Transports • Center of Portugal

Air transportation

ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal S.A.
Portuguese airport authority
www.ana.pt

Portuguese airlines

TAP – Air Portugal
www.tap.pt

Rail
CP – Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses (www.cp.pt), the Portuguese railway company, offers a vast rail network covering the whole of mainland Portugal and also offers international train services to Vigo, Madrid and Paris.
There are a number of options to meet your needs:

The top-of-the-range “Alfa Pendular” trains offer the fastest and most comfortable rail link between Lisbon and the Algarve and, in the north, Oporto, Braga or Guimarães, with stops in Coimbra and Aveiro.
The “Intercidades” or Intercity service covers the Lisbon-Oporto-Guimarães, Lisbon-Guarda, Lisbon-Covilhã, Lisbon-Alentejo and Lisbon-Algarve routes.
The international Sud-Express train and Lusitânia hotel-train leave from Lisbon.
There is a vast network of regional, inter-regional and suburban trains covering the whole of the country.

Tourist tickets are the ideal choice for those travelling a lot by train. They are personal, non-transferable tickets that are valid for an unlimited number of journeys for 7, 14 or 21 consecutive days at any time of year and for any category and class of train.

Roads
Portugal has a good road network consisting of auto-estradas (AE, motorways), itinerários principais (IP, main trunk roads), itinerários complementares (IC, complementary trunk roads), estradas nacionais (EN, national roads) and estradas municipais (municipal roads).
All motorways are marked with the internationally recognised sign and motorists using them have to pay tolls. See prices on www.brisa.pt or www.aeatlantico.pt
In case of breakdown or accident on the motorway, you can phone for assistance on 808 508 508
Toll gates have Via Verde channels. This is an innovative electronic system enabling motorists to debit tolls to their bank account. Only holders of Via Verde identifiers supplied by Brisa can use it.

Coaches
There are regular coach services between Portugal’s main towns and cities. For details of routes, timetables and fares visit www.rede-expressos.pt the website of Rede Nacional de Expressos (only in Portuguese).

Car rentals
There are car rental services at airports, international rail terminuses and in the main towns and cities.
Drivers with mobility difficulties, or anyone who prefers to, can rent automatic or adapted vehicles.
To rent a car you must:

be at least between 21 and 25 years old, depending on the company’s rental policy
show identification (identity card for EU citizens or a valid passport for other nationalities)
have had a driving licence for more than one year

Taxis
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 0.75 euros.
There is a charge of 1.50 euros for luggage, regardless of weight or the number of pieces. Carry cots, pushchairs, wheelchairs and walking aids are carried free of charge.
Outside towns, taxis charge by the kilometre and the driver and passenger agree on the fare in advance. Where they exist, the passenger has to pay the road tolls there and back.
Tipping is at the passenger’s discretion, though it is normal to tip 5-10% or round the amount up to the nearest euro.