Sun-kissed beaches, golden medieval castles and quaint seaside villages surrounded by olive groves; Portugal cultivates a rustic, hedonistic image. The vast forests and glistening rivers of the interior and the winding cobbled streets of Lisbon and Porto do little to dispel this picture. Timeless villages and fairy-tale towns trapped in centuries long past proliferate and it can seem at times like Portugal hasn’t changed in at least two centuries. Indeed, the little settlement at Obidos, deemed so lovely that it was given to Queen Isabel as a wedding present in 1282, became a dowry for every subsequent monarch for the next six hundred years.
Yet Portugal has a surprisingly high-tech economy. The major cities may be centres for traditional business but all along the coast are pockets of aerospace, software and biotechnology industry. The nation is also a world leader in renewable energy; the world’s largest solar power and first commercial wave power stations were opened there in 2006, and today nearly 50 percent of the country’s energy comes from renewable sources.
The people retain strong family ties and this culture carries into business environments where trust networks are frequently more important than credentials. Representative individuals are far more important in building relationships than the company behind them and experienced emissaries will garner more respect than green juniors. The country’s timelessness is also in the national psyche, it seems – deadlines are often seen as optional, particularly in the south, so be prepared for any business proceedings to take some time.
Getting there
There are international airports at Lisbon, Porto and Faro. There are no regular ferries, though there are many to neighbouring Spain. The European bus and train network provides links across the continent.
Getting around
Buses have the best coverage and are faster than trains, though trains tend to be cheaper. Internal flights are expensive and not really worthwhile. Portuguese roads are well maintained but the drivers have a bad reputation; driving there has been likened to ‘civil war’ and it has one of the highest accident rates in Europe.
Local information
Language: Portuguese
Time: UTC
Climate: Mediterranean. Warm, dry summers, cool, wet winters. Temperature: Max 28°C (August), Min 7°C (January). Rainfall: Max 110mm (January), Min 2mm (July)
Currency: Euro
Business etiquette: Dress conservatively. Business and social attire are generally similar. Third party introductions can help significantly; expect to spend some time building a relationship. Relationships are built with people not companies; if a company changes representative the process must begin anew.
Tipping: 10 percent
Duty free: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco; 1l spirits over 22 percent or 2l spirits under 22 percent; 2l wine; 50g perfume; 250ml eau de toilette; 500g coffee; 100g tea; Goods to Ä175 per adult or Ä90 if under 15
Safety: Low incidence of crime.
Laws: Carry identification at all times.
Healthcare: Vaccination for tetanus required. Excellent medical facilities available, European citizens get free healthcare with an EHIC card. Non-EU may be charged and should have health insurance.
Socket type: Type C
