A
Accommodation
Except for family-run hotéis rurais, hotels in Portugal are graded from 2-star to 5-star deluxe. The rates are lower in a less elaborate hostelry: an estalagem or inn; a pensão (rooms with meals available); or residencial (rooms, generally without meals). Confusingly, even some elite, intimate inns are often referred to as a pensão.
Pousadas are a chain of establishments usually in historic buildings and scenic sites. Ask at tourist offices for a detailed list, or see the website www.pousadas.pt.
High season runs from mid-June to September, when you should also book well ahead, but prices are much lower out of season, and discounts are also usually available for longer stays.
When you arrive at your accommodation, you'll usually be asked for your passport and to sign a form which sets out the conditions, prices and room number.
a double/single room um quarto duplo/simples
Airport (aeroporto)
The Aeroporto de Lisboa (www.ana.pt) is only 6km (4 miles) from the city centre, a 15-minute drive (allow twice as long at rush hour). There is a helpful tourist information office at the airport.
The Metro runs from the airport, which is the terminus of the red line from Sãn Sebastião. It takes around 15 minutes to the city centre. Bus 91, the AeroBus airport shuttle, leaves about every 20 minutes, 7.45am–8.15pm. It passes through the city centre, stopping at Rossio on the way to Cais do Sodré train station. The ticket (€3.50) can be used all day on trams and buses (though not the Metro). Several local buses also call at the airport (€1.35). The AeroShuttle, bus 96, serves Gare do Oriente (€3.50), every half hour, 7am–11pm. Taxis are plentiful, and charge about €10 to the centre of Lisbon.
Where do I get the bus to the airport/to the centre of Lisbon? Onde posso apanhar o autocarro para o aeroporto/para ocentro da cidade?
B
Budgeting For Your Trip
Accommodation. At top levels, hotels in Lisbon compare to those in other large European cities. Still, there are some good prices to be found. A 2-star hotel should be €60 or less for a double; a 3-star €60–100; and for a 4-star, expect to pay up to €175. In three categories – historic, design and monuments – pousadas are usually priced like 4-star hotels, though the most in-demand historic ones may go higher. Prices usually drop in winter (1 November–1 April). Most prices do not include breakfast but do include 5 percent IVA tax (VAT).
Entertainment. Nightclub and disco covers are high (€10–20), as are drinks once inside (€7.50 and up). Concert tickets generally range from €10–45.
Flights. Around £150–300 from London.
Local transport. Public transport within the city – buses, trams and the Metro – is inexpensive, with single Metro fares at €0.90 a single ticket, and taxis are affordable and a good way to get around (especially up all those hills). Most taxi rides within Lisbon's major neighbourhoods will cost no more than €6. Trains to the Estoril Coast are inexpensive (Sintra, €3.60 return).
Meals. Even top-rated restaurants may be affordable compared to most European capitals. Portugal offers a midday meal bargain, the menu or ementa turística, often no more than €10–15 for a fixed-price, three-course meal. Portuguese wines are good and attractively priced (€10–20), even in fine restaurants. The house wine (vinho da casa) is normally good. A three-course dinner in a moderately priced restaurant (for one, with wine) should cost between €20–€30. For an expensive meal in one of Lisbon's prestigious restaurants, expect to pay €50 and up per person.
Museums. Admission fees range about €2.50–5; some days are free. Other sites and attractions may cost between €5 and €10. A Lisboa Card gives discounts.
Sports. Golfing can be expensive, though the courses are excellent: green fees go up to €125. Horse riding costs up to €50 a session.
C
Camping (campar)
Ther are several campsites in the Lisbon area, facilities range from basic to elaborate. Camping Lisboa (Parque Municipal de Camp-ismo de Monsanto) has 400 individual camping bays and additional bungalows, swimming pool, tennis courts and mini-golf. It's located in Monsanto Park, at Estrada de Circunvalação 1500; tel: 217 628 200; www.lisboacamping.com.
