Where To Stay
A wide range of accommodations is available, including 42 pousadas- inns owned and operated by the government, of historic or architectural interest. Some private manor houses and gracious noble homes also take guests. Rates range from about $65 to $180. The 16 Hotels de Charme (half government castle pousadas, half private hotels) are small luxury inns with historical significance and flair.
Transportation
Arriving & Departing: Lisbon's Portela Airport is served by nonstop flights from U.S. cities. Lisbon is also well connected by air to major European cities. The average taxi fare from the airport to midtown is about $8. The new Aero-Bus between the airport and Praa dos Restauradores is about $3.50; the ticket is also valid that day for bus, street-car and street-elevator transportation.
There are international trains from Madrid and Paris; the overnight express between Lisbon and Madrid takes about 11 hours and starts at about $140 round trip.
Getting Around: For information on rail passes, see by rail.
The Lisbon Card, good for buses, trams, lifts and the subway system, can be purchased for one, two or three days. The price ranges from $9 to $18.
Taxis are plentiful and inexpensive.
Holidays
New Year’s Day, Mardi Gras (Feb. 11), Good Friday (Mar. 28), Liberty Day (April 25), Labor Day (May 1), Corpus Christi (May 29), Camões and Portugal Day (June 10), St. Anthony’s Day (Lisbon, June 13), Assumption (Aug. 15), Republic Day (Oct. 5), All Saints Day (Nov. 1), Independence Day (Dec. 1), Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8), Christmas.
Money Matters
Banks are open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The escudo is divided into 100 centavos. $1 = 155.74 PTE as of Dec. 2, 1996. (In Portugal, the dollar sign is placed between escudos and centavos; e.g., 145$00.)
Free Literature
PORTUGAL/ WHERE THE ATLANTIC MEETS EUROPE: General information and regional highlights. Also available are maps, information on cultural attractions and special-interest activities, a calendar of events and brochures on individual cities and regions.
Portuguese National Tourist Office
590 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10036
Tel: (212) 354-4403
Fax: (212) 764-6137
e-mail: aavila@portugal.org
www.portugal.org
