CURRENCY & EXCHANGE
Portugal is one of the European Union countries whose common official currency is the Euro.
You can exchange money at banks, which are open from 8.30 a.m. to 3 p.m. five working days a week; at bureaux de change; and at automatic currency exchange machines (these are for currency sale transactions only).
In Portugal, the most commonly used credit cards are: Visa, American Express, Diners Club, Europay / MasterCard, JCB and Maestro.
TIME DIFFERENCE
Standard Time in Portugal is Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+0).
BANKING & ATM
Banks are open from 8.30 a.m. to 3 p.m. five working days a week.
Portugal has a national network of cash machines (ATMs) identified by the symbol MB (Multibanco), from which you can withdraw cash 24 hours a day.
TIPPING
Service is included in the bill in restaurants, though it is customary to leave an additional tip of about 5-10% of the total.
It is also normal to tip taxi drivers 5-10 % or rounding up the amount paid to the nearest euro.
BUSINESS HOURS
Government office hours are usually from 9:00 to 16:30 on weekdays and are closed on weekends. Most stores in Évora are open every day from 10:30 to 13:00 and from 15:00 to 19:00, on week days, some of them are also open on Saturdays morning and only few on Saturdays afternoon and Sundays.
TAX & VAT
Visitors to Portugal who are not resident in any of the European Union member states can be reimbursed for the VAT (Value Added Tax) paid on purchases that they have made in Portugal and are being transported in their personal luggage. Only private individuals can benefit from this reimbursement.
Detailed information can be seen in the following websites:
- Premier Tax Free - www.premiertaxfree.com - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Global Refund - www.globalrefund.com - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Innova Taxfree Portugal - http://www.innovataxfree.com/portugal - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
VISA
Citizens of the European Union, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Romania and Switzerland need only an identity card to enter in Portugal.
In addition to their identity card, minors must also present authorisation from their parents to travel.
For visits of less than 90 days, a passport valid for at least three months after the end of their stay is necessary for visitors from Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Guatemala, Holy See, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, South Korea, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Special Administrative Regions of the People’s Republic of China in Hong Kong and Macao and Taiwan territorial Authority.
Citizens from countries not mentioned above need a visa to enter Portugal, which may be requested at the Portuguese Embassy or Consulate of their country.
Under the terms of the Convention Implementing the Schengen Agreement, flights between Schengen states are considered to be internal flights and passengers do not need to obtain another visa.
You will find all the detailed information in the following websites:
http://www.secomunidades.pt/web/guest/PostosConsulares
ELECTRICITY
The electric current in Portugal is 230/400 volts at a frequency of 50 hertz and sockets comply with European standards.
You will need a 230 volt transformer and an adaptor to use American-style flat-prong plugs.
USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS
National Emergency Number: 112
Évora phone numbers
Hospital
Hospital do Espírito Santo
Address: Largo Senhor da Pobreza
Phone: 266740100
Hospital do Patrocínio
Address: Av. Infante D. Henrique
Phone: 266740120
Hospital da Misericórdia
Address: Av. Sanches de Miranda
Phone: 266760630
Post office
Address: Rua da Olivença
Phone: 266745480
Address: Rossio / Rua Gil Vicente
Phone: 266777510
Taxi / Cab
Phone: 266734734
Police office
Address: Rua Francisco S. Lusitano
Phone: 266702022