Information can be obtained from tourist offices or the Federação Portuguesa de Campismo, Avenida Coronel Eduardo Galhardo 24D; tel: 218 126 890; www.fcmportugal.com.
Car Hire (automóveis de aluguer)
Major international firms Avis, Hertz, Budget, National and Europcar are located both at the airport and in Lisbon; sometimes they also have small satellite offices in other towns. Hotels may recommend local, inexpensive operators. Many companies offer discounts if you book over the internet in advance.
The minimum age for hiring a car is 21 (though for some companies and vehicles it is 25), and anyone hiring one must have held a valid licence for at least one year. Rental companies will accept your home country's national driver's licence, and you must show your passport. Third-party insurance should be included in the basic charge, but a collision-damage waiver and personal accident policy may be added.
A sub-compact, four-door car with manual transmission, air conditioning, unlimited mileage and mandatory liability insurance usually costs between €150 and €300 per week. Costs may rise in high season (Easter and summer months). Pick-up and drop-off at different points is acceptable without surcharge, though doing either at the airport will incur a supplement.
Avis: tel: 21 754 78 00; www.avis.com.pt.
Europcar: tel: 21 940 77 90; www.europcar.pt.
Hertz: tel: 213 812430; www.hertz.pt.
Holidays Car: tel: 217 150 610; www.holidayscar.com.
Sixt: tel: 218 407 927; www.e-sixt.com.
I'd like to hire a car today/tomorrow. for one day/a week Queria alugar um carro para hoje/amanhã. por um dia/uma semana
Climate
Lisbon has an Atlantic climate influenced by the Mediterranean, which produces hot summers and mild winters. Spring and autumn are the best seasons to be in Lisbon, but in the summer, you can bask in the sunshine at the beaches west and south of the capital. The table below gives average air temperates per month.
Clothing (roupa)
Unless you come to Lisbon in an unseasonably cold winter, you'll never really have to dress warmly. Spring and autumn are relatively balmy, so you won't need anything heavier than a sweater in the daytime and light jacket at night. Summer days can be quite hot, but pack a wrap or sweater for cooler, windy evenings, and rain-wear, just in case. An umbrella may be useful in the winter months.
Lisboetas take care about their attire and tend to dress fashionably and fairly formally. Virtually no establishments require a tie. The Estoril Casino ‘recommends’ that men wear jackets in the evenings. It is respectful not to flash flesh (cover arms and legs) when visiting churches.
Crime and Safety
Lisbon traditionally has been one of Europe's more laid-back and safe cities, but you should still take the usual precautions. Carry valuables in inside pockets and keep your handbag or camera bag firmly under your arm. Stay alert for pickpockets on buses, trams and in cafés on Rossio, the Alfama area, markets and other tourist spots.
In most parts of the Baixa and Bairro Alto, it is safe to walk at night. Take care around the occasionally seedy Rossio square and narrow, dark and easy-to-get-lost-in streets of the Alfama district at night; if you are going to a fado house in the latter, you can take a taxi and have one called when you leave.
The beaches of the Estoril Coast outside Lisbon are quite safe, but it is not a good idea to take any valuables, cameras or purses to the beach. As a general rule, keep valuables in the hotel safe, and refrain from carrying large sums of money or wearing expensive jewellery. Report any theft to the hotel receptionist, the nearest police station or the local tourist office. Leave nothing of value in parked cars, the easiest target for thieves; always lock cars and never leave cases, bags, cameras, etc. in view.
D
Disabled Travellers
Lisbon's cobbled streets and steep hills don't make it easy for disabled travellers, but areas such as Belém, Baixa and especially Parque das Nações are easier to get around, as they're flat with broad streets and pavements. Some Metro stations, but not all, are equipped for the visually and hearing impaired. To discover which have facilities for the disabled, visit www.metrolisboa.pt. Carris also offer a bus service, for those with reduced mobility, for which you will need to book ahead. Accessible Portugal (www.accessibleportugal.com) offer holidays for the disabled.
