A
Admission charges
Portugal’s museums and galleries are relatively inexpensive, ranging from around €3–10 for an adult ticket. Over-65s and students generally pay half price upon proof of identification. You can expect to pay in the region of €15–30 for entrance to theme parks and water parks. Both Lisbon and Porto offer discount cards: the Lisboa Card (www.lisboacard.org) and the Porto Card (www.visitporto.travel/Visitar/Paginas/default.aspx), which offer substantial discounts on multi-sights and unlimited travel on public transport. For more information, check the respective tourist offices.
Accommodation
Accommodation ranges from 5-star luxury hotels with fantastic facilities to basic private rooms for rent, or from boutique, charming converted mansions, to glamping-style yurts in the middle of the North Portugal countryside. Hotels in Portugal offer great value when compared with places elsewhere in Europe. This is particularly the case at the luxury end of the market.
Pousadas and manor houses
It’s well worth trying to stay in some pousadas while you are in Portugal, as these are a speciality of the country, the like of which you won’t find elsewhere. Pousadas are national inns in architecturally special buildings, which provide stylish and comfortable accommodation, usually in great settings. They are to be found in most parts of the country, some in historic castles, some in converted convents or grand country houses, and the majority serve excellent regional food. For reservations, contact the pousadas directly or call the central number (tel: 218 442 001; www.pousadas.pt or check www.pousadasofportugal.com). For self-catering countryside villas, try Casas no Campo, www.casasnocampo.net.
Guesthouses
Portugal has some very charming, modest guesthouses. These often have a lot of local character, and are well located, but are well kept and appealing. Bed and breakfasts in private homes are designated by an official TER symbol on a metal plaque and the logo of the State Tourist Office (Direcção-Geral do Turismo); there are three categories:
TH Turismo de Habitação: in houses of architectural merit.
TR Turismo Rural: characteristic rural houses.
AT Agroturismo: houses forming part of a farm estate.
Hotels
Hotels in Portugal come in several guises:
Hotels offer amenities such as restaurants and room service. All rooms have bathrooms..
Albergarias are essentially hotels offering 4-star comfort and meals.
Estalagems are very similar but may be 4- or 5-star.
Residencials have star gradings and are like small hotels but generally do bed and breakfast only. They usually have an “R” on a sign outside.
Pensãos are more basic, and again do bed and breakfast only. You can find 4-star pensãos, but the majority offer fewer comforts than that.
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Budgeting for your trip
Portugal remains one of the cheapest countries in southern Europe for tourists. Some average costs are:
A beer: €1.50–3
A glass of house wine: €1.50
Main course at a budget/moderate/expensive restaurant: €8/€10/€20
Double room in a cheap/moderate/deluxe hotel: €50/€80/€100–200
Taxi journey from Lisbon airport to the centre: €15
Single bus ticket or metro ticket: €1.40
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Children
Like its neighbour, Spain, Portugal is a seriously child-friendly country. Children are made welcome just about everywhere, including hotels, restaurants and bars. There are plenty of kiddie-geared activities on offer, as well, particularly in Algarve, with water parks, boat trips and beaches. Watch the strength of the sun in summer, however, and always ensure your child is wearing a hat and plenty of sunblock. Most hotels can supply a cot if notified in advance, and babysitting is generally provided at 4- and 5-star hotels. Otherwise, tourist offices may be able to recommend babysitting services. Children’s meals are not always available, but most restaurants are happy to provide a smaller portion. On public transport, children under five travel free while 5- to 11-year-olds pay half fare (on trains only; full fare on Metro and buses).
Climate
Spring and summer are the best times of year to visit Portugal. Southernmost Algarve enjoys mild winters with many fine sunny days. Sheltered, south-facing beaches provide ideal sun traps, which allow sunbathing throughout the year. Evenings might have a chill in the air but the weather is kind enough to attract a significant number of tourists, and Algarve is especially popular for long-stay holidays.
Around Lisbon, winters are mild with an unpredictable mixture of sunny and showery days, while in the northern and central regions winters are rainy, and while not freezing, are surprisingly chilly. In the mountains it’s even colder, and variable snow falls on the Serra da Estrela and mountains to the north and east between November and February (sometimes enough for ski enthusiasts, although conditions are far from ideal). Winters are short, beginning in November or December and ending in February or March.
Generally, the weather starts getting warm in May and June throughout the country, and usually stays warm to very hot until September.
