Page 156 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Lisbon

154  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Communications and Media pay the cashier afterwards. The
cost per unit is relatively low.
Information and telecommunications technology in Portugal Some cafés, restaurants and
has advanced at a swift pace. Public telephones are widely bars have a units meter
available, and the country’s mobile phone operators have connected to their phone that
roaming agree ments with most international phone calculates the cost of your call,
for which you pay afterwards.
companies; there is good coverage across the city. Lisbon has They charge more than the post
numerous Internet cafés, and Wi-Fi access is available at the office but less than hotels.
airport, most of the bigger hotels and in many public spaces. For international calls and
Foreign-language newspapers and magazines are on sale the calls to mobile phones in
same day of home publication. Portuguese terrestrial television particular, bear in mind that
rates are lower between 9pm
is complemented by an array of foreign cable and satellite and 9am, at weekends and
channels. Domestic radio broadcasts exclusively in Portuguese. on public holidays. All Lisbon
landlines start with 21 and
mobile numbers start with a 9.
Mobile Phones It is worth keeping your
If you want to guarantee that network operator’s helpline
your mobile phone will work number to hand in case
in Portugal, make sure you of difficulties.
have a quad-band phone.
Tri-band phones are also
usually compatible, but they Public Telephones
may have limited global Public telephones are plentiful
coverage. Contact your in Lisbon, with options to pay
service provider to check by coin, phonecard or credit
your phone’s compatibility. card. They are found in booths
To use your mobile phone in the streets as well as in bars, Accessing the Internet at an Internet café
abroad, you may need to cafés and shopping centres. in Lisbon
request permission from Card-operated phones are more
your network provider before common and more convenient, Internet Access
travelling so that they can accepting a variety of Internet access is widely
set your phone to allow phonecards that can be available in Lisbon, where an
“roaming”. Check roaming purchased from post offices, abundance of Internet cafés
charges with your provider, newsagents, tobacconists can be found in every major
as making and receiving calls (tabacaria) and Portugal district, especially in tourist
can be very expensive. Telecom company outlets. enclaves such as Bairro Alto
A popular and cheaper They also tend to be cheaper, and Chiado. Charges vary, but
option is to purchase a local charging about 3 cents for a expect to pay between €1 and
SIM card (the electronic chip local call. Some phones also €3 per hour. Public Internet
that links your phone to accept credit cards, although facilities can also be found
a particular network); this will that incurs a small extra charge. at the city’s coach and rail
use the local mobile phone International calls and calls terminals, most of the large
networks and can be topped to mobile phones are more hotels, some guesthouses and
up with credit. There are three expensive. An alternative is the city’s main youth hostel,
main mobile phone operators to phone from a post office, Lisboa Central Hostel on Rua
in Portugal: TMN, Vodafone without having either change or Rodrigues Sampaio (just off
and Nos. However, you can a card. You simply step into a Praça Marquês de Pombal, Map
use a local SIM card only if free booth, make your call, and 5 C5), as well as some other
your handset is “unlocked” – newer youth hostels.
some operators lock their Wi-Fi hotspots, such as
phones to specific networks. those found at Lisbon airport
Visitors who intend to remain and some modern shopping
in the city for an extended malls, enable users to log in
period would benefit from on the go, but this facility is
hiring or even purchasing a not always free. Fabulás is a
mobile phone from one of relaxed and stylish option
the main phone operators’ among cafés offering free Wi-Fi.
shops, such as MEO or People wanting to log on via
Vodafone, listed opposite. mobile phones, laptops or
The cost of both local and palmtops need to check that
international calls will be A public phone booth outside a café their Internet service provider
significantly cheaper. in Lisbon offers a global roaming option.

154-155_EW_Lisbon.indd 154 17/10/16 11:35 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.7)
Date 5th March 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm