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Visiting Portugal is a must for every traveler. This country is the neighbor of Spain, but it has a culture and character all its own. Portugal is a favorite hot spot for European tourist during the cold months of winter. The country is also a favorite pilgrimage and historical destination for many for it has a lot of old and historical buildings and churches. There are a lot of affordable hotels in Portugal. Most hotels are found in the larger cities such as in Lisbon, Porto, Sintra, Fatima, and Coimbra.
Portugal is safe to travel the whole year round. The mainland has long summer months and has pleasant winter weather at the end of the year. The area of the Madeira Islands and Azores Islands have warm climate whole year round perfect for beach vacations.
When visiting Portugal, be informed that the official language is Portuguese. Avoid speaking Spanish if ever possible. Many residents of the country however understand English thanks to many American TV shows shown in national TV. French is also a popular language in Portugal.
For the most part, shops, museums, malls, offices and other establishments open at 9 in the morning. They remain open until 7 PM unless it is on a weekend where store hours can be extended until 12 midnight.
Many shops are closed during public holidays. If possible try to avoid going to shops on National Holidays. Some dates for national holidays are as follows:
January 1
April 25
Good Friday
May 1
Corpus Christi (Early June)
June 10
August 15
October 5
November 1
December 1
December 8
December 25
Euro is the local currency in Portugal. Try to exchange your dollars or other currencies from the local banks for their rate are better as compared to those of most hotels in Portugal. Most banks are open from 8:30 in the morning till 3:00 in the afternoon. Many restaurants and hotels in Portugal also accept well known credit and debit cards.
For your gadgets, be advised the Portugal uses 220 volt Ac outlets. It is better to bring along a portable converter for it would be difficult to ask for one in your Portugal hotel.
Dial 112 is the Portuguese version of 911. Dial 112 during emergency situations and the local operator can connect you to the nearest police station, fire station or ambulance.
Many of the Museums are state owned. This makes entrance fees affordable if not free. Many private art galleries also do not charge entrance fees.
For the cheapest airline tickets to Portugal as well as booking for cheap hotels in Lisbon, Porto, Sintra, Fatima and Coimbra, please see our booking page at Up Down Portugal. |