Along the western coast, the Atlantic tends to be cool (22°C/72°F) until July. The southern coast warms up earlier.
Summers are generally hot throughout the country with endless days of sunshine. The north enjoys the same high temperatures as the rest of the country, although there is always the risk of more rainy days. Some inland areas experience extremely high temperatures in summer – Alentejo in the south and the Upper Douro in the north often top 40°C (104°F) for long periods. Algarve in contrast tends to be moderately hot in summer (31°C/88°F), enjoying the benefit of cooling westerlies.
Customs regulations
You can bring currency up to €10,000 into the country without declaration. The duty-free allowance for travellers over 17 years of age from non EU countries is 200 cigarettes and 1 litre of spirits or 4 litres of wine. EU residents can bring in 800 cigarettes, plus 10 litres of spirits, 20 litres of fortified wine, 60 litres of sparkling wine, 90 litres of still wine or 110 litres of beer.
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Disabled travellers
Portugal is gradually catering more to travellers with disabilities and there is a handful of organisations that may be able to advise you further. Accessible Portugal (Rua Jorge Barradas, 50 – 4º F,
Lisbon, tel: 926 910 989, www.accessibleportugal.com) offers a wide choice of itineraries, including city breaks, overnight trips, accommodation and tours. They speak English. Ourico do Mar (tel: 289 414 687; www.ouricodomar.com) offer wheelchair-accessible holiday accommodation, with wheelchair-accessible transport on the Algarve. Newer and larger hotels generally have disabled-accessible rooms and adapted toilets, and museums and major sights are gradually providing ramped access.
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Electricity
Mains voltage is 220V, which is fine with equipment intended for 240V. Plugs are the European two round-pin variety. Adaptors are sold at airports, hardware stores and supermarkets.
Embassies
Embassies are listed in phone books (under Consulado or Embaixada). Most are in Lisbon, Porto or Faro.
Embassies in Lisbon:
Australia
Avenida da Liberdade, 200, 2°
Tel: 213 101 500
Canada
Avenida da Liberdade, 198-200, 3°
Tel: 213 164 600.
Republic of Ireland
Avenida da Liberdade, No. 200, 4°
Tel: 213 308 200.
South Africa
Avenida Luís Bivar, 10/10 A
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
To contact the emergency service (police, ambulance or fire) dial 112 (toll-free). Most operators speak at least two foreign languages, usually including English.
Entry requirements
Visas & Passports
European Union nationals may enter Portugal with only a national identity card. Citizens of Great Britain and Australia need only a valid passport for a three-month stay. The same applies to Americans and Canadians staying for less than 90 days.
All other non-EU visitors must show a valid passport when entering Portugal, and this will be stamped with a tourist visa valid for up to 90 days. No one with a tourist visa is permitted to work.
Bureaucracy is a serious problem, so you should apply for an extension at least one week before your time runs out.
Visas or extended-stay visas can be obtained at any Portuguese consulate abroad, or contact the Serviço de Estrangeiros (Foreigners’ Service) at Avenida António Augusto de Aguiar, 20, tel: 213 585 500, Mon–Fri 8.30am–4.30pm, www.sef.pt.
The British office that deals with extensions to visas is at the Portuguese Consulate, 3 Portland Place, London W1B 3HR, tel: 020-7291 3770.
Etiquette
The Portuguese are usually courteous and hospitable. Taking a short while to learn and use the language basics will serve you well ( for more information, click here).
If you are invited to someone’s house, it is polite to bring flowers for the hostess or a small toy or sweets if there are young children.
There are always orderly queues at bus stops. Be certain to respect them.
For some reason, stretching in public (on the street or at the table) is considered rude. Otherwise, use common sense and a smile and you shouldn’t go far wrong.
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Festivals and holidays
January
1 January: New Year’s Day (national holiday).
20 January: Festa das Fogaceiras in Santa Maria da Feira – young girls in traditional dress carrying castle-shaped fogaças cakes on their heads.
February
February/March (depending on date of Easter): Carnaval celebrated all over Portugal, but especially in Lisbon, Loulé, Nazaré and Viana do Castelo.
March
Late March/early April (week preceding Easter): Semana Santa (Holy Week). Celebrated nationwide, with local variations such as Senhor Ecce Homo festival in Braga featuring barefoot, torch-bearing, hooded penitents.
April
25 April: Dia da Liberdade (Liberty Day) celebrates the 1974 revolution.
Late April: Ovibeja Agricultural Fair. Nine-day Beja fair, nightly concerts.
