There are no private beaches in Portugal. The cool waters of the Atlantic are rougher and colder than those on the Mediterranean coast of neighboring Spain, but still quite acceptable for swimming. Flags on the beach warn about the state of the ocean: red – the sea is rough and swimming is strictly prohibited, yellow – you need to be very careful, and green – swimming is safe.
Customs
Here it is not customary to yawn and stretch in public places, in a conversation you should not discuss problems related to the family and especially children. And please don’t question the country’s historical greatness – the Portuguese are justifiably proud of their past, especially against the background of the modest place that the country occupies today. In addition, never compare the Portuguese with the Spaniards – despite the unconditional similarity of languages, customs, national cultures and characters, the Portuguese perceive such comparisons very painfully.
Roads
According to RRRJEWELRY, many tourists like to travel around Portugal on their own by car. Roads in Portugal are not yet ideal everywhere, but most of the country’s major cities are connected by a network of excellent high-speed highways. You won’t have any problems with auto refueling. The cost of gasoline is about 0.90 euros per 1 liter. The traffic police in Portugal are lenient towards tourists, but it is better not to test their patience. In most resort towns – in the Algarve, Estoril, Madeira – parking is free, but in large cities, especially Lisbon and Porto, in places of historical monuments during the daytime on weekdays, parking is paid. Portugal drives on the right.
It is forbidden to drive with a blood alcohol content of more than 0.5 g / p. The speed limit in built-up areas is 50 km/h, on main roads – 90 km/h, on motorways – 120 km/h.
Car rent
The road network is generally decent and the choice of car rental companies is wide. The age of the driver must be at least 21 years old, to drive part of the car groups 23 years old and the driver’s license must be valid for at least 1 year. Rental prices starting from 30 euros/day in the lower summer season and up to 40 euros/day in the high season, in July-August. Gasoline costs 0.9-1.10 euros per liter. The highest speed limit is 90 km on roads and 120 km on highways. Between cities, some sections of highways are paid.
Links on the Internet
- http://portugal-info.net/ – general information
- http://www.portugalvirtual.pt/ – general information portal of Portugal
- http://www.cp.pt – railways of Portugal
- http://www.algarve.org/ ; http://www.algarve-info.com/ – information about the Algarve
- http://www.carvoeiro.com/ – information about Carvoeiro
Tips
Tipping in Portugal has not yet received such an official status as in Spain, but it’s good to leave 10% of the bill in a restaurant, taxi, some cafes, of course, if you are satisfied with the service.
Beaches
A resort whose coastline is marked by rocks and the beach is accessed by some rather steep stairs. The beaches of the Algarve are some of the most distinctive and beautiful beaches in Europe. Golden, wide sandy beaches, unexpectedly mixed with dark yellow cliffs, leave an unforgettable impression. This is a typical focus of the beach line of the Algarve. The beach area in the western and eastern region becomes more sloping, but still with magnificent light sand. The tides are quite strong on the beaches. Services on the beach are paid – umbrellas and sun loungers are about 5 euros. Various water activities are also offered, such as water skiing, pedal boating, boating, sailing, etc. Beach area of the Algarve, with cliff-lined areas such as Praia da Rocha and Carvoiero.
Transport
Portugal has a well-developed rail and bus service. The Algarve has both urban and intercity bus lines. Bus stations have timetables. A bus ticket from Praia da Rocha to Portimão costs 1.20 euros. The bus stop is marked with the word paragem. By train, you can travel both between the big cities of the Algarve and go to other provinces of Portugal and the capital of Lisbon (Barreiro station on the south bank of the Teio River, from there you can cross the river by ferry and get to the center). A one-way ticket, depending on the train, costs starting from 14 euros.
Distances
- Far – Praia da Rocha – 65 km
- Faro – Carvoiero – 50 km
- Praia da Rocha – Portimão – 2.5 km
- Praia da Rocha – Carvoiero – 15 km
- Praia da Rocha – Silves – 12 km
- Praia da Rocha – Lagos – 16 km
- Praia da Rocha – Sagres – 40 km
- Praia da Rocha – Albufeira – 35 km
- Praia da Rocha – Lisbon – 285 km
Night life
Praia da Rocha is known for its vibrant nightlife. In May, the nightlife is quite calm, in June it begins to gain momentum and in the second half of June it reaches its climax. The predominant part of the bars and discos is concentrated on the main street, which is located on the banks of Avenida Thomas Carreira. With the onset of evening, it is filled with people who move from one place to another. The choice is between bars with live music, restaurants, nightclubs and casinos. Entrance to the club costs approximately 7.50-15 euros (usually 1 drink is included in the price). Carvoiero is a laid-back beach village whose nightlife is modest, with a limited number of bars in the immediate vicinity of the main square.