Driving
It is not as tricky driving in Lisbon as some other European capitals, though traffic can be heavy and parking difficult. However, for most visitors, public transport and private taxis are vastly superior methods of navigating the city. To bring your own car into Portugal, you will need your national driving licence, registration papers and insurance – third-party cover is obligatory – and the Green Card that makes your insurance valid in other countries.
Road conditions. The main roads of Portugal are generally in good repair. In order of importance, they are graded as follows: Auto-Estrada: motorways (A1–A2, etc.); Itinerário Principal: highways (IP); Itinerário Complementar: Principal Route (IC); and Estrada Nacional: national roads (EN).
Rules and regulations. The rules of the road are the same as in most western European countries. Drive on the right. At roundabouts the vehicle already on the roundabout has priority unless road markings or lights indicate otherwise. Seat belts are compulsory and a heavy fine can be imposed if you are not wearing one.
Speed limits are 120km/h (75mph) on motorways, 90km/h (56mph) on other roads and 50km/h (37mph) in urban areas. Minimum speeds are posted (in blue) for some motorway lanes and the suspension bridge across the Tagus. Most motorways have tolls.
Parking. Unless there's an indication to the contrary, you can park for as long as you wish. Certain areas are metered. In ‘Blue Zones’, you must buy a ticket from a machine for a designated time period; the ticket should then be displayed on the dashboard of the parked car. Car parks and garages are also available. There is a large car park at Gare do Oriente, if you don't want to bring your vehicle into the centre of the city.
Road signs. Standard international pictograms are used but you may encounter the following signs:
cruzamento crossroads
curva perigosa dangerous bend (curve)
descida ingreme steep hill
desvio diversion (detour)
estacionamento permitido parking allowed
estacionamento proíbido no parking
guiar com cuidado drive with care
paragem bus stop
pare stop
passagem proíbida no entry
pedestres/peões pedestrians
perigo danger
proibida a entrada no entry
seguir pela direita/esquerda keep right/left
sem saída no through road
sentido proíbido no entry
sentido único one-way street
stop stop
trabalhos roadworks (men at work)
velocidade máxima maximum speed
If you need help. If you belong to a motoring organisation that is affiliated to the Automóvel Clube de Portugal (Rua Rosa Araújo 24, tel: 213 563 931, 707 509 510, www.acp.pt), you can use their emergency and repair services free of charge.
Are we on the right road for…? É esta a estrada para…?
Check the oil/tyres/battery, please. Verifique o óleo/os pneus/a bateria, se faz favor.
I've broken down. O meu carro está avariado.
There's been an accident. Houve um acidente.
E
Electricity (corrente eléctrica)
Standard throughout Portugal is 220v, 50-cycle AC. For US appliances, 220v transformers and plug adaptors are needed.
Embassies and Consulates (consulado; embaixada)
Most embassies and consulates are open Mon–Fri from 9 or 10am until 5pm, with a break in the middle of the day of 1–2 hours.
Australia: Avenida da Liberdade 198, 2°, tel: 213 101 500.
Canada: Avenida da Liberdade 196, 3°, tel: 213 164 600.
Ireland: Avenida da Liberdade 200, 4°, tel: 213 308 200.
South Africa: Avenida Luís Bivar 10, tel: 213 192 200.
UK: Rua de São Bernardo 33, tel: 213 924 000.
US: Avenida das Forças Armadas 16, tel: 217 273 300.
Emergencies (urgência)
The following numbers are useful 24 hours a day in an emergency: General emergency 112
Police 217 654 242
Ambulance (Red Cross) 219 421 111
Emergency road service 707 509 510
Brisa (highways) 808 508 508
G
Gay and Lesbian Travellers
In a country heavily influenced by the Roman Catholic Church, in Portugal attitudes towards gays and lesbians are not as tolerant as some other places in Europe.
