The quality of Portugal's roads can vary considerably - from the auto-estradas to secondary and country roads. However, drivers can still enjoy their journey with some forward planning.
Road rules
Traffic drives on the right in Portugal and drivers must be at least 17 and be carrying a full valid driving licence or international driving permit at all times.
Seatbelts must be worn, and make sure you have a red warning triangle in the car in case of an accident or breakdown.
Note that trams have right of way in towns and cities and they must not be overtaken when they are stationary. The maximum blood/alcohol level allowable is 0.5 mg/ml.
Speed limits are:
Urban areas: 50kph/31mph
Rural roads: 90kph/56mph
Motorways: 120kph/75mph
Motorway and road network
Motorways in Portugal are marked with an 'A' (for auto-estrada) and have six or four lanes with fairly hefty tolls which can make motorway journeys quite expensive. National roads are marked with an 'N'; these are generally single-lane roads that pass through towns and villages where speeds must be significantly reduced, and make up the majority of Portugal's roads. The more minor the road, the more digits will be displayed after the letter 'N'.
In Lisbon you can obtain a blue zone parking permit disc, which is free and available from the local police. As with other cities, park the car facing the right direction and away from tram and bus stops, as cars that are incorrectly parked will be towed.
Costs, distances and times
Petrol stations are generally open from 07:00 until 22:00 or midnight, although some are open 24 hours. Paying by credit card may incur a surcharge. One litre of unleaded costs about 95 cents and diesel costs about 70 cents.
Typical driving distances and times are:
Lisbon – Porto: 300kms/187mi 3 hours
Lisbon – Evora: 140kms/88mi 1 hour, 30 mins
Faro - Lisbon: 297kms/185mi 3 hours, 30 mins
Faro - Porto: 609kms/380mi 7 hours
Safety
It's always wise to maintain a reliable insurance policy when travelling abroad. This
online Portugal travel insurance option provides good coverage.
The Automovel Club de Portugal (ACP) can provide breakdown assistance 24 hours a day; tel: (02) 830 1127 for service in the north, and (01) 356 3931 in the south. Alternatively the pan-European emergency number for all services is 112.
In the event of a breakdown, you must place your warning triangle at least 30 metres/100 feet behind the vehicle. Sudden bends and turns are commonplace on Portuguese roads, as are potholes. There are also poorly lit highways and heavy congestion, including livestock, so you are advised to be careful. Portugal also has one of the worse road safety records in Europe.
Before you head into Portugal, it pays to explore the travel and booking options online ahead of time. This
Lisbon airport guide contains information about the Portuguese capital and Portugal's busiest airport, along with regional airports and important pre-booking information for hotels, airfare, and car rental.
