Banks
Open Monday to Friday 08:30 - 15:00; closed Saturdays, Sundays and National Holidays. You'll need your passport to exchange travellers cheques. Look for the sign “câmbios”. Commission is charged per transaction regardless of amount.
Buses
Clean, reasonably comfortable and cheap. Local services often infrequent by day and non-existent at night. Avoid long, boring journeys within the Algarve by booking express regional services. Good choice of Algarve-Lisbon bus companies and departure times. The Faro-based EVA (info in Portuguese, English, German and Dutch) run good local and regional services, and also frequent services to Lisbon and Spain, and the Rede Nacional de Expressos run a comprehensive national service. Both have good on-line routes and timetables.

Consulates
Consulate |
Phone |
Consulate |
Phone |
Austrian |
282 416202 |
Belgian |
289 803757 |
British |
282 417800 |
Canadian |
289 803757 |
Danish |
289 805561 |
Finnish |
289 394085 |
German |
289 803148 |
Dutch |
289 20903 |
Spanish |
281 44888 |
Swedish |
282 413311 |
Norwegian |
289 823505 |
|
|
Lisbon Embassies
Country |
Phone |
Country |
Phone |
Austrian |
21 387 4162 |
Belgian |
21 549 263 |
British |
21 396 1191 |
Canadian |
21 347 4892 |
Danish |
21 545 099 |
Dutch |
21 396 1163 |
French |
21 386 0206 |
German |
21 881 0210 |
Irish |
21 396 1569 |
Norwegian |
21 301 5344 |
South African |
21 353 5041> |
Swedish |
21 395 5224 |
Swiss |
21 397 3121> |
U.S.A. |
21 726 6600 |
Chemists
Open 09:00 - 13:00; 15:00 - 19:00. One chemist stays open after hours on a rotating basis and the address of the open pharmacy is listed on all other chemists' doors.
Chemists (farmácias) will advise on minor matters. There are reciprocal arrangements within the EU on free treatment in clinics and hospitals. When requesting treatment, show your passport, or an E111 or E112 form. Health clinics (centro de sáude) deal with less serious problems. For emergencies, there are 24-hour hospitals in Faro, Portimão and Lagos. Private doctors (British, German and Dutch as well as Portuguese) will give more personal treatment, but without insurance it can be expensive.
DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE!
Portugal has the highest road accident rate in Europe. The standard of both road building and driving is much lower than in Northen European countries, and you need to be continually alert and cautious. Be especially aware of vehicles suddenly emerging from side roads, and of maniac overtaking.
ZERO TOLERANCE!
High-profile police patrols are becoming ever more vigilant and ever less tolerant of bad driving, speeding and drink driving. Besides risking your life and those of others, you also risk heavy penalties if you break the law.
Electricity
220 volts AC with Continental two-pin plugs is usual. Earthing can be erratic in older buildings.
It could be that there is no electricity for one or two hours. Don`t woory this is normal and belongs to the portugese life.