Lisbon is the most important city in Portugal's gay scene, and offers a number of bars and clubs catering to a gay crowd, including Bar 106 (Rua de São Marcal 106); the scene centres around Praça do Príncipe Real, close to Bairro Alto. Also, on the Costa da Caparica, the west coast of the peninsula across the Tagus, beach no. 9 on the narrow-gauge railway is also a popular hangout.
As yet, there are no helplines. A good website with information on travel, bars and beaches is www.portugalgay.pt.
Getting There
By air. Lisbon's airport is linked by regularly scheduled daily non-stop flights from several European cities and from the East Coast of the United States. Flights from Canada, Australia and New Zealand go through London or another European capital.
TAP/Air Portugal (www.tap.pt) is Portugal's national airline, and it has wide international links: tel: 707 205 700 from anywhere in Portugal; in Lisbon, 218 415 000; in New York, toll free: 800 221 73 70, 973 624 63 63; in the UK, 0845 601 0932. There are regular TAP and British Airways (www.ba.com) scheduled flights from the UK to Lisbon. Budget airlines offering services from the UK to Lisbon include easyJet (from London Gatwick, Luton, Edinburgh, Liverpool and Bristol; www.easyjet.com). From the US to Lisbon, TAP flies direct from New York, Newark and Boston. Continental (www.continental.com) flies direct from Newark. There are flights to the Portuguese capital on TAP and other carriers from all major European cities.
By sea. Lisbon is a major port, and several cruise ships include a port of call in the capital. Ferries from Great Britain go to Santander and Bilbao, Spain, from Plymouth and Portsmouth (Brittany Ferries; www.brittany-ferries.com). Crossings take 24–36 hours. The drive from northern Spain to Lisbon is then likely to take another 12–14 hours.
By rail. Portugal is linked to the European railway network and connections to Lisbon are possible from points throughout Spain, France and the rest of continental Europe. Travel to Portugal is included on the InterRail Global Pass (www.interrailnet.com) for Europeans, and the Eurail Global Pass (www.eurail.com) for non-Europeans.
The Portuguese national railway network is called Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses (tel: 808 208 208 within Portugal, 707 201 280 outside Portugal; www.cp.pt). The Santa Apolónia station (Avenida Dom Henrique, tel: 211 022 000) serves all international trains.
Daily international trains run between Paris and Lisbon (Sud Express), crossing the frontier at Vilar Formoso; between Lisbon and Madrid, crossing the frontier at Marvão; and between Oporto and Vigo, crossing the frontier at Valença.
By car. Major motorways connect Portugal with Spain at numerous border points. The fastest route from Oporto is the A1 auto-estrada; from Madrid, take A2, crossing into the city at the Ponte 25 de Abril. The drive from Madrid to Lisbon is 8–10 hours; from Paris, 20–22 hours.
Guides and Tours (guias, visitas guiadas)
Information on tours currently on offer are available at tourist offices or from your hotel.
Carristur, operated by the city's bus company, has tram and bus tours starting in the Praça do Comércio. Trams travel the Circuito Descobrimentos to Belém and the Eléctrico das Colinas around the city hills; open-top buses go to the Parque das Nações and Belém.
Cityline open-top bus tours start from Praça Marquês de Pombal. Carristur also operates a four-hour sightseeing tour of Sintra.
All of the major excursion firms offer trips to Cascais, Estoril, Mafra, Queluz and Sintra, as well as a long day's outing covering major sites north of Lisbon: Fátima, Alcobaça and Batalha, Óbidos and Nazaré. If you are travelling independently, you can cover all these at greater leisure, even making an overnight stop or two on the way.
Transtejo runs regular ferries across the River Tagus, including from Cais do Sodré to Cacilhas and between Belém and Porto Brandhão (tel: 808 203 050, www.transtejo.pt).
