Portugal has a rich historical heritage, excellent wines and cuisine (both sea and meat), excellent hotels with first-class service, low crime, a warm temperate climate and a variety of types of recreation offered. Here you will find a suitable place for yourself, fans of history, adepts of scuba diving, lovers of night parties and just lovers of eating and drinking well . One caveat - it should be very well-to-do lovers . So far, the country does not belong to mass destinations, so people choose it That after Spain, Italy and France want to find in Europe something new . . Hence the obvious advice in Portugal, you can safely send secured admirers rest in Spanish, which the European mainstream had several pall. The entourage of beach recreation here is almost the same as in Spain, interesting sights are also in abundance. But there is no mention of a mass attack that does not please some holidaymakers in Spain.

Capital

Lisbon.

Big cities and resorts - Porto, Coimbra, Braga, Evora, Faro, Obidos, Setubal

Getting there

Direct Moscow-Faro (Algarve) charter flight is carried out once a week.

There are also flights Moscow - Lisbon of European airlines with docking in Zurich (Swiss), Frankfurt or Munich (Lu fthansa) or Paris (Air France).

Visa to Portugal

Portugal is among the countries participating in the Schengen agreement, and Russian citizens need a visa to visit the country.

Customs

Import and export of currency is not limited. When entering from the territory of non-EU countries, amounts exceeding 10 000 EUR are subject to mandatory declaration.

You can import 200 cigarettes, liter of strong spirits and 2 liters of wine without duty. It is prohibited to import and export drugs, items of historical value, weapons and ammunition, as well as animals and plants listed in the endangered species.

• Is there any particular passage of customs in Portugal

Useful numbers of phone numbers

The Embassy of Portugal in Moscow: Botanical Lane. 1, telephone: (495) 981-34-16, telephone of the consular department: (495) 981-34-14

Embassy of Russia in Lisbon: Rua Visconde de Santarem, 59; tel .: (21) 846-24-24, 846-24-23, 846-25-24; website: Information service: 118, information for tourists: 0-800-296-296, ambulance, police, fire brigade: 112, rescue service (emergency assistance): 115, emergency assistance on the roads: 308.

Portugal Transport

There are four types of bus in Portugal: buses (expressos), local (rapidas), and so-called carreiras, marked with a "CR" sign - they stop at every intersection . Finally, there are high-speed cars of class "Lux" - alta qualidade . Ticket Lisbon - Faro by bus express will cost somewhere around 15 EUR (4 hours en route) . Bus Lisbon - Porto should be 3, 5 hours, and the ticket for it costs from 13, 5 EUR . By the way, in the high season it is better to book in advance . Tickets on local routes are quite inexpensive, and in the summer - even more . Frequent discounts are provided for passengers under the age of 26 years .

The railway branch links Lisbon to the south of Portugal. The train ride will take longer than the express bus, but it will be much cheaper. Trains in the country are of two types: regional, stopping at all stops, and fast enough interregional and express trains.

As for urban transport, in Lisbon and Porto there are metro, buses, trams and several lifts (tickets for them can be bought in information kiosks). Travel in the city bus costs 1, 2 EUR (bought in advance, it will cost less). The ticket for the metro for a trip to the first zone will cost 0, 7 EUR, in the second - 1 EUR.

Taxis are easy to recognize by black-green color and color signal (although, now the cars are gradually repainted in beige color). In the city, the fee is charged by the meter, and outside it - by kilometer, including the return journey to the point of departure. From 22:00 to 6:00 the tariff rises by 20%. All taxis have a price list in two languages.

Moving on its own can become a good excursion in Portugal: in the country there are still two routes of picturesque old narrow-gauge railway lines: Pezu da Regua - Vila Real and Tua - Mirandela.

Rent a car

It is not difficult to rent a car in Portugal. To do this, you must have a driving experience of at least a year, be at least 21 years old (in some companies - not younger than 25 years) and (in most firms) show a credit card or leave a deposit.

In Portugal right-hand traffic. The quality of roads is average - often there is no marking, and road signs can be misleading. Lately a lot of new and high-quality highways have been built (they are tolls for them). The use of seat belts is mandatory, children under 12 years must be in the back seat. The use of a sound signal is forbidden in settlements.

In most resorts (Algarve, Estoril) parking is free, but in large cities, especially Lisbon and Porto, as well as Madeira, places of historical monuments during the daytime on weekdays parking is paid.

Rent a Car in Portugal with Best Price Guarantee

The safety of tourists in Portugal

In Portugal, it is not terrible to walk on the street at any time of the day, however it is better not to leave valuables in the car or on the beach without supervision. Machines in the country are not stolen, there are no dangerous diseases here and no special vaccinations are needed.

• How in Portugal are things with security

Beauty of Porto

National Palace in Sintra

Castle in Tomar

Climate of Portugal

In Portugal - subtropical Mediterranean climate: soft, without sudden temperature fluctuations. In the north, because of the Gulf Stream, the marine climate prevails. Summer here is dry and sunny, but not hot (the average temperature is about +20 ° C, in the mountains - around +18 ° C), the winter is cool (from +4 ° C to +10 ° C) and rainy.

In the south of the country it is warm and dry. The average temperature in January is +5 ° C .. + 10 ° C, in July - from +20 ° C to +27 ° C. The water temperature in summer is +20 .. + 23 ° C.

See also the weather forecast for the main resorts and in the cities of Portugal.

