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 The southern Portuguese province of the Algarve, divided from the rest of the country by a series of low-lying mountains, is one of Europe’s most popular coastal holiday destinations, catering for millions of tourists every year. The region’s capital, Faro, is built around a charming harbour beside a wide lagoon. An international airport was opened near Faro in 1965 to cater for the incoming tourists, making the city the hub of the resort trade.
Most of the Algarve’s trendy, modern holiday resorts were formerly little fishing villages. They still feature central areas with narrow streets, whitewashed houses and ancient churches, but it is the region’s long sandy beaches, which have ensured its place as a holiday Mecca. The coastline stretches 100 miles (161km) from Cape St. Vincent to Vila Real de Santo Antonio on the border with Spain, and much of it today is built up with high-rise hotels and holiday apartment blocks, particularly the area to the west of Faro. Algarve Travel Facts: Time: Local time is GMT (GMT +1 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).
Electricity: Electrical current is 220 volts, 50Hz. Round two-pin plugs are used.
Money: Portugal is a member of the European Union and its official currency is the Euro (EUR), which is divided into 100 cents. There are numerous banks, bureaux de change and ATMs available in main cities and tourist destinations. Foreign currency can be exchanged at banks, bureaux de change and automatic currency exchange machines. Banking hours are generally 8.30am to 3pm Monday to Friday. Major credit cards are widely accepted, as are travellers cheques.
Language: Portuguese is the official language, but English is widely spoken and understood.
Entry requirements for UK nationals: British citizens do not require a visa for a stay of up to 90 days.
Health: There are no health risks attached to travel to Portugal. Tipping: Service charges are usually added to hotel and restaurant bills, but it is customary to leave an additional 10%. Bar staff and taxi drivers also expect tips, which are usually the rounding up of the bill to the nearest Euro.
Safety: Travel to Portugal should be trouble-free, but there is a rising incidence of petty theft and pick-pocketing in tourist areas, so reasonable care should be taken.
Communications: The international access code for Portugal is +351. There are no area or city codes required. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). Portugal is well covered by three GSM mobile phone networks. Internet cafes are available in most towns and resorts.
Useful contact information: Portuguese Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7235 5331
British Embassy, Lisbon: +351 21 392 4000 |
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