H
Health and Medical Care
Standards of hygiene in Lisbon, and in Portugal as a whole, are generally very high; the most likely illness to befall travellers will be due to an excess of sun or alcohol. The water is safe to drink, but bottled water is available everywhere. Ask for água com gas (carbonated) or sem gas (still).
Farmácias (chemists/drugstores) are open during normal business hours, and one shop in each neighbourhood is on duty round the clock. Addresses are listed in newspapers and on pharmacy doors. To locate night pharmacies, call tel: 118.
For more serious illness or injuries, there is also a British Hospital (XXI, Rua Tomás da Fonseca Edifícios B e F, Torres de Lisboa, tel: 217 213 400), which has English-speaking staff. Check your medical insurance to be sure it covers illness or accident while you are abroad. EU nationals with a European Health Insurance Card or EHIC, obtained before departure (from post offices or online at www.ehic.org.uk in the UK), can receive free emergency treatment at Social Security and Municipal hospitals in Portugal. Privately billed hospital visits are expensive.
I need a doctor/dentist Preciso de um médico/dentista
Get a doctor quickly. Chame um médico, depressa.
Where's the nearest pharmacy? Aonde é a farmácia (de guardia) mais perto?
an ambulance uma ambulância
hospital hospital
upset stomach mal de estômago
sunstroke uma insolação
fever febre
L
Language
Portuguese, a derivative of Latin, is spoken in Brazil, Angola, Mozambique and Macau – all former colonies of Portugal. Any high-school Spanish may help with signs and menus, but will not unlock the mysteries of spoken Portuguese. The Portuguese spoken in Portugal is much more closed and gutteral-sounding, and is also spoken much faster than in Brazil.
Almost everyone in Portugal understands Spanish, many speak French and a surprising number of people in Lisbon can speak passable English. Schoolchildren are taught French and English.
Do you speak English? Fala inglês?
excuse me/you're welcome perdão/de nada
please faz favor
thank you obrigado/a
where/when/how onde/quando/como
day/week/month/year dia/semana/mês/ano
left/right esquerda/direita
near/far perto/longe
cheap/expensive barato/caro
open/closed aberto/fechado
hot/cold quente/frio
old/new velho/novo
Please write it down. Escreva-lo, por favor.
What does this mean? Que quer dizer isto?
Help me, please. Ajude-me, por favor.
Just a minute. Um momento.
What time is it? Que horas são?
Days:
Sunday domingo
Monday segunda-feira
Tuesday terça-feira
Wednesday quarta-feira
Thursday quinta-feira
Friday sexta-feira
Saturday sábado
What day is it today? Que dia é hoje?
yesterday ontem
today hoje
tomorrow amanhã
The Berlitz Portuguese Phrasebook covers most situations you're likely to encounter during a visit to Portugal. Also useful is the Berlitz Portuguese–English/English–Portuguese Pocket Dictionary, containing a menu-reader supplement (www.berlitzpublishing.com).
M
Maps (mapas)
Tourist information offices have free maps of Lisbon and the surrounding area, as well as a Carris map of the tram, bus and elevator network. Towns on the tourist circuit, such as Óbidos, Sintra, Cascais and Estoril, also make free maps available through their tourist information offices.
Media (jornal, revista, rádio, televisão)
Europe's principal newspapers, including most British dailies, and the International Herald Tribune, are available on the day of publication at many newsagents and hotels. Popular foreign magazines are also sold at the same shops or stands. The most important Portuguese-language daily is Diário de Notîcias, which contains cultural listings.
Free listings publications, such as Follow Me Lisboa, Agenda Cultural Lisboa and Tips, are widely available. Portugal News, an English-language weekly published in the Algarve, covers stories from around the country (www.theportugalnews.com).
Four television channels are widely available in Portugal: two are government-run and two are independent. Foreign films, whether made-for-TV or original cinematic productions, are usually shown in the original language with subtitles. Most hotels have access to satellite TV. The government operates four radio channels.
