General Information on Lisbon

Practical Information from A to Z

Bank Facilities

Banks are located all around Lisbon, and banking hours are usually 8:30 am - 3:00 pm (Monday - Friday). Saturdays and Sundays closed.

Participants are advised to get cash hand money/change currency (to Euro) upon arrival at Lisbon Airport. There is a cash point / ATM at the departure hall of the airport and you will also find them at many places around the city (there is an ATM at the conference venue).

Climate

Summer in Portugal is very sunny, hot and relatively dry. Average temperatures for July in Lisbon vary between 28°C and 18°C (usually at night). We advise to bring sun protection. As the evenings may be colder and windy, we advise to bring a warm jacket.

Credit Cards

Major credit cards including American Express, Diners Club, Visa and Mastercard are accepted throughout Portugal at hotels, shops and restaurants.

Currency

Euro (€) is the national currency unit.

Electricity

The electricity supply is 220 volts at a frequency of 50 Hertz. Plugs have two round pins. To use appliances with different plugs require converters that are not commonly available.

Insurance

The conference organizer takes no responsibility for injury or damage involving persons or property during the conference. Participants are advised to arrange for their own personal insurance.

Language

Portuguese is Latin in origin and the third most widely spoken European language in the world. It is the mother tongue of about 200 million people. Portuguese is the official language in several countries: Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, São Tomé e Príncipe in Africa, and Brazil in South America. In Portugal itself a considerable number of people can understand and communicate in foreign languages.

No Smoking Policy

Smoking is not permitted in Portugal in any indoor public areas including bars and restaurants or on any means of public transportation.

Time Zone

• GMT/UTC Winter
• GMT/UTC +1 Summer

Tipping

There is no service charge added to hotel and restaurant bills. Tipping for special superior service at restaurants is appreciated (10-15%).

Travel documents

A valid passport (or identity card for EU citizens) is a necessity when entering Portugal. For visitors from some countries a visa may be needed. To confirm visa requirements you are advised to contact the Portuguese embassy or consulate. A list of countries with visa requirements for Portugal can also be found at http://www.secomunidades.pt/vistos/. If you need a special invitation letter, please contact the conference secretariat.

Public transports

Lisbon's public transportation offers you a network of four metro lines (underground train), many bus lines, four tram lines (E28, E15, E18, E25) as well as local trains and ferries. Buses and the metro might be the easiest options to get around the city.

Costs by city bus / Metro:

• Tickets (purchased on the bus): 1.80€ (exception: purchase on trams is 2,80€)
• Bought in advance single ticket Bus/Tram/Metro*: 1.40€ (valid for 1h with as many changes as needed)
• Tickets for 24 hours *: 6€
• Fare for one journey under zapping option (see below)*: 1,25€

* It requires the prior acquisition of the electronic card “7 colinas” / “Viva Viagem”, - Price: 0.50€

The most convenient way to travel with public transport is using a rechargeable card called "7colinas / Viva Viagem" (costs 0,50€), on which you can upload different types of tickets.

We recommend to charge the Viva Viagem-card with the Zapping option: With this option, you upload a specific amount of money (min. 3€, max. 40€), allowing you to use all types of transports (bus, tram, urban train, ferries). When starting a new journey, you validate your card at the entrance of the respective type of transport, and the fare for one journey will be subtracted.

Important: The public bus services CARRIS operate with the following measurements limits for baggage: 50x40x20cm. For baggage exceeding these measurements we suggest that you use the Aerobus (public airport shuttle, see below). In the metro (underground train), larger baggage can be transported with no restriction.

For further information please check the “Transportes de Lisboa” website.

Additionally, there are taxis and the public airport shuttle Aerobus (operated by the public bus services CARRIS) available. The shuttle costs 3.15€/person and stops at the major hotels, running daily from 7 am to 11 pm. (It is advised to purchase tickets online to receive a discount and to avoid queues).

The taxi fare for the city centre costs around 10-15€ and there is a surcharge of 1.60€ for the luggage (the surcharge maintains the same independent from the number of pieces of luggage). Please make sure that the taximeter is on and only pay what is shown on the taximeter.

Taxi Vouchers with exclusive sale are available at the Ask me Lisboa Tourism Offices at the Airport.

For more information about transportation and how to get to/from the airport, please visit also our page Travelling to Lisbon.

Lisbon tourism information

In 1225, Lisbon became the capital of what grew into modern Portugal but not before the Phoenicians, Romans and Moors left their mark. The city of Lisbon has currently a population of 600 000, while the greater metropolitan area has a population of just over two million.

Lisbon is the westernmost capital in Europe and can thank the Atlantic Ocean for both its commerce and the cooling sea breezes. Lisbon is one of the Portuguese cities where you can find a unique blend of modernity and old-world grandeur. Nowhere is this more evident than in the architecture, which runs the gamut from medieval to modernist.

For more information please visit the official websites Visit Lisbon and Visit Portugal.