Electrical sockets in Portugal are one of the two European standard electrical socket types: The "Type C" Europlug and the "Type E" and "Type F" Schuko. If your appliance's plug doesn't match the shape of these sockets, you will need a travel plug adapter in order to plug in.Electrical sockets in Portugal usually supply electricity at between 220 and 240 volts AC. If you're plugging in an appliance that was built for 220-240 volt electrical input, or an appliance that is compatible with multiple voltages, then an adapter is all you need. If your appliance is not compatible with 220-240 volts, a voltage converter will be necessary.Some hotels do have 110 volt outlets to accommodate USA pins/plugs. However, it is best to take a converter and adapter plug set (usually available for under $30 at retail stores such as Target or Walmart).

CurrencyPortugal uses the European monetary unit, the euro (€).Euro bills come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500; coins are worth 1 cent of a euro, 2 cents, 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, 1 euro, and 2 euros. Local merchants may refuse to accept €200 and €500 bills due to the prevalence of counterfeit bills.BankingBank opening hours: Monday to Friday 08h30 -15h00. Banks are generally closed on official holidays.Most major credit cards are widely accepted and recommended. ATMs are ubiquitous. The Multibanco, or MB, system is state-of-the-art and reliable. The cards most frequently accepted are Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Eurocheque, Eurocard, Cirrus, and Electron but consult with your credit or debit card bank about the foreign exchange transaction fees charged for using your card in Portugal.You need a four-digit PIN to use ATMs in Portugal. If you have a PIN with more than five digits, it should be changed before leaving your home country. There is usually a limit of €400 a day withdrawal.You should consider purchasing the Euro currency at a more favorable exchange rate, at home before you arrive in Portugal.Traveler's cheques are disappearing from use fast, and it's far more convenient to travel with credit cards these days. Nevertheless, you can still change them in main bank branches and exchange bureau, and they are accepted in major hotels. It is advisable to bring them in sterling or dollars as there have been increasing reports of Euro cheques being refused.

Tap water is almost always safe to drink in major cities and towns, although you should be cautious in small villages. Bottled water is widely available. If bottled water is not available, any questionable water should be boiled for five minutes or be treated with iodine. Salads and fruit are safe to eat anywhere in Portugal. Ice cream is okay, but beware of any that appears to have melted and been refrozen. Take care with shellfish (e.g. cooked mussels that have not opened properly can be dangerous) and avoid undercooked meat, particularly minced meat.Seafood is a regular staple, especially the salt cod that is very much a love it or hate it choice. It forms the base of hundreds of recipes and you should try it at least once. Anchovy, bass, clams, mussels, salmon, sea bream, sole and swordfish are easier on the palate and also popular.Brazilian spice peri-peri is widely used to flavour chicken and shrimp, while Goan curry spices also add extra flavour to a variety of dishes and broths eaten widely. Meat lovers can gorge on espetada (grilled skewers of beef with garlic), leitão (suckling pig) and cozido à portuguesa, which mixes beef, pork, sausage and vegetables in a delicious dish.As a rule, the Portuguese have three meals a day and eating out is common practice. There is a great variety of restaurants and they cater to all kinds of tastes and palates. While restaurants are usually open for lunch between midday and 3 p.m. and for dinner between 7 and 10 p.m. many of them have longer opening hours, especially in the big cities and areas with a busy nightlife. They usually close one day a week, sometimes at the weekend in city centres, though restaurants in shopping centres are open every day.More often than not, a service charge is not added to hotel and restaurant bills, so tip around 10 to 15% if you are satisfied with your experience.

Portugal is mainly characterized by a warm temperate, mediterranean climate with a distinct wet season in winter. During winter, Portugal experiences a similar temperature pattern to the Spanish coastal towns, i.e. average daytime maxima of about 16°C (61°F). However, the Portuguese resorts are much wetter, with only about 14 dry days on average. On average 5-6 hours of sunshine can be expected per day. A gradual warming-up process takes place during the spring months, daytime average maximum temperatures reaching up to 22°C (72°F) by May. The Atlantic-facing coast remains wetter than the Mediterranean-facing Spanish coast, with about 18 dry days per month

Driving in Portugal is on the right hand side of the road.Speed LimitsThe standard speeds are as follows:• 50kph (31mph) in urban areas• 90kph (55mph) on ordinary roads• 120kph (75mph) on motorwaysThere are several Portuguese airlines offering regular domestic and international flights.TAP – Air Portugal is the country’s "flagship" airline and has scheduled flights to more than 50 international destinations and domestic flights between Lisbon, Oporto, Faro, Madeira and the Azores, and also between Madeira and Porto Santo.SATA has regular flights between all the islands of the Azores and from the Azores to Madeira and mainland Portugal. SATA also offers regular flights to a number of international destinations.Buses in Portugal tend to be cheap, but they are often slow. Portugal has three types of buses: expresso, the most expensive and fastest direct bus between Lisbon, Porto, and other major routes; rápida, a mid-level service in terms of speed and cost; and carrier, a slower local service that stops at small villages. Lisbon and Porto have good city bus systems for which you can buy a combination rail/bus/ferry pass.Portuguese trains tend to be faster than buses for intercity travel, but also more expensive. Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses, or CP, is the Portuguese national rail service. they have a comprehensive website, available in English. There is a vast network of regional, inter-regional and suburban trains covering the whole of the country.Timetables can be viewed and there is a trip planner as well as an online ticket buying service..The underground is an important addition to the traditional forms of public transport in Portugal. In Lisbon and Oporto it operates between 6 a.m. and 1 a.m. The Lisbon underground is the older of the two and reaches a considerable part of the city. Its network has gradually been extended in recent years. In Oporto, the underground is new. There are six lines in operation and most of their routes are above ground.Taxis are usually cream in colour, although there are still some painted black with a green roof in the traditional Portuguese style. The fare is shown on the taximeter. The prices are affixed inside the car or you can ask the driver about them. If you phone for a taxi you have to pay an extra 0.80 euros. There is a charge of 1.60 euros for luggage, regardless of weight or the number of pieces. Carry cots, pushchairs, wheelchairs and walking aids are carried free of charge. Tipping is at the passenger’s discretion, though it is normal to tip 5-10% or round the amount up to the nearest euro.

