Portugal
Business/social hints
Appointments: must be made in advance, punctuality is appreciated.
Attire for business meetings: men should wear a suit and tie, women a two-piece suit or equivalent and hosiery.
Etiquette: it is customary to shake hands on meeting and taking leave. Business cards are exchanged after introduction.
Language: business is conducted in Portuguese, many executives speak English or French.
Laws: smoking is generally accepted but restricted in many public buildings. There is no official minimum drinking age.
Invitations: punctuality is appreciated. A service charge is usually added. Further gratuities of around 10% are optional.
Local time: GMT +1 mainland and Madeira (from Oct 25 to Mar 27 GMT), GMT Azores (from Oct 25 to Mar 27 GMT -1)
Capital: Lisbon.
Language: Portuguese.
Electricity: 220V AC 50Hz.
Int. direct dialling code: 351.
Driving: national licence or international driving permit required. Minimum driving age is 18 years.
Currency: Escudo (PTE 1 = 100 Centavos).
Notes: PTE: 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000.
Coins:PTE:1, 2, 5, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200.
Centavos:50.
Business hours
Banks:8.30am-3pm Mon-Fri.
Offices:9am-1pm and 3pm-7pm Mon-Fri.
Shops:9am-1pm and 3pm-7pm Mon-Fri, 9am-1pm Sat, 10am-11pm Mon-Sun (shopping centres).
Emergency services
Police, fire, ambulance: 115.
Health
Compulsory vaccinations: yellow fever certificate for Azores and and Madeira, but only if arriving from infected areas.
Weather
Climate
Mediterranean-type climate which is tempered by the Atlantic. The coast has mild winters, the north and central areas are much colder. Winter is the wet season throughout the country although autumn rainfall in the north can be heavy. Snow is rare at sea level but more frequent inland and in higher areas in the north. The south is the sunniest, driest and warmest area.
Portugal Temp C Humidity % Rain
Max/Min am pm (mm)
January 15 7 83 72 111
February 14 8 80 66 76
March 16 9 76 63 109
April 18 11 69 58 54
May 21 13 67 57 44
June 24 16 64 53 16
July 28 16 61 48 3
August 27 18 61 46 4
September 24 17 67 53 33
October 21 14 72 59 62
November 17 11 80 68 93
December 14 8 83 72 103
Lisbon LIS
Postal address: Alameda Das Comunidades, Portuguesas, 1700 Lisboa.
Telephone:+351 1 8413500.
Fax: +351 1 8401837.
Location: 4.5miles/7kms north of Lisbon.
Transportation to city centre: airport bus: Aerobus service 91 every 20mins, fare PTE 430. Bus: Carris service 8, 22, 44, and 83, operates 6am-9.30pm, service 45, operates 5.45am-12.15am every 12mins, fare PTE 160, journey time 30mins. Taxi: fare PLN 32-38, journey time 30mins
Airport departure tax: none.
Flight information: tel 8413700, available 24hrs.
Business facilities: available.
Passport
Required.
Customs
Import allowances: tobacco and alcoholic beverages forpersons of 17 years of age or older.
a) 800 cigarettes or 400 cigarillos or 200 cigars.
b) 90 litres of wine and 110 litres of beer.
c) perfumes no limit.