May
1 May: Labour Day
2–3 May: Feira das Cantarinhas. Fair of traditional handicrafts in Bragança.
Early May: Queima das Fitas, Coimbra. Local students go mad with parades, fado and the burning of gowns.
Early May: Festa das Cruzes. Festival of the Crosses in Barcelos, with concerts nightly.
13 May: Fátima Romaris. Celebrates the vision of the Virgin at Fátima.
Rock in Rio, Lisbon. Huge rock festival.
June
10 June: Portugal Day.
13 June: Festa de Santo António.
Celebrated all over the country, but especially in Lisbon.
Mid-June: Corpus Christi celebrations, Monçao. A procession and a battle between the forces of good and evil.
23–4 June: Festa de São Joao (John the Baptist), celebrated especially in Porto, Aveiro and Braga. In Porto large parties are held where people are hit over the head with inflatable mallets.
29 June: Festa de Sao Pedro (St Peter). Music, dancing and processions.
Late June: Feira Nacional da Agricultura, Santarém. Features horse racing, bullfights and bull-running in the streets.
Late June: Festa de São Gonçalo, Amarante. A large procession with single people exchanging phallic-shaped cakes as love tokens.
Late June: Festas Populares. Huge Alentejo country fair in Évora.
July
First weekend of the month, every four years, 2015, 2019 etc: Festa do Colete Encanado, Vila Franca de Xira, has bull-running in the streets; and Festa dos Tabuleiros, Tomar, showcases a procession of girls dressed in white, balancing large trays of bread and wheat on their heads.
Mid-July: Festival Marés Vivas. Cool music festival in Porto.
August
Early August: Festival do Sudoeste, Zamujeira do Mar. Large music festival with hip international stars.
Mid-August: Festival do Marisco, Olão. Celebration of shellfish.
15 August: Feast of the Assumption.
20 August: Romaria da Nossa Senhora da Agonía (Our Lady of Sorrows), Viana do Castelo. Parade of floats, music, fireworks and lots of drinking.
Mid-August to 21 September: Feira de São Mateus, Viseu. An agricultural fair featuring bullfights, fado and folk dancing.
Late August: Folkfaro, Faro, Algarve. Lots of live music.
September
8 September: Nossa Senhora da Nazaré, Estremadura. Folk dances, bullfights and processions.
Late September: Feiras Novas, Ponte de Lima, the Minho. Huge market and fair.
October
5 October: Republic Day.
13 October: Fátima Romaris, Fátima. Celebrates the vision of the Virgin; similar to the May festival.
Late October: Feira de Santa Iria, Faro, Algarve. Honouring St Irene with music and a fun fair.
November
1 November: All Saints’ Day.
December
1 December: Independence Day.
8 December: Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
25 December: Christmas Day.
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Gay and lesbian travellers
In a country heavily influenced by the Catholic Church, attitudes towards gays are not as tolerant as elsewhere 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. In certain enclaves of the Algarve, such as “the Strip” in Albufeira, gay visitors will find accommodating bars and restaurants.
The website www.portugalgay.pt contains a travel guide with information in English and other languages.
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Health and medical care
Portugal enjoys a healthy climate and no vaccinations are necessary. Bring enough prescription medication to last through your stay, if only to avoid confusion with brand names and/or language. Although the Portuguese health service has reciprocal emergency-treatment arrangements with other EU countries (take your EHIC card, available online at www.ehic.org.uk and from main post offices), it is advisable to have additional health insurance, as well as insurance against loss, theft, etc.
All narcotics and illegal drugs are banned and customs keep a close watch.
There are no special health precautions. Beware of sunburn, especially on misty days when the combination of a cool breeze and filtered sunshine can cause serious burning. Use sunscreen (bring it from home as it is much more expensive in Portugal), and wear a hat if the sun is fierce.
Tap water is generally safe but sometimes not very palatable, so it is best to use bottled water (água mineral).
Insect bites (usually by mosquitoes) can be a problem in the summer, so bring repellents. In the countryside, snakes are not uncommon but they are rarely a problem: apart from one species of viper in the north, other venomous snakes have fangs at the back of their mouths, so even if they were to strike, it is unlikely to do you any major harm. There is no rabies in Portugal.
Useful numbers
Ambulance Tel: 112 (emergency number)
INEM (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica; www.inem.pt)
Tel: 213 508 100 (Lisbon)
Portuguese Red Cross
Tel: 213 913 900
Linha Vida (for information on drug use and abuse)
Tel: 1414
Chemists
When closed, all chemists (farmácias) have a list on their doors highlighting the nearest one that is open. Newspapers also publish a list of chemists that stay open late.
