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Time Zone |
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The time zone in Portugal is the Western Europe Time. Both Britain and Portugal fall under Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) therefore the time zones are the same. Local time is GMT (GMT +1 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October). |
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Weather |
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The weather in Portugal is nice all year round as you would expect from a country on the southwest side of Europe that is bordered on the south and west sides of the Atlantic and by Spain on the other two sides. The summer month from June to September, are filled by endless days of sunshine ad temperatures above 30 degrees centigrade. Portugal's weather ensures that it's beaches and costal resorts are packed throughout the hot summer months. The Algarve, especially, benefits from the average 12 hours of sunshine. |
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Language |
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The language spoken is Portuguese however a lot of hotels, restaurants and businesses speak good English and German. Portuguese is a romance language belonging to the same family of languages as French, Spanish, Italian and Romanian. |
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Flight Time |
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Flight times vary depending on where in the UK you are flying from. The average flight time is around 2 and a half hours. |
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Airports |
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Faro airport is the airport of the Algarve which is located 4km from Faro. It has many facilities which include: money services, restaurants and cafes, shopping, business and disabled facilities. |
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Currency |
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The euro is the currency used in Portugal. Traveller's cheques and Euro cheques can be cashed at banks and exchange offices, and there are 24-hour automatic cash machines which dispense Euros billed to your home bank or credit card. |
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Telephone Services |
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Public telephones are to be found in the street in major towns and in the post offices. This national service is run by a state owned company named Telecom (TLP). Telephones can be used according to the two ways of paying other than with cash. One is by a card named "Credifone" and the other is by "TLP Card". Cards can be purchased at shops displaying signs advertising their sale. International calls can be made direct. A caller must first dial "00", then his country dial number, then the area code without the prefix "0", and lastly the subscribers' number.
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Emergency Services |
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Ambulance: 112
Fire Service: 112
Police: 112
Faro Hospital: 289 891 130
Algarve Tourist Office: Algarve: Av. 5 de Outubro, 18 8001-902 Faro, Algarve, +351 2 89 80 04 00
Tourist help line: 800 296 296.
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Communications |
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Mobile phones in Portugal use the GSM telephone service. Visitors using this system will have the benefit of roaming. To contact a mobile phone number from a fixed phone you use the same method described above as you would from a payphone for dialling outside your area. Please check with your mobile phone provider before arriving in Portugal. Also there are numerous internet café's over the Algarve. |
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Passport Information |
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A passport is required to enter Portugal and must be valid for 3 months after date of departure; however it is recommended that your passport is valid for at least 6 months. |
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Visa
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British Citizens holding a full British Passport do not need a visa to enter Portugal. |
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Health & Safety/Vaccinations |
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There are no vaccination requirements for any International Traveller, however please consult your doctor/nurse before travelling. Health facilities are generally of a good standard. |
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EHIC (old E111) |
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All British Citizens with UK passports travelling to Portugal are advised to obtain European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC), and on top of this additional Medical health insurance cover. EHIC cards have now replaced the old E111 form. EHIC cards are free, and very easy to obtain, either online, or by obtaining an EHIC form from your local post office. |
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Embassy |
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British Embassy, Rua de Sao Bernardo, 331249-082, Lisbon, Portugal, Tel: 213 924 000
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Tourist Offices/Information |
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Portuguese Trade and Tourism Office: 11 Belgrave Sq, London SW1X 8PP.
(0) 20 7201 6666
Algarve Tourist Office: Algarve: Av. 5 de Outubro, 18 8001-902 Faro, Algarve,
+351 2 89 80 04 00
Tourist help line: 800 296 296.
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Duty Free |
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There are no limits on what you can buy and take with you when you travel between EU countries, as long as it is for personal use and not for resale.
For guidance, goods are considered to be for your own use if you have no more than: 800 cigarettes, 400 cigarillos, 200 cigars, 1kg of tobacco, 10 litres of spirits
20 litres fortified wine, (such as port or sherry), 90 litres of wine (of which, a maximum of 60 litres of sparkling wine) and 110 litres of beer
The price you pay includes VAT and duty, since these vary from country to country, you may be able to pick up some cheap goods. Shops at airports and on ships may also provide some tax free bargains although duty-free shopping no longer exists when travelling with the EU.
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Electricity |
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The local current is 230/240 volts and the connection is made by a two-pin plug. Travellers from the UK will require a plug adapter and this is best bought in the UK, as they are hard to find in the Algarve. |
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Tipping |
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Where a service charge is not included 10% is usually expected.
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Food & Drink |
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Food and drinking water are of high quality and safe. Like in all countries different products may be used when preparing foods, to be on the safe side ensure vegetables are cooked and fruit peeled. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. |
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Postal Services |
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There are over 1,000 post offices in Portugal with varying opening hours. In main towns and tourist areas post offices are open on weekdays from 08:30-18:00 and on Saturday mornings until 12:30. |
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Driving in Portugal |
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In Portugal you drive on the right hand side of the road. Children under 12 cannot travel in the front unless using a suitable restraint system. Always carry your driving licence, vehicle registration document (V5), and certificate of motor insurance. If your licence does not incorporate a photograph ensure you carry your passport to validate the licence. If the vehicle is not registered in your name, carry a letter from the registered owner giving you permission to drive. Do not drink and drive you may be faced with a severe fine. Minimum age for driving, provided you hold a full UK licence, is 18 for a car and for a motorcycle over 75cc. If you've got an old-style all-green licence you might find the police will not understand them, so either get them up-dated or take an International Driving Permit as well.
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Public Holidays |
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It is traditional for each region, to reserve one annual day as a holiday for its commerce. This day is principally used as an excuse for celebration. You will find restaurants open but most shops closed. Public Holidays in Portugal are: 1st January, 25th April, Good Friday, 1st May, Corpus Christi (Early June), 10th June, 15th August, 5th October, 1st November, 1st December, 8th December and 25th December.
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