Transport
By train
You can also choose trains for getting in and out of Portugal.
There's a daily international connection between Paris and Lisboa (Sud Express), between Lisboa and Madrid, and between Porto and Vigo.
You have different travelling options: a seated place on 2nd class or a sleeping one in a sleeping car or a couchette.
The train also has a dining-car, serving breakfast and dinners.
Travelling around Portugal in public transports
Courses Simulator (Transpor)
Transpor is a Portuguese site that provides information about transports and that matches the whole transport offer in different ways.
You can accede to any information or function just for one public transport or exclude one or more public transport:
http://www.transpor.pt/
Buses
Trains: except for internal connections inside Lisboa and Porto;
Planes: internal mainland flights: Lisboa, Porto, Faro, Bragança and Vila Real;
Boats: Tejo, Sado, Porto; Aveiro; Viana de Castelo and border connections: Caminha, Vila Nova de Cerveira e Vila Real de Santo António.
The information is divided in 4 blocks:
Circuits
Timetables and price lists
Maps
Operators
For instance, you can, after choosing an itinerary, get information about a museum timetable in the place you're going to or about some restaurant in that area.
You can accede this site, free of charge, at internet stalls in Lisboa, Porto and Faro airports, at Gare do Oriente and at Sete Rios bus terminal (in Lisboa).
For more information:
http://www.portaldaempresa.pt/CVE/entidades/servico.htm?guid=%7BB564EBCA...
By train
There are direct trains from Lisboa to Coimbra and Porto (Alfa trains) and regional trains (Inter-cidades and Inter-regionais) that connect every other towns and villages.
Tourist tickets are a good choice if you want to travel a lot by train.
They are nominative, personal and not transmissible, valid for an unlimited number of voyages during a sequence of 7, 14 or 21 days, in any train category or class.
Call Centre
Call Centre is a phone line that gives information about Portuguese train services and products.
Timetable: 7:00 to 23:00, every day
Contact:
from Portugal: 808 208 208 (local call)
from abroad: +351 213 185 990 (international call)
By bus
Bus service is provided by normal or express busses that connect towns and villages.
Rede Nacional de Expressos (Express national network) ensures several daily connections, allows every passenger to carry until 20Kg of personal luggage for free and allows 5% discount to Cartão Jovem owners, every day of the week.
You can make a reservation trough SMS or CALL CENTER; in that case you have to pick up the ticket one hour before departure otherwise the reservation will be automatically annulled, and you'll have to depend on places available.
If you're in Lisbon, if you want to take one of this busses go to:
Terminal Rodoviário de Lisboa - Sete Rios (Lisboa bus terminal - Sete Rios)
Praça Marechal Humberto Delgado
Rua das Laranjeiras
1500-543 Lisboa
Tel: 21 3581460
For more information: rede.expressos@mail.telepac.pt
Inside the big cities: using trams, buses and metro
Lisboa
Inside Lisboa and metropolitan area you can use cartão 7 Colinas (7 Hills card) in Carris (bus) and Metro network. The loading of this card is very flexible to suit different needs:
Valid for Carris and Metro:
Single ticket Carris/Metro urban area - for voyages in the urban area for 1 hour maximum, between the first and the last entry, and a sole entry in Metro;
Single ticket Carris/Metro network - for voyages on the whole Carris and Metro network, 90 minuts maximum , between the first and the last entry, and a sole entry in Metro;
One Day Ticket Carris/Metro - valid for an unlimited number of voyages, on the whole Carris and Metro network, during 24 hours since the 1st entry.
Zapping is a ticket that you load with any amount you want and with which you can travel on Carris and Metro, provided you have credit. The minimum charge is 1.50 € and the maximum 10.00 €; the total credit mustn't amount over €15.00.
"1 Zone Ticket", is an electronic scheduled ticket that allows you to make several trips .A single unit of this ticket is valid to travel for 1 hour, since the 1st entry, inside one Zone, urban or suburban, with 2 units you can travel for 2 hours in two zones, (urban + suburban). 2 units is the minimum you can buy but if you buy 5 to 10 units you have a discount. And it can be bought at every Carris selling point.
Using metro only
You can use different tickets in Lisboa metro such as 7 colinas or viva viagem cards, which you can charge with one or several units of the same type of the card.
The card costs 0,50 € and is valid for 1 year. During this period of time you can reload the card any time you want; after that, if you still have units on your card you can use until they end or transfer them for a new card.
