Basic information:Official language: Portuguese
Capital city: Lisbon
Main towns: Porto, Aveiro, Faro, Braga, Coimbra, Setúbal
Government: Parliamentary republic
Area: 88 500 km²
Currency: Euro (€) (EUR)
Internet TLD (domain name): .pt
Car code: P
Calling code: +351
Emergency telephone number: 112
Work hours: Some shops, museums and other public institutions close for lunch break, that is from 12.30 to 2.30-3 pm, only banks are open till 3 pm without lunch break.

Safety:
Portugal is a safe country. Pick pocketing sometimes occur in crowded places like stations, public means of transport and tourist places.

Be aware of pickpockets! Especially in touristic places such as popular 28 tram (where pickpockets work in groups) but also in crowdy Rua Augusta, Belem or St. Anthony Church and Cathedral Se.

As cars parked in the streets are sometimes robbed, it is advisable not to leave any valuable things like mobile phones, bags etc inside.

There’s a special police station for tourists (Polícia de Segurança Pública, Esquadra de Turismo) in Lisbon, in Palácio Foz, in Praça dos Restauradores, where you may communicate in English. In case of emergency you may call the police or ambulance dialling number 112.

Entry regulations:
A travel document that qualifies you to enter and stay in Portuguese Republic without a visa (regardless of the aim of your travel) up to 90 days is a passport or an identity card (ID) both old and new IDs are accepted as valid. In autonomous regions of Azores and Madeira regulations concerning entry, stay and health care are the same as in the continental part of Portugal. Limits of free moving and stay may be imposed only when considering security policy or public health rules.
Since 30 April 2006 (according to Directive of European Parliament and Council of Europe number 2004/38/WE from 29 April 2004) in case of the stay no longer than 3 months, citizens of EU have had the right to stay in any other member country without any special clause and formalities, the only required document is a valid ID or passport.

Custom regulation:
According to union norms there are no limits concerning transport of personal things.

Insurance and health care:
Hospital sections of ambulance service (Urgências) serve the immediate medical assistance. There is a fully developed system of private medical clinics where a standard visit is about 70€.
Many medicines are available without a prescription and pharmacy workers usually can impart a professional advice. Co – paying for medical service is obligatory in Portugal. It is advisable to buy additional, individual insurance considering long queues in public health centres and high costs of medical care.