PRAIA DA ROCHA FAQ'S

How do I get from the airport to my hotel?

Faro Airport (IATA code FAO), located 45 miles from Portimao`s old town and 47 miles from Praia da Rocha, is the main international airport link North America and Europe has with the Algarve. With over 6 million travelers in 2015, it is the third-busiest airport in Portugal. Ryanair, easyJet, and Monarch Airlines use Faro Airport as a hub.

Proximo, the bus system in Faro, runs a route (#14) from the airport`s arrivals terminal to Faro bus station. The bus ticket will cost under €4 and can be purchased directly from the driver. Buses run between the airport and the city at least three times an hour every day between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. (longer and more frequent service on weekdays). To learn more, visit www.proximo.pt/en.

EVA Transrapido buses leave from Faro bus station and take an hour and 45 minutes to reach Portimao`s intercity bus station adjacent to the riverside. Buses leave Faro twice every day (12:30 and 5:25 p.m.). Rates on EVA buses are priced by the kilometer; for an accurate price, visit www.eva-bus.com. Routes 3N, 11, 14 and 33 pick up from the street outside the bus station entrance. Route 14 travels to Praia do Vau and Alvor; the other bus routes connect the bus station with downtown Portimao and Praia da Rocha.

A taxi rank is located just outside Faro Airport`s arrivals terminal, and you will notice a big sign that quotes taxi prices from Faro Airport to various locations throughout the Algarve. Be warned: Taking a taxi from Faro Airport straight to your hotel in Praia da Rocha will set you back at least €75 during a weekday and higher than €110 on weekends or holidays.

How do I get from the train station to my hotel?

If you want to get to your hotel by city bus, Routes 31 and 32 (37 on weekends and holidays) on Portimao`s `Vai e Vem` system stop at Portimao train station and drop off at one of the city`s bus hubs, Largo do Dique. Buses 3N, 11 and 33 can be taken from Largo do Dique to various locations at Praia da Rocha. You can buy a rechargeable card for approximately €5 and load either 10 or 20 bus journeys on it (€15-€30). This card is available for sale at the bus offices located adjacent to the bus stop at Largo do Dique. Vai e Vem rechargeable cards can also be bought at Rua Marques de Pombal 3 in Alvor.

There is also a taxi rank in front of Portimao train station. Taxi fares typically start at €3 or €4 and add €1 for every 0.6 miles traveled. A ride from Portimao train station to Praia da Rocha should set you back approximately €7-€10, while a ride to Alvor will cost between €12-€15. Keep in mind that these prices will rise by at least 30% after 9 p.m., on weekends, and during holidays.

How do I get around using public transportation?

The Portimao city government runs a bus service called `Vai e Vem` (`Come and Go` in Portuguese) which operates seven daily lines in Portimao and six lines in Alvor. There are additional lines in both Portimao and Alvor which run only on weekends (specifically lines 38 and 39 in Portimao and 16 in Alvor), or weekends and holidays (line 37 in Portimao, line 1P in Alvor). There is also a limited night service which connects Largo do Dique with the Fortaleza (adjacent to Praia da Rocha). Buses begin running on weekdays in the 7 a.m. hour, ending (with the exception of the night service) at 8 p.m.

Lines 3N, 11 and 33 connect Portimao with Praia da Rocha. Lines 35 and 1P connect Portimao with Praia do Vau. Lines 31, 32 and 37 connect Portimao`s old town with Portimao train station. Lines 14 and 15 connect Portimao with Alvor.

Nearly every line intersects at the stops at Rua das Hortas and Largo do Dique in downtown Portimao, making it easy to transfer buses if need be. Inter-city buses to Ferragudo, Lagoa, and other Algarve cities can be found at the city bus station, located roughly halfway along the Portimao Riverside, a few blocks south of Largo do Dique.

You can buy a rechargeable card for approximately €5 and load either 10 or 20 bus journeys on it (€15-€30). This card is available for sale at the bus offices located adjacent to the bus stop at Largo do Dique. Vai e Vem rechargeable cards can also be bought at Rua Marques de Pombal 3 in Alvor. For more information on Vai e Vem, visit www.vaivem.pt (website in Portuguese, graphics and maps in English).

Another fun transport option in this region is the tourist train ('comboio turistico'). Praia da Rocha`s `train` looks like an old-timey tank engine reminiscient of `Thomas the Tank Engine`, but in fact is similar to a bus or a gas-powered trolley. The tourist train picks customers up at the western end of Praia da Rocha, where Avenida Tomas Cabreira turns into Rua do Miradouro. The train trip takes 30 minutes and stops at various Praia da Rocha resorts, the Fortaleza, Portimao Marina, and Praia do Vau. The tourist train runs every day, year-round, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Tickets cost around €5. To pay, consult your conductor.

How do I call/hail a taxi?

Taxis can be flagged down from the street or called in advance. There are taxi ranks in central Portimao, Praia da Rocha, and Alvor.