Timetable:
Opening: 06:30am
Closing: 01:00am
If you want to know all the nooks and alleys of Lisbon, tirelessly up and down the seven hills of the city, accept our suggestion: take tram 28, which will take you through the most interesting places of heritage in Lisbon.
Leaving the Martim Moniz, the 28 goes to the neighborhood of Grace, in the direction of the monastery of Sao Vicente de Fora, which deserves a visit in its own grandeur. Behind the monastery is Campo de Santa Clara, where on Tuesdays and Saturdays there is a flea market where everything is bought and sold.
The tram goes on to Alfama, passing through some of the most picturesque streets and squares of the medieval city of Lisbon, as Rua das Escolas Gerais, Largo das Portas do Sol, a beautiful view over the river, and further above the Castle of Sao Jorge. On the way down, the 28 passes the Cathedral of Lisbon, austere Romanesque facade, and by the Church of St. Anthony, the beloved Saint of the city. Further down the busy street of Conceição, it is worth getting out the tram onto the Pombalina Baixa, projected by Marquis of Pombal after the earthquake of 1755.
The tram goes up the hill to elegant Chiado, stopping almost opposite the famous cafe A Brasileira, where the statue of the poet Fernando Pessoa awaits your company. Throughout the journey is worth paying attention to the architecture of the buildings, the tiles covering the façades and Art Nouveau friezes. On the way to Estrela, admire the building of the Parliament, a former convent of St. Benedict, on top of its grand staircase.
Hop-on hop-off bus
Hop-on hop-off bus is a good way to discover Lisboa. A guided commentary is provided along the route and you can go in and out as many times as you want during the 1 day in any of the 13 bus stops
Using a taxi
Taxis are usually beige (there are still some green and black ones, the traditional taxi colours) and they have a bright sign on top indicating they are taxis and if they are free or not. The price is indicated on the taximeter and the price-list is posted inside the taxi.
If you call a taxi you have to pay a special fee - € 0,80; if luggage (over 55X35X20cm) is carried in the trunk there's also a surplus of € 1,80. From 21pm to 6am, on holidays and week-ends there's a 20% surplus over the day price.
Outside urban areas, the fee is according to the number of kilometres, the final price being agreed previously.
These rules apply to the whole mainland Portugal.
Just as a hint, inside Lisboa, from the airport to the final destination, the price should be around € 12, 00.
Porto
The ticket you can use in public transports in Porto metropolitan area is named Andante (Walker), whether you travel by bus, metro or train. The price you have to pay only depends on the travel length not on the mean of transport or number of entries you do.
The Andante Tour ticket is specially designed for tourists since it gives total mobility freedom, without zone limits, for 1 or 3 days.
There are 2 kinds: Andante Tour 1 (valid for 24h) and Andante Tour 3 (valid for 72h) and you can use metro, train, STCP (urban bus) and every other bus line of Andante network.
Timetable:
Opening: 05:45 am
Closing: 01:15 am
Sightseeing buses
Doing a Porto Vintage circuit in a 2 floor open bus will give you a good panoramic of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia. The ticket is valid for 24h after the 1st entry and, as well as in Lisboa, you can go in and out as many times as you want.
Travelling around Portugal in private transports
Renting a car
You find rent a car enterprises in every major city and international airport but there are some requirements you must meet; the usual are:
Minimum age required:
In most countries, you must be aged 21 or over to rent a car. A Young Driver Surcharge may be applicable in some instances.
Local driving licence
You will need to present to the rent a car enterprise your driving licence, issued by your country of residence and held for a minimum period according to local legislation or conditions. It will be requested at every rental.
International driving licence
Your driving licence will be honoured in most countries; however, there are countries where non-local Driving Licences (in different languages or particularly in languages using different alphabet structures) are not accepted.
Identification documents required
An identification document, such as a passport or ID card may also be required. The driver licence is not sufficient.
Means of payment
You will also need to present a valid credit card on which an authorisation is requested. Be aware that the renter IS the cardholder and he must be physically present in order to sign the rental agreement payment.
Some sites:
www.portugal-auto-rentals.com
www.budgetportugal.com
www.europcar.pt
Renting a motorbike
Some rent a car enterprises also rent motorbikes.
Only as an example, Budget Castanheira - rent a car, located in Lisboa and in Porto, has different types of motorbikes.
If you're interested, it's advisable to make a reservation.
www.budgetportugal.com/motos.php
Renting a bike
In main localities it's possible to rent a bike; for instance, in Lisbon, BTTour (www.bttour.com) rents not only bikes but also all the equipment you need for biking.
Besides, BTTour organizes tours and several activities on bike that give the participants the opportunity to know a little bit more of historical, cultural and landscape Portuguese heritage.
