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Hitching in Portugal is quite easy. However, it is important that you are protected from the sun. The [[weather]] is, especially in summer, extremely hot. During the autumn or winter season, rain can be constant, especially in the north and centre of Portugal. Although, you still might be able to find long periods of beautiful sunshine.
==== Truck Routes ====
A common way in Portugal for long distance lorries is to take the Autopista Castilla ([[:Category:E80|E80]]). There is a huge truck stop at the border where they can get cheap Portuguese food, so many just wait until they get there before going to other areas of Portugal, mostly to [[Porto]] and [[Lisbon|Lisboa]].
==== Fátima? ====
[[Fátima]] is a little pilgrimage village. You could try using a sign with this name to increase your chances of being picked up. It's on the road between Lisbon and Porto.
=== Eat and Drink ===
You make a good deal if you buy on the local markets where you can expect good quality for low prices. Fruits, vegetables, fish and meat have mostly good prices. Expensive is cheese, fruit juice, haribo and chocolate.
In restaurants you will always get bread, cheese, butter and olives without being asked. This will cost extra. As starter there is a soup usual and as main course grilled fish or grilled meat with rice or chips. Portuguese people often eat grilled stuff or stew. The meals are mostly simple.
If you're in small villages while they have festivities, you might get free food distributed by the organization. The food normally consists of grilled sardines (yummy!), bread and wine (loads of it). You can find those events mainly in summer time in places like Azambuja (Feira de Maio), Vila Franca de Xira (Colete Encharnado) or Benavente (Festas da Amizade). You can check [http://festabravanoribatejo.blogspot.pt this website] to find these events (not all of them include free food though). In summer 2015 [[User:EliasExplores|EliasExplores]] traveled to many of these festivities and documented it with his camera. You can find his videos on [https://www.youtube.com/FictionSource Youtube].
=== Sleep ===
if you don't find anything through the typical hospitality exchange networks, you can try to stay with the firemen. Each Bombeiros station in Portugal has a room where they can host passing travellers, and it is free. These (mostly volunteer) fire-fighters are friendly and chatty, when they speak English. Make sure you go ask early enough, however, as the station commander has to verify that you can stay... ([[User:janpa|janpa]] tried it in several stations in March 2013 and had no luck. Might work in remote areas though, or if you are a fireman yourself.)
Throughout the three warmer seasons, and in winter too if you have a tent or find shelter, you can sleep outside without much hassle. However, it is illegal to camp unless you do so on a specified camp area, so be sure to keep yourself out of sight and don't litter. Camping on the beach is also illegal, and most are patrolled at night during the summer. If caught, you will be kicked out and fined.
[[trash:Portugal]]
[[wikipedia:Portugal]]
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=== Hitchhiking ===
Hitching in Portugal is quite easy. However, it is important that you are protected from the sun. The [[weather]] is, especially in summer, extremely hot. During the autumn or winter season, rain can be constant, especially in the north and centre of Portugal. Although, you still might be able to find long periods of beautiful sunshine.
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[[File:Hhlisboa.jpg|right|thumb|334px|A hitchhiker bound for Lisbon'']]
If you hitchhike near the coastal regions, you will probably have more chances of being picked up. Most of the people in Portugal live near the coast. Regions around [[Lisbon]] or [[Porto]] are generally with more traffic throughout the year. The Southern coast of Portugal is also very touristic, so you will have higher chances of being picked also by foreigners.
Another important issue is the way you address the drivers (since speaking directly with them gives better result than standing on the exit of the highway, if you´re hitchhiking on one. The Portuguese, even if not very familiar with the idea of hitchhiking, turn out to be very friendly people if approached in the right way. Say hello, excuse for disturbing, explain where you´re going to and ask if by any chance they´re going the same way. Seems like very basic advice but in Portugal it matters more than in central Europe ;)
===== Truck Routes =====
A common way in Portugal for long distance lorries is to take the Autopista Castilla ([[:Category:E80|E80]]). There is a huge truck stop at the border where they can get cheap Portuguese food, so many just wait until they get there before going to other areas of Portugal, mostly to [[Porto]] and [[Lisbon|Lisboa]].
===== Fátima? =====
[[Fátima]] is a little pilgrimage village. You could try using a sign with this name to increase your chances of being picked up. It's on the road between Lisbon and Porto.
===Language ===
If your ride is only taking you to somewhere near Vilar Formoso border and you want to go further in Portugal, stay at the last Cepsa gas station on the right side of the road, 5kms before the border. Gas is cheaper in Spain, and many cars fill up their tanks in there before entering Portugal.
=== Links ===
{{nomadwiki}}
* [http://www.brisa.pt/PresentationLayer/homepageclientes.aspx?menuid=1 BRISA] has information on all the highways in Portugal and their exits and petrol stations. For the location of some of the petrol stations click [http://www.brisa.pt/PresentationLayer/areasservico.aspx?menuid=10 here].
* For the locations of the petrol stations in A28 click [http://nortelitoral.pt/site/category/viajar/viajar-seguro/areas-de-servico/ here]
* For informations about all highways and respective exits, connections to other roads, and petrol stations click [http://www.portugalconvida.net/pdf/AUTOESTRADAS.pdf here] for a pdf doc
* To find local festivities "festas bravas", it's recommended to check [http://festabravanoribatejo.blogspot.pt this website]. [[User:EliasExplores|EliasExplores]] had most excellent experiences being in those small villages. As seen on his [https://www.youtube.com/FictionSource Youtube Channel]
{{wikipedia-link|Portugal}}
{{Cities Portugal}}
{{Europe/countries}}
{{IsIn|Southern Europe}}
[[Category:Southern Europe]]
