Portugal Travel Guide

Portugal is a reasonably crime-free country although Lisbon and the larger tourist areas have recently seen significant increases in petty crime. Rented cars are always prey to thieves - leave them looking as empty as possible - and campsites in the Algarve are less reliable than elsewhere.

Violations of drug trafficking laws carry heavy sentences although possession of any kind of hard or soft drugs no longer constitutes a prisonable offence. Portuguese police , though relatively easy-going, carry guns and are not to be argued with.

For minor health complaints people generally go to a farmácia ( pharmacy ), which you'll find in almost any village; in larger towns there's usually one where English is spoken. They are normally open Mon-Fri 9am-1pm & 3-7pm, Sat 9am-1pm. A sign at each one will show the nearest 24hr pharmacy on duty . Pharmacists are highly trained and can dispense many drugs without a prescription. In the case of serious illness, you can get the address of an English-speaking doctor from a consular office or, with luck, from the local police or tourist office.