Getting Around in Portugal

The cratered roads that wrap around the mountains are unfortunately populated by drivers who love to speed, tailgate, and take the curves in the left lane, blaring their horns. Motorists are five times as likely to be killed in Portugal as in Great Britain. Gas costs about three times the rate of gas in the US. Prices are posted by the liter, which is about a quart. Fuel is readily available 24 hours a day in larger cities, but it's best to fill up before venturing out to villages.

Driving in Lisbon is not difficult if you’re used to big city traffic. Parking, however, is terrible, so don’t rent a car until it's needed, unless there are visitors' parking facilities. Cab fares are often inflated, but can, like anything else, be negotiated down. A minimum fee of 250 escudos per journey is customary.

The Portuguese drive on the right and vehicles must yield to traffic approaching from the right at junctions. The speed limit is 75 mph (120 km) on the Auto-estradas, but speeds of over 90 mph are not uncommon! Seat belts are (fortunately!) compulsory, even when riding in a taxi.

Most major car rental firms have offices at the Lisbon airport; but make rental reservations prior to leaving the United States, especially if an automatic transmission is a requirement. Most rentals have standard (stick shift) transmission and nearly all of them use unleaded gas (sem chumbo).

Highways are very well marked and rest stops are plentiful and very well maintained. They offer everything from full course meals to sandwiches, and some even offer motel-style accommodations. Driving in most Portuguese towns can be challenging without very explicit directions. Visitors may be wise to travel by train or other public transportation whenever possible.

Adventurous tourists can hire sailboats and sail on the River Tagus of Lisbon’s, called the Straw Sea for its golden reflection of the warm light natural to Portugal.

Inside the country, flights are expensive. Several airlines provide daily flights to Porto, Faro (Algarve), Madeira, and the Azores.

Portugal's national railway (known as "CP") operates trains throughout the country. Busses will take you places that trains cannot, and it is often quicker and cheaper to travel by bus than by train. Lisbon' main coach station is at Parque das Nacoes bus terminal, new in 2000. From there, RN (Rodovia Nacional) coaches leave regularly for every part of Portugal. Travelers can take the Metro to the bus station. Travel passes are available for most types of public transportation.

One of the best ways to explore Lisbon's surrounding countryside is by horseback. Horses can be rented at the Quinta da Marinha Riding School in nearby Cascais. Lusitanian purebred horses of Portugal are also used for the Gineta -- famous competitive exercises -- and for hunting or bullfighting, which runs from April to May. One usually thinks of Spain for matadors; but bullfighting is a major sporting event in Portugal. Sensitive spectators are usually relieved to see that the bull is never killed in Portuguese bullfighting.

Money, Mail, and Service Tips

English widely understood in Portugal, except in some of the more remote areas. Natives who don't speak or understand English will make a great effort to find someone who does; and they are very empathetic with visitors who attempt to speak Portuguese, a language similar to French and Spanish, but unique enough to be a rather difficult language to master. Many common phrases are simple and easy to learn.

The Portuguese Tourist Office maintains what is called the Green Line (Linha Verde), a free telephone support system for visitors. The line offers help in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese with hotels, sightseeing, and restaurants.

The unit of currency in Portugal is the escudo. For the past few years, the exchange rate has been 150 to 240 Escudos to the US dollar. The 'Euro' will become the primary currency in 2002. The Euro rate is fixed at 200.482 escudos. Try to have at least $100 US exchanged into escudos before leaving home. Money can be exchanged at the Lisbon airport; but ATM's, which are common in Lisbon, charge only about $3 per transaction. Popular credit cards are accepted at most hotels and stores, and VISA is accepted at gas stations. Hotels will readily exchange traveler's checks.

Post offices or Correios (think mail carriers) are usually located in the center of towns and are open daily from 9 a.m. to 12:30 and again from 2:30 to 6 p.m.

Electricity in Portugal runs on 220 volts AC with a continental round pin plug; so visitors need a converter and a plug adapter set.

Embark on a journey like the mariners old and discover for yourself the romance and riches of a country for which song, prayer, and legend are still written.