About Portugal

PORTUGAL

More info about Portugal

In the southwest corner of Europe lies Portugal, one fifth of the Iberian Peninsula it shares with Spain. Portugal has its own language, the 6th most spoken in the world (think Brazil-Portugal’s former colony), its own culture and cuisine. Portugal’s shape is rectangular, the longest north-south distance is 349 miles/561 km and widest east-west distance is 135 miles/218 km. It’s roughly the size of the U.S. state of Indiana.

Climate
Portugal’s climate is influenced by both its position at the south-western tip of Europe and its proximity to the Atlantic and Mediterranean. This leads to what many would consider as an ideal climate, neither too hot nor too cold throughout the year. The average temperature in the north is approximately 15°C (55°F), whilst in the south it is a warmer 18°C (64°F). There is also higher rainfall in the northwest with the least in the southeast.

Electricity
Portugal uses a two pronged round plug outlets and runs on a current of 220V-240V, like much of the rest of Europe. An adapter will be necessary for any other shaped plug.

Time zone
In Lisbon and all of mainland Portugal, the time during the winter months is equivalent to GMT or UTC time (the same as in London or Dublin) and during the summer it is GMT+1. Llisbon is 6 hours ahead of Amarillo Central time (depends on time change)

Portugal Currency
The currency in Portugal is the euro. The euro started with a circulation of seven bank notes and eight different coins: bank notes of 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 euros, and coins of 2 and 1 euros and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2, and 1 cents. 

Before the euro was introduced, Portugal's national currency was the escudo (1 euro = 200 escudos).

You may also hear people talking about "contos". A conto is equivalent to 1000 escudos (approximately 5 euros) and the older generations still use it for large quantities, for example house prices (e.g. that house is selling for 30 thousand "contos" = 150 thousand euros). Conto comes from conto de réis, an expression used many years ago in Brasil and Portugal to mean 1000 reais (from real, the old Brasilian and Portuguese currency)

Cash
You can also buy/exchange Dollars with Euros in a seamless manner in the Algarve region at banks, Cambios (exchange counters), hotels and even at shops. Banks for money exchange purposes are open from Monday through Friday from 8.30am and 3 pm. For best rates, visit the banks. One can avail 24 hrs exchange services at the exchange desks. Hotels, however, provide very minimal exchange rates, consequently considered highly disadvantageous for travellers.

If you want to find out about the current exchange rate, you can use a money calculator.

Travelers Checks
Banks and exchange offices in Portugal will likely turn your traveler’s checks away.

Banks and ATM’s
Depending on your bank and your home country, you might never see a familiar ATM in Portugal. With more than 12,000 ATMs throughout the country, Multibanco is the go-to banking system in Portugal. The Multibanco system is a combined network of ATMs for customers of 27 Portuguese banks. you’ll most likely be charged a small withdrawal fee. It’s also likely you’ll pay a foreign exchange fee – and those will vary depending on your bank.

Paying by Card

Portugal, along with most European countries, uses chip-and-PIN cards. Cards issued in the US almost always have a PIN, but very few use the same chip-and-PIN technology that’s so common in Europe.

In many places, you should be able to use your card with a PIN and/or signature, but it’s not a given. And many vendors – especially smaller, local businesses – only accept cards from Portugal’s local banking system, Multibanco.

Portugal has lots of small businesses that are cash-only, too. You’ll even see small signs in some shop windows that say “Não tem Multibanco.” That’s why it’s good to always have some cash on hand.

Tourist Attractions

Typical prices for Food
While meal prices in Portugal can vary, the average cost of food in Portugal is €32 per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Portugal should cost around €13 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Portugal is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.

On average, people spend €1.26 on bottled water in Portugal per day. The public water in Portugal is considered safe to drink.

The average price for Tips and Handouts in Portugal is €8.33 per day. The usual amount for a tip in Portugal is 5% - 15%.
​​​​​​​
Entertainment
Entertainment and activities in Portugal typically cost an average of €16 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.

Transport
The cost of a taxi ride in Portugal is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent €21 per person, per day, on local transportation in Portugal.

Train, Buses etc.

Internet
The number of internet users in Portugal keeps growing in leaps and bounds. It is now easy to find a place to log onto a blog or email account while on holiday.
In cities, apart from inside hotels, internet access is available in many places, the most popular being national restaurants chains. In smaller towns and cities there are considerably fewer internet options but there generally should not be a problem with finding at least one place to log on.

Wifi Maps 

Mobile Network
Portugal's main mobile service providers include MEO, Vodafone and NOS. The most popular of the three is MEO, as it offers the widest coverage. Expats have a few mobile phone options, including purchasing a local sim for an existing phone on a prepaid plan or signing a long-term contract.