Money (dinheiro)
Currency(moeda). The euro (€) is the official currency used in Portugal. Notes are denominated in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros; coins in 1 and 2 euros and 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents (centimos).
Currency exchange(banco, câmbio). Normal banking hours are Mon–Fri 8.30am–3pm. There is a 24-hour exchange office at the airport.
Credit cards (cartão de crédito). International credit cards are widely accepted. However, in some shops and restaurants, especially in small towns outside Lisbon, you may not be able to use a credit card. Police fines cannot be paid by credit card.
Tax refunds. For non-EU residents, the IVA tax (VAT) imposed on most goods can be refunded on purchases of at least €49.88 in a single store. Look for the blue-and-white tax-free sign in stores. To obtain the rebate, fill in a form provided by the shop where you purchase the goods. One copy is kept by the shop; the others must be presented at customs upon departure. The refund can be credited to your credit card at the airport or posted to your home address after your return.
Can I pay with this credit card? Posso pagar com cartão de crédito?
I want to change some pounds/dollars. Queria trocar libras/dólares.
Can you cash a traveller's cheque? Pode pagar um cheque de viagem?
O
Opening Hours (horas de abertura)
Banks open 8.30am–3pm. The majority of shops and offices open 9/10am–1pm and 3–7pm weekdays, and Sat 9am–1pm. Most museums are closed on Mon and public holidays (the tourist office has a full list of those open on Mon); palaces are closed on either Mon or Tue. On every other day (including Sun) they are open 10/11am–5pm, but many close noon–2pm or 1–2.30pm. A number of shopping centres around Lisbon and the suburbs have extended opening hours, closing at 10pm or midnight, including Sun.
P
Police (policia; see also CRIME AND SAFETY and EMERGENCIES)
The Portuguese national police, identified by their blue uniforms, are generally helpful and friendly, and often speak a little English. Policemen assigned to traffic duty wear red armbands with a silver letter ‘T’ (for Trânsito, or traffic) on a red background, a white helmet and white gloves.
On highways, traffic is controlled by the Guarda Nacional Republicana (GNR) in white-and-red or white-and-blue cars, or on motorcycles. Occasionally they make spot-checks on documents or tyres, and can issue on-the-spot fines, payable in cash only.
Lisbon's police headquarters are in Largo Penha de França 1, 2nd floor, tel: 218 111 000. Call the tourist police on tel: 213 421 623. The emergency number is 112.
Where's the nearest police station? Onde fica o posto de polícia mais próximo?
Post Offices (correios)
The mail service is efficient, with British-style red pillar boxes. Local post offices are open Mon–Fri 9am–6pm. Major branch offices also operate on Sat until noon. A 24-hour office can be found at the airport. Lisbon's main post office is in Praça dos Restauradores (opposite the tourist office). You can purchase stamps from some tobacconists and kiosks, and at post offices.
A stamp for this letter/postcard, please. Um selo para esta carta/este postal, por favor.
Public Holidays (feriado)
1 January Ano Novo New Year's Day
25 April Dia da Liberdade 1974 Revolution Day
1 May Dia do Trabalhador May Day
10 June Dia de Camões Camões's Day
15 August Assunção The Assumption
5 October Implantaçao da República Republic Day
1 November Todos-os-Santos All Saints’ Day
1 December Dia da Independência Independence Day
8 December Imaculada Conceição Immaculate Conception
25 December Natal Christmas Day
Moveable dates
Carnaval (Shrove Tuesday/Carnival), Sexta-feira Santa (Good Friday) and Corpo de Deus (Corpus Christi).
Local holidays
Lisbon, Estoril and Cascais have a local holiday on 13 June in honour of St Anthony (Santo António). Sintra has a holiday on 29 June (São Pedro).
R
Religion
The Portuguese are predominantly Roman Catholic, a fact reflected in surviving religious rituals and saints’ days that are public holidays. The shrine at Fátima is one of the most important pilgrimages in Catholicism. The tourist information office has a list of services for English-speaking Catholics as well as other services. Dress modestly when visiting religious sites.
