ALENTEJO NORTH EAST FAQ'S

How do I get from the airport to Alentejo North East?

Those interested in touring Alentejo North East will be entering Portugal via air at Lisbon`s Humberto Delgado Airport (called Portela Airport by locals, IATA code LIS). Lisbon`s airport is a little more than 80 miles west-southwest of Estremoz and about 140 miles southwest of Portalegre.

TripMasters recommends that you reserve a rental car during the vacation booking process. Upon arrival in Portugal, consult your reservation information and keep in mind the name of the company from which you have rented. The rental car companies are based in Terminal T1, in and around the P3 parking lot.

The A6 motorway connects Lisbon with the southern cities of Alentejo North East, such as Estremoz and Elvas, while the IC3 motorway connects Lisbon with the northern cities, such as Crato and Portalegre. The IP2 motorway connects Portalegre with Estremoz, while the N246 connects Portalegre with Elvas.

The average driving time between Lisbon and various cities in Alentejo North East should run between an hour and 45 minutes and two and a half hours, not factoring in stops or traffic. It takes roughly 45 minutes to get from Portalegre to Estremoz, and nearly an hour from Portalegre to Elvas. The drive between Estremoz and Elvas takes approximately 30 minutes.

Are there buses or trains that connect the cities and towns of Alentejo North East?

The city of Portalegre is connected to Lisbon via daily Comboios de Portugal passenger trains, with transfers necessary in Entroncamento and Abrantes. Local service to the towns and villages via Portalegre once existed, but has since ceased.

Rodoviaria do Alentejo operates daily bus service between the towns of the Alentejo, with Evora, Estremoz and Portalegre serving as the area`s main hubs. Relying on this bus service can prove tricky as many lines to the smaller villages only run between 6 and 9 a.m. and 4 and 7 p.m., leading us to believe that many of these lines are commuter lines for people who live in smaller villages and work in cities like Portalegre. To check bus routes and pickup times, visit www.rodalentejo.pt (website in Portuguese only).

Avis, Castelo de Vide, Crato, Elvas, Estremoz, Marvao, Portalegre, and Vila Vicosa all have an intercity bus station.

How do I call/hail a taxi?

In the larger cities and towns like Portalegre and Estremoz, taxis are known to queue outside tourist attractions and popular areas of town such as the main square. It is so easy to spot a cab and get into one that hailing a cab as it is driving by seems unnecessary. In the smaller towns and villages, you will need to ask your hotel to call a taxi company and reserve a cab for you. (Keep in mind that in these small villages there may only be one cab company available.)

Taxi fares are uniform across the region, beginning at €4 and adding €1 for each mile traveled. Like in many other parts of Portugal, taxi fares are marked up at least 20% after 9 p.m., all day on weekends, and during holidays.

NOTE: Do not assume that your taxi driver will know how to speak English. Write out your destinations on pieces of paper and give the paper applicable to that specific trip to your driver before departing.

How easy is it to explore the cities, towns and villages of Alentejo North East?

It`s quite easy to explore the towns themselves on foot. So easy, in fact, that it is possible to walk the whole length of a typical Alentejo North East town, from west to east or north to south, in less than a third of a mile. Marvao in particular is very compact, with the whole town measuring just 1300 feet from north to south, and 500 feet from west to east. The exception to this rule is Portalegre: the city center is half a mile wide and over a mile in length.

You will need a car or some sort of reliable transportation to get you to some sights which are away from population centers, and in many instances are situated away from paved roads.

How safe is the Alentejo North East region?

In an already safe country like Portugal, crime rates in the Alentejo rank among the lowest in the land. You are very unlikely to be harassed or in any other way victimized while traveling in Alentejo North East. For example, U.S. travelers to Estremoz, one of the region`s principal cities, reported zero safety incidents to the U.S. embassy in 2016.

The U.S. embassy in Lisbon asks citizens traveling in Portugal to avoid mass demonstrations, which may occur from time to time over issues such as unemployment or Portugal`s place in the European Union. This is the only safety issue mentioned by the embassy that would apply to the Alentejo North East region.

Even though the cities and towns of Alentejo North East are safe, take the necessary safety precautions just like you would at home. Take only well-lit and well-populated routes, keep your wits about you, and always look like you know where you are going, even when you may not. Be sure to keep your valuables on your person at all times, and never keep all of your money in one place; split up your cash into various pockets in your clothes.

What is shopping like in Alentejo North East? Where can I find noteworthy souvenirs that are unique to the area?

