileurope.co.uk).
Caminhos De Ferro Portugueses (tel: 808 208 208, in Portugal
or (21) 318 5990, outside Portugal; website:
www.cp.pt) offers an international rail service to Vigo, Madrid and Paris.
Rail PassesInterRail: offers unlimited first- or second-class travel in up to 30 European countries for European residents of over six months with two pass options. The
Global Pass allows travel for 22 days, one month, five days in 10 days or 10 days in 22 days across all countries. The
One-Country Pass offers travel for three, four, six or eight days in one month in any of the countries except Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro. Travel is not allowed in the passenger’s country of residence. Travelers under 26 years receive a reduction. Children’s tickets are reduced by about 50%. Supplements are required for some high-speed services, seat reservations and couchettes. Discounts are offered on
Eurostar and some ferry routes. Available from
Rail Europe (website:
www.raileurope.co.uk/inter-rail).
Getting There by RoadThe only land border is shared with Spain. Major border posts are open around the clock, but smaller ones may close earlier in winter. From the UK, the quickest routes are via ferry to northern Spain, avoiding the need to drive through France.
Brittany Ferries runs from Plymouth to Santander (tel: 0870 907 6103, in the UK; website:
www.brittany-ferries.co.uk) and
P&O Ferries runs from Portsmouth to Bilbao (tel: 0870 598 0333, in the UK; website:
www.poferries.com). Cars can be imported into Portugal for up to six months. Traveling from the UK,
Eurotunnel operates trains 24 hours per day through the Channel Tunnel between Folkestone in Kent (with direct access from the M20) and Calais in France. All vehicles, from motorcycles to campers, can be accommodated. For further information, contact
Eurotunnel Reservations (tel: 0870 535 3535, in the UK; website:
www.eurotunnel.co.uk).
Coach: Eurolines operates an extensive network of coach services to many destinations throughout Portugal, including Coimbra, Faro, Lagos, Lisbon and Porto. For information on timetables and fares, contact
Eurolines (tel: 0870 580 8080, in the UK; website:
www.eurolines.co.uk).
OverviewThe following items may be imported by visitors over 18 years of age from countries outside the EU without incurring customs duty:
200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco;
1l of spirits over 22% or 2l of spirits up to 22%;
2l of wine;
50g of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette;
500g of coffee or 200g of coffee extract (provided bought in a tax-free shop);
100g of tea or 40g of tea extract (provided bought in a tax-free shop);
further goods up to €175 per adult or €90 if under 15 years of age.Abolition of duty-free goods within the EU
On 30 June 1999, the sale of duty-free alcohol and tobacco at airports and at sea was abolished in all of the original 15 EU member states. Of the 10 new member states that joined the EU on 1 May 2004 and the two states that joined on 1 January 2007, these rules already apply to Cyprus and Malta. There are transitional rules in place for visitors returning to one of the original 15 EU countries from one of the other new EU countries. But for the original 15, plus Cyprus and Malta, there are no limits imposed on importing tobacco and alcohol products from one EU country to another. Travelers should note that they may be required to prove at customs that the goods purchased are for personal use
only. Member states may follow the EU’s guide levels of: 10l of spirits; 20l of fortified wine; 90l of wine; 110l of beer; 800 cigarettes; 400 cigarillos; 200 cigars and 1kg of tobacco.
Internal Travel:Getting Around By AirTAP Air Portugal (website:
www.flytap.com)
and
Portugália Airlines (website:
www.flypga.com)
run services between Lisbon, Faro, Madeira, Porto Santo, Porto and the Azores. Charter flights are also available. The airline for the Azores is
SATA (
Sociedade Acoriana de Transportes Aereos) (website:
www.sata.pt), which operates its
Air Açores service between the various islands.
Getting Around by RailCaminhos de Ferro Portugueses (Portuguese Railways) (tel: 808 208 208, in Portgual
or (21) 318 5990, outside Portugal; website:
www.cp.pt) provides a rail service to every town.
