Accommodation in rural houses that are located in the countryside and blend in perfectly with the local environment. They are usually run by the owners of the properties, who aim to create a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere suitable for a country holiday.

CLIMATE

The long Atlantic coastline is the factor which has the greatest influence on the country’s climate. In coastal regions it may rain a lot in winter although the temperatures do not drop too much. The exception to this is the Algarve which, despite its Atlantic coastline, faces south and is protected from the north winds by mountains, making it the only region that has pleasant temperatures all year round. The remaining coastal areas tend to have hot or very hot summers, with cool breezes at night. The interior of the country is subject to more extreme conditions, with very cold winters, even in the Alentejo (where it sometimes snows in winter, although this is rare) and hotter summers, even in Trás-os-Montes (where temperatures can rise to 47 degrees). Spring and autumn are good times to visit the country, as the climate is less extreme and it is not so crowded as in July and August. Each season, however, has its own particular beauty throughout the country.

EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES

Your country’s embassy or consulate is best placed to assist you in an emergency. They can advise on medical assistance and help you if you lose your travel documents. The following is a list of some of the embassies and consulates in Portugal:

Australia (213 101 500; Av. da Liberdade, 200 – Lisbon)

Canada (213 164 600; Av. da Liberdade, 196 – Lisbon; 289 803 757; Rua Frei Lourenço de Santa Maria, 1 – Faro)

United States of America (217 273 300; Av. das Forças Armadas – Lisbon; 226 172 384; Rua Marechal Saldanha 454-Porto)

New Zealand (213 509 690; 9 am – 1 pm Monday to Friday. This is the number for the Consul, as there is no Embassy in Portugal and the nearest is in Rome.)

United Kingdom (213 961 191; Rua de S. Bernardo, 33 – Lisbon; 226 184 789, Avenida da Boavista 3072 – Porto)

INTERNET ACCESS

In Portugal more and more places are beginning to offer free Internet access, such as the local branches of the IPJ (Instituto Português da Juventude – Portuguese Youth Institute) or municipal libraries, where access is normally restricted to 30 minutes, although if no one is waiting you are allowed longer. Cybercafés can be found in big cities and some post offices offer netpoints, both of which are paid services. Wireless Internet is now available in many public areas such as airports, hotels, some city parks and some McDonalds restaurants. For a full list of places offering wireless Internet, go to www.wi-fihotspotlist.com.

LANGUAGE

Portuguese is a Latin-based language which has similarities with Castilian Spanish and if you know this language you will not find it difficult to read Portuguese. However, the pronunciation is completely different and the Portuguese are not always amenable to being addressed in Spanish. Portuguese is spoken to some extent all over the world, due to the country’s history and its ties with Brazil and some African countries.

LOCAL TIME

Portugal uses Greenwich Mean Time in winter and the clocks change in March and October. 24-hour clock times are used in Portugal.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

The most interesting areas in cities are normally the historic centres, which can be explored on foot as no great distances are involved. In large, hilly cities such as Lisbon and Porto, the steep slopes can be avoided by using trams, funiculars or lifts. Most cities have good bus, taxi and train services. If you can, avoid using public transport during rush hours (8 am -10 am and 5.30 pm – 7.30 pm).

Buses: You can buy tickets from the driver but it is much cheaper to purchase a set of tickets in advance. They must be validated by inserting them in the machine near the driver. If you travel without a ticket you are liable to a heavy fine. All buses display their destination on the front. Timetables vary according to cities and routes. Rodoviária de Lisboa (217 899 700; Avenida do Brasil, 45 – Lisboa); Carris (213 632 044; Rua 1º de Maio, 101 – Lisboa)

Metro: The Lisbon metro has now been substantially extended and also renovated, so that some stations are now authentic art galleries containing sculptures, paintings and decorative tile panels by Portuguese artists. You can buy tickets from the ticket offices or ticket machines at the stations. When you buy a fare for the first time it will be more expensive as this includes the price of the card. The card can then be recharged and the fares will be cheaper. The metro runs from 6 am to 1 am. Porto also has a metro service.

Trams and lifts: An entertaining and practical way to explore the city. You can buy a ticket from the driver and there are also tourist routes which are more expensive but include a guide. More information from local Tourist Offices.

Taxis: Taxis in Portugal used to be green and black but are now being replaced by beige models. They are relatively cheap, particularly in comparison with prices in other European cities. Keep your eye on the meter, which must be switched on at all times. Tariffs vary according to the time of day, at weekends and on public holidays. There is a separate charge for luggage. Autocoope (217 932 756 – Lisbon); Radiotáxis (225 511 710-Porto).

Train: The CP manages the national train network, which serves the whole country. However, the quality of the service is very variable and some lines are not particularly good. The Alfa Lisbon-Porto service is fast and efficient, but for other destinations coaches can be a faster and more comfortable option. Most stations provide a Guia Horário Oficial (Official Timetable) with information on all trains. Tickets are cheap and the various reductions include discounts for children, young people and senior citizens and family cards for longer journeys. Railway stations: Porto (225 191 374 – Campanha; 222 051 714 – São Bento); Coimbra (239 852 598 – A; 239 856 533 – B); Lisbon (213 424 780 – Cais do Sodré; 213 433 748 – Rossio; 218 920 370 – Oriente; 218 816 242 – Santa Apolónia); Faro (289 826 472).

WHAT TO PACK

If you are visiting Portugal in summer you need to bring light, comfortable clothes and a swimming costume, since you never know when you will be stopping for a refreshing bathe at the beach, lakeside or river. However, you should also bring a warm jacket, since the summer evenings can often be quite cool, especially in the Atlantic coast areas. As this is a country that can easily be explored on foot, don’t forget to bring a comfortable pair of walking shoes. In winter the temperatures remain mild throughout almost all of the country but be prepared for rain. If you visit the north of the country you may also encounter snow.

In Portugal you may experience some delays in buying medicines since certain items are sold only on prescription. Prevention is the key to ensuring that everything runs smoothly and you should therefore bring basic medicines with you, such as antipyretics, antibiotics and anti-diarrhoea remedies.

NATIONAL PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

1 January New Year’s Day

February/March Carnival – Shrove Tuesday

March/April Good Friday

20 April Easter (a moveable feast)

25 April Liberty Day

1 May Worker’s Day

10 June Day of Portugal, Camões and the Portuguese Communities

19 June Corpus Christi

15 August Assumption of Our Lady

5 October Founding of the Republic

1 November All Saints’ Day

1 December Independence Day

8 December Immaculate Conception

25 December Christmas Day