Alentejo North East is known for many different products, such as marble, olive oil, and wine. Perhaps one of the more unique handicrafts is the `Estremoz doll`, little clay dolls representing various types of townspeople in old Estremoz. They are referred to locally as `bonecas` and can be purchased at a number of stores in the city. Irmas Flores, on Largo da Republica, has been profiled by travel magazines and websites for its wide selection of handicrafts, including Estremoz dolls. Gift shops on the Rossio Marques de Pombal also make and sell Estremoz dolls; some of these shops may even arrange for your purchase to be shipped direct to your house (for an extra fee).

Other shops of note that sell unique Alentejo souvenirs are Mercearia de Marvao (Rua do Espirito Santo 1, Marvao); the weekly market open each Saturday on the Rossio Marques de Pombal in Estremoz; the Casa Galileu on the same square; and Toca do Chocolate (Rua Mouzinho da Silveira 14, Castelo de Vide). Anything and everything can be found at the Estremoz Saturday Market, the Marvao store sells souvenirs from handmade children`s toys to beer and wine, and the chocolatier in Castelo de Vide makes some of the finest chocolate and chocolate dishes native to Portugal.

In addition to the cities and recommendations above, Elvas is known as the birthplace of the ronca, a musical instrument consisting of a ceramic tube which has its open end covered by an animal skin. Roncas can be purchased inside Elvas Castle.

Shopping malls featuring stores and brands well-known across Europe and the United States have also found their way to Alentejo North East. There is one sizable shopping mall located in Portalegre, and a smaller strip mall is located in Elvas.

I hear Estremoz is known for its marble. Can you tell me more?

The Alentejo region is known for its numerous marble quarries, and Estremoz is known as the largest of the Alentejo region`s `marble towns`. Estremoz marble is known for its fine grain and for its faint pinkish hue. There are a few varieties, including aurora pink, which is lighter than is typically seen, and rosa, which is darker. This type of marble is gaining popularity in Western interior design for its elegance and contemporary look and feel. The quarries in and around Estremoz produce so much marble that Portugal is ranked as the world`s second-largest marble exporter; only Italy supplies more marble to the world market.

Are there any delicacies that are unique to Alentejo North East?

Alentejan cuisine places a high emphasis on seasonings such as garlic and poejo, an acquired taste similar to mint. Many popular dishes are served as soups, such as the acorda, featuring ingredients such as bread in a broth of vegetables, olive oil, salt, garlic and coriander. Seafood acorda is a popular variant, usually using dogfish as the protein.

Other delicious Alentejan dishes include carne de porco a Alentejana, marinated pork stewed with fresh clams, and shredded cod served with migas (breadcrumbs sauteed with olive oil and garlic).

When it comes to desserts, Alentejo North East is known for its gemas (egg yolks whipped into a thick, oatmeal-like consistency after mixing in sugar, almonds, and cinnamon, and served with sliced almonds on top), as well as its candied plums, unique to the city of Elvas.

Can I pay/tip in US dollars?

The currency of Portugal is the Euro and US dollars are not accepted for payment. Please be sure to have the correct currency on hand or be prepared to exchange your dollars for euros upon arrival. Currency exchange desks and ATMs can be found at your arrival airport and at many locations throughout the region. The more remote the town, the more limited your options are.

I do not speak Portuguese. Do many people speak English?

It is more common to find English speakers in Portugal than it is in other southern European countries, such as Spain. A recent European Union language survey found that 32% of Portuguese people over the age of 18 can speak English on a conversational level or better.

With that said, you may encounter some difficulty finding an English speaker away from tourist areas such as hotels, museums, and the bus station. It is recommended to brush up on basic Portuguese phrases before arriving, like basic pleasantries and numbers from 1 to 10. To ask someone if they speak English, say `Fala ingles?`

Note: Do not speak in Spanish to a Portuguese person, thinking they will understand you when you do so. Responses will range from stunned silence to outright hostility; the Portuguese people are proud of their culture and heritage, and such an act will cause nearly everyone to take personal offense. On another note, the vocabulary and pronunciation in Portuguese differs from Spanish more than you may realize.

What are the drinking laws in Portugal?

The legal drinking age in Portugal is 18, whether you find yourself in a pub or a nightclub. Asking for proof of age upon ordering an alcoholic beverage or entering a nightclub is becoming more commonplace, especially if you appear younger. Keep your passport with you as it doubles as proof of age and identification.

If you are renting a car, do not drive after consuming alcohol. A blood alcohol content level of 0.05 is considered the legal limit; penalties can range from fines to a jail sentence of up to one year. Save yourself the potential trouble and heartache.