Renting a segway
Segway, besides being a very stylish high-tech "toy", is a very radical way of moving inside the big cities. The movement of your body sets it in motion; then, you incline yourself forward and it goes forward, you bend backward and it moves backwards. The maximum speed is 20km/h.
More information:
Porto: www.gfcinovacao.com; www.bluedragon.pt/
Coimbra: www.segwaypleasures.com
Lisboa: http://www.gosegwaytours.com/
http://www.redtourgps.com/pt/home.php
Faro: www.algarvebysegway.com
Renting an Electric Buggy
100% fun 0% emissions, that's an electric buggy! It's friendly and very simple to drive.
http://www.redtourgps.com/pt/home.php
Renting a boat
You can rent a boat everywhere in Portugal, with or without skipper, to go deep sea or fresh‑water fishing, dolphins watch or just to do a touristic ride dolphins.
As an example: A cruise on Douro River (2 days), starting at Porto, trough Régua and Barca d'Alva and back to Porto
Price/person: € 245,00
E-mail: info@portodouro.com
Driving in Portugal
In Portugal you drive on the right and overtake on the left. You must also give way to trams both when they overtake you and as they approach you from the right. Portuguese roads can be three lanes wide, but beware - the middle lane is used for overtaking from either direction.
Useful driving vocabulary
English Portuguese
Detour Atalho
Entrance Entrada
Exit Saida
Police Policia
Police station Esquadra de polícia
Hospital Hospital
Speed Limits
Speed in Portugal is measured in kilometres per hour (KPH):
Motorways 120kph
Open roads 90kph
Urban areas 50kph
Cars towing is restricted to 70kph on open roads and 100kph on motorways. There is also a minimum speed of 40kph enforced on motorways.
Fuel
Petrol/Fuel Stations are generally open from 7am until 10pm or midnight, although some are 24hours. You can pay with any major credit card, but be aware that this will incur a surcharge. In Portugal it is illegal to carry spare fuel.
Toll Information
At Portuguese road tolls you may notice green lanes, these are for drivers who have subscribed to an automated paying system, and you must not use them unless you have that system. Currency and bank cards are used to pay for tolls. Visitors to Portugal are required to pay traffic fines on the spot, and they can be expensive.
Parking
Parking in Portuguese is "estacionamento". When parking, your car must be facing the same direction as the traffic, the exception being if a road only allows parking on one side of it. If you park illegally the car can be immobilised. Do not park in close range of a bus or tram stop or of a road junction (18 metres distance is required from a road junction).
Seatbelts
All occupants of a vehicle are required to wear seatbelts, both in the front and the rear of the vehicle.
INTERNORTE, INTERCENTRO e INTERSUL insure international bus connections between Portugal and main European countries with very cheap prices like € 19,00 from Porto or Lisboa to Paris.Their busses cover most of Portugal. Getting to and from Portugal by plane is a good choice since most air companies TAP - Air Portugal (www.tap.pt), ensures domestic flights between Lisboa, SATA (www.sata.pt) ensures regular flights between every island of Açores and from Açores to Madeira and mainland. Aeronorte (http://www.aeronorte.pt/cms/view/id/1/?lang=pt) ensures regular connections between Bragança/Vila Real/Lisboa. Low cost companies also operate in Portugal: Air Berlim, Blue Air, Bmi Baby, Centralwings, Condor, easyJet, Fly Niki, Flybe, Germanwings, Jet2, Monarch, Ryanair, Thomson Fly, Transavia, TUI Fly and Vueling fly to Porto, Lisboa, Faro and Funchal airports. Alameda das Comunidades Portuguesas N.er 22 _ Portela - Aeroporto-Marquês do Pombal (everyday) Note: On the regular buses mentioned above, luggage bigger than 50x40x20cm is not allowed. For luggage with larger measures we suggest the Aerobus service that ensures regular daily links between Lisbon main points: Line 1 - City Center: every 20 min, after 21:00 every 30 min. There are 2 taxi parking zones in Lisboa airport, one at arivals and the other at departures. The taximeter must indicate at the trip beginning 2€ (during the day) or 2.50 €, after 21h00, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. 