Getting There By Road
Traffic drives on the right in Portugal and international traffic signs are used. The minimum age for driving is 18 years. Speed limits are 120kph (74mph) on motorways, 90kph (56mph) outside built-up areas and 50kph (30mph) in towns. Tolls are charged on most motorways. Motorways are indicated by the prefix ‘A’; minor roads by the prefix ‘N’ and European routes by the letter ‘E’. Both International Driving Permits and national driving licences are accepted. A Green Card and third-party insurance are compulsory, as is a warning triangle. Seatbelts must be worn and children should travel in the rear seat. The legal maximum alcohol to blood ratio for driving is 0.05%.
The national motoring association is Automvel Club de Portugal (ACP), Rua Rosa Araujo 24 (tel: (21) 318 0202; e-mail: info@acp.pt; website: www.acp.pt ), which can offer assistance to motorists belonging to an automobile club with whom the ACP has a reciprocal agreement.
Emergency breakdown service: ACP (21) 942 9103
Routes to the city: The A1 Auto-estrada do Norte extends from Porto to Lisbon and the A8 arrives from destinations to the north and west of the city. The A9 bypasses Lisbon, connecting the A1and A8, as well as the A5, which links Lisbon with Cascais and the beaches. The A2 Auto-estrada do Sul arrives from Faro and the Algarve via Almada and the Ponte 25 de Abril. The A2 also links to the A6, which continues on for connections to Madrid. The A12 crosses the Ponte Vasco da Gama, offering a less congested route into the city.
Approximate driving times to Lisbon: From Porto – 3 hours; Faro and the Algarve – 4 hours (longer on summer weekends); and Madrid – 9 hours.
Coach services: The main bus terminal, especially for international destinations, is located near Saldanha metro station, Avenida Casal Ribeiro. Inter-Centro (tel: (21) 357 1745), operates international services from destinations in France, Spain and the United Kingdom. Rede Nacional de Expressos (tel: (21) 354 5439 or 310 3111; website: www.rede-expressos.pt ) provides coach services from hundreds of Portuguese destinations. The main Rede ticket office and terminal is Terminal do Arco do Cego, Avenida Duque D’vila 12 (tel: (21) 354 5439). Travellers can call the National Express Coach Service (tel: (707) 223 344) for further information.
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Getting There By Road