Alfa Pendular trains offer the fastest rail link from Lisbon to the Algarve and from the capital to the north (Porto, Braga or Guimarães, with stops in Coimbra and Aveiro); the
Intercidades (Intercity) service covers Lisbon, Porto, Alentejo and Lisbon to Algarve routes. A vast network of regional, inter-regional and suburban trains covers the country. The tourist areas of Cascais and Sintra are connected to Lisbon by frequent express trains. High-speed
Alfa trains run between Lisbon and Porto via Coimbra and Aveiro.
Fertagus trains cross the River Tagus in Lisbon, operating between Entrecampus station to Fogueteiro (on the south bank).
Rail PassesInterRail’s
One-Country Pass offers travel for three, four, six or eight days in one month within Portugal. Travel is not allowed in the passenger’s country of residence. Travelers under 26 years receive a reduction. Children’s tickets are reduced by about 50%. Supplements are required for some high-speed services, seat reservations and couchettes. Discounts are offered on
Eurostar and some ferry routes. Available from
Rail Europe (website:
www.raileurope.co.uk/inter-rail).
The
Intra-rail card give those aged 12 to 30 years three or 10 days’ travel in four pre-defined zones in Portugal plus two or nine nights in youth hostels. Available from main railway stations in Portugal.
Tourist tickets valid for seven, 14 or 21 consecutive days are also available from main railway stations.
Cheap Fares: Child and senior citizen fares are discounted by 50%, group travel (10 or more people) by 20%, return tickets by 10% and youth travel (Cartao Jovem or Euro<26 cardholders) by 30%. Family railcards and rover tickets are also available. Check Portuguese Railways online (website:
www.cp.pt) for current promotions.
Getting Around by RoadTraffic drives on the right. Every town and village can be reached by an adequate system of roads. Petrol stations generally open 0700-2000, although some are open 24 hours. Travel by motorway is subject to a toll according to distance covered and type of vehicle.
Bus: There are frequent coach services between all Portuguese cities. For further information, contact
Rede Nacional de Expressos (tel: (21) 258 1460; website:
www.rede-expressos.pt).
Taxis: Taxi drivers are tipped 10%.
Car hire: Available from major and local providers in main towns and airports, with or without driver.
Regulations: The minimum age for driving is 18 (but drivers must be at least 21 to 25 if hiring a car). Cars may be imported for up to six months. Traffic signs are international. Drivers should dip headlights in built-up areas and use side lights when parking in badly lit areas. Children should not travel in the front seat. Seat belts should be worn. Warning triangles are compulsory. It is forbidden to carry cans of petrol in vehicles. Speed limits are 50kph (30mph) in built-up areas, 90kph (56mph) outside built-up areas and 120kph (70mph) on motorways.
Emergency breakdown service: Automóvel Club de Portugal (ACP) (tel: 707 509 510, within Portugal only; website:
www.acp.pt) operates a 24-hour service.
Documentation: International Driving Permits or foreign driving licenses are accepted. Third Party insurance is compulsory. Under the requirements of the Portuguese Road Code, those wishing to drive a car must possess a valid national/international driving license, other official documentation with photograph, log book or rental contract and adequate car insurance. Failure to produce, on request to the authorities, any of the above will result in an on-the-spot cash fine. A
Carnet de Passage is needed for a van.
Getting Around Towns and CitiesLisbon’s extensive underground system is operated by
Metropolitano de Lisboa , while trams and
Companhia Carris de Ferro de Lisboa (Carris) buses also provide efficient ways of getting around. The city’s suburban rail lines, operated by
Portuguese Railways, are useful for covering longer distances and
Transtejo ferries ply the Tagus. Porto also boasts an underground (
Metro de Porto), trams and buses. Taxis are readily available in both cities.
Journey TimesThe following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from
Lisbon to other major cities/towns in Portugal.
| | Air | Road | Rail |
| Faro | 0.40 | 3.00 | 4.00 |
| Porto | 0.45 | 3.30 | 3.00 |
| Funchal | 1.40 | - | - |
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