Life Costs

Here is a little list of some everyday things with their prices in order to show you our life cost:

Milk (1lt) - €0,70
Sugar (1Kg) - €1,00
Entrance to a Club - €5,00
Phone Card - €5,00
Bread (400gr) - €1,50
Sodas - €1,00
Coffee - €,50
Cigarettes - €3,00

Opening Hours

Banks - Are open from 8.30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday, closing on public holidays.

Shops - From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. (working days). On Saturdays most shops close at 1 p.m., eventhough there are some open in the afternoon.

Shopping Centres - Are open from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. or midnight, every day of the week.

Museums - From 10 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on Mondays.

Currency

The unit of currency is the Euro (€). Some banks have automatic exchange machines. Traveler cheques and Eurocheques are accepted by all Portuguese banks and exchange bureaus. Visa, Amex, Eurocard, Diner Club and Master Card are the most useful credit card.

Health

Medical facilities - Medical assistance is available in hospitals providing 24 hours a day emergency service. There are also many clinics open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. In case of emergency dial the number 112. In case of road accident use the nearest SOS phone (orange). For further information see Phone Directory.

Chemists - Are open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday and Saturday mornings. In every area, you can always find one that is open all night or on Sunday. See the sign on the door (white cross on green background) to find your nearest chemist. The Portuguese word for chemist is "Farmácia".

Electricity

The current is 220 volts AC, with a continental round pin plug.

Telephone/GSM

All over Portugal, there are crediphones where phone cards can be used. These can be bought in post offices and news agents. At post offices, calls can be paid for at the end of the conversation. To phone abroad, dial 00 then the country code and city/local code.
Portugal has 900MHZ GSM and GPRS networks coverage of 100% of the national population. In the main Portuguese cities you also have 1800 MHZ GSM network and 3G services.
Before leaving your country, check with your GSM provider that roaming service in Portugal is available for you.

Postal Services

Post offices are open Monday to Friday from 8.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. In main cities there are one post office station open on Saturdays.
Stamps are sold here and also on shops bearing the sign of the red horse. The Portuguese word for post office is "Correios" and for stamp is "selo".

Emergency Calls

Emergency Calls - 112
Fire - 117
Police - 112
Ambulance - 112


Quick Portuguese Lesson

Good morning! - Bom Dia!
Good evening! - Boa Tarde!
Good night! - Boa Noite!
Hello! - Olá!
Please! - Por Favor!
Yes! - Sim!
No! - Não!
I don't understand! - Não compreendo!
Thank you! - Obrigado!
Fine, thanks. - Bem,obrigado.
How are you? - Como estás?
One ticket to Coimbra. - Um bilhete para Coimbra.
How much does it cost? - Quanto custa?
Help! (example: could you please help me?) - Ajuda!
HELP!!!!!! (example: HELP!!I'M ON FIRE!!) - Socorro!!
I want to go to Coimbra. - Quero ir para Coimbra.
Do you speak english? - Fala inglês?