TAP Air Portugal (www.flytap.com) runs services between Lisbon, Faro, Madeira, Porto Santo, Porto and the Azores. Charter flights are also available. The airline for the Azores is SATA (Sociedade Acoriana de Transportes Aereos) (www.sata.pt), which operates its Air Açores service between the various islands.

Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses (Portuguese Railways) (tel: 808 208 208, in Portugal or 213 185 990, outside Portugal; www.cp.pt) provides rail service to every major town. Alfa Pendular trains offer the fastest rail link from Lisbon to the Algarve and from the capital to the north (Porto, Braga or Guimarães, with stops in Coimbra and Aveiro); the Intercidades (Intercity) service covers Lisbon, Porto, Alentejo and Lisbon to Algarve routes.

A vast network of regional, inter-regional and suburban trains covers the country. The tourist areas of Cascais and Sintra are connected to Lisbon by frequent express trains. High-speed Alfa trains run between Lisbon and Porto via Coimbra and Aveiro. Trains heading from Lisbon south depart from Sete Rios station, cross the Ponte 25 de Abril over the Tejo to Pragal on the south bank and continue to points beyond.

InterRail One-Country Pass: offers travel for three, four, six or eight days in one month within Portugal. Travel is not allowed in the passenger's country of residence. Travellers under 26 years receive a reduction. Children's tickets are reduced by about 50%. Supplements are required for some high-speed services, seat reservations and couchettes. Discounts are offered on Eurostar and some ferry routes. Available from Rail Europe (tel: 0844 848 4064, in the UK; www.raileurope.co.uk/inter-rail).

Tourist tickets (Bilhetes turísticos): valid for seven, 14 or 21 consecutive days and available from main railway stations.

Cheap fares: Children under age twelve and senior citizens get discount fares of 50%, group travel (10 or more people) by 20%, return tickets by 10% and youth travel (Cartao Jovem or Euro<26 cardholders) by 30%. Family railcards and rover tickets are also available. Check Portuguese Railways online (www.cp.pt) for current promotions.

Traffic drives on the right. Every town and village can be reached by an adequate system of roads. Petrol stations generally open 0700-2000, although some are open 24 hours. Travel by motorway is subject to a toll according to distance covered and type of vehicle.

Bus: There are frequent coach services between all Portuguese cities. For further information, contact Rede Nacional de Expressos (tel: 213 581 460; www.rede-expressos.pt).

Taxis: Taxi drivers are not generally tipped , but passengers commonly round up the fare.

Car hire: Available from major and local providers in main towns and airports, with or without driver.

Regulations: The minimum age for driving is 18 (but drivers must be at least 21 to 25 if hiring a car). Cars may be imported for up to six months. Traffic signs are international. Drivers should dip headlights in built-up areas and use side lights when parking in badly lit areas. Children should not travel in the front seat. Seat belts should be worn. Warning triangles are compulsory. It is forbidden to carry cans of petrol in vehicles. Speed limits are 50kph (30mph) in built-up areas, 90kph (56mph) outside built-up areas and 120kph (70mph) on motorways.

Emergency breakdown service: Automóvel Club de Portugal (ACP) (tel: 808 502 502, within Portugal only; www.acp.pt) operates a 24-hour service.

Documentation: International Driving Permits or foreign driving licences are accepted. Third Party insurance is compulsory. Under the requirements of the Portuguese Road Code, those wishing to drive a car must possess a valid national/international driving licence, other official documentation with photograph, log book or rental contract and adequate car insurance. Failure to produce, on request to the authorities, any of the above will result in an on-the-spot cash fine. A Carnet de Passage is needed for a van.

Lisbon's extensive underground system is operated by Metropolitano de Lisboa, while trams and Companhia Carris de Ferro de Lisboa (Carris) buses also provide efficient ways of getting around. The city's suburban rail lines, operated by Portuguese Railways, are useful for covering longer distances and Transtejo ferries ply the Tagus.

Porto also has an underground (Metro de Porto), trams and buses.

Taxis are readily available in both cities.

The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Lisbon to other major cities/towns in Portugal.

	Air	Road	Rail
Faro	0.40	3.00	4.00
Porto	0.45	3.30	3.00
Funchal	1.40	-	-