About Portugal

Useful information
Passports and Visas

Citizens of the European Union, Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland only need their identity document to enter Portugal. Minors, in addition to their identity document, must present parental authorisation to travel.

For countries that are exempt from visa requirements to enter the Schengen Area, for stays that do not exceed 90 days, a passport valid for a period of more than three months after the end of the stay is required. In accordance with the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement, passengers travelling to or from another Schengen State do not need a new visa as this is considered to be an internal flight.

Citizens from other States need a visa to enter Portugal, which may be requested from the Portuguese Consulate or Embassy in the respective country, for stays of up to 90 days.

Further information at:
Visas - https://vistos.mne.gov.pt
Consular Network - https://portaldascomunidades.mne.gov.pt
SEF - Immigration and Borders Service - www.sef.pt

Currency

Portugal is one of the European Union countries whose common official currency is the euro.

The coins come in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, and 1 and 2 euros. 
The notes are differentiated by their size and colour and come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros. 

Currency Exchange
You can exchange money at banks, which are open from 8:30a.m. to 3:00p.m. five working days a week; at bureaux de change; and at automatic currency exchange machines (these are for currency sale transactions only).

ATMs - Automatic Teller Machines (Multibanco)
Portugal has a national network of cash machines (ATMs) identified by the symbol MB (Multibanco), from which you can withdraw cash 24 hours a day.

Credit cards
In Portugal, the most commonly used credit cards are: Visa, American Express, Diners Club, Europay / MasterCard, JCB and Maestro. 
If your Visa or MasterCard credit card is lost or stolen, contact the following telephone numbers for assistance: 
- Visa: Tel. 800 811 107 
- Mastercard: Tel. 800 811 272

Official Time

During winter time, i.e. from 1 a.m. on the last Sunday in October to 1 a.m. on the last Sunday in March, the official time in mainland Portugal and Madeira is the Universal Time Coordinated (UTC).

The rest of the year (between 1 a.m. on the last Sunday in March and 1 a.m. on the last Sunday in October), summer time is in effect and the official time in mainland Portugal and Madeira is Universal Time Coordinated plus one hour.

In the Azores, the time is one hour earlier than in the rest of Portugal and therefore one hour earlier than the Universal Time Coordinated during winter time and two hours earlier during summer time.

Servicies

Trains:
Everyday |  05:30am - 01:00am
More info

Metro: 
Everyday | 06:30am - 01:00am
More info

Pharmacies:
Monday to Friday |  9:00a.m. to 7:00p.m. (some close for lunch from 1:00pm to 3:00 p.m.)
All of them have information posted on the door indicating the nearest pharmacies that are open at night.
Find a pharmacy here

Banks
Monday to Friday |  8:30a.m. to 3:00p.m.
Portugal has a national network of cash machines (ATMs) identified by the symbol MB (Multibanco), from which you can withdraw cash 24 hours a day.

Electricity

The electric current in Portugal is 230/400 volts at a frequency of 50 hertz and sockets comply with European standards.
You will need a 230 volt transformer and an adaptor to use American-style flat-prong plugs.

Weights and measures

1 cm = 0.39 inches

1 metre = 3.28 feet / 1.09 yards

1 km = 0.62 miles

1 litre = 0.26 gallons (USA) / 0.22 gallons (UK)

1 inch = 2.54 cm

1 foot = 0.39 metres

1 yard = 0.91 metres

1 mile = 1.6 km

1 gallon (USA) = 3.78 litres

1 gallon (UK) = 4.54 litres

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