8001-701 Faro Buses Eva ensure several daily links between the airport and city center, starting at 05:00 until 23:15. If you prefer to take a taxi there's a parking zone near arrivals. The fees are according the destination, there's a table with several destinations and the prices charged. At Faro airport you can also rent a bike. Pedras Rubras TRANSPORTES STCP On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays and on working days between 21h00 and 6h00, there's a 20%. Tolls are supported by the client. Violeta Line . Connection to Porto center with interface to rail road, from 06h00- to 01h30, every 20 minutes 9500-749 Ponta Delgada - São Miguel 9900-321 Castelo Branco HRT- Faial 9580-909 Vila do Porto - Santa Maria 9970-320 Santa Cruz das Flores - Flores
Getting in and out of Portugal
By bus
Emails:
reserva@internorte.pt
reserva@intercentro.pt By plane
fly to Portuguese airports:
Porto, Faro, Madeira and Açores, as well as between Madeira and Porto Santo islands besides intercontinental connections.Aeroporto de Lisboa
1700-007 Lisboa
Tel. 218 413 500
Fax: 218 413 675Transports to and from the airport
Bus
N.er 44_ Moscavide/Qta. das Laranjeiras- Aeroporto-Cais do Sodré (everyday)
N.er 83_ Portela-Aeroporto-Amoreiras (working days)
N.er 208 _ Est. Oriente-Aeroporto- Cais do Sodré (nights)
N.er 705_ Est. do Oriente - Aeroporto - Est. Roma/Areeiro (working days)
N.ºer 745_ Prior Velho -Aeroporto - Terreiro do Paço(everyday)
Ticket (can be bought on the bus): 1,75 €
Airport - Cais do Sodré, 7h00 - 23h00, Cais do Sodré - Airport, 7h45 - 22h30
Line 2 - Oriente: every 30 min.
Airport - Oriente, 8h50 - 21h50, Oriente - Airport, 7h30 - 22h00
Linha 3-Financial Center , Av. José Malhoa - every 30 min.
Airport - Av. José Malhoa Sul, 7h40 - 22h10, Av. José Malhoa Sul - Airport, 8h15 - 21h15
Ticket : 3,5€/adult ; children4-10) 2€ (can be bought on board)
For more information: www.yellowbustours.comTaxis
Outside Lisboa, the price is calculated on the number of kilometers (km=€0, 45). For the transport of luggage or animals the fee is €1, 60. Aeroporto de Faro
Tel. 289 800 800
Fax: 289 818 802Transports to and from the airport
Buses EVA
E-mail: clientes@eva-bus.com Taxis
For more information: email: faro@antral.pt Rent-a-Bike
Reservations: www.megasport.pt
For more information go to :
http://megasportalgarve.blogspot.com/ Aeroporto Francisco Sá Carneiro, Porto
4470-558 Maia
Tel. 229 432 400
Fax: 229 484 597Transports to and from the airport
Bus
Line 601 - 05H30/ 23H30 - Exponor, Rotunda AEP, Boavista, Cordoaria
Line 602 - 05H30/ 20H45 - Prelada, Cordoaria
Line 604 - 06H00/ 00H00 - Maia, Hospital de S. João
Line 3M - 00H30/ 04H30 - Prelada, Cordoaria
Ticket price: €1,50
More information on: www.stcp.pt
TRANSPORTES RESENDE
Ner 120 - Airport, Santa Cruz ,Leça Matosinhos, Guifões e Custóias (Monday to Friday, from 06h10 to 19h30, every 20 m; on Saturdays from 07h00 to 19h30, every 30 m; Sunday and holidays from 07h30 to19h30, every 30 m)
Ner 105 - Daily at 19h45, 21h55 e 00h00.
Ticket price: €1,50.Taxis
If a taxi is called by phone or cental rádio there's a surcharge of €0,80. Luggage exceeding 55x35x20cm will also be charged with €1,60. Cradles, baby cars and wheel chairs are not charged.
Price include 4 passengers.
For more information: www.antral.pt Metro
For more infomation: www.metrodoporto.ptAeroporto João Paulo II (Ponta Delgada)
Tel. 296 205 406
Fax: 296 286 923Aeroporto da Horta
Tel. 292 943 511
Fax 292 943 519Aeroporto de Santa Maria
Tel. 296 820 020
Fax: 296 886 170Aeroporto das Flores
Tel. 292 592 212
Fax: 292 592 243
By train
You can also choose trains for getting in and out of Portugal.
There's a daily international connection between Paris and Lisboa (Sud Express), between Lisboa and Madrid, and between Porto and Vigo.
You have different travelling options: a seated place on 2nd class or a sleeping one in a sleeping car or a couchette.
The train also has a dining-car, serving breakfast and dinners.
Inside the big cities: using trams, buses and metro
Lisbon
:
Lisbon subway
Brigde Train - Fertagus
Oporto
.
