Portugal : Formalities and administrative procedures
Portugal : Organize your stay
Money Portugal
Portugal has used the euro as its national currency since January1, 2002.
Budget & Tips Portugal
The standard of living in Portugal has increased in recent years and is no longer the eldorado for small budgets.
Passport and visas Portugal
As part of the Schengen area, you don't need a visa or passport to come to Portugal. Your identity card is all you need, and will be checked almost exclusively at the airport, rather than when crossing the French and Spanish borders if you're coming by road.
Driver's license Portugal
Your French driving license is valid on Portuguese roads. Car rental by foreigners is widespread. You'll notice a good number of cars with the logo of one of the car rental agencies stuck on the rear bumper, especially in tourist areas like the Algarve. When it comes to driving, it's up to you to adapt to the local way of doing things. The rules are the same as in France, but it's not unusual to exceed the speed limit on straight roads. And beware of people crossing the road without using the crosswalk - it's very common here!
Health Portugal
There are no particular risks in Portugal. Before you leave, make sure you have your Carte Vitale. To apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), contact your social security office or go to a social security kiosk. You can also obtain one via your Ameli account(www.ameli.fr) if you have one. The receipt you'll be given immediately serves as a card until you receive your official card, which is valid for one year. If you are ill, your hospital expenses will be covered, as will your accident costs.
Wherever you are in Portugal, in the event of an emergency of any kind, dial 112 (a free number that works on all cell phones within range), and you'll be put in touch with INEM, the equivalent of our SAMU.
Security Portugal
Portugal is a very safe country. However, in Lisbon and Porto, pickpockets are part of the local folklore in certain places particularly frequented by tourists (the famous streetcar 28, for example). It's up to you to take the usual precautions when dealing with their talents. Take only photocopies of your identity papers with you on the street, avoid carrying large sums of cash on your person, and so on.
Wherever you are in Portugal, in the event of an emergency of any kind, dial 112 (a free number that works on all cell phones within range), and you'll be put in touch with the police or the GNR (Garda Nacional Republicana, the equivalent of our Gendarmerie), depending on your location.
Time difference Portugal
In Portugal, you need to allow 1 hour less than in France: when it's 1pm in Paris, it's midday in Lisbon. Summer and winter time change on the last Sunday in March and October respectively.
Spoken languages Portugal
The official language is Portuguese. Mirandese is a second official language spoken by a tiny proportion of the population in the north. Portuguese people working in the tourist industry speak either English or French. You'll have no trouble making yourself understood.
Communication Portugal
The telephone network is very good, even in rural areas (with a few exceptions, of course), as is 4G. There are plenty of free wifi zones in towns and even villages to get you connected. Since January 2017, roaming charges have been abolished in the 27 countries of the European Union, including Portugal. As a result, communications and data are charged in principle at the same cost in Portugal as in France by your national provider.
Electricity and measurements Portugal
Portugal uses the same metric system as France, and the same electrical installations (220 V, 50 Hz), with double-ended round plugs as in France.
Luggage Portugal
Although the climate is temperate for most of the year and warm in the south, it's a good idea to pack an anorak or umbrella, as it can rain, even on the Algarvian coast, particularly near Aljezur. In summer, you'll need to pack light clothing, sun cream (essential, as the sun beats down hard!), good-quality sunglasses and headgear, not forgetting a swimsuit. In all seasons, it's a good idea to bring at least a pair of pants and a vest. If you're going to mountainous areas such as the Serra da Estrela, in autumn or winter (when temperatures are close to zero degrees), take warmer clothes, a scarf, gloves and a hat for the coldest.
Portugal : Daily life
Hello? Portugal
To call from Portugal to France, dial 0033 (or +33) followed by the number of your correspondent without the 0.
To call to Portugal from France, dial 00351 (or +351) followed by the number of your correspondent without the 0.
To call from Portugal to Portugal, even with your French phone number, dial the 9 digits of the local number without the 00351 (or +351). For example, if you are in Lisbon and wish to reserve a table, simply dial 213 841 001.
