GENERAL
Official name of the state
Portuguese Republic.
Capital
Lisbon (Lisboa).
Geography
As a country located in Europe according to timedictionary, Portugal is located in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula and borders Spain to the north and east and the Atlantic Ocean to the south and west. The country is divided into 20 provinces, including Madeira Island and the Azores (autonomous regions), which are about 1220 km west of Lisbon. The Douro, Tejo and Guadiana rivers originate in Spain and flow to Portugal, where they flow into the Atlantic. The north of Portugal is mountainous. The Serra da Estrela, the highest mountain range, is a popular ski area. The endless plains of the Alentejo region stretch south of Lisbon. A mountain range runs between the Alentejo and the Algarve on the southern coast. The Algarve is one of the most popular holiday areas with wide sandy beaches and secluded bays.
Government
Republic since 1910. Constitution from 1976, last amendment 2001. Parliament (Assembléia da República) with 230 members. Independent kingdom since 1143, finally independent since 1640 (termination of the personal union with Spain). Portugal is a member of the EU.
Head of state
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, since March 2016.
Head of government
Pedro Passos Coelho, since June 2011.
Electricity
220/400 V, 50 Hz. No adapter required.
LANGUAGE
Overview
The official language is Portuguese. Business people often speak English and French, and sometimes German.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Annotation
There are also regional holidays.
NIGHTLIFE
Introduction
Nightclubs and bars with live music in Lisbon provide evening entertainment. Is popular Clavi di Nos Rua do Norte (Bairro Alto). Jazz fans get their money’s worth in the Hot Clube de Portugal (Praça da Alegria). A converted factory, the Alcântara Mar, on Rua da Cozinha Econômica has so far been particularly popular among the discos. However, like everywhere else, trends change quite frequently. Other major cities also offer a wide variety of entertainment, from nightclubs, theaters, cinemas, shows and folk dance performances to musical events. The bullfight is carried out by toreiros on horseback. The traditional fado- Chants can be heard in numerous restaurants (from around 10 p.m.). The theater season is from October to May. There are casinos in Estoril, Figueira da Foz, Espinho, Alvor, Vilamoura and Monte Gordo.
CULTURE
Religion
Roman Catholic (84.5%). Protestant, Muslim and Jewish minorities.
Social rules of conduct
Manners: Traditional courtesy and warm southern European hospitality are a matter of course.
Clothing: Casual clothing is acceptable, but swimwear should only be worn on the beach.
Smoking: Smoking is prohibited in restaurants, bars, cafes and discos. Only restaurants with more than 100 square meters can set up smoking areas.
Smoking is prohibited in public facilities such as museums and on public transport such as trains, buses and subways as well as airports and ferries.
Tipping: A tip of 10-15% is common in restaurants. When the waiter returns the change, the guest leaves the tip on the table. However, it is extremely impolite to leave small amounts such as two or five cent pieces behind. In the taxi, the fare is rounded up.
CLIMATE
Best travel time
Atlantic and Mediterranean climate.
Northwest: Mild winters, heavy rainfall and fairly short summers.
Northeast: Long winters, hot summers.
South: Long, warm summers (March to October), little rain except in early spring and autumn. In Estoril, the heat is softened by a steady breeze (July to August).
COUNTRY DATA
Area code +351 Area (square km) 92 345 Population 10825 309 Population density (per square km) 117 Population in 2015 Member of the EU Yes main emergency number 112