Hospitals
Every town has a centro de saúde (health centre), some with 24-hour emergency service.
Lisbon
There are half a dozen large hospitals in Lisbon. The following have accident and emergency departments:
Hospital Cruz Vermelha, Rua Duarte Galvão, 54 (situated behind the zoo), tel: 217 714 000; www.hospitalcruzvermelha.pt.
Hospital de Santa Maria, Avenida Prof. Egas Moniz (in the Cidade Universitária area not far from Sete Rios), tel: 217 805 000 for general enquiries or 217 805 111 for emergencies; www.chlc.min-saude.pt.
Hospital São Jose, Rua José A. Serrano, tel: 218 841 000; www.chlc.min-saude.pt.
The British Hospital, Rua Tomas da Fonseca, Torres de Lisboa, tel: 217 213 400 or 800 271 271 (free line); www.british-hospital.pt; or Rua Saraiva de Carvalho, 49 (overlooking the British cemetery near the Jardim de Estrela), tel: 213 943 100. No casualty department, but takes outpatients and may be able to help as all staff speak English.
Porto
Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Largo Prof. Abel Salazar, tel: 222 077 500.
Private clinics
Lisbon
Clinica de Santo António, Avenida Hospitais Civis Lisboa, 8, Reboleira, 2720 Amadora, tel: 214 999 300; www.clisa.pt.
Porto
Hospital da Ordem Trindade, 65 Rua Da Trindade, tel: 222 075 900; www.ordemtrindade.pt.
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Internet
Wi-fi is increasingly available in mid-range to top-end hotels. There will generally be at least one internet terminal for guests’ free use as well. Wi-fi zones are also on the increase in the larger towns and cities. Internet cafés come and go, but there are generally a healthy number, again in the larger cities. Expect to pay around €2–3 an hour. Public libraries generally provide free internet access, as do post offices, many of which have NetPost terminals, where you pay with a special card.
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Media
Newspapers & magazines
Portugal has several daily newspapers, two of which are dedicated solely to football!
The principal general newspapers are now published in both Lisbon and Porto and tend to have a regional bias, as indicated: Diário de Noticías (Lisbon), Jornal de Noticías (Porto), Público (Lisbon and Porto) and Diário Económico (Lisbon and Porto).
Weeklies include the Expresso (up to Sunday Times/Observer standard).
The Anglo-Portuguese News (http://lisbon.angloinfo.com) is a website including news and listings and The Portugal News (www.theportugalnews.com) likewise provides local and international news, plus listings and classifieds. In the Algarve, The Resident (http://portugalresident.com) is a popular weekly English newspaper primarily aimed at the local expat community.
Television
RTP, the state-owned corporation, operates several national television channels (Rtp 1, Rtp 2, Rtp3 news channel and Rtp Memória), two regional stations and one international (rtp Madeira, rtp Azores, rtp Internacional). There are also two commercial stations (SIC and TVI).
Films are transmitted in the language of origin, with subtitles, as are many serials and documentaries. There is a high content of soap operas (many Brazilian) and quiz shows.
Most hotels have satellite/cable TV, which will include Sky News, Eurosport, CNN and CNBC.
Radio
There are four national and five regional RDP (state-owned) radio stations as well as more than 300 local radio stations. Among them are Antenna 1, which broadcasts popular music and news, and Antenna 2, a classical music station. Meanwhile, Antenna 3 plays contemporary and alternative music. There are also commercial radio stations, among them TSF and RR, which offer a similar mix of news and popular music.
Money matters
Currency
The euro is the national currency of Portugal. It is divided into 100 cêntimos (cents) which is the basic unit of currency. The smallest coin is the 1 cêntimo piece; and the largest is the 2 euro coin. Notes go from 5 to 500 euros. The symbol for the euro is € and is written before the figure, eg €7.50 is 7 euros 50 cêntimos.
Exchange
While you may want to buy a small amount of euros before you leave home, you will get a better exchange rate if you wait until you are in Portugal. Once you have bought euros, however, it may be costly to re-exchange them for foreign currency. The most economical policy is to change money as you require it.
Money is best changed at banks, rather than at hotels or travel agencies. Outside normal banking hours, ATMs (cash machines), usually called Multibanco, are widely available and there are currency exchanges at Lisbon’s Santa Apolónia railway station as well as at the airports. Major credit cards are accepted. atms taking all the major cards, including credit cards, are widespread throughout the country.
