Portugal is one of the oldest countries in all Europe, where outstanding monuments, castles and churches meet the futuristic new buildings and technologies embraced by this vibrant country.

With traditions and architecture stretching back over the centuries, some say this is one of the most ancient countries in Europe; great! This is the magic of Portugal and along with its climate, it makes this a favourite destination for the discerning tourist.

Summers are hot and dry throughout Portugal, particularly in the Algarve, which experiences very little rain. However refreshing sea breezes make for pleasant conditions. Winters are cold and wet, particularly in the northern and west coast regions. Spring and autumn are good times to visit with cheaper rates at hotels and less crowded beaches, restaurants and golf courses.

Portugal is on the same latitude as the UK and lies within the GMT+0.00 Zone, which means there is no difference in time of day between Portugal and the UK.

Getting around Urban public transport In the main towns there is a complete public transport network. In Lisboa there are buses, the underground, and trams. One may also use public elevators (lifts). Tourism Information Centers at Carris (Lisboa) and STCP (Porto) sell tourist tickets every business day from 8 am to 8 pm.

Taxis are painted mostly cream with a roof-light to identify them. However, there are still some taxis which keep the old colours, green and black. In towns they use taximeters, but once outside urban boundaries the service is charged by the kilometre, and includes the price of the driver’s return trip to his starting point. From 10 pm to 6 am the rate increases by 20%. It is normal to give a tip of 10% on top of the fare. Luggage is charged according to a fixed rate. All taxis have an updated chart in two languages.