Beaches

In Portugal, all the beaches are municipal. For a lounger and an umbrella you will have to pay 8-10 EUR per day. However, wealthy tourists (and others in the country almost do not go) is not scary. On the Lisbon Riviera and in the Algarve - fine white sand, Madeira beaches pebbly or artificial. Flags on the beach warn of the state of the ocean: red - the sea is stormy and swimming is strictly prohibited, yellow - you need to be very careful, green - swimming is safe.

• When in Portugal you can swim

Portugal hotels

In Portugal, mostly 4-5 * hotels of high level prevail. Most of them work on the basis of breakfast, half board is rare, all inclusive not. This is due to the fact that the country has a very tasty and varied cuisine: tourists prefer to try most different things in different places, and not eat at the hotel from the buffet.

The best hotels are old hotels (pousadas), corresponding to the level of four or five stars. Historical "pouzades" are old castles and fortresses, reconstructed and turned into luxury hotels (there are about 50 of them). To stay in them is considered prestigious. There are also regional "pouzadas" that represent a homestead or a house built in a characteristic architectural style and feed their guests mainly with local cuisine.

Voltage in the network - 220 V, 50 Hz, standard European sockets.

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Money

It is most convenient to come already with EUR or change dollars at the airport. Exchange rates in different banks can vary significantly, some commercial banks do not take commission from transactions for less than 10 EUR.

Tourist checks are accepted everywhere and at a more favorable rate than cash, but commission fees are quite high (up to 13%). The exception is American Express checks, which can be exchanged without commission at Amex. Eurochecks with a check guarantee card are exchanged in many banks. Everywhere - in the provinces and in cities in all tourist centers you can find ATMs (multibancos).

Banks are open on weekdays from 8:30 to 15:00, ATMs of the national Multibanco system operate around the clock. The most widely accepted credit cards are Visa, Amex, Eurocard, Eurocheque, Diners Club, Mastercard.

Tipping in Portugal has not yet received "official status", but 10% of the bill can be left in a restaurant, taxi, some cafes.

• Is it possible to pay debit cards in Portugal

Kitchen and Restaurants

Portuguese cuisine pleases with hearty and varied dishes of meat, fish and vegetables, but still fish cooking is its main direction. Culinary experts of the country know more than 300 (!) Ways of cooking cod, they know how to cook a lot of dishes from sardines, mackerel, perch, trout and other kinds of fish.

Madeira's cuisine differs from continental even more abundance of fish and seafood, as well as the wide use of fruits and local spices. The most famous local delicacy is the swordfish prepared in dozens of ways (attention: pregnant women have dishes from this fish is not recommended).

Portuguese wines are famous all over the world for their exquisite taste. The country produces a huge number of red, white and "green", reminiscent of champagne, wines. Port is a business card of Portugal: white drink as an aperitif, and red for a dessert.

Tipping in Portugal does not have an official status, but 10% of the bill can be left in a restaurant, taxi or cafe.

Shopping in Portugal |

Shops are open on weekdays from 9:00 to 19:00, break from 13:00 to 15:00. On Saturdays, shops close at 1:00 pm (in December - at 19:00). Some shopping centers in the resort areas are open from 10:00 to midnight.

In Portugal, you can buy high-quality and fashionable shoes and clothes, 19.5 carat gold products (in Italy, the Emirates and other countries - 18 carats), ceramics, original white or red port wine (from 3-6 USD per bottle of ordinary port to 10-30 USD for a bottle of port ten to twenty years old, then the price grows depending on the aging), the world-famous Portuguese wine Madeira (prices range from 16 EUR for a ten-year-old madera to 500 EUR for a two-hundred year old).

The traditional Portuguese souvenir is "azulejush" decorating the walls of tiles, known since the time of Arab rule. Also interesting are handmade embroideries and laces, leather and wickerwork, and, of course, a variety of ceramics (made in the characteristic for Portugal style "cabbage leaf"). Plus, of course, the most delicious and useful (if moderately, of course) souvenirs - the famous Portuguese port and Madera.

• What prices in Portugal
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Entertainment, excursions and attractions in Portugal

Comparatively small in size, Portugal can, nevertheless, boast of a mighty historical heritage. Great ancient fortresses, cathedrals and palaces are preserved here.

Lisboa symbol - decorated with bas-reliefs and statues of famous people, the arch that connects Commerce Square with Augusta Street. Other local "must see": the statue of Christ and the famous Vasco da Gama Bridge, the longest city bridge in Europe.

Porto (Porto) - one of the oldest cities and the former capital of the country. Here you should walk along the Avenida-dos-Aladush with the houses of the late 19th - early 20th century, visit the noisy coastal quarter of Ribeira, the famous wine cellars and the colorful and bustling market. Also in Porto is the oldest botanical garden in the country. In the suburb of Vila Nova de Gaia, for more than 300 years there have been major cellars for port storage and the only one of its kind is the Portway Museum.

The city of Braga (north of Porto) is the cultural and religious center of the country, the residence of the bishop. 5 km from Braga is one of the main shrines of Portugal - the church of Bon-Jesus-du-Monte (church of Christ on Calvary, 18th century) standing on a mountain terrace.

In the center of Coimbra, the medieval fortress walls, monasteries of Mouchera de Santa Clara and Cunvento de Santa Clara a Nova have been preserved. At 16 km south-west of Coimbra is Fatima, the world famous place of pilgrimage, in which, as Catholics believe, there was a miracle of the phenomenon of the Virgin Mary to children.

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Photo of Portugal (560)