Algarve Useful Information

What do you need to know about the Algarve? Well, here you can find information about anything from buying baby food to opening times for Algarve shops and services! There are contact details for the main Algarve tourist information authorities, advice about exchanging currency, useful Portuguese language to help you get by on your holiday and practical health care information and emergency numbers, as well as Portugal national holidays dates, and general shopping and European clothes sizes.

Algarve Information - At at a glance!

Location of the Algarve:
Southern Portugal, western Europe

Currency of Portugal:
Euro (€)

Languages spoken:
Portuguese is the native language. English, Spanish widely spoken and German and French

Portugal time zone:
Western European Time Zone (WET). *Same time as the U.K & Ireland

Algarve Tourist Information

Algarve Tourism Bureau (ATA)
Avenida 5 de Outubro, n.º 18
Phone: (+351) 289 800 403
Fax: (+351) 289 800 466
ata@atalgarve.pt

Albufeira Promotion Bureau- "Turismo de Albufeira"
Rua do Municipio- Apartado 2025
Cerro da Alagoa- 8200 Albufeira
Phone: (+351) 289 541 449
Fax: (+351) 289 541 388
apal@albufeira.net
www.albufeira.net

Tourist Support Services
Tourist Help Line - 808 78 12 12

Police Support Services for Tourists
Albufeira Police - (+351) 289 513 203
Vilamoura Police - (+351) 289 388 989

Currency and Banking in the Algarve

The currency used in the Algarve (since 2002), as with the rest of Portugal and much of Europe, is the Euro (€). One Euro is divided into 100 cents.

There are 7 Euro banknotes: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 Euros. (The front and back of each note is the same for all countries using the Euro).

There are 8 coins in the Euro currency: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents and 1 and 2 Euros. All coins have one side that is common to all countries with the Euro, whilst the other side differs from country to country – in Portugal one side of the Euro coins displays the royal seal of Dom Alfonso Henriques.

LIVE CURRENCY CONVERTER

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Exchanging Currency in the Algarve

Visitors to the Algarve coming from many countries in the European Union will not have to change their currency, because they already have the Euro currency.

However, if you are coming from England or other countries with a different currency you will need to 'buy' some Euros to bring with you. It isn't necessary to bring too much cash with you as there are plenty of cash machines all over the Algarve, identified with the 'MB' abbreviation, for Multibanco. You can use them the same as you would at home and you can draw up to 200€ per day. (Check with your bank before you come to see if you can use your card in the Algarve.) Just be aware that if you are using the cash points, they can sometimes run out of money at the weekends or on public holidays, especially in popular resorts when there are lots of tourists and locals flooding in, so always get enough money out on a Friday to last for the weekend just in case. (As a word of caution, Travellers Cheques can be expensive to cash.) Many of the businesses and shops accept credit and debit cards (Visa, Amex, Eurocard, Euro-Cheque, Diners Club and MasterCard).

Bank opening times:

Banks in the Algarve are usually open from 8:30am – 3.00pm Monday to Friday and they are closed on Saturdays, Sundays and official holidays.

Health care information

For non-emergency health care in the Algarve you should go to the local Health Care Centre ("Centro de Saúde").

For emergencies, dial 112 for the emergency service, free of charge. The call will be answered in three languages: Portuguese, English and French.

Algarve health care contacts:

Algarve Hospitals

Faro - (+351) 289 891 100
Lagos - (+351) 282 770 100
Portimão - (+351) 282 450 330

Algarve Red Cross (Faro) - (+351) 289 899 900

National Holidays in Portugal 2010

1st January - New Years Day
16th February - Carnival ("Carnaval" - Mardi Gras)
2nd April - Good Friday
4th April - Easter Sunday
25th April - Liberation Day or Day of the Revolution (celebrating the 1974 revolution)
1st May - Labour Day
3rd June - Corpus Christie
10th June - Portugal Day
15th August - Assumption of the Virgin
5th October - Republic Day
1st November - All Saints' Day
1st December - Restoration (of Independence) Day
8th December - Immaculate Conception
25th December - Christmas Day

Portuguese Language

Portuguese words, phrases and questions that you may find useful for your time in the Algarve:

Basic words:

Hello:

Olá, Oi

Good morning:

Bom dia

Good afternoon:

Boa tarde

Good night:

Boa noite

Good bye:

Tchau, adeus

Yes:

Sim

No:

Não

Thank you:

Obrigado (male)

Thank you:

Obrigada (female)

You are welcome:

De nada

Please:

Por favor

Excuse me:

Desculpe, Com licença

Places:

Museum:

Museu

Bank:

Banco

Tourist Information

Posto de turismo

Hospital:

Hospital

Pharmacy:

Farmácia

Store, shop:
Loja

Church:

Igreja

Post Office

Correio

Beach:

Praia

Street:

Rua

Supermarket

Supermercado

Restaurant:

Restaurante

Travelling:

Bus:

Autocarro

Bus Stop:

Paragem de autocarros

Taxi:

Táxi

Taxi Stand:

Ponto de táxi

Car:

Carro

Train Station:

Estação

Train:

Comboio

Rent a Car:

Alugar um carro

Airplane:

Avião

Airport:

Aeroporto

Arrival:

Chegada

Departure:

Partida

Questions:

Where?

