Important Information

While traveling through Portugal or any other country you should know something about their customs and regulations, which could be different from these from your national country. For your convenience we gathered together all things that could help you in planning your trip and stay in this beautiful city of Lisbon.

We encourage you to read this section carefully, and we hope that our travel tips help you avoid an unusual and unpleasant situations and your vacation in Lisbon would be just perfect.

Phones:

In a Lisbon are many telephone booths for the public use. The telephones operate usually with coins or special telephone cards. The number standard is the same as in majority of countries - it contains nine digits.
When you want to call abroad you first dial 00, then the country code and the number of person you are calling to.
The area code in Portugal is 351. Calling to Portugal from abroad you have to dial 00-351- wanted number.

Portugal, as a country with the highest number of mobile phone users, has a very good developed network service. There are three providers: TMN, Vodafone and Optimus, all of them have a roaming agreements with most of international companies. So, all you need to remember is to make sure, before you leave your country, that you have a turned on roaming in your cellphone, and of course about the taxes.


Traffic regulations:

In Portugal, in most cases, the traffic regulations comply with international rules:

The vehicles drive on the right side,
It's obligatory to use the safety bells by all persons in the car,
Children under 12 must sit in the back seats,
It's illegal to drive after drinking. The maximum level of alcohol in blood must be less than 0,5 g/l.

The required papers:

- Driving Licence
- Personal ID
- Motor insurance certificate
- Vehicle registration
- Vehicle logbook.

If you are from European Union countries, USA, Canada or other major countries you can use your valid driving license in Portugal, but it's only acceptable up to 6 month stay.

The speed limits for cars:

50 km/h - built-up areas
90 km/h - normal roads
100 km/h - express roads
120 km/h - highways


Currency:

The common official currency in Portugal, like in others countries of the European Union community, is Euro.


Medical care:

In case you need to see a doctor, contact the local Health Centre. The Hospital Emergency Services are also available, but you should use it only for a serious situation, such as: poisoning, breathing difficulties, serious injury, etc.
If you are from the one of the European Union countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, you are entitled to free or reduced-cost healthcare. All you need to have to get this benefit is the European Health Insurance Card (from your country) and your ID card.


Opening hours:

Bank, departments and shops are open in similar hours as in the rest of other southern countries. You have to only remember that in Portugal, in a midday hours, is also siesta and for a few hours in a daytime most of institutes are closed.

As an example below we present an opening hours of places you could need:

Banks: Monday to Friday 8.30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Embassies: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Post Offices: Monday to Friday 8.30 a.m. - 6.30 p.m.
Shops: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Shopping Centres: everyday 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Pharmacies: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., and a 24 hour service

Restaurants:
Lunch: 12 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Dinner: 8 p.m. - 10 p.m.