Exchanging money at a bank or cashpoint works out far cheaper than paying the higher rate of commission on traveller’s cheques.
Traveller’s cheques and credit cards
Traveller’s cheques are accepted in all banks, although, as already mentioned, the commission charge is higher than for changing cash. It is best not to use them in stores, where, if they are accepted at all, you will be charged at a disadvantageous rate. Major credit cards can be used in most hotels, restaurants and shops, but check in advance to avoid embarrassment. Country restaurants and pensãos may only accept cash.
Tipping
A tip of 5–10 percent is sufficient in restaurants and for taxi drivers. Barbers and hairdressers expect to receive the same.
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Nightlife
Portugal’s nightlife is liveliest in Lisbon, and Lisbon’s nightlife – from fado to great bars and discos – throbs in three main areas: in the picturesque district of Bairro Alto, a tightly knit grid where tiny bars spill into the streets, providing a party atmosphere; in the Cais do Sodré area behind the Avenida 24 de Julho; and around the reclaimed dockside at Alcântara.
Look out, too, for events in the Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian and the Centro Cultural de Belém (www.ccb.pt). The Coliseu dos Recreios (www.coliseulisboa.com) in Rua das Portas de Santo Antão is the main venue for popular music performances. Major theatrical events are staged in the Teatro Nacional Dona Maria II (www.teatro-dmaria.pt) in Rossio Square and in the Casino-Auditorio (http://www.casino-estoril.pt) in Estoril. The Teatro Camões in the Parque das Nações (www.cnb.pt) is the main home of La Companhia Nacional de Bailado, the national ballet company.
The Teatro Nacional São Carlos (http://tnsc.pt/) in Chiado is the city’s opera house, which has a winter season. The São Luís Teatro Municipal (http://www.teatrosaoluiz.pt) is the capital’s principal classical music venue, but look out for concerts in romantic settings, such as the São Roque church, and at Sintra and the palace at Mafra.
Tickets for many events can be obtained from the fifth floor of the Fnac department store in Chiado.
The Orquestra Nacional do Porto is a major national orchestra, and Porto has a prime classical music venue in the striking Casa da Música (www.casadamusica.com) as well as the Auditório Nacional Carlos Alberta (www.tnsj.pt); and popular music is staged at the Coliseu de Porto (www.coliseu.pt).
The Orquestra do Algarve (www.orquestradoalgarve.com) holds concerts throughout the year and there are a number of festivals along the coast. Loulé has a renowned jazz festival.
There are a number of music festivals around the country throughout the summer, including the Festival do Sudoeste in the Alentejo and the Rock in Rio in Lisbon.
Any town or village is lively until late on the night of a festival but at other times of the year the tourist towns and resorts in Algarve are among the few places to keep late hours; here summer visitors like to stay up until the early hours. Lagos, especially, is a fun party town.
For a list of what’s going on where, look for one of the many free listings magazines, such as Agenda Cultural Lisboa, a free monthly magazine which is available at the airport and tourist centres. Even if you can’t read Portuguese, the listings are comprehensible.
Music
Although Portugal’s nightlife usually comes to an end fairly early, music, in fado houses, concert halls and nightclubs alike, tends to start fairly late, around 10pm.
The Portuguese musical tradition is much broader than simply fado. Folk music, very different from fado, is surprisingly vibrant in Portugal, as is jazz. There are several Lisbon nightclubs devoted only to African music, which are the places to go to hear the latest in African-influenced sounds.
World music
In Portugal you can hear local music played on unusual instruments and rooted in deep traditions, and you can hear world music, brought in from the former colonies in Africa and Latin America.
Festas have kept alive local folk groups, which show no signs of dying out, and modern musicians often turn to these roots for inspiration, from the Arabic-inspired songs of Alentejo to the bagpipe wails of Trás-os-Montes. There is a rich variety of instruments, notably the guitarra portuguesa, a 12-string instrument that has several versions, and the four-string cavaquinho, the ancestor of the ukelele. There is also a strong a capella tradition, and you may hear student groups break into song in the streets of Porto or Coimbra.
Brazilian music has come to the fore in recent years, and Portugal is a good place to hear it. You can also seek out venues with music from Africa, or from Cabo Verde, a small Atlantic island and former colony with a disproportionate number of talented singers, such as Cesaria Évora.
