Travelling around Lisbon in trams!

One of the things I remember most about my visit to the lovely city of Rio in Brazil was the truly spectacular tram ride in the district of Santa Teresa, so you can imagine my pleasure when I discovered that there are still old trams in Lisbon too!

Tramways are not just a good way of getting about a city – they are enormous fun, and Lisbon’s trams are no exception. The trams and tram lines were built in the early 19th-century. Like the trams in Rio, they are a bright, cheerful yellow and run on rails through the old streets of Lisbon.

Lisbon sprawls over seven hills, great for views but hell on the legs so the Tram 28 is the total answer - it takes you to four of the seven summits. Your trip starts at Praça Luis de Camões in Chiado district and drops into the town below, through Alfama and past the Sé Cathedral. It also passes Miradouro de Santa Luzia, the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora and the National Pantheon and ends in Martim Moniz in the north. You can also get off at the Miradouro de Santa Luzia and walk the rest of the way to St George Castle – not too far, I promise!

Tram 12 takes a short circular route, starting and ending in Rossio – actually tram 15 does too. It travels through the Alfama district, past the Sé Cathedral and then carries on up to Martim Moniz and back to Rossio. It's a wonderful way to view the very narrow and precipitous streets of Alfama without totally exhausting yourself!

Tram 25 is another great option. It runs from near the docks below the Sé Cathedral and along the river, then up through Lapa to the Basilica and Jardim da Estrela before ending at a huge cemetery at Prazeres. I don’t know about you but I love visiting cemeteries: somehow the peace and the beauty of them really fascinate me.

Tram 18 and 25 and run west along the waterfront to Santos. Tram 18 continues north through the up-and-coming district of Alcântara to the cemetery at Ajuda. From here you can get to the Ajuda Palace with very little trouble.

Belém is the museum district and the Tram 15 is the one to take to get here.

Much like our buses here in the UK, tickets can be purchased from the tram driver but you can save money by buying a Viva Viagem travel pass that allows unlimited travel on trams, the metro, buses and elevadores for 24 hours from the time of purchase. You can get them at metro and train stations plus from some newsagents and cafés in Lisbon, again the same as in the UK.

They also run tours of Lisbon in old restored tramcars. A company called Carristur runs these tours every 20 minutes from 10pm and 7pm June to September and every 30 minutes October to May. The tours depart from the corner of Praça do Comércio – sounds great to me!

And now for a zany, unusual ‘transport’ option that only Portugal can provide: Lisbon's elevadores, or funiculars. These will take you up to fine viewpoints overlooking Lisbon and were built in the early 1900s by student of Gustave Eiffel – no need to tell you what HE built! You will find one of these unusual methods of transport in the centre of Lisbon's Baixa district – it will bear you up from the Rua do Ouro to the Convento do Carmo, 45 above. There you will be able to take in great views sipping a cup of much needed coffee! There are a number of these great steel giants, usually taking you up to wonderful vantage points that overlook the lovely city of Lisbon – why not give them a try?

I hope this has inspired you to get out your passport and set off – just writing it has me looking up a few cheap flights…see you there!

Incidentally, I just need to add that the article on SCUT motorways was reproduced by kind permission of HeyPortugal.com , the magazine for Central Portugal in English. My apologies for omitting this last week and my thanks for this very useful information.

You will find much useful info on this and other issues is updated regularly so please check the latest information on Scut Motorways there. The information was correct at the time of publication - 17th Jan 2011 – as you know, one of my readers added to this info too – things are always changing aren’t they?

Have a great week!


Carol.

The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.Portugalbuyingguide.com

Driving in Portugal

I hope that you have found this series of articles useful and that you now have all the info you need to bring your car into Portugal on a permanent basis. Just to round up, here’s how to sort out bringing in a scooter or motorbike and how to get your new licence plates. Plus a few tips about the rules of the road…

The procedure for motorbikes and scooters is virtually the same as for cars and other light vehicles except that a test will be required on noise emissions. Present the following documents to the IMTT and Customs and Vehicle Registry as described previously.

• Fill out Form Model 9 and give it to the official representative of the vehicle producer in Portugal for certification (Homologacão)
  
• Take the motorbike or scooter to an IMTT approved test centre (IPO) for a roadworthiness test including noise inspection

You now have you car registered and the details of the vehicle's registration are recorded on the DUA (Documento Uníco Automóvel) or "All-in-One Card". This replaces the Vehicle Ownership Registration (Titulo de Registo de Propriedade) and Log Book (Livrete) card. You need your new licence plates before you get this as the number is required for the DUA.

DUAs and the registration of new or second hand vehicles can be done at a local civil registry office, the IRN (Instituto dos Registos e Notariado). Application for a change in licence plate is made through the IRN office. A new vehicle registration number or matrícula is issued, number plates are made and then fitted before your vehicle can be recorded on the DUA.

Vehicle registration documents must be carried in the car at all times, as I have mentioned before. I cannot stress this enough – there are severe penalties if they are not available when requested by officials such as the police.

Just a few pointers to driving in Portugal: it goes without saying that driving is on the right with overtaking on the left. Bear in mind that you can be fined more than €1,000 for passing a car on the right. As in most countries there is also a large fine for failing to stop at a stop sign.

You will need to give way to traffic from the right unless otherwise stated. Vehicles in roundabouts have priority over those about to enter. Should you break down and attempt to carry out repairs you are by law required to wear a reflective jacket to do so; it is also necessary to put out a warning triangle.

There is a €600 fine for anyone found to be using a mobile phone while driving, and a €300 fine for littering while driving. Remember by the way that fines can be collected on the spot!

It is also possible to lose your licence if you ignore a policeman, cross a white line or jump a red light.

It is mandatory to for all passengers to wear seatbelts in both the front and back seats. Children under the age of 12, or less than one and a half metres tall, are not allowed to sit in the front at all and must have baby or booster seats in the back.

And hopefully you will not need this at all, but the emergency service phone number is 112.

Portugal does not have a great road safety record so please have a care out there!

Carol Dunning
The Overseas Guides Company
Go to the main website at: http://www.portugalbuyingguide.com/