PROGRAMME 2
PORTUGAL

PORTUGAL GENERAL INFORMATION

Getting There


Get there by air. Only Aer lingus fly direct, no tour operators go.

Getting Around
There are dozens of car-rental agencies in Portugal, though you should bear in mind that petrol is pricey. Cars start at about €41 per day. Bicycles can also be rented in some tourist areas.

The best way around the country is the efficient bus system. Travelling by train is cheap but slow. while hire cars and planes are both expensive propositions. Flights inside Portugal are expensive and hardly worth considering, given the short distances involved. A domestic departure tax is levied, but it's included in the price of the ticket.

Bicycles are not allowed on trains. It's almost always quicker to go by bus than by train - especially as a number of private companies operate express services between major cities and the Algarve.

Lisbon has an underground metro, which was renovated and expanded for Expo 98 and is still growing.

Taxis are plentiful and cheap.

When to Go
Peak tourist season is roughly from mid-June to September, except in the Algarve where it really only quiets down in the dead of winter. Carnaval and Easter are two holidays celebrated all over the country and are worth going out of your way for.

Climate
Portugal's climate is temperate. The country is generally warm from April to October, though somewhat less so in the north, while the southern region of Algarve can experience uncomfortably hot temperatures in midsummer. During winter, the north receives plenty of rain and temperatures can be chilly. Snowfall is common in the mountains, particularly the Serra da Estrela range.

Sitting right by the Atlantic Ocean but still close to Mediterranean sea, Portugal has a mild winter and a warm summer with average temperatures during the months of June and July rising to 26C. The closer you are to the coast the more moderate temperatures get. Inland, temperatures can be painfully hot, soaring as high as 40C.

The main draw to the region is that it’s cheaper than the better known Algarve. The people are easy-going and mild mannered. They have an innate sense of politeness. Due to a strong Roman Catholic influence, Portugal is still a very conservative and traditional country. Portuguese people are considered to be very friendly and welcoming.

PROPERTY

In the last 5 years properties have increased by approximately 7-8% .  A stronger increase is predicted and the next 3-4 years the trend is to increase much more.

The government is developing Obidos a lot and in order to get foreign investors into the country. With the new highway A 8 Lisbon airport is only about 40 minutes away from Obidos..The market is rising and three new golf courses are being built. There are already two golf courses nearby.

Airports Lisbon and Porto are connected to other European cities by charter flights, making it much cheaper for foreigners to reach their holiday/weekend homes.

The average price of a 3 - 4 bedroom-house of a good standard costs around  €200,000.

Five years ago the same house would have cost around €120,000 and three years ago around €150,000.

Good places to buy at the moment are around Obidos lagoon as three new golf courses are being built in the area. The whole Silvercoast in general is a good place to purchase. Much better value than the Algarve.

A 3-4 bedroom house under €200,000 would considered to be a bargain.
A house for €500,000 with views of the lagoon or the sea, plus a pool, would be high end. There’s a huge amount of interest in the area as the Algarve is very pricy, this area is  much better value.

The whole buying process is a bit slower than in Ireland.