T
Telephones (telefones)
Portugal's country code is 351. The local area code – 21 in the case of Lisbon and the Estoril Coast, including Sintra – must be dialled before all phone numbers, including local calls (nine digits in total).
Most Portugal public telephones (PT Comunicações) accept pre-paid telephone cards which are found throughout the city. Telephone cards can be purchased at kiosks and newsagents in various denominations. Most phone boxes also accept credit cards, an inexpensive and easy way of making any call. Local, national and international calls made from hotels almost always carry an exorbitant surcharge. Use an international calling card if you must call from your hotel room.
The cheapest way to call is usually via Skype, either via your Smartphone or laptop in a place with Wi-fi, or at a local internet point. Portugal is on the GSM 900/1800 network, compatible with Europe, Australia and much of Asia.
Dialling internationally is straightforward: dial 00 for an international line (both Europe and overseas) plus the country code (UK 44, US 1) plus the phone number (including the area code, without the initial ‘0’ where there is one).
Time Zones (hora local)
Portugal, being at the western edge of Europe, maintains Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), along with the UK, and is therefore one hour behind the rest of the EU. From the last Sunday in March until the last Sun in October, the clocks are moved one hour ahead for summer time, GMT + 1.
In summer the chart looks like this:
Tipping (serviço, gorjeta)
Hotel and restaurant bills are generally all-inclusive, but an additional tip of 5–10 percent is common.
Hotel porters generally receive around €0.50–1 for each bag that they carry, while hairdressers and taxi drivers are normally tipped about 10 percent and tour guides 10–15 percent. Toilet attendants should be tipped about €0.25 and your hotel room cleaner should be given around an extra €0.50 per day.
Toilets (lavabo, quarto de banho, serviços)
Public toilets can be found in many public places, including stations, museums and large stores. Toilets are marked Senhoras (ladies) and Homens (men).
Where are the toilets? Onde é o lavabo/quarto de banho?
Tourist Information (informação turística)
Portuguese National Tourist Offices (ICEP, or Investimentos, Comércio e Turismo de Portugal; www.turismodeportugal.pt) are maintained in many countries, including the following:
Ireland: 54 Dawson Street, Dublin, tel: 353 1670 9133, www.portugalglobal.pt.
UK: Portuguese National Tourist Office, 11 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PP, tel: 020 7201 6666, 0845 355 1212, www.visitportugal.com.
US: Portuguese National Tourist Office, 590 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10036, tel: 1 646 723 02 00, www.portugalglobal.pt.
The main tourist information office for the city is the Lisboa Welcome Centre, Rua do Arsenal 15, in Praça do Comércio, tel: 210-312 700. There is also a tourist office for the city as well as for the country in the Palácio Foz, on the west side of Praça dos Restauradores, tel: 213 463 314; also at the Airport Arrivals Terminal (tel: 218 450 660) and at Santa Apolónia station (tel: 218 821 606). A useful tourist information helpline is available on tel: 800 209 209.
Where is the tourist office? Onde é o turismo?
Transport (transporte)
Local buses. You can get a free map of the entire transit system at tourist information offices, or at information posts of Carris, the transport authority, which are dotted all over the city. They also sell economical 1-day passes (bilhete/passe turístico), which can be used on buses, trams and the Metro, tel: 213 613 000. Pay the driver or show him your prepaid ticket before validating it in the clipping machine.
Trams. Tram stops are indicated by large signs marked paragem (stop). The Carris bus map shows tram routes as well. The most popular tourist tram is the No. 28, which goes from Bairro Alto to Alfama and the castle. Most trams are entered at the front, where you buy a ticket from the driver. On funiculars you pay at the door.
