Page 383 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Portugal

In Lisbon, a basic 24-hour pass (€6.30) allows In smaller towns, taxis can usually be found at
unlimited travel on the metro, buses, trams and ranks in the centre and several local firms may
funiculars. Advanced passes either include operate in each area. In the Algarve, many
access to Lisbon’s urban rail network (Cascais, visitors choose private hire cars or mini buses, as
Sintra, Estoril) or to ferry services across the taxi rank queues are often long in peak season
Tagus. In Porto, the price is graded by distance, and taxis can rarely be booked in advance. It is
according to the city’s zone system and can be common to tip by rounding the fare up. Some
used on the metro, buses and urban trains. A taxi drivers may offer their services as tour
2-zone pass (€4.15) covers most areas of interest, guides for a daily rate. Be careful to compare
while 4-zone tickets include the airport. their rates with others advertised before
committing to avoid being overcharged.
Long-Distance Bus Travel Taxi apps such as Uber are becoming
increasingly popular and widespread in
Travelling to Portugal by coach is cheap but very Portugal’s cities. They are extremely easy to
time consuming. Flixbus offer a variety of routes use, particularly if you already have an account.
into Portugal from destinations across Western
Europe, but they have long journey times. Cycle and Scooter Hire
National coach travel is far more convenient.
Coach companies in Portugal are competitive Portugal’s steep historic city centres are ill-
and offer efficient, comfortable services. Rede equipped for bicycles, but popular cycling routes
Expressos covers most of Portugal, linking exist on the flatter fringes and you can rent
Braga, Porto, Lisbon and Faro. As a rule, you can bicycles in most towns and cities. Long-distance
no longer buy tickets on-board for long distance journeys are best attempted during the milder
trips and there are discounts for booking early. shoulder seasons when the roads are quieter.
Tickets for shorter trips, however, can be Scooters are suitable for short journeys only
bought at the station or from the driver. EVA and inter-city travel really requires a motorcycle.
covers the Algarve particularly well, with various Most rental companies require a deposit and ask
discounted ticket deals, and Rodonorte focuses that you leave your passport at the shop. You
on the extreme north. must have a driver’s licence valid for your
Organized coach tours in Portugal are desired bike category. Note that 50cc vehicles
plentiful, especially from major cities and in are forbidden on motorways and all riders must
the Algarve. Tourist offices, hotels and travel wear helmets by law.
agencies can advise on which company might
best suit your needs. Islands and Ferries
EVA
∑ eva-bus.com Several national airlines run daily direct flights
Flixbus to Madeira and the Azores from Lisbon, Porto
∑ flixbus.com and Faro. Cheap flights are available between
Rede Expressos islands and are the fastest way to get around.
∑ rede-expressos.pt/en/ TAP flies several times a day between Funchal
Rodonorte and Porto Santo in the Madeira group; on the
∑ rodonorte.pt Azores, flights are operated by SATA. Flights to
Flores and Corvo are often disrupted by bad
Taxis weather, so for extensive island-hopping it is a
good idea to insure against delays.
Taxis in Portugal are relatively inexpensive A network of passenger ferries operated by
compared to the rest of Europe and can work Atlânticoline links all the islands of the Azores,
out as being cheaper than public transport for allowing visitors to explore the archipelago by
large groups travelling together. Most taxi sea. Journey times range from 30 minutes to
drivers only accept cash and can be hailed 18 hours, and as a rule, shorter services run
in the street and at taxi ranks. more frequently. Triangle The Azores offers
In cities, always take an official, metered a special three-in-one ticket between the
taxi. A green light indicates that the taxi is islands of Pico, Faial and São Jorge.
available and two green lights mean a higher Atlânticoline
rate of charge. Ensure that the meter is on, ∑ atlanticoline.pt
suggest agreeing on a price for longer routes SATA
and always check the extra cost for luggage ∑ sata.pt
before setting off. The average starting rate TAP
for a taxi is €3.25 by day, although rates differ ∑ flytap.com
between companies and are usually 20 per Triangle The Azores
cent higher between 10pm and 6am. ∑ triangletheazores.com

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