Driving in Portugal

driving in the country of Portugal

Although Portugal has a good railway network and extensive coach bus coverage, some travellers prefer to drive through the country. Drivers will encounter a variety of roads, from modern motorways to ramshackle countryside lanes. Many offer breathtaking mountain vistas, oceanside views, or glimpses of field and forests.

Understand

Portuguese traffic culture is very different from that of northern Europe. Driving is fast-paced and at high speeds - drivers should be careful.

Regulations

Speed limit road sign, most often found at border crossings.

Speed limits

National speed limits in Portugal may be overridden by signs on certain stretches of road or on city streets. Speed limits are as follows, unless otherwise posted:

  • Cities and other "built-up areas": 50 km/h (31 mph)
  • Roads outside built-up areas: 90 km/h (56 mph)
  • Expressways (non-motorway fast roads): 100 km/h (62 mph)
  • Motorways: 120 km/h (75 mph)

Drunk driving

Tolls

Via Verde lanes on the Almada side of the 25 de Abril Bridge.

Most motorways (autoestradas) and some bridges have tolls. You can pay at a tollbooth on most. Some have electronic tolls only.

For information about electronic-toll-only roads see Portugal Tolls. They have information on signing up for EASYtoll, which is accepted only on highways with electronic tolls only.

Via Verde is an electronic transponder you can use to pay tolls without stopping for tollbooth queues, using the green Via Verde lanes at toll plazas. The tolls are charged to your bank account (Portuguese users) or credit card (international visitors). Via Verde works on all Portuguese motorways, both those with old-school toll plazas and those with electronic tolls only, as well as on 210 km (130 mi) along 16 Spanish motorways.

Fuel

Parking

You can find parking (parque de estacionamento) by looking for white-on-blue "P" signs (🅿️). Some signs indicate Gratuito (free) or Pago (paid). A roof-like chevron shape over the 🅿️ indicates indoor or covered parking. Sometimes the 🅿️ will indicate Livre (available) in green or Completo (full) in red. Some 🅿️ signs mark reserved parking spaces, so be careful if there is an accompanying placard.

Car rental

Roads

Drivers will encounter several classes of roadways in Portugal.

Autoestradas

Marker for the A1 motorway.

Autoestradas are equivalent to "freeways", "motorways", or "expressways" in various English-speaking countries. These are controlled-access highways with speed limits of 120 km/h (75 mph). Their markers consist of white lettering on blue rectangles, with designations starting "A". Most autoestradas charge tolls, which can be conventional (tollbooths, with electronic transponder fast lanes) or electronic only.

The table below includes all 44 current and planned motorways. Most motorways form part or all various of itinerários principais (IP) or itinerários complementares (IC), but the autoestrada (A) designation takes precedence on road signs. Some portions are under planning or construction. Others are awaiting upgrade and carry only the IP or IC designation in the meantime.

More information No., Name ...

Itinerários principais

Marker for the IP1 main route.

Itinerários principais are "principal" or "main" routes. Their markers consist of white lettering on red rectangles with designations starting "IP". IPs often overlap autoestradas, in which case the "A" designation is used on road signs.

More information No., Route ...

Itinerários complementares

Marker for the IC1 secondary route.

Itinerários complementares are "complementary" or "secondary" routes. Their signs have black lettering on white rectangles with designations starting "IC". ICs often overlap autoestradas, in which case the "A" designation is used on road signs.

Estradas nacionais

Estradas nacionais are non-motorway national roads, some in better condition than others. They are identified with black on white markers starting with "N" or "EN" (depending on the sign's age). Many older stone or concrete markers still exist. Many former national roads are decommissioned. Some have been redesignated as regional or municipal roads. Others still have obsolete signage or are at least referenced by their former numbers by locals.

Estradas regionais

Estradas regionais are regional roads. Their markers are black on white starting with "R" or "ER".

Estradas municipais

Estradas municipais are municipal roads. Their numbers begin "M" or "EM", and they are often unmarked but may be found in online maps and in map apps.

Estradas Europeias

E01 route marker.

Estradas Europeias are international European highways, connecting with Spain and countries beyond. Their route markers have white lettering on green rectangles with designations beginning "E". Signage is sometimes absent when the routes are concurrent with Portuguese highways.

More information No., Itinerary ...

* Total length, including portions outside Portugal

Road signs

Road signs in Portugal adhere to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals, largely matching those in most other European countries and much of Asia, but differing from those elsewhere. Most signs consist of pictograms only, without words.

  • Danger: low visibility
  • Prohibition: no overtaking by motorcycles or mopeds
  • Mandatory: snow chains required
  • Information: hospital
  • Information: hospital with full-time emergency
  • Leaving named built-up area
  • Via Verde toll road

See also

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