GETTING THERE & AROUNDGETTING THEREBy air
Main international airports in Portugal are: Lisbon Airport – Portela de Sacavem (LIS), Faro Airport (FAO) and Porto Airport – Oporto Sá Carneiro (OPO).
The national carrier TAP Air Portugal offers flights from many European countries to Portugal. TAP destinations include: Belgium (Brussels), Croatia (Zagreb), Czech Republic (Prague), Denmark (Copenhagen), France (Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Paris, Toulouse), Germany (Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich), Hungary (Budapest), Italy (Bologna, Milan, Rome, Venice), Luxembourg, Netherlands (Amsterdam), Norway (Oslo), Poland (Warsaw), Russia (Moscow), Spain (Barcelona, Bilbao, La Coruña, Madrid, Malaga, Pamplona, Sevilla), Sweden (Geneva, Zurich) and UK (London).
Other airlines that offer flights to Portugal include: Aegean Airlines, Aer Lingus, Air Berlin, Air France, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EasyJet, Finnair, Germanwings, Iberia, KLM, Lufthansa, LOT, Luxair, Ryanair, Spainair, SAS, Swiss Air and Transavia,
Airports in Portugal: www.ana-aeroportos.pt
TAP Air Portugal schedules: www.flytap.com
By sea
Main sea ports in Portugal are Porto do Funchal (Madeira Island), Porto de Leixões (Porto), Lisbon – Porto de Lisboa and Portimão (Algarve).
There are currently no ferry carriers that offer routes to Portugal. However, one can take a ferry to Spain and then drive, take a bus or train. More information: SPAIN - GETTING THERE AND AROUND
Funchal sea port: www.portosdamadeira.com
Leixões sea port: www.apdl.pt
Lisbon sea port: www.portodelisboa.com
By bus
Eurolines offer routes from many European cities to major towns in Portugal (Faro, Lagos, Lisbon, Viana de Costello and Porto). There are also several options for travelers who reach Spain first and then want to continue their journey to Portugal by bus. Besides Eurolines, operators such as Avanza, Alsa and Eva offer routes from major cities in Spain to many cities in Portugal.
ALSA schedules: www.alsa.es
Avanza schedules: www.avanzabus.com
Eva schedules: www.eva-bus.com
By train
The only direct rail connection to Portugal is from Spain. People travelling from other countries will have to reach Paris and then, for example, travel by TGV to Irun (in Spain) and then to Lisbon by Sud Express, which means minimum two transfers. But the journey is not very long – travel from Paris to Irun is about 5 hours and 30 minutes and from Irun to Lisbon about 12 hours.
By car
Those who intend to travel by car will have to drive through France and Spain, unless they take a ferry from Belgium, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands or UK to Spain and then drive to Portugal.
GETTING AROUND
By bus/tram
Public transport in Portugal is very efficient within the cities as well as between towns. In Lisbon and Porto passengers can use underground (Metro), trams, buses and trains. In other main towns urban public transport is also very efficient but the only underground systems operate in Lisbon and Porto. Tickets for the underground and trains can be bought from automatic machines. Fares for buses are paid on the bus.
By taxi
Most taxis are painted cream and have an illuminated taxi sign at the top. They are equipped with taximeters. Fares are higher at night, on weekends and on public holidays. There is also an extra fare for luggage over 30 kg. Taxis can be ordered by phone, hailed in the streets or found at taxi ranks. Tips are voluntary, usually 10%.
By car
Driving is on the right side of the road. Foreign driving licenses are accepted if they are in a language that uses the Roman alphabet. If not, one will need an International Driving Permit. Driver must also have insurance documents and ownership/rental documents. Driver must not drive with a blood alcohol level of more than 0.5 milligrams per milliliter of blood. Driver and passengers must wear seat belts. Children under the age of 12 are not allowed to travel in the front seat. Speed limits: built-up areas – 50 km/h, main roads – 90 km/h, highways – 120 km/h. A warning triangle and a fluorescent jacket are compulsory. First aid kit, a fire extinguisher and spare bulbs are not compulsory but recommended.
