Lisbon Estoril Coast Tourism Guide - Lisbon Essentials Guide

Lisbon City Guide & Holiday Essentials

If you can avoid driving in central Lisbon then do. Parking isn't easy, and driving in the centre is basically a nightmare. There's no need if you're here on holiday and Lisbon's choice of public transport, including the superbly efficient Lisbon Metro, buses, trams, elevators, ferries and mainline rail routes. Lisbon taxis are also relatively cheap (good way to get quickly from Lisbon Airport into the centre). The meter should be turned on and tips are not expected. Taxis from the airport to Rossio should be around 10 to 15 euros.

Portugal follows Greenwich Mean Time in Winter, but during the summer as of late March to late October the time shifts to GMT plus one hour (just to confuse you!).

Portugal's currency is the Euro. (In a euro there are 100 cents and coin denominations come in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, and 1 and 2 euros. Euro notes come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200). ATMs are all over the city. If telephoning the UK, pick up a Portugal Telecom card, accepted in most pay phone booths. Alternatively use Portugal post office telephone booths and pay after the call. Electricity plugs are 2 prong, and the current is 220AC. Don't forget your adapter! Driving in Lisbon and Portugal is on the right hand side.

If you're in Lisbon and the Lisbon Region for a few days it's well worth picking up a Lisboa Discount Card (see Visit Lisbon weblink right for details). You can pick these up at the Lisbon Welcome centre on Praca do Comercio. The card means you've free travel on all Lisbon transport systems, plus free entrance to museums and monuments.

Lisbon/Portugal Travel Insurance for Pre-Existing Medical Conditions

Travellers to Lisbon with pre existing medical conditions needing comprehensive travel insurance for both themselves and their fellow travellers should contact Freedom Insurance Services Ltd tel no 0870 774 3760 quoting Reference No IKM01. Freedom is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority reference number 306536, and is a subsidiary of the NW Brown Group Limited, also based in Cambridge, UK. Freedom offers quality pre existing medical condition travel insurance to suit your specific requirements and needs, including medical travel insurance for both single trips and where possible annual policies.

Freedom's aim is to allow you to enjoy your holiday with the travel medical insurance you need for full peace of mind. Freedom are especially recommended for travellers with specific pre-exisiting medical conditions and they work in partnership with medically based affinity groups and entities within the NHS. Freedom employs a combination of insurance and medically trained staff, and has an emphasis on care, sensitivity and confidentiality when searching for the most appropriate pre existing medical condition travel insurance for your needs.

The Freedom project works in partnership with several leading medical charities, entities within the NHS, leading travel agents and High Street financial services companies. Contact Freedom Travel Insurance Services Ltd on Telephone Number 0870 774 3760, Quoting reference number IKM01.

Lisbon/Portugal Travel Insurance

Don't leave home without holiday travel insurance. There are many accidents, incidents and emergencies that could occur during your holiday, for example lost luggage or stolen passports.

In the event that your holiday is cancelled or shortened because of illness or injury, or if your money is stolen, Travel Insurance is an imperative back-up. You'll need to check the small print on all travel insurance policies to see exactly what you are covered for. Contact the Iknow-Holidays Booking line direct for advice and guidance.

A wide choice of Travel Insurance policies are available, (check the Holiday Travel Insurance weblinks right for details and booking online).

Double check you've the right travel insurance policy to suit you and your family. Cheap travel insurance is not always best, although most will opt for it. Check you're covered for all possible risks or accidents. See weblink right for cheap holiday insurance with 'Insure and Go', or phone Iknow-Holidays booking line direct for advice and guidance.

EHIC Health Cards, Health Travel Insurance

All British Citizens with UK passports travelling to Lisbon are advised to obtain European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC), and indeed on top of this additional Medical health insurance cover. EHIC cards have now replaced the old E111 form! EHIC cards are free, and very easy to obtain, either online via the weblink right, or by obtaining an EHIC form from your local post office. EHIC entitles UK travellers to emergency medical treatment whilst in Portugal on the same terms as Portuguese nationals. However, the EHIC will not cover things like on-going medical treatment, medical repatriation or non-urgent medical treatment.

The Department of Health (see weblink right) advises additional comprehensive medical and travel insurance alongside obtaining your EHIC. Pharmacies have big green crosses outside them - you'll need to visit these for even basics such as headache tablets as these are not available in the supermarkets as in the UK. However, you'll note that many drugs only available by prescription in the UK are available over the counter without prescription in Portugal. This is due to the fact that pharmacists in Portugal are actually highly skilled paramedics. Sanitary towels and tampons tend to be even more expensive in Portugal than in the UK, so it's a good idea to bring your own and save money!

Travellers with particular medical conditions are advised to take out additional health cover, to insure health cover for all eventualities. Check the NHS 'Fitness for Health' website (to the right) which offers excellent advice on things like taking care in the sun and dehydration and the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption.

Portugal has a warm and sunny climate. Watch the sun in Lisbon all year round! In the peak summer months peak temps can reach upto 30 degrees centigrade in the city. Drink plenty of water, and wear suncream at all times. Stop for regular breaks in cafes. Tearing around Lisbon City centre in the peak summer months, trying to cover everything isn't recommended! If you're on holiday in Lisbon for a few days or more, move west to the beaches of the Estoril coast on particularly hot days, or south into the Setubal Peninsula and the beaches of the Costa Azul at Costa da Caparica or those beaches west of Setubal. Alternatively head for the shady heights of the Serra de Sintra and UNESCO status historic Sintra.

British Embassy in Lisbon & Advice on Lost or Stolen Passports

For advice on lost or stolen passports whilst in Lisbon check the British Embassy Lost or Stolen Passport advice weblink right.

British Embassies in Portugal (see below for Lisbon British Embassy Address) can issue emergency passports if needed which are valid for a single journey to the UK. Only the Lisbon British Embassy can issue 10 year passports. See the weblink right for the necessary procedures involving completion of a C1 form for adults and C2 form for under 16s.

The Lisbon British Embassy Office is at Rua de Sao Bernando 33, 1249-082 Lisboa. Tel: 351 21 392 4000.

Pet Travel, Pet Sitting, Pet Passports for Portugal

Another holiday essential you may want to consider is pet sitting services for your pets whilst you are abroard. Pet sitting services are becoming extremely sophisticated, to the extent of not just pet sitting but also offering other services such as taking care of your business whilst you're on holiday, a live in pet sitting service and keeping an eye on burst pipes and other household emergencies.

Absentia Pet Sitting Service is an excellent pet sitting company choice (see their website link to the right). They offer individually tailor-made pet sitting packages to suit your needs and requirements. For advice on pet travel, obtaining pet passports and general advice on taking your pet abroad check the DEFRA pet travel weblink right.