Metro. Lisbon's underground Metropolitano (www.metrolisboa.pt) has four colour-coded lines. The red line now runs all the way to the airport. The cheapest way to travel is to buy an electronic Viva Viagem card (€0.50), available at station vending machines and ticket offices, which you then charge up as you go. You can also charge it for a 24-hour session, which costs €5, and is valid for unlimited journeys on the Metro and Carris networks (the latter includes funiculars such as the Elevador de Santa Justa). Children under 4 travel free on the Metro.
How much is a ticket to…? Quanto é o bilhete para …?
Will you tell me when to get off? Pode dizer-me quando devo descer?
Where's the nearest bus/tram stop? Onde fica a mais próxima paragem dos autocarros/eléctricos?
Where can I get a taxi? Onde posso encontrar um táxi?
What's the fare to…? Quanto custa o percurso até …?
Trains. Lisbon has four railway stations. The main ones for national and international travel are Santa Apolónia (reached by bus 9 or 9A from Avenida da Liberdade) and Estação do Oriente (Oriente Metro). Commuter trains for the western suburbs, Estoril and Cascais depart from Cais do Sodré, on the waterfront, while trains for Sintra and the west depart from Rossio station.
Taxis(táxi). Lisbon's metered taxis, often Mercedes, are beige, and indicated by a sign reading TAXI. In rural areas, cars marked ‘A’ (meaning aluguer, ‘for hire’) operate as taxis without meters. The fare is shown on the meter – check that it's running. Drivers add 20 percent from 9pm to 6am and extra if you have over 30kg (66lb) of baggage. To request a taxi, tel: 218 119 000, 217 932 756 or 218 111 100.
Ferries. The two main ferry stations for the River Tagus's southern shore are Estação Fluvial Terreiro do Paço for Barreiro, and Cais do Sodré for Cacilhas, Montijo and Seixal.
Inter-city buses. Lisbon's bus terminals serve different parts of the country. Ask for information about bus routes at the tourist office in Praça dos Restauradores.
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Visas and Entry Requirements
You need a valid passport for a visit to Portugal. EU tourists may stay for up to 90 days; for longer stays they need to apply for a permit. US, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand tourists may also stay for up to 90 days without a visa. All other foreign nationals must apply for a visa.
Currency restrictions. If you are travelling to or from a country outside the European Union you must declare if you are carrying over €10,000 in cash (or the equivalent in other currencies).
Customs. If you are a non-EU resident, you may be able to reclaim VAT on some items bought within Portugal – look out for shops with the sign ‘Tax Free Shopping’ in the window. The minimum spend is €61,35. You will need to complete a form and present it when you are leaving the country, along with the purchased goods. There are no duty-free allowances for EU citizens travelling within the EU.
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Websites and Internet Access
The most useful websites are:
www.visitlisboa.com The Welcome Centre city tourist office
www.visitportugal.com The official Portuguese tourism site
www.portugal.com Travel and tourism site
www.portugalvirtual.pt General information and accommodation
www.tap.pt TAP/Air Portugal, the national airline
www.cp.pt Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses, the railway network
www.pousadas.pt For the government-owned pousadas
The Welcome Centre in Praça do Comércio has internet facilities and can give information on other (ciber) cafés all over the city.
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Youth Hostels
It is best to join Hostelling International before you depart (www.hihostels.com), but you can join up on arrival. The headquarters of the Portuguese Youth Hostel Association (Associação Portuguesa de Pousadas de Juventude) are at Rua Lúcio de Azevedo 27, Lisbon; tel: 217 232 100; reservations tel: 707 203 030; www.pousadasjuventude.pt.
They run hostels in central Lisbon at Rua Andrade Corvo 46 (Metro: Picoas), tel: 213 532 696, dorm beds cost €15–18 and doubles €43–46. in the Parque das Nações at Rua de Moscavide Lt 47–101 (Metro: Oriente), tel: 218 920 890, dorm beds cost €13–16 and doubles €34–40, and in Almada, across the Tagus, at Quinta do Bucelinho, tel: 212 943 491, dorm beds cost €13–16 and doubles €38–42.