CASTELO BRANCO - GETTING AROUND
Castelo Branco was borne out of a defense on a hillside, so it should be no surprise to learn that the terrain here is particularly hilly. Sharp inclines are common and within a radius of a third of a mile from Castelo Branco Castle, the elevation drops about 300 feet. This is great for people who want to view the city and countryside from the Miradouro de Sao Gens, but not particularly great for all people who want to walk from Point A to Point B. It is possible to walk to most places in Castelo Branco, but give yourself time to navigate the streets and stop for rest if you need to. If you aren`t too active at home, try driving or taking taxis to get to various points of interest.
By bus
Bus service is managed by TUCAB - Transportes Urbanos de Castelo Branco (www.transdev.pt/tucab). There are two circuit lines which run from March through November, connecting the Castelo Branco bus station with the western and eastern suburbs. These lines (Linha Laranja and Linha Vermelha) are for locals who commute into the historic center for work and are not particularly applicable for travelers, although you will see how locals live by riding these buses. If you are interested in buying a ticket, a 24-hour pass costs €4. Bus service used to connect Castelo Branco with Monsanto, but this service has been suspended indefinitely.
By taxi
The main taxi company serving Castelo Branco is called Taxis em Castelo Branco - TMN Moche (+351 964 570 313, Rua Doutora Maria de Fatima Delgado Domingos Farinha, Lote 230). Fares begin at €3.25 and add approximately €2 per 0.6 miles. Fares go up 20% between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. and on weekends and holidays. Expect to pay roughly these amounts for a one-way trip:
-Castelo Branco Castle to Igreja Matriz de Sao Miguel: €7.50-€10By bicycle
Castelo Branco is definitely a city best enjoyed by intermediate and advanced cyclists, due to the steep inclines and hilly terain. For those who are novices yet still want to plan a cycling excursion, we recommend the bike paths at the Zona de Lazer, located in the same park as the Piscina Praia. You can rent a bike from Go Cycling Portugal (www.gocyclingportugal.com); the Lisbon-based company employs English-speaking staff, online orders can be made completely in English, and on top of all that, the company will deliver the bike rental to you anywhere in the country. Expect to shell out €30-€50 per day depending on the type of bicycle rented.
By car
Driving might be your best bet while visiting the Castelo Branco area and the Beira Baixa region. The closest public parking area to many points of interest is the Parque de Estacionamento Largo de Sao Joao, located underground at Largo de Sao Joao. There is an above-ground parking lot at Rua de Santo Antonio 9 as well. The former parking lot charges by the hour, while the latter lot is free and first-come, first-served. Take the N233 to the N353 if you want to travel to Idanha-a-Nova.
The N233 to N239 will take you to Monsanto and Penha Garcia; turn onto the N332 from the N239 before Monsanto to get to Idanha-a-Velha. Take the N-18-8 south from Castelo Branco to reach the International Tagus Natural Park. If you reserve a car through the TripMasters booking process, note that you will be picking up your car at the Lisbon Portela Airport and not in Castelo Branco.