Portugal has a public health system (SNS) accessible to EU citizens with the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) . The quality of medical care is good to very good in cities — Lisbon and Porto have excellent hospitals. In rural areas, however, the nearest emergency room may be far away. Points of

Portugal is part of the Eurozone — the currency is the Euro (€), as in Germany, Austria, and most EU countries. No currency exchange needed. Cash & Cards Card payment is widespread in Portugal. Even in small cafes, markets, and taxis, you can pay by card (Visa and Mastercard are accepted everywhere)

Portugal offers excellent shopping opportunities — from traditional handicrafts to modern shopping centers. Typical Souvenirs Azulejos — hand-painted ceramic tiles, from approx. €15 per piece. Caution: Only buy new tiles! Buying antique azulejos (stolen from facades) is illegal Cork Products — bags,

On holidays, banks, authorities, and many shops are closed. Supermarkets have reduced opening hours. Restaurants and tourist facilities usually remain open. Date Holiday Note January 1 Ano Novo (New Year) Everything closed Variable Carnaval (Carnival Tuesday) Not an official holiday, but many have t

Since June 2017, the EU has implemented "Roam like at Home" — you can use your German, Austrian, or Swiss mobile tariff in Portugal without additional costs (calls, SMS, data). This applies to all EU/EEC tariffs. Note: Swiss tariffs often have a separate roaming package — check beforehand! WLAN Free

Portugal is one of the most LGBTQ+-friendly countries in the world . Same-sex marriage has been legal since 2010 (as the fourth country worldwide and the first Catholic country). Since 2016, same-sex couples can adopt children, and since 2018, trans people can change their gender entry without medic

The Portuguese media landscape is diverse, and there are some useful sources for travelers. Newspapers & Online Media Público — the most prestigious daily newspaper, comparable to the Süddeutsche Zeitung. Good online presence and partially free Diário de Notícias — traditional daily newspaper since

In emergencies, the Europe-wide emergency number 112 applies. The control center speaks Portuguese and English. Important Numbers Service Number General Emergency 112 Police (PSP, cities) 112 or local station Police (GNR, rural) 112 or local station Fire Department (Bombeiros) 112 Emergency Medical