Roads in Portugal are in quite good condition. Travelling is much faster  when you choose the motorway (especially the one from north to south), but you do not have the chance to see  a lot then. Using the motorway is about 20€ for 300km for example from Lisbon to Porto or from Lisbon to Albufeira (motorway in the south going from the east to the west is free of charge). You should not enter motorways through the gates marked Via Verde as they are made for vehicles equipped with electronic readers enabling to charge a fee directly from the bank account. Free of charge trunk roads are often narrow and curvy but if you want to get to some smaller towns you have to use them. 

Unleaded petrol (gasolina sem chumbo) is about 1,3€. 

Car parks in the city centres are about 1,00€ per hour on weekdays from 8a.m. to 8p.m. 

Local drivers are used to pedestrians who walk in the streets paying no attention to traffic and traffic lights so sudden braking is not rare. 

Seat – belts fastening is obligatory on both front and back seats. Maximum permissible alcohol in blood level is 0,5 promille. Talking on the phone while driving is forbidden.  

Official language - Portuguese

Capital city - Lisbon

Main towns - Porto, Aveiro, Faro, Braga, Coimbra, Setúbal

Government - Parliamentary republic

Area - 88 500 km²

Currency - Euro (€) (EUR)

Internet TLD (domain name) - .pt

Car code - P

Calling code +351

Emergency  telephone number 112

Work hours - Some shops, museums and other public institutions close for lunch break, that is from 12.30 to 2.30-3 pm, only banks are open till 3 pm without lunch break.

Hospital sections of ambulance service (Urgências) serve the immediate medical assistance. There is a fully developed system of private medical clinics where a standard visit is about 70€. 

Many medicines are available without a prescription and pharmacy workers usually can impart a professional advice. Co – paying for medical service is obligatory in Portugal. It is advisable to buy additional, individual insurance considering long queues in public health centres and high costs of medical care.

Portugal is a safe country. Pick pocketing sometimes occur in crowded places like stations, public means of transport and tourist places. As cars parked in the streets are sometimes robbed, it is advisable not to leave any valuable things like mobile phones, bags etc inside.

There’s a special police station for tourists (Polícia de Segurança Pública, Esquadra de Turismo) in Lisbon, in Palácio Foz, in Praça dos Restauradores, where you may communicate in English. In case of emergency you may call the police or ambulance dialling number 112.

A travel document that qualifies you to enter and stay in Portuguese Republic without a visa (regardless of the aim of your travel) up to 90 days is a passport or an identity card (ID) both old and new IDs are accepted as valid. In autonomous regions of Azores and Madeira regulations concerning entry, stay and health care are the same as in the continental part of Portugal. Limits of free moving and stay may be imposed only when considering security policy or public health rules.

Since 30 April 2006 (according to Directive of European Parliament and Council of Europe number 2004/38/WE from 29 April 2004) in case of the stay no longer than 3 months, citizens of EU have had the right to stay in any other member country without any special clause   and formalities, the only required document is a valid ID or passport.

According to union norms there are no limits concerning transport of personal things.