Onde?

When?

Quando?

Who?

Quem?

What?

O que?

Which?

Qual? / Quais? (pl.)

How?

Como?

How much/many?

Quanto(a) / Quantos (as)?

Is/are there?

Há?

How are you?

Como estás?

Where is the...?

Onde fica...?

Is that all?

É tudo?

Que horas são?

What time is it?

For more Portuguese words and phrases for food and drink visit our Algarve Food and Drink page. Alternatively, if you would like to listen to a spoken introduction to the Portuguese language visit "Talk Portuguese" at the BBC.

Opening times for Algarve shops and services:

Banks ("Bancos")

Monday to Friday: 8:30am to 3:00pm
Closed on Saturdays and official holidays.

Chemists ("Farmácias")

Monday to Friday: 9:00am to 1:00pm / 3:00pm to 7:00pm
Saturday: 9:00am to 1:00pm.
There will normally be a chemist on duty on Saturday afternoons and for some time on Sundays.

Museums and Churches ("Museus e Igrejas")

Opening times for museums and churches vary greatly across the Algarve, so it is worth visiting the local tourist offices to find out precise times. As a general rule though, many museums are closed on Mondays and public holidays. National museums tend to Wednesday to Sunday: 10:00am to 6:00pm and on Tuesdays: 2:00pm to 6:00pm.

Post Offices ("Correiros")

Post offices are normally open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 6:00pm. Post offices in smaller towns may close for lunch and not open at all at weekends. There are two postal services: "Correiro normal" and "Correiro azul". The former is for ordinary post and airmail, and mail goes in the red post boxes and Correiro azul is the priority or express service and mail goes in the blue ("azul") post boxes. There is normally a 'ticket' dispenser and a display terminal on the wall so that you know when it's your turn.

Restaurants ("Restaurantes")

Some restaurants tend to open for lunch (between 12:00 and 3:00pm) and then re-open for dinner from 7:00pm to 10:00pm, but there are others, particularly ones in the town centres and popular resorts, that stay open all day. In peak season especially, many restaurants will stay open all day and accept diners later into the evening.

Shops ("Lojas")

Typical shop opening hours are from 9:00am to 1:00pm and 3:00pm to 7:00pm Monday to Friday. From January to November, most shops close at 1:00pm on Saturdays, but many of the supermarkets stay open until early evening, some even stay open until 10:00pm. Most shops are closed on Sundays, but some of the supermarkets are open until 1:00pm.

In December many shops extend their opening hours for Christmas shopping, with most shops being open Monday to Saturday, from 9:00am to 1:00pm and from 3:00pm to 7:00pm.

In the peak summer season, shops catering for tourists are open all day until 9:00pm or 10:00pm, even on Sundays and holidays.

Forum Algarve opens from 9:00am to midnight in the summer and 10:00am to 11:00pm the rest of the year. Algarve Shopping is open 10:00am to midnight, but the shops close at 10:00pm

Safety in the Algarve

You can holiday with the assurance that the Algarve has a very low crime rate and you will see the police on the ground! The Algarve, like the rest of Portugal, has a very low crime rate compared to other European countries, which means you can travel around with relative confidence. The only issue to be aware of is petty theft, which is sometimes more common in the larger resorts in the Algarve. Just protect yourself as you would in your own country and be prudent – don’t leave anything on show in your car, keep possessions in a bag close to your body and don’t carry too much money around with you.

Local police

The Algarve (and the rest of Portugal) has two police forces - the Guarda Nacional Republicana (GNR) and the Polícia de Segurança Pública (PSP). The GNR will deal with most matters, and pass you on to the PSP if necessary.

Police Support Services for Tourists
Albufeira - (+351) 289 513 203
Vilamoura - (+351) 289 388 989

Emergency / S.O.S - Telephone 112

If you feel you are in need of emergency assistance, from the hospital, police (GNR) or fire brigade, you can use any phone, public or private, to call 112 for the national emergency service. This call is free of charge and the person who answers will speak English, in fact the call will initially be answered in three languages: Portuguese, English and French. If you require non-emergency medical assistance, you should go to the local Health Care Centre (Centro de Saúde). Please note: The Hospital Emergency Services are only to be used in serious cases.

