|
 |
| Portugal
Getting Around - Internal Travel |
 |
|
Air
TAP Air Portugal and Portugália
run services between Lisbon, Faro, Madeira, Porto Santo, Oporto
and the Azores. Charter flights are also available.
The airline for the Azores is SATA
(Sociedade Acoriana de Transportes Aereos), which operates its Air
Açores service between the various islands.
Rail
Caminhos
de Ferro Portugueses (Portuguese Railways) provides a rail service
to every town. The tourist areas of Cascais and
Sintra are connected to Lisbon
by frequent express trains.
High-speed Alfa trains run between Lisbon
and Porto via Coimbra and Aveiro.
Fertagus trains cross the River Tagus in Lisbon,
operating between Entrecampus station to Fogueteiro (on the south
bank).
Cheap fares
On Blue Days, usually Monday afternoon to Thursday,
special rates are available. There are also special fares with up
to 30 per cent reductions for groups of ten or more (Bilhetes de
Grupo), travelling for a minimum distance of 75km/47 miles on a
single journey or 150km/94 miles on a return journey. Application
should be made 4 days in advance by the group leader.
Tourist Tickets (Bilhetes Turisticos) for 7, 14
or 21 days of unlimited travel are also available. The Rail
Cheque (Cheque Trem), obtainable in 4 different values,
can be in one name or a company’s name and has no time limit
and gives a reduction of 10 per cent and can be used both for purchasing
tickets and many other railway services.
An International Youth Ticket (BIJ) entitles those
aged 12 to 26 to a discount in 25 countries for 2 months, including
Portugal.
Senior citizens are entitled to 50 per cent reduction. Children
under 4 travel free. Children aged between 4 and 11 pay half fare.
Euro Domino, Family Card, Inter-Rail
Card, Rail Inclusive Tours and Special
Tourist Trips are amongst other offers from the Portuguese
Railways (Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses), Calçada do Duque
20, 1249-109 Lisbon Codex (telephone number: 2132 15700, fax number:
2134 73093; website: www.cp.pt).
Further rail information is also available from ICEP/Portuguese
Trade and Tourism Office; see Contact section.
Sea/River
Transport is available from all coastal ports and along the major
rivers and for further details, contact the local ports.
Road
All Traffic drives on the right. Petrol stations generally open
0700-2000 hrs, although some are open 24 hours.
Travel by motorway is subject to a toll according
to distance covered and type of vehicle. A small tax/charge may
be added to petrol bought with a credit card.
Bus
There are frequent coach services between all cities in Portugal.
For further information, contact Rede
Nacional de Expressos.
Taxi
Taxis are usually painted beige, although some taxis painted in
the old colours of green and black still exist. Charges are according
to the distance travelled and taxis are all metered. In the city,
they charge a standard meter fare, outside the city limits they
charge per kilometre and are entitled to charge for the return fare
and there is a surcharge for carrying luggage in the cities.
Car hire
Available from main towns and at the airports, with or without driver.
Regulations
Minimum age for driving is 18 years, but might be older if hiring
a car.
Cars may be imported for up to 6 months. Traffic signs are international.
Headlights should be dipped in built-up areas and side lights used
when parking in badly lit areas. Children should not travel in the
front seat. Seat belts should always be worn. Warning triangles
are compulsory in Portugal. It is forbidden to carry cans of petrol
in vehicles.
Speed limits are 50kph (30mph)
in built-up areas, 90kph (56mph) outside built-up areas and 120kph
(70mph) on motorways.
Visitors who passed their driving test less than 1 year previously
must display a yellow disc with ‘90’ on it on the rear
of their vehicle and must not go faster than 90kph (56mph). Permitted
speeds will vary if trailers are being used.
Documentation
Under the requirements of the Portuguese Road Code, those wishing
to drive a car must possess a valid national/international
driving licence, other official documentation with photograph,
log book or rental contract and adequate car insurance. International
Driving Permits or foreign driving licences are accepted and third
Party insurance is compulsory. Failure to produce, on request to
the authorities, any of the above will result in an on-the-spot
cash fine. A Carnet de Passage is required for
a van.
Urban Transport
Lisbon has an underground (Metropolitano),
which is currently being expanded. Trams also operate
in major Portuguese cities and in Lisbon is a great way to see the
city.
There is also an extensive bus network in Lisbon (website: www.carris.pt).
Cheap fares
In Lisbon, a Tourist Pass is available for either
4 or 7 days travel on trams, buses and the underground.
The Lisboa Card (for sightseeing) is valid for
24 or 72 hours and offers unlimited bus, tram and underground travel
as well as entry to 26 museums and 50 per cent discounts to many
other cultural attractions.
Travel times
The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and
minutes) from Lisbon to other major cities/towns in Portugal. |
|
| |
Air |
Road |
Rail |
Faro |
0.35 |
4.00 |
5.00 |
Oporto |
0.45 |
5.00 |
3.00 |
Funchal |
1.30 |
- |
- |
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