Light- to medium weights and rainwear are advised (Portugal has one of the highest rainfalls in Europe). In summer, wear very light fabrics, preferably linen, as temperatures can soar and prove very uncomfortable if you have packed wrongly. Should you travel in spring or autumn, pack a combination of both.

Please consult your health-care provider 4-6 weeks prior to travel to ensure you are receiving all required vaccinations and that the medication has enough time to take effect. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance with medical benefits and that you bring any personal medication with you. Please also check with your health department prior to departure for any changes in health regulations.

Good medical care is available, but facilities may be limited outside urban areas. Public hospitals offer services at costs lower than private hospitals.
Payment is expected upon admission at private hospitals.
Call the national emergency response for an ambulance at 112 for life-threatening emergencies. However, please note the responsiveness of emergency services is not always comparable to U.S. standards.

Even though pharmacies are well stocked, take a decent supply of medication with you, and be aware pharmacies are usually closed for two hours over lunchtime. If traveling with prescription medication, check with the government of Portugal to ensure the medication is legal in Portugal. Always carry your prescription medication in original packaging with your doctor’s prescription.

Portugal is safe in general. We recommend normal precautions be taken as you would for any city in the world. Be aware of your surroundings and stay in well-lit areas. Don’t flash wealth. If you have items of sentimental value, leave it at home. Visitors should avoid all political gatherings and demonstrations.

U.S. citizens do not require a visa for stays under 90 days. Non U.S. citizens should consult with your local embassy.

Language European Portuguese is spoken in Portugal with different dialects throughout the country. Açoriano, Alentejano, Algarvio, Baixo-Beirão, Beirão, Estremenho and Madeirense are spoken in the central regions and south, with Alto-Minhoto, Nortenho and Transmontano in the northern parts. Barranquenho, Minderico and Mirandese are either spoken rarely or in a concentrated area like Barrancos and Miranda do Douro.Brazilian Portuguese and languages native to Cape Verde, Ukraine, Angola, Guinea, the UK and Romania are also spoken widely due to the larger immigration of people from these particular places, along with other mostly European countries. Spanish can be understood and spoken in those areas nearer the Portuguese border.National Emergency NumbersEmergency Police, Fire, Ambulance: The European emergency number is 112.Automobile Association (AA) Breakdown ServiceAutomóvel Club de Portugal (ACP) (tel: +351 707 509 510; www.acp.pt) operates a 24-hour service.Public HolidaysJan 01 – New Year’s DayMar 24 – Good FridayMar 27 – EasterApr 25 – Freedom DayMay 01 – Labor DayMay 26 – Corpus ChristiJun 10 – Portugal DayAug 15 – Assumption of MaryOct 05 – Republic DayNov 01 – All Saints’ DayDec 02 – Restoration of Independence DayDec 08 – Feast of Immaculate ConceptionDec 25 – Christmas DaySocial ConventionsPortugal is a fascinating mix of culture and folklore, depending on what part of the country you are visiting. Traditional ranchos folclóricos folklore, which is often illustrated with dance and song, tends to dominate the smaller towns and villages, with art and drama bigger in the larger towns and cities.The Portuguese are warm, hospitable people who revel in exhibitions, films, crafts, concerts, plays, café culture and also shopping malls (to combat the summer heat!). The summer festival season is a particularly pleasant experience, with football and bull fighting also enjoyed, along with the traditional religious activities that cater for the majority Catholic population.Casual wear is widely acceptable, but you shouldn’t wear beach clothing in towns. Smoking has been prohibited in public indoor spaces since 2008 and the ban includes cinemas, theatres, buses and most restaurants.Time ZonePortugal is on Western European Time and is 5 hours ahead of USA Eastern Time Zone.Tipping SuggestionsTipping is not obligatory or done often in Portugal. It is our recommendation that the quality of service should determine the extent of any gratuity. We are pleased to provide you with the following guidelines. Please feel free to offer more if you receive superlative service.Drivers & One Day Guides:About €35 per day. Important the driver guide or driver will normally remove himself at meal times. However this time can be awkward for both guides and clients so if the clients would like to invite the guide or driver to join them they should make it very clear and would be expected to pay for the meal.Transfers: Tips are not normally given for airport transfers.Restaurants:Generally there are three options, outlined on the menu.• A Service Charge of x % will apply" – this means what it says, your final bill will be subject to an additional charge; no further tips are necessary. • "Service included" – this means that the prices are a flat rate, no tips are required and the prices are final. Again if the server has been attentive a €5 or €10 left on the table will always be appreciated.• If none of these apply servers will usually expect a tip of around 10%Hotels:Service is always included and in general no tips are expected but they are welcome nonetheless. For excellent or unusual services a few Euros (the classic "fiver", a €5 note) are appropriate left for the housemaid or the porter who brings your bags up.Taxis:Tips are not really expected but no taxi driver will object if you round the bill up a bit to the nearest euro. Bars:If you try to tip in a bar you'll more than likely earn a happy but incredulous stare!US EmbassyMailing Address: Avenida Príncipe do Mónaco, 6-2 F 9500 Ponta DelgadaTel: +351 296 308 330Website: Portugal.usembassy.gov