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Climate

Mainland Portugal

The climate in Portugal varies considerably from one region to another and is influenced by the relief, latitude and proximity to the sea, which offers mild winters, especially in the Algarve.

In the Porto e Norte area and Beiras region, particularly inland, nearer Spain, the winters are colder, although the temperatures are still mild when compared to the rest of Europe. There is some snowfall. It occurs most in the Serra da Estrela mountains, where we find the highest point in mainland Portugal (1,991 m) and where it is sometimes possible to ski.

The summers are hot and dry, especially in the inland areas (Trás-os-Montes in north-eastern Portugal and Alentejo). Temperatures are slightly lower in the coastal areas, because of the influence of the sea.

There are often warm, sunny days in autumn. Nice weather at the beginning of November is often called "St. Martin’s Summer" as this saint’s day is on 11 November

Language
From a Latin root, Portuguese is spoken by about 250 million people in every continent and is the 5th most spoken language in the world and the 3rd, if we only consider the European languages.

Portuguese-speaking countries are scattered all over the world. Portuguese is spoken in Africa (Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique and São Tomé e Príncipe), in South America (Brazil) and in Asia, (East Timor, the youngest nation in the world), and it is also the official language in Macao Special Administrative Region of China.

In Portugal, there are lots of people who can communicate in English, French as well as Spanish.

Money – Currency
Portugal is one of 19 European Union countries whose common official currency is the euro. 1 euro is divided into 100 cents. The coins come in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, and 1 and 2 euros.
The notes are differentiated by their size and colour and come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros.

ATMs - Automatic Teller Machines (Multibanco)
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.

Credit cards

In Portugal, the most commonly used credit cards are Visa, American Express, Diners Club, Europay / MasterCard, JCB and Maestro.

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 EUR.

Getting around
Taxis are usually cream in color, although there are still some painted black with a green roof in the traditional Portuguese style.

The fare is shown on the taximeter. The prices are affixed inside the car or you can ask the driver about them.

If you phone for a taxi you will have to pay an extra 0.80 euros. There is a charge of 1.60 euros for luggage, regardless of weight or the number of pieces.

Carrycots, pushchairs, wheelchairs and walking aids are carried free of charge.

Outside towns, transport by taxi is paid per kilometer, and the passenger is informed of the amount in advance. Where they exist, the passenger has to pay the road tolls there and back.Tipping is at the passenger’s discretion, though it is normal to tip 5-10% or round the amount up to the nearest EUR

Typical dishes you must try
Bacalhau or Codfish, or bacalhau in Portuguese, is more than simply a traditional dish, it is a national obsession. The dish even has its own nickname, “the faithful friend. There are hundreds of different recipes and versions of this classic, but bacalhau à brás is one of the best; a combination of onions, chips, olives, parsley, egg and, of course, cod.
Cataplana de Marisco: a seafood stew cooked in a copper double-pan and served with rice or chips
Pastel de Nata: is Portugal’s most famous cake, and probably Portugal’s best cake as well. It originates from Lisbon and was originally invented by monks at Jerónimos Monastery
Caldo Verde: is Portugal’s favorite soup, and probably it’s the best soup as well. Although it originates from the Minho region in Northern Portugal, you’ll see Caldo Verde on menus throughout the entire country.
Sardinhas Assadas: The smell of sardines being cooked on a BBQ is something that’s quintessentially Portuguese, and it’s hard not to think of Portugal if you get a whiff of it somewhere else