Forest Protection Service - 117

Shopping in the Algarve

If you like to shop, you will love it in the Algarve! Like any tourist holiday destination, the Algarve has a plentiful supply of gift shops, where you can buy Portuguese souvenirs bearing the cockerel, pottery and ornaments, jewellery, postcards and much more to take home with you. Algarve women like to co-ordinate their outfits, with matching shoes, bags, belts and jewellery, so there are plenty of clothes and leather goods shops and some lovely boutiques for bargain hunting.

There are two shopping malls in the Algarve, 'Forum Algarve' in Faro and 'Algarve Shopping' in Guia (near Albufeira). Both have multiplex cinemas, plenty of parking, restaurants and, of course, lots of shops. Children are well catered for, with pushchairs available for use free of charge and child seats in the restaurants. 'Algarve Shopping', also has a creche for toddlers over 2 years of age. When you've had enough of the shops, take a seat in the sunshine and relax!

For more every day items, such as groceries, the Algarve is well equipped with local markets, convenience stores and supermarkets. If you are staying in self-catering accommodation you’ll have a huge variety of local foods and familiar foods from home to choose from and many shops, particularly the supermarkets have a good selection of vegetarian foods. If you get to the shops early in the morning, you’ll find some deliciously fresh loaves of bread (possibly still warm even) and pastries and croissants. If you are travelling with younger children, the supermarkets stock lots of baby milks and foods, nappies, baby sundries and much more, so you don’t need to worry about taking too much with you.

Baby Milks, Food and Products

Cow and Gate baby milks are marketed under the 'Nutrilon' brand in Portugal. Nutrilon 1,2 and 3 are equivalent to Cow and Gate Premium, Plus and Step-up. Nutrilon Omneo 1 and 2 are equivalent to Comfort 1 and 2. Nutrilon AR 1 and 2 are for babies with reflux Nutrilon HA 1 and 2 are for babies allergic to dairy products. Aptamil milks are still marketed as Aptamil in the Algarve. Aptamil 1, 2 and 3, being equivalent to First, Extra Hungry and 3. Huggies nappies are available in most supermarkets and Pampers are marketed under the name 'Dodot'. Johnsons products, baby wipes,lotions, suncreams are widely available. All of the main supermarkets and a lot of the 'mini-mercados' stock a good range of baby products, from milks and jars of food to nappies and toiletries.

Algarve shop opening hours

In December many shops extend their opening hours for Christmas shopping, with most shops being open Monday to Saturday, from 9:00am to 1:00pm and from 3:00pm to 7:00pm.

In the peak summer season, shops catering for tourists are open all day until 9:00pm or 10:00pm, even on Sundays and holidays.

Forum Algarve opens from 9:00am to midnight in the summer and December; 10:00 to 23:00 the rest of the year from Monday to Thursday and10.00 to 24.00 Fridays, Saturdays and the day before holidays.

Algarve Shopping is open 10:00 to 23.00 Sunday to Thursday and 10.00 to 24.00 Fridays, Saturdays and the day before holidays all year, extending to 10.00 to 24.00 during December and the summer.

Portugal Size Guides for Clothes and Shoes

The Algarve (and the rest of Portugal) uses European sizing. If you are travelling from the United Kingdom (UK), the United States (US) or other regions of the world outside of Europe, you will need to convert your size from your home country into European sizes. Here are some size guide tables for clothes and shoes for women, men and children.

Women's Coats, Dresses & Suits

UK

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

US

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

Europe

32

34

36

38

40

42

44

46

Men's Suits & Coats

UK

36

38

40

42

44

46

48

US

36

38

40

42

44

46

48

Europe

46

48

50

52

54

56

58

Women's Shoes:

UK

4.5

5

5.5

6

6.5

7

US

6

6.5

7

7.5

8

8.5

Europe

38

38

39

39

40

41

Men's Shoes:

UK

7

7.5

8.5

9.5

10.5

11

US

8

8.5

9.5

10.5

11.5

12

Europe

41

42

43

44

45

46

Children's Clothes Sizes:

Height (cm)

56

62

68

74

80

86

92

98

104

110

116

122

128

134

140

Age (mths / yrs)

0-3m

3-6m

6-9m

9-12m

12-18m

18-24m

2-3

3-4

4-5

5-6

6-7

7-8

8-9

9-10

10-11

Children's Shoes:

UK

0

1

2

3

4

4.5

5

6

7

8

8.5

9

10

11

12

12.5

13

1

2

2.5

US

0.5-1

1.5-2

2.5-3

3.5-4

4.5-5

5.5

6-6.5

7-7.5

8

8.5-9

9.5

10-10.5

11

11.5

12-12.5

13-13.5

1

1.5-2

2.5-3

3.5

Europe

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35