Portugal Travel Guide

Essentials

Safety: Portugal is largely a safe country to visit offering relatively little in the way of risks to the average holiday maker. Basic caveats should be considered when in big cities such as Lisbon especially during high season when places get crowded and pickpockets and bag snatchers have greater opportunities to find targets.

Keeping cash and valuable items in hard to reach places is typically sensible behaviour as is leaving especially valuable items such as jewellery in hotel safes while out and about the streets. If visiting beach resorts and planning to pursue water sports, then do be choosy as to which local operators/service providers you go with. While safety standards are on the whole high, asking around or at your hotel as to who is reputable, is a wise course of action.

June and July are the hottest months while April, May and September are a good deal cooler and ideal times to visit if you are planning a sightseeing holiday. If it’s lazy days lounging in the sun, you are looking for then June and July will probably meet your requirements. The south of the country is considerably hotter than the north and destinations such as the Algarve experience warm weather all year round.

Money: as an EU member state, Portugal uses the Euro as its official form of currency. One Euro is made up of 100 Eurocents and comes in paper denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 and in coin denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 Eurocents.

Emergency: 112

Ambulance: 112

Police: 112

Tourist police emergency hotline:
Lisbon Tourist Police Station: +351 21 342 1623

Recommended hospital:
Santa Maria de Faro Private Hospital: +351 289 892 040

Typical business hours:

• Government departments: 08:30 - 18:00, Monday to Friday.
• Retail: 09:00 – 19:00, Monday to Saturday, 09:00 – 13:00, Sunday.
• Banking: 08:30 – 15:00, Monday to Friday.