There are three different companies that offer taxi service in Praia da Rocha and Portimao: Radio Taxis Arade de Portimao (+351 282 460 610), Cooperativa de Taxis de Portimao (+351 282 418 730), and Taxi of Portimao and Alvor (+351 969 006 600). Taxi fares typically start at €3 or €4 and add €1 for every 0.6 miles traveled. A ride from Praia da Rocha to Portimao should set you back approximately €6-€8, while a ride to Alvor will cost between €10-€12. Keep in mind that these prices will rise by at least 30% after 9 p.m., on weekends, and during holidays.

Praia da Rocha and Portimao are tourist destinations, and many people speak English, but do not assume your driver will automatically speak it. Just so there is no confusion, write your destination (with street address) on a piece of paper and give it to your driver before departing.

Should I rent a car in Praia da Rocha?

It is not entirely necessary to rent a car in Praia da Rocha, as the Vai e Vem bus system and EVA Transportes intercity coverage is fairly decent, and the area has many competing taxi companies. For your ease and comfort while traveling and sightseeing, however, we do recommend considering a car rental while booking your vacation with TripMasters. If you do decide on a car rental, you will be picking up your vehicle at Faro Airport, not in Praia da Rocha or Portimao.

Public parking in Praia da Rocha and Portimao is plentiful. There are eight parking garages located within walking distance of Portimao`s old town. Parking fees per hour range from €1 to as high as €5. Seven parking garages are located in the vicinity of Praia da Rocha; the three garages just north of the Fortaleza are first-come, first-served and free.

Make sure to inquire about parking fees at your hotel or resort during the booking process. Some resorts in Praia da Rocha issue a nightly surcharge for parking on-site.

Are Praia da Rocha and Portimao walkable areas?

Portimao is quite walkable, as is the Praia da Rocha area. Low elevations and great weather make these areas ideal for a stroll. The Portimao Riverside area and the boardwalk at Praia da Rocha are pedestrian-only areas.

Traveling between the two areas might be a tad difficult for people who may not be as active at home. Praia da Rocha and Portimao`s old town are separated by a distance of a mile and a half. For those who may not be able to walk this distance in full, consider combining walking with another form of transportation (bus, taxi, car, tourist train, etc.).

Are Praia da Rocha and Portimao dangerous areas? Are there any areas I should avoid?

The Portimao old town area and riverside are both safe for tourists to visit, day or night, as is the boardwalk and avenue running parallel to Praia da Rocha. You may see more police patrolling the latter areas at night than during the day, but they tend to be there to quell drunken disturbances (more often than not caused by tourists!).

You may be accosted either in Portimao or Praia da Rocha by teenagers or young men wishing to sell you drugs. Tell them no, do not make eye contact, and walk in another direction. These men are usually harmless but may also be petty pickpockets. If you are approached by unfamiliar people, leaving the scene is best.

While out and about, stick to 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.

Which areas are the best for shopping?

If you`re looking for a great value on trinkets and souvenirs for friends at home, Praia da Rocha`s shops (located on Avenida Tomas Cabreira and the boardwalk) are the perfect place to stock up. However, be a smart shopper and compare prices. You may find that the same souvenirs will cost less in Portimao.

If you want to relax the day away by shopping, you can do that around the Praca da Republica in Portimao. You will find many mom-and-pop stores as well as chain stores selling clothing and merchandise you may not find in North America. Be sure to walk Rua do Comercio (on the north side of the plaza) and Rua Vasco da Gama (on the south side).

There are three North American-style shopping centers in Portimao. Portimao Retail Center, on Rua de Sao Pedro, offers eight large retail shops in a outlet mall-type of setting. Centro Comercial Continente Portimao is so named for the Continente hypermarket that is its main anchor. Over three dozen stores and restaurants are tenants at this mall, located on Avenida Sao Lourenco da Barrosa, about half a mile from Portimao`s old town and a mile from Praia da Rocha. Finally, the largest shopping center in the area is called Aqua Portimao, with nearly eight dozen tenants. Familiar names in fashion and home accessories, such as H&M, Primark, Quiksilver, Zara Home, all have stores at Aqua Portimao.

Portimao Retail Center`s hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Centro Comercial Continente Portimao is open from 8:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Aqua Portimao is open 24 hours.

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 the airport and many locations throughout Praia da Rocha and Portimao.

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.

Praia da Rocha caters heavily to tourists, many of whom only speak English. It is still 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.

What is nightlife like in Praia da Rocha and Portimao?

Praia da Rocha is one of the Algarve`s oldest resorts, and as such, nightlife is a big deal here. Dozens of restaurants, bars and nightclubs are situated along the main drag in Praia da Rocha, Avenida Tomas Cabreira. Of particular note are the clusters of bars and nightclubs around Avenida Tomas Cabreira and Rua Antonio Feu, and the Hotel Algarve Casino restaurants and bars (also located on Avenida Tomas Cabreira). Praia da Rocha`s bars offer many different options for tourists; whether you want to dance all night, get to know some friendly locals, or enjoy live music, you will find an establishment you will enjoy in Praia da Rocha.

Portimao, despite being larger than Praia da Rocha, has a more subdued nightlife scene. Your best bets would be to visit the bars at Portimao Marina and along streets in the old town such as Rua Serpa Pinto, Largo do Dique, Rua Direita, and Largo Primeiro de Dezembro.