Portugal is a country that can be well viewed from a car window. Many tourists are inclined to this conclusion, because high-quality expressways are laid between large and medium-sized cities in Portugal. Gas stations are quite common on these roads, so there will be no problems with refueling en route.
The traffic police are not so strict with tourists from other countries, but it is better to follow all the rules. Then you will definitely not have problems.
It's nice that in many resorts, including Estoril, Algarve and Madeira Island, parking is free. The same rule applies in many small towns. Nevertheless, in Lisbon, and in other fairly large cities of the country, you will have to pay for parking on weekdays during the daytime. The same thing happens near historical and cultural monuments. Thus, it is possible to "dilute" the number of people wishing to visit megalopolises and sights by car.
However, these conditions are not so strict as to refuse to rent a car. Car rental in Portugal will require:
- That you are at least 21 years old;
- Have a driver's license issued at least one year ago. An additional fee for age may be requested from a driver who is not yet 25 years old.
Features of the lease
The driver's license is also worth mentioning. When renting a car, you need to know that Portugal is a country that has ratified the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. Therefore, the state must recognize Russian national driving licenses. An IDP is not required here, so immediately reject attempts to ask you for additional payment due to the lack of international rights.
And now about the other rules. Everyone in the car must have their seat belts fastened. From the age of 12, children can sit in the front seat. However, this rule is the same as in our country.
But the speed limit in Portugal is different: in the city you can reach speeds of up to 50 km / h, and outside the city - 90 km / h. And only on the motorway it is permissible to move at a speed of 120 km / h.
Most Portuguese cities have Blue Zones. You can get cardboard parking discs from police stations absolutely free of charge. It is difficult to find a free parking space in Lisbon. In addition, it should be remembered that the car must be parked in the direction of travel.
There are mountain roads outside the city, where you need to be especially careful not to fall into the abyss. If insurance saves the wrecked car, then personally it is unlikely to help you if you get into such a mess.