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Opening hours
Most stores open for business Monday–Friday 9 or 10am–7pm with some taking a lunch break 1–3pm) Saturday 9am–1pm, and are closed Sunday and holidays. Some shops in central Lisbon are open on Saturday afternoon and some malls and supermarkets are open on Sunday and all day during the week.
Major banks are open Monday–Friday 8.30am–3pm.
Museums usually open 10am–6pm, and are closed on Mondays or Tuesdays.
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Postal services
Postal services, both international and domestic, are generally reliable and efficient. Allow five days for delivery within Europe. For next-day delivery within Portugal, use correio azul, an internal express service.
The post office also provides services such as express mail (expresso), postal money orders (vales), general delivery (poste restante), registered mail (registos), insurance on packages (seguro), and telephone and scanning services.
Post offices are open Monday–Friday 9am–6pm; smaller branches close for lunch from 12.30–2.30pm. In district capitals, the main branch is usually open on Saturday morning. Mail is delivered Monday to Friday.
To buy stamps, stand in any queue marked selos (stamps). To mail or receive packages, you need to go to the queue marked encomendas.
Be certain to write Via Aérea on all airmail items. To send large parcels home, if speed is not important, consider the less expensive alternative of surface mail. For details visit www.ctt.pt.
Public holidays
1 January New Year’s Day
February Shrove Tuesday
March/April Good Friday
25 April Anniversary of the Revolution (1974)
1 May Labour Day
10 June Portugal and Camões Day
early/mid-June Corpus Christi
15 August Day of the Assumption
5 October Republic Day
1 November All Saints’ Day
1 December Restoration of Independence
8 December Day of the Immaculate Conception
25 December Christmas Day
Local municipal holidays are as follows:
Aveiro – 12 May
Beja – 17 May
Braga – 24 June
Bragança – 22 August
Castelo Branco – 24 April
Coimbra – 4 July
Évora – 29 June
Faro – 7 September
Guarda – 27 November
Leiria – 22 May
Lisbon – 13 June
Porto – 24 June
Portalegre – 23 May
Santarém – 19 March
Setúbal – 15 September
Viana do Castelo – 20 August
Vila Real – 13 June
Viseu – 21 September
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Religious services
Portugal is a Catholic country with around half of the more traditional north’s population attending Sunday Mass (fewer in Lisbon and the south of the country). Many of the country’s festivals have their roots in religion and Fátima attracts some 300,000 pilgrims every May and October, the most important months on this site’s calendar. Although around 80 percent of the population is Catholic, the Portuguese are, overall, very tolerant of other religions.
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Security and crime
Portugal has a well-deserved reputation for non-violence, and crime rates are low. However,petty theft and muggings can be a problem in some of the more run-down areas of Lisbon and Porto, close to some of the larger shopping centres, and some of the major resorts. Foreign-registered cars or cars obviously rented may be targets for thieves if left unattended in out-of-the-way locations.
Use your common sense and the usual degree of attention, and, as in most places, take special care walking around late at night in resorts and in the larger cities.
Stolen property
In the event of theft, report it to the police within 24 hours to reclaim insurance. In Lisbon the main Policia de Segurança Pública (PSP, tel: 213 421 623; www.psp.pt) station dealing with foreigners who have been robbed is at the Palacio Foz, in the Praça Restauradores.
Lost property
All lost property on buses and trams or given to the Lisbon police ends up being dealt with at Olivais police station, Praça Cidade Salazar (Mon–Fri 9am–12.30pm and 2–4pm). You will need to wait 24 hours before trying to reclaim your property, tel: 21 853 5403. At the airport, you can enquire about your lost property by calling tel: 218 444 530. There is also a lost and found official website (https://perdidoseachados.mai.gov.pt/SIISPA2013/default.aspx) but only in Portuguese.
Shopping
What to buy
Portuguese handicrafts range from hand-carved toothpicks to wicker furniture to blankets and rugs. The most famous items are ceramic tiles (azulejos –for more information, click here) and pottery, Arraiolos rugs, embroidery and lace (for more information, click here). The beautiful Vista Alegre porcelain and Atlantis crystal bear comparison with the best in the world.
Pottery Different varieties of ceramic work are produced all over the country; in Alentejo, for example, you will find examples of barro pottery, a simple brown clay, sometimes decorated, sometimes glazed. Decorations on ceramics tend to be paintings of fruit or flowers, or sometimes scenes of rural life. Fine pottery from around Coimbra often carries animal motifs, and looks quite intricate in comparison with the simple Alentejano decorations. Further north, blue-and-white glazed pottery appears.
