Page 382 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Portugal

Rules of the Road served by rail, although the more remote lines
When using a car in Portugal, drive on the right have sadly been made obsolete by new road
and use the left lane only for passing other links. CP runs two types of train service, with
vehicles. Seat belts are required for all routes spanning from north of Braga to Faro,
passengers and heavy fines are incurred for some of which take in Lisbon, Coimbra and
using a mobile phone while driving. Drivers are Porto. The new Alfa Pendular trains are faster,
required to stop at pedestrian crossings. The more comfortable and have free Wi-Fi, while
blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) limit is Intercidades trains are older, cheaper and stop
more regularly. Trains should be pre-booked
0.5mg/ml and is very strictly enforced.
NEED TO KNOW Getting Around Always carry your passport, licence and such as Lisbon’s Sintra and Cascais lines. A
either online or at the station, except for
Dashboard cameras are illegal in Portugal,
journeys on urban rail networks (urbanas),
as they contravene privacy laws.
insurance details. In the event of an accident
conductor will validate tickets on-board and will
often ask for ID. Tickets for urbanas can be
or breakdown, the driver and passengers must
bought at the station prior to departure and
don a fluorescent yellow safety vest and erect a
collapsible warning triangle 50 m (164 ft) behind should be validated at the ticket machines on
the platform before boarding.
the vehicle. Both of these items must be stored
in the trunk at all times. Driver’s licences issued
CP
by any EU member state are valid throughout
the EU, including Portugal. If visiting from
Public Transport
outside the EU, you may need to apply for
an International Driving Permit (IDP). ∑ cp.pt
The local motoring association, the ACP In most cities and towns, bus services suffice as
(Automóvel Club de Portugal), has a reciprocal the sole means of public transport. However,
breakdown service with most other international larger cities, including Coimbra, Lisbon and
motoring organizations. To qualify, drivers Porto, operate multiple services, including trams
should take out European cover with their own and metro systems. With the exception of
organization. Should you be involved in a road Lisbon, most of Portugal’s historic city centres
accident, the emergency services number is 112. are compact and can be covered on foot. In the
If you have simply broken down, call the ACP Algarve, buses are run privately and several
(808 502 502) or, if driving a hired car, check the companies operate services between cities.
instructions supplied by your chosen company.
ACP Public Transport Operators
∑ acp.pt Coimbra: Serviços Municipalizados de
Transportes Urbanos de Coimbra (SMTUC)
Train Travel ∑ smtuc.pt
Lisbon: Carris
International Train Travel ∑ carris.pt/en/home
There are two main routes into Portugal by train. Porto: Sociedade de Transportes Colectivos
The famous Sud Express train departs daily at do Porto (STCP)
6:45pm from Irun on the French–Spanish border, ∑ stcp.pt/en/travel
and splits near Coimbra, arriving into Lisbon and
Porto. Irun can be reached from Austerlitz Lisbon and Porto
station in Paris. Travelling from London to Portugal’s two largest cities have extensive
Lisbon, using the Eurostar to reach Paris, public transport networks comprising buses,
and then the Sud Express to Lisbon, takes metro systems, trams and funiculars. The metro
approximately 30 hours. Alternatively, the runs until 1am and is the most convenient way
overnight train from Madrid takes 10 hours. to travel, while trams and funiculars are pleasant,
Both routes are operated by the Spanish but generally less practical. Buses go just about
state-run service Renfe. You can purchase everywhere and some services run through the
tickets online or at international train stations night on a reduced schedule.
in Portugal. It is sensible to book ahead in peak The price of a single ticket varies for each
season (Jul–Aug). method of transport. Both cities offer travel
Eurostar cards that allow comprehensive access across
∑ eurostar.com networks at a discounted rate. Travel cards
Renfe (Lisbon’s Viva Viagem and Porto’s Andante) can
∑ renfe.com be bought in the main metro and train stations.
There is a small charge (€0.50/€0.60) to purchase
Domestic Train Travel the card itself and each traveller must have their
CP (Comboios de Portugal) is the country’s own. Cards can be topped up in advance or
national rail operator. Most parts of Portugal are loaded with a 24-hour pass.
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