Language
Portuguese. English is widely spoken within the business community.

Time
GMT (GMT + 1 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).

Emergency
By calling anywhere in Portugal on 112 you will be connected to Fire, Police and Ambulance services.In most towns there are Emergency Treatment Centres (SAP) that will provide medical assistance 24 hours a day. 

Electrical Current
The current all over Portugal is 220 volts AC and connection is made by a two-pin plug. The plug today acts also as an earth except in older buildings that use older models of this two-pin plug.

Communications
Telephone: IDD is available. Country code: 351. Outgoing international code: 00. There are call boxes in most villages and all towns; there are also public telephones in many cafés and bars, from which international calls may be made.National Emergency is 112
National Enquiries is 118
International Enquiries is 171
Pre-paid Calls is 172

Mobile telephone
GSM 900/1800 networks.
Operators:
Optimus (website: www.optimus.pt)
Vodafone (website: www.vodafone.pt)
TMN (website: www.tmn.pt).
Coverage exists across the whole country.

Post
Post offices (correios) are usually open Mon-Fri 09:00-18:00. Central post offices and those at airports are open Saturday. Airmail to European destinations from continental Portugal and the Azores takes three days; from Madeira, up to five days. There are poste restante facilities at post offices throughout the country

Commercial Hours
The normal shopping hours are from 09.00 hrs. until 19.00 hrs on Mondays to Fridays. Saturdays is from 09.00 hrs. until 13.00 hrs. There are some shops that extend their hours and their days of opening. Shopping Centres are open from 09.00 hrs. to 23.00 hrs all week except for certain Public Holidays..

Money
The local currency is Euros. Money can be changed at Banks, Bureau De Change (Cambio) or at one of the currency exchange machines in the streets. These facilities will offer a better rate than in Hotels and Receptions. Banks are open from Monday through to Friday, from 08.30 hrs. to 15.00 hrs. Euro cheque is a cheaper method than a Traveller Cheque in obtaining cash. All well-known Credit Cards are usually accepted.

Faro Airport - General Airport Information:
Tel. ++351 289-800800
Fax. ++351 289-818802
Until midnight - Tel. ++351 289-800801
After midnight - Tel. ++351 289-800617
Public Relations - Fax. ++351 289-818433

Driving
Portugal drives on the right side of the road
Except when otherwise indicated all vehicles approaching from the right have priority. The driver already on a roundabout normally has the right of way
Safety-belts are compulsory in all circumstances
Drinking and driving is severely controlled and limited to a restriction of 0.3 g/l 
Unless otherwise indicated urban limit is 50 km/h
Rural roads other than those zones indicated are limited to 90 km/h
Motorways are limited to 120 km/h

National Holidays
1st January
25th April
Good Friday
1st May
Corpus Christi (Early June)
10th June
15th August
5th October
1st November
1st December
8th December
25th December