Rugs Arraiolos rugs, by contrast, come from only one place, the one from which they take their name: Arraiolos, in Alentejo. (They are, however, sold in other parts of the country, especially in Lisbon.) The art of designing and stitching these rugs probably goes back to the Middle Ages.
Sports
Participant sports
The standard of golf courses in Portugal is very high. Those in the Estoril/Sintra area and in Algarve are particularly popular. The following is just a selection of the many clubs around the country. Among useful and comprehensive websites are www.portugalgolfe.com and http://algarvegolf.net.
Water sports
There are few facilities for hiring equipment outside Algarve. In the Lisbon area you will find surfboards and other equipment for hire at the beaches. For sailing, there’s the Cascais Naval Club (www.cncascais.com) Windsurfers head for the long beaches and wild waves at Guincho, farther out. For deep-sea fishing, check with the local tourist office.
In Porto, the Porto Golf Club (tel: 227 342 008) has skin-diving facilities. You can also try the Leça da Palmeira Beach (to the north) for sailing.
In Algarve, all the larger tourist beaches and towns have some facilities. Near Lagos, there are windsurfing and waterskiing facilities at Luz, São Roque (Meia Praia) and Alvor beaches; the latter two also have sailing facilities. Praia da Rocha has sailing, windsurfing and waterskiing facilities; sailing and windsurfing are practised at Armação de Pera, near Albufeira. Vilamoura has extensive water sports facilities, as does Vale do Lobo. The wild coast near Sagres is particularly popular with surfers.
Walking & hiking
The many national parks in central and northern Portugal are ideal for walking and hiking: the Serra da Estrela and Peneda-Gerês and Montesinho National Parks are three of the best. The beaches and cliffs along the Algarve coast are also excellent for walking, as are the hills around Mogadouro in Trás-os-Montes. Various local organisations offer hiking and climbing excursions.
Horse riding
There are stables all around the country where horses can be hired. Algarve in particular has a number of riding centres. Most of the horses you will encounter are at least in part Lusitano, a famous and sure-footed Portuguese breed. Adventure centres in northern Portugal also offer horse riding trips, such as around Campo do Gerês in the Minho.
Spectator sports
Football
Football dominates Portuguese sports life. From the 10-year-olds playing in the street to the hundreds of professional, semi-pro and amateur teams, to the massive coverage the sport is given on TV and in the papers, football in Portugal is inescapable.
The three most important teams in the country are FC Porto, from Porto, Benfica and Sporting, the latter two from Lisbon. Just about everyone in Portugal, no matter where they are from, is a loyal fan of one of the three.
The football season stretches from September or October to July. Tickets for the big three teams are difficult to get, as there are many season-ticket holders. In Lisbon, try the ticket kiosk located in Praça dos Restauradores; elsewhere, try the stadiums themselves. Games are usually held on Sunday afternoon.
Bullfighting
Portuguese bullfighting is different from the Spanish variety. It is considered less violent because the bull is not killed in the ring (however, it is killed later, out of public view). Nonetheless, it is bloody enough to upset the sensibilities of many people. The star Portuguese bullfighters are on horseback, the horses beautifully bedecked and highly trained. A striking aspect of the Portugese corrida is the team of forcados – eight unpaid local men, colourfully dressed in short coats, tight pants, waistbands and stockings – who face the bull bare-handed in an exhibition of pure machismo.
Bullfighting is popular primarily in Ribatejo (just outside Lisbon) and in Lisbon itself. The season runs from spring to autumn. In Lisbon, corridas are held in the Campo Pequeño bullring. There is also a ring in Cascais. The most famous bullfights, however, are held in Santarém and Vila Franca da Xira, northeast of Lisbon (take the train from Santa Apolónia.)
Ribatejo festivals, which are frequent in the summer, almost always feature bullfighting and the freeing of bulls in the streets.
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Telecommunications
All phones are equipped for international calls and most accept coins.
A Portugal Telecom phonecard can be bought at kiosks and many shops. Instructions for using the phone are written in English and other major languages. You can also make calls (international and local) from post offices. Go to the window for a cabin assignment and pay when the call is finished. PT Comunicacãos is the national communication company. Many of the internet cafés in the larger cities also have several telephone booths. In general they can be found near train stations.
