Europe

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• General
 

Travel Summary

• There is an underlying threat from terrorism.  Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
  
  
• A number of British nationals have been the victim of a serious sexual offence in the Algarve this summer. For more information see the section on Crime.
  
  
• Chelsea FC v FC Porto on 25 November 2009, for further information see: Chelsea FC v FC Porto.
  
  
• Around 2,254,300 British tourists visit Portugal every year (Source:  Portuguese National Statistical Office (www.ine.pt).  Most visits are trouble-free.  397 British nationals required consular assistance in Portugal in the period 01 April 2008 – 31 March 2009 for the following types of incident; deaths (208 cases); hospitalisations (91 cases); and arrests, for a variety of reasons (22 cases). During this period assistance was also requested with regard to lost or stolen passports (612 cases).  You should be alert to the risk of petty theft.  See the Crime section of this advice for more details.  If you need to contact the emergency services in Portugal call 112.
  
  
• There is a legal requirement for you to show some form of identification (i.e., your passport) if requested by the police or judicial authorities, especially if you intend to drive in Portugal.  See the General section of this advice for more details.
  
  
• We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling.  You should check for any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake.  See the General (Insurance) section of this advice and Travel Insurance for more details.