Portugal

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Flag of Portugal Portugal
Information
Language: Portuguese
Capital: Lisbon
Population: 10,670,000
Currency: Euro
Hitchability: <rating country='pt' />
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<map lat='39.5' lng='-8' zoom='6' view='0' float='right' height='320' country='Portugal' />

Portugal is a country located in south-western Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of mainland Europe and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south and by Spain to the north and east. The Atlantic archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira are also part of Portugal.

People are very friendly in general. During the summer, especially the coastline is overrun with tourists. In Portugal people are easy going and sometimes slow. Everything needs its time, so you will probably have to wait for a little while. Long distance buses are usually a bit late.

Hitchhiking

A hitchhiker bound for Lisbon

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. As an alternative to hitchhiking you can use the buses from Rede Expresso for overland travels. The railway network is not in a good state, it is slow and there are only two lines. During the hot hours of "the Siesta" (2pm -5pm) traffic density is decreased - Siesta is a Spanish concept and word and it isn't done in Portugal that much unfortunately.

Truck Routes

A common way in Portugal for long distance lorries is to take the Autopista Castilla (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 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.

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... (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.

Links

  • BRISA has information on all the highways in Portugal and their exits and gas stations. For the location of some of the gas stations click here.
  • bp Portugal for bp highway petrol stations in Portugal.
Cities in Portugal with more than 40.000 inhabitants

> 500.000: Lisbon

100.000-500.000: AlmadaAmadoraBragaCoimbraFunchalPortoVila Nova de Gaia

40.000–100.000: Agualva-CacémAmoraAveiroBarreiroÉvoraFaroGuimarãesLeiriaMatosinhosOdivelasPonta DelgadaQueluzRio TintoSetúbalViseu


trash:Portugal wikipedia:Portugal