Numbers beginning with 9 are cell phone numbers(telemóvel), those beginning with 800 are free green numbers(linha verde), while 808 are blue numbers(linha azul) charged at the price of a local call. Numbers beginning with the number 2 correspond to a fixed telephone line. Since January 2017, roaming charges have been eliminated in the 27 countries of the European Union, including Portugal. As a result, communications and data are charged in principle at the same cost in Portugal as in France by your national provider. You can keep your French plan but you may have to activate the international option (usually free) by calling your operator's customer service before leaving. If you buy a local SIM card, be aware that there are different rates depending on whether you are calling fixed or cell phones. Ask your operator for information.
Accessibility Portugal
Museums and tourist sites are more and more equipped for people with reduced mobility. However, in general, it is not very easy for them to visit Portuguese cities, which are steep, paved and pedestrian. On the other hand, high-end hotels offer rooms with easy access. Newer hotels usually have an elevator to reach the floors, but in older buildings this is less common and could be a problem. At the beaches, you will find a number of ramps for people with reduced mobility, indicated by a sign "praia accesivel" (accessible beach).
There is also an agency, Accessible Portugal (www.accessibleportugal.com), which develops activities and tourist circuits for people with reduced mobility.
Health Portugal
There is no specific risk of illness in Portugal, except for mosquito bites in the forest and maritime areas. Take a mosquito repellent with you.
In case of illness, contact the French consulate. They will help you, accompany you and provide you with a list of French-speaking doctors. In case of a serious problem, the consulate will also inform the family and decide on repatriation. To find out about emergencies and establishments that meet international standards, consult the websites of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (www.diplomatie.gouv.fr) and the Institut Pasteur de Paris (www.pasteur.fr).
Emergency numbers Portugal
Wherever you are in Portugal, in case of an emergency, dial 112 (free number that works on all cell phones as long as a network is available). You will be put in contact with the INEM (the equivalent of the Samu), depending on the area you are in.
Every town and village, especially because the country is very prone to forest fires, has its own fire station (the bombeiros). The intervention will be done very quickly. If you travel by car, observe the center of the roundabouts: among the artistic sculptures decorating them, many of them represent a firefighter saving one or more inhabitants from a crisis situation, often a child he is holding by the hand..
Securty Portugal
Portugal is a very safe country. However, in Lisbon and Porto, in some places particularly frequented by tourists (the famous streetcar 28, for example), pickpockets are part of the local folklore. It is up to everyone to take the usual precautions against their talent. Take only photocopies of your identity papers with you on the street, avoid carrying large sums of cash, etc.
Wherever you are in Portugal, in case of an emergency, dial 112 (the same number as for the fire department and the ambulance). You will be put in contact with the police or the GNR (Garda Nacional Republicana, the equivalent of our Gendarmerie), depending on the area you are in.
LGBTQ Portugal
The pink tourism in Portugal is mostly concentrated in the big cities, Lisbon being the reference. Since the legalization of gay marriage, morals have been liberated despite the weight of the Catholic religion. However, gay couples can be quite unwelcome in the countryside.
In airports, look at the signs for the women's toilets. You will notice that they are not represented with a dress but in pants, recognizable by their feminine curves. That still leaves a lot of people who make mistakes when they go to the bathroom. Now you know better!
Embassies and consulates Portugal
The French Embassy and Consulate are located in Lisbon, Rua Santos-O-Velho. To contact them, call (+351) 213 939 100 from Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 12pm. In the event of an extreme emergency only (accidental death, serious accident) and outside the normal operating days and hours of the consular section, a duty officer may be contacted at the following number: (+351) 966 160 701.
Mail Portugal
Stamps(selos) for franking a letter (weighing less than 20 g) or postcard to a country in the European Union cost €0.86. They are sold in post offices and, more rarely, in certain tobacconists. They can also be purchased from red machines on the streets. Some souvenir stores and hotels also sell them, especially in Lisbon and Porto. Your postcards should arrive in France within a week.
Local media Portugal
The three main general information newspapers are Público(www.publico.pt), Diário de Notícias (https://www.dn.pt/), Lisbon's leading daily, which is more austere but rich in economic information, and Jornal de Notícias (https://www.jn.pt/), a daily from the far north. In the specialized press, A Bola (www.abola.pt) is very successful with a single topic: soccer, that sacred monster! The largest free newspaper is Sexta. Also, in Lisbon you should not miss theAgenda Cultural l'Agenda do Porto in Porto. These two small cultural agendas divulge the beautiful things to see and do in both cities; the first is monthly, the second quarterly, both are available at the tourist office.