Many village stores and bars in Portugal have metered telephones. Phone first, pay later, but be prepared to pay more than the rate for call-box or post-office calls. As elsewhere, calls made from hotels are higher still.
For US phone credit card holders, the major access numbers are:
AT&T: tel: 800 800 128.
Verizon: tel: 800 800 118.
Sprint: tel: 800 813.
Mobile phones
Mobile phone (cellphone) use is widespread, with the main local operators being Vodafone, TMN and Optimus. You can buy a pre-paid SIM card to insert in your GSM mobile phone. You can also buy a pay-as-you-go cheap local phone at the airport or numerous mobile phone shops, which is generally cheaper than renting.
Time zone
GMT (summer time March–October GMT +1); the Azores are 1 hour behind continental Portugal.
Tourist offices
The national tourist office (ICEP) has offices in Lisbon, Porto and at Faro airports. Most towns have Turismo (tourist offices), which are generous with maps and information. Some of the smaller ones close at weekends off season. Regional capitals have separate city and regional offices. Portugal’s official website is www.visitportugal.com.
Aveiro
Rua João Mendonça, 8
Tel: 234 420 760
Azores
Rua Ernesto Rebelo, 14
Horta, Faial
Tel: 292 200 500
Beja
Largo Dr. Lima Faleiro
Tel: 284 311 913
Braga
Avenida da Liberdade, 1
Tel: 253 262 550
Bragança
Avenida Cidade de Zamora
Tel: 273 381 273
Castelo Branco
Avenida Nuno Álvares, 30
Tel: 272 330 339
Coimbra
Casa Aninhas, 3º, Praça 8 de Maio
Tel: 239 857 500
Estoril
Av. Marginal - Arcadas do Parque,
Tel: 214 687 630
Tel: 214 647 570
Évora
Praça do Giraldo, 73
Tel: 266 777 071
Faro City
Rua de Misericórdia, 8
Tel: 289 803 604
Algarve region
Avenida 5 de Outubro
Tel: 289 800 400
Guimarães
Praça de S. Tiago
Tel: 253 421 221
Lagos
Praça Gil Eanes
Tel: 282 763 031
Lisbon
Lisboa Welcome Centre
Rua do Arsenal
Praço do Comercio
Tel: 210 312 700
City and National (ICEP)
Palacio Foz, Praça dos Restauradores
Tel: 213 463 314
Madeira
Avenida Arriaga, Funchal 18
Tel: 291 211 902
Porto City
Rua Clube Fenianos, 25
Tel: 223 393 472
Setúbal
Casa da Baía
Av. Luísa Todi, 468
Tel: 265 545 010
Tomar
Avenida Dr. Cândido Madureira
Tel: 249 329 823
Viana do Castelo
Rua do Hospital Velho
Tel: 258 098 415
Portugese tourist offices abroad
Ireland
Portuguese Trade & Tourism Board, 25/26 Windsor Place, Lower Pembroke Street, Dublin 2
Tel: +353-1-670 91 33/34
Spain
C/Lagasca, 88 - 4º, 28001 Madrid
Tel: +34-91 761 72 30
United Kingdom
11 Belgrave Square, London, SW1X 8PP
Tel: +44 20 7201 6666
United States
590 Fifth Avenue, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036-4785
Tel: +1-646 72 30200
Tours
There are numerous travel and tour companies that offer comprehensive packages. Most are booked via the internet, including the following:
Portugal: www.portugal.com. A wide range of accommodation options, including pousadas, manor houses and rural stays, as well as packages that include sightseeing, including week-long tours of Lisbon and northern Portugal.
Lisboa Sightseeing: www.lisboasightseeing.com. Offers custom-designed tours of the capital, including boat tours, jeep safaris of the surrounding countryside and sightseeing days in Porto.
Affordable Tours: www.affordabletours.com. A US-based company that offers a variety of reasonably priced tours.
Euro Adventures: www.euroadventures.net. A Spanish-based company offering food and wine tours of Portugal and Spain.
Saranjan Tours: www.saranjan.com. Customised tours including a 7-day cooking school, bicycle tours and market and craft fairs tour.
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Weights and measures
Portugal uses the metric system of weights and measures.
Women travellers
Women travelling alone should take the normal precautions, although, overall, the incidences of sexual assault and other forms of violence are low. Bag snatching is more of a problem and women should avoid carrying a bag late at night in quieter areas of the cities. The north of the country tends to be more conservative, and in smaller villages it may be more prudent for unmarried couples to check in under the same name.