Portugal has the poorest road safety record in Europe and great care should be taken when driving there, especially on busy coastal roads; the N125 near Faro has a particularly bad reputation. Car Hire in Portugal can be dangerous driving in Lisbon can be stressful too. In rural areas look out for horse-drawn carts, flocks of sheep and goats on the road.

 

Motorways

Motorways (auto-estradas) are the best way to cover long distances quickly and safely, although most are toll roads. Avoid the green lanes which are reserved for local drivers who subscribe to an automatic payment system. Keep your speed between 30 and 50KPH when crossing the Tagus Bridge in Lisbon, and don't run out of fuel on it either - it's an offence. LPG is not available in Portugal, and spare fuel must not be carried in cans.

Give way to the right

Be prepared to give way to the right even if you appear to be on a main road. Overtake stationary trams on the right only, when passengers have finished getting on and off.

Having one of the finest coastlines in all of Europe, Portugal has a long history with maritime. Its famous Algarve coast is simply breath-taking.

At the center of Algarve region is the old city of Faro. This place has a lot of beautiful ancient and modern architecture, famous of which are the Convent of Nossa Sendora de Assuncao and Sao Francisco Church. It also prides a 16^th century building called Archeological Museum. To this day, Faro is still bounded by Roman walls.

The capital of the country is Lisbon, where the commercial activities mainly take place. It has clean paved streets, cozy piazzas, as well as hilly suburbs located near the river Tejo. Paintings, sculptures, coins, ceramics and carpets from across the world are in exhibit at the Museu Calouste Gulbenkian, Museu Nacional do Azulejo and Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga.

Another city worth your while is Oporto, where the famous Wine Institute is located. Visitors to this place enjoy knowing the history of each wine as they are inscribed in memorial stones made of marble. The city also boasts of the Old Relacao and Commercial Restaurant.

Alfama and Baixa are among the country’s oldest districts where the hustle and bustle is simply amazing. People flock the busy markets and plazas; tourists visit the vibrant colored castles and buildings; everybody enjoys the calm alleys and clean paved roads. Among the structure that survived the great earthquake of 1755 is the Mosteiro dos Jeronimos, a principal relic of the Manueline Architecture. Close by, atop a river is the most photographed shrine in the country, the Torre de Belem.

The best way to enjoy these spots during a holiday is through Porugal car hire. Compare the deals that are available and make your bookings early.

< Prev		Next >