Home » Portugal travel tips and things to know

Portugal travel tips and things to know for your Portuguese adventures

meeting the Portuguese locals

Here are some useful Portugal travel tips for one of the safest nations in Europe.  Furthermore, with the internal politics stable,  no terrorism-related danger or violent crime really existing, here is a unique and secure place to visit.

Portugal is one of the few countries that you can visit and not have to be concerned with the challenges that a lot of other European and worldwide countries might have. It therefore makes for a light read of tips that are constructive and not warnings.  

The only real warning is that pickpockets can be an issue, as with most countries, and the laws are very lenient for under age crime, meaning that the perpetrators are generally young. Be careful with your items and you should be fine.

Above all, for visitors to Spain – in particular the likes of the southern Spanish resorts, you will find that Portugal manages to sustain a relative lack of alcohol abusive tourists. In short, few drunken morons are looking to cause problems – even though there are plenty of bars.

Fast Facts- Portugal is the oldest country in Europe

What makes Portugal so unique is that it remains its authentic self with the same borders it had since 1139. Once a kingdom, the nation was powerful and the first global power, spreading its exploration and claim to distant lands including Brazil, parts of Africa and China.   

Travel tips to get to Portugal

By plane

Nearly all the significant airlines fly to Portugal, for instance you have British Airways, Air France, Lufthansa, United, Delta), besides the country’s own TAP Portugal servicing. There are some low-cost fares to be had from the no-frills airlines, like Aer Lingus, Monarch, easyJet, Ryanair and Vueling who have recently begun flying to Lisbon (LIS), Porto (OPO) and Faro (FAO) at great prices. 

There are three worldwide flight terminals in the mainland: Lisbon/Portela (in the north of the city, and not far from the center), near Loures; Porto/Pedras Rubras/S á Carneiro (also north of the city and reasonably close to it), in Maia; and Faro, in the Algarve.

The Madeira and Azores Islands also have airports with  worldwide destinations : Madeira/Funchal(FNC); Ponta Delgada (PDL)(São Miguel island).

From the United States, US Airways offers many flights to Portugal via Philadelphia, SATA INT. / AIR AZORES, from Boston, and Providence(seasonally), TAP Portugal and United from Newark.
By train

Lisbon is linked to Madrid, Spain; Porto to Vigo Spain; Vilar Formoso to Spain, France and the rest of Europe. In the South it is not possible to get in Portugal from Spain. Marvao-Beira, Portugal & Valencia de Alcantara, Spain.

Portugal travel tips for getting around

By Bus

travel by coach

Spain/Portugal: ALSA and Auto Res
Oporto/Portugal: Porto Airport Taxi
Lisbon/Portugal: Lisbon Airport Taxi
From Madrid/Paris: Aníbal [ 6]

TAXIS

Taxis are usually cream in color, although there are still some painted black with a green roof in the traditional Portuguese style.
The fare is shown on the taximeter. The prices are affixed inside the car or you can ask the driver about them.
If you phone for a taxi you have to pay an extra 0.80 euros. There is a charge of 1.60 euros for luggage, regardless of weight or the number of pieces.
Carry cots, pushchairs, wheelchairs and walking aids are carried free of charge.
Outside towns, taxis charge by the kilometre and the driver and passenger agree on the fare in advance. Where they exist, the passenger has to pay the road tolls there and back.
Tipping is at the passenger’s discretion, though it is normal to tip 5-10% or round the amount up to the nearest euro.

By Boat

The country is served by many sea ports that get a bunch of foreign traffic, mainly business but likewise guests watercrafts (mainly cruisers).

Nearly all significant airlines fly to Portugal (British Airways, Air France, Lufthansa, United, Delta), besides the nation’s own TAP Portugal. / AIR AZORES, from Boston, and Providence(seasonally), TAP Portugal and United from Newark.

Connections

Lisbon is linked to Madrid, Spain; Porto to Vigo Spain; Vilar Formoso to Spain, France and the rest of Europe. In the South it is not possible to get in Portugal from Spain. Marvao-Beira, Portugal & Valencia de Alcantara, Spain.

Traveling on the road - Tips for Portugal

DRIVING

Vehicles drive on the right in Portugal. Unless otherwise indicated, vehicles coming from the right have priority in squares and at intersections. At junctions with roundabouts, vehicles already on the roundabout have right of way.
Road signs comply with international rules.

 

Compulsory papers:
– Personal ID
– Driving licence
– Motor insurance certificate
– Vehicle registration or equivalent
– Vehicle logbook (livrete)or equivalent

On the spot fines are issued.

Speed limits for cars without trailers and motorcycles:
50 kph – in built-up areas
90 kph – on normal roads
100 kph – on roads restricted to motor vehicles
120 kph – on motorways

 

Getting your documentation in order:

Portugal travel tips for the legal stuff

Documentation is an essential part of travel planning and is easy to overlook in the mix of all the other preparations. Citizens of the European Union, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Romania and Switzerland need only an identity card to enter Portugal. 

In addition to their identity card, minors must also present authorisation from their parents to travel.

travel documentationFor visits of less than 90 days, a passport valid for at least three months after the end of their stay is necessary for visitors from Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Guatemala, Holy See, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, South Korea, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Special Administrative Regions of the People’s Republic of China in Hong Kong and Macao and Taiwan territorial Authority.

Meanwhile, citizens from countries not mentioned above need a visa to enter Portugal, which may be requested at the Portuguese Embassy or Consulate of their country for stays of up to 90 days.

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.

MEALS

Visiting places around the world is about the sights, sure but also very much about the culture and definitely the food. As a rule, the Portuguese have three meals a day. Between 7:30 and 10 a.m. they have a light breakfast consisting of a drink, for instance, a white or black coffee or fruit juice – and toast or a sandwich, often in their local café or cake shop.

The main meals are lunch, between 12:00 and 2:30 p.m., which is often eaten at a restaurant near work, and dinner between 7:30 and 10:30 p.m.

Most people eat a full meal including soup, a main dish and dessert or fruit. They may also have a snack consisting of a drink and a cake between these two meals, around 5 p.m.

Eating out is common practice in Portugal. Having lunch or dinner out, especially at the weekend, is always a good excuse for meeting friends or going for a drive.

There is a great variety of restaurants and they cater to all kinds of tastes and palates.

While restaurants are usually open for lunch between midday and 3 p.m. and for dinner between 7 and 10 p.m. many of them have longer opening hours, especially in the big cities and areas with a busy nightlife.

They usually close one day a week, sometimes at the weekend in city centers, though restaurants in shopping centers are open every day.

ELECTRICITY

The electric current in Portugal is 230/400 volts at a frequency of 50 hertz and sockets comply with European standards.
You will need a 230 volt transformer and an adapter to use American-style flat-prong plugs.

Highlights of Portugal..

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top