About Portugal

With around 10 million inhabitants, it’s one of the world’s oldest nations, being independent since 1143.

Fruit of all its history, Portugal is a country of many singularities molded by Roman, Visigothic and Suevian, Arabian, African influences as well as a whole world that it aimed discover in the XV century.

It was in this unique period of its history, when it “gave world to the world” that the Portuguese sailors travelled through Africa’s western and eastern coasts setting sea routes to India, Brazil, China and Japan, making Portuguese one of the most spoken languages and the Portuguese people the most open to new cultures and civilizations.

Member of the European Union since 1986, today Portugal is a modern country, gifted with good infrastructures and good connections to all the other European countries, offering itself as an ideal entrance door to Europe.

Simultaneously it keeps investing and adding value its wide artistic and archeological patrimony. With a rich gastronomy and a thriving cultural life, Portugal is the testimony of its long history.

Portugal, a meeting point for many faraway cultures keeps its own identity as a hospitable country, pacific and pleasant!

Welcome to Portugal!

Located in the extreme southwest point of Europe, it is surrounded by an extensive coastline on the Atlantic Ocean, limited at the north and east by Spain, and at west and south by the Atlantic Ocean. The territory of Portugal includes the Azores and Madeira islands.

Portugal is one of the European countries with a warmer climate, with average daytime temperatures between 5ºC and 15ºC in the winter and between 25ºC and 35ºC in the summer.

Summers are mild in the highlands of the north and in the coastal region of the far north and center. Autumns and winters are typically windy, rainy and cool, being colder in the northern districts and central provinces, where freezing temperatures occur during the colder months.

The North records the highest rainfall and the lowest average and annual temperatures but it is in the interior region that the larger temperature ranges take place. South of Tagus River, it is possible to feel the Mediterranean influences, with very hot summers and short winters and little rainfall. Madeira Island has a Mediterranean-type climate with mild and pleasant temperatures throughout the year, while the Azores have a temperate maritime climate with abundant rainfall.

Language

The official language is Portuguese.

Religion

Portuguese Constitution emphasizes freedom of expression, religion and conscience. Churches and religious communities are separate and independent from the State.

For historical reasons, which exist since foundation of Portuguese nationality, the Catholic Church plays a central role.

Currency

Portugal’s currency is the Euro.

From January 1st, 1999, Portugal, and another 10 State Member of the European Union (Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Austria, Finland and Ireland), adopted a single currency – the Euro, which came into circulation on January 1st 2002 and whose symbol is €.

Portugal is one of the countries with relatively low cost of living when compared to some European Union countries.

Take a glimpse to the average monthly cost of living for a student from the IPLeiria.

Reference prices

Restaurants      

Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant                                               7.00 €

Meal for 2, Mid-range Restaurant                                      30.00 €

Combo Meal at McDonalds or Similar                              5.50 €

Beer (0.5 liter draught)                                                           1.50 €

Cappuccino (regular)                                                               1.00 €

Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle)                                               1.10 €

Water (0.33 liter bottle)                                                          0.60 €

Markets     

Milk (regular), (1 liter)                                                           0.63 €

Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g)                                     1.04 €

Rice (white), (1kg)                                                                 0.94 €

Eggs (12)                                                                                   1.82 €

Local Cheese (1kg)                                                                 7.11 €

Chicken Breasts (Boneless, Skinless), (1kg)                5.59 €

Apples (1kg)                                                                             1.35 €

Oranges (1kg)                                                                          0.95 €

Tomato (1kg)                                                                           1.16 €

Potato (1kg)                                                                             0.78 €

Lettuce (1 head)                                                                     0.76 €

Water (1.5 liter bottle)                                                         0.46 €

Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)                                              4.00 €

Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)                                       0.92 €

Pack of Cigarettes (Marlboro)                                         4.30 € 

Telephones

In public telephone booths it can be used coins and special cards that are for sale in Telecom Portugal shops, post offices and in some kiosks and tobacconists (each one properly identified).

Mobile Phones

If you already have a mobile phone you can use roaming or buy a prepaid SIM card. You may also do a contract. SIM cards are available in major Portuguese mobile telecommunications operators:

• MEO: http://www.meo.pt/
• Vodafone Portugal: http://www.vodafone.pt/
• NOS: http://www.nos.pt/

Banks

When opening a bank account, in any Portuguese bank, you must submit the following documents:

• Tax Identification Number (TIN) issued by the Portuguese Tax Offices;
• ID document (passport);
• Proof of residence;
• Proof of survival means or scholarship.

With the opening of a bank account, you will be entitled to a debit card that will allow handling the account in agencies or electronic boxes or and also make payments and purchases.

Banks are opened on Monday through Friday, from 8:30 to 15:00 and closed on weekends and public holidays.

National Holidays

• January 1st – New Year’s Day
• March / April (optional) – Carnival
• March / April – Good Friday and Easter Day
• April 25th – Freedom Day
• May 1st – Labour Day
• June 10th – Day of Portugal, Camões and the Portuguese Communities
• August 15th – Day of the Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary
• October 5th – Proclamation of the Portuguese First Republic
• Novemember 1st – All Saints Day
• December 8th – Immaculate Conception
• December 25th – Christmas Day

Please, check this Guide: “Your Way To Portugal”