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 Mail
The word "Correio" denotes a Post Office or mail
services. First class mail is denoted by the words "Correio
Azul" and associated with the colour blue. The Post Office
also offers an express service named EMS that records the
delivery. A registered letter is "Correio Registrado",
and postage stamps are called "Selos".
Post Offices are normally open from 08.30 hrs. until 18.30 hrs.
from Monday to Friday but this is only a general rule as they
vary from district to district. In some towns main Post Offices
will also be open on Saturdays mornings or the whole day. Outside
and inside many Post Offices, there are stamp vending machines
that indicate the cost for each type and the weight of the item
being posted.
Visitors wishing to receive mail when in Portugal may use the
"Poste Restante". Items should be addressed as follows:
(Last Name), (First name)
Poste Restante
(Postal Code Number) Town
Country
Collection of items will be made against proof of identity of
the receiver and there is a charge per item.
Major Post Offices also have the facility of sending and
receiving Fax. There is also a system for receiving and sending
e-mail by renting a Computer Unit.
Telephone
Public telephones are to be found in the street in major towns
and in the Post Offices. This national service is run by a State
owned company named Telecom (TLP). Telephones can be used
according to the two ways of paying other than with cash. One is
by a card named "Credifone" and the other is by "TLP Card". The
former is accepted throughout the country and the latter only in
Lisbon and Porto. Cards can be purchased at shops displaying
signs advertising their sale.
International calls can be made direct and the dial code for
Portugal is "351". A caller must first dial "00", then his
country dial number, then the area code without the prefix "0",
and lastly the subscribers' number. Call charges are cheaper
between 22.00 hrs. and 08.00 hrs., and at weekends. Hotels
normally charge a surcharge for an outgoing call. Within
Portugal you can call direct to any subscriber first dialling
the area code if the destination of the call is outside the
area in which the call is being made. An area code is indicated
by the prefix of "2" - example "289" - where "89" indicates the
telephone area of Faro.
Mobile phones in Portugal use the GSM telephone service. Visitors
using this system will have the benefit of Roaming. Portugal's
international dial code number for mobile phones is "268". To
contact a mobile phone number from a fixed phone you use the same
method described above for dialling outside your area.
National Emergency is 112
National Enquiries is 118
International Enquiries is 179
Pre-paid Calls is 172
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