Portugals long, varied coastline, sunny climate, and the relaxed lifestyle of the inhabitants of its charming towns and villages have made it a sought after holiday destination.

Portugal shares the Iberian Peninsula with Spain, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south.

The delight of Portugal is that, although it is undeniably part of modern Europe, it retains some rural enclaves where time has stood still and traditions flourish. In the southern province of the Algarve, modern high-rise resorts line the coast and buzz with all the trappings of a package tour destination; the capital city, Lisbon, on the west coast, is a bright, busy, crowded metropolis surrounded by bustling tourist resorts. Travel a few miles north or east, however, and discover a largely undeveloped picturesque countryside full of medieval villages and towns where life has changed little over several centuries.

The Portuguese have a close affinity to the sea; for centuries their famed mariners led the way in the exploration of Africa and the Americas, and opened trade routes to the East. The country became a strong colonial power, and remained so until the mid-20th century, resulting in distinctive foreign influences on the local culture and architecture. From Africa, for example, was imported the now traditional, sentimental fado music, which is one of the country's unique experiences for visitors, particularly in the cafés of Lisbon.

In recent years Portugal, long overlooked on the list of the world's top vacation stations, has been investing time, money and effort into ensuring it is discovered by the world's travellers, just as once it was the Portuguese who discovered the world. This new age of discovery is paying off, as increasing numbers of visitors arrive each year and hotel and resort construction has exploded. From the visitor's point of view the compactness of the country makes it easy to take in all the best elements: sandy beaches, scenery, history, wonderful cuisine, lively entertainment, charming handcrafts, thrilling nightlife, country fairs, excellent sporting facilities and warm, friendly people.

From the cobbled winding streets of Lisbon's medieval citadel to the cork forests in Alentejo, and from fishermen mending their nets on remote beaches to the shopping malls and sophisticated glitzy resorts, Portugal is a country well worth discovering.

Basics

Time: Local time is GMT (GMT +1 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).

Electricity: Electrical current is 220 volts, 50Hz. Round two-pin plugs are used.

Money: Portugal is a member of the European Union and its official currency is the Euro (EUR), which is divided into 100 cents. There are numerous banks, bureaux de change and ATMs available in main cities and tourist destinations. Foreign currency can be exchanged at banks, bureaux de change and automatic currency exchange machines. Banking hours are generally 8.30am to 3pm Monday to Friday. Major credit cards are widely accepted, as are travellers cheques.

Currency Exchange Rates

EUR 1= US$ 1.47 £ 0.75 C$ 1.47 A$ 1.68 R 10.14 EUR 1.00 NZ$ 1.91

Note: This is not updated daily and should be used as a guide only.

Language: Portuguese is the official language, but English is widely spoken and understood.

Entry Requirements for Americans: US nationals do not require a visa for a stay of up to 90 days. A passport is required.

Entry Requirements for UK nationals: British passport holders do not require a visa for a stay of up to 90 days. A passport is required.

Entry Requirements for Canadians: Canadians do not require a visa for a stay of up to 90 days. A passport is required.

Entry Requirements for Australians: Australian nationals do not require a visa for a stay of up to 90 days. A passport is required.

Entry Requirements for South Africans: South African nationals require a passport and a Schengen visa.

Entry Requirements for Irish nationals: Irish nationals do not require a visa for stays of up to 90 days. A passport is required.

Health: There are no health risks attached to travel to Portugal. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is necessary for entry for anyone travelling from an infected area and destined for the Azores or Madeira. Health facilities are good and reciprocal health agreements exist with most European countries, including the UK, whose citizens can receive low-cost emergency care at state hospitals. It is advisable that travellers obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before travel. Dental care and repatriation costs are not covered under this agreement, and medical insurance is therefore advised.

Tipping: Service charges are usually added to hotel and restaurant bills, otherwise it is customary to leave a 10% tip. Bar staff and taxi drivers also expect tips, which are usually the rounding up of the bill to the nearest Euro.

Safety: Travel to Portugal should be trouble-free, but there is a rising incidence of petty theft and pick pocketing in tourist areas, so reasonable care should be taken.

Customs: It is a legal requirement for foreigners to show some form of identification on request.

Business: Business protocol in Portugal may be generalised to follow that of the rest of modern Europe, however, in rural areas, and when dealing with the elder generation, they may still cling onto customs of the past. A formal dress is necessary only in banking, government or law, otherwise smart-casual attire may suffice, and is often how the host may dress. However, being a fashion conscious country means that it may simply be easier to dress in a conventional formal manner. Handshakes for men and women are the common form of greeting. Face-to-face relationships are preferred but this is changing. It is a good idea to be punctual for all meetings, which may be over lunch, or a simple to-the-point meeting depending. Business cards are often exchanged. Business hours vary but are generally 8.30am to 1pm and 3pm to 6pm Monday to Friday.

Communications: The international access code for Portugal is +351. There are no area or city codes required. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). Portugal is well covered by three GSM mobile phone networks. Internet cafes are available in most towns and resorts.

Duty Free: Travellers over 17 years arriving from non-EU countries do not have to pay duty on 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g smoking tobacco, or a proportional mix of these products; 1 litre spirits with alcohol volume higher than 22%, or 2 litres spirits or aperitifs made of wine less than 22%, or sparkling wines or liqueurs, or a proportionate mix of these, and 2 litres of wine; perfume up to 50g and 250ml eau de toilette. Travellers over 15 years do not have to pay duty on 500g coffee (provided purchased in a tax-free shop); 100g tea or 40g of tea extract (provided purchased in a tax-free shop); medicines for personal use and gifts or souvenirs to the value of EUR175 for adults and EUR90 for children under 15 years.