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'''Portugal''' is a country located in southwestern south-western [[Europe]] on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of mainland Europe and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south and by [[Spain]] to the north and east. The Atlantic archipelagos of the [[Azores]] and [[Madeira Islands|Madeira]] are also part of Portugal.

Hitching in Portugal is quite easy. However, it is important that you are protected from the sun. The [[weather]] is, especially in summer, extremely hot. As an alternative to hitchhiking you During the autumn or winter season, rain can use be constant, especially in the buses from north and centre of Portugal. Although, you still might be able to find long periods of beautiful sunshine.__TOC__[[File:Hhlisboa.jpg|right|thumb|334px|A hitchhiker bound for Lisbon''Rede Expresso'' for overland travels]]If you hitchhike near the coastal regions, you will probably have more chances of being picked up. Most of the people in Portugal live near the coast. Regions around [[Lisbon]] or [[Porto]] are generally with more traffic throughout the year. The railway network Southern coast of Portugal is not in a good statealso very touristic, it is slow and there are only two linesso you will have higher chances of being picked also by foreigners.

As an alternative to hitchhiking you can use the buses from ''Rede Expresso'' for overland travels. The railway network is not in a good state, it is slow and there are only two lines. Although, the network is improving a lot during the last years. Another important issue is the way you address the drivers (since speaking directly with them gives better result than standing on the exit of the highway, if you´re hitchhiking on one. The Portuguese, even if not very familiar with the idea of hitchhiking, turn out to be very friendly people if approached in the right way. Say hello, excuse for disturbing, explain where you´re going to and ask if by any chance they´re going the same way. Seems like very basic advice but in Portugal it matters more than in central Europe ;) ===== Truck Routes =====

=== Eat and Drink == Fátima? =====[[Fátima]] is a little pilgrimage village. You make could try using a good deal if you buy sign with this name to increase your chances of being picked up. It's on the local markets where you can expect good quality for low prices. Fruits, vegetables, fish and meat have mostly good prices. Expensive is cheese, fruit juice, haribo road between Lisbon and chocolatePorto.

In restaurants you will always get bread===Language ===Despite Portuguese being the official language, cheeseSpanish is widely understood. However, butter and olives without being asked. This will cost extra. As starter there is using a few Portuguese key words goes a soup usual and long way, as main course grilled fish or grilled meat with rice or chipsgenerally people give some value to that. You will find that many Portuguese people often eat grilled stuff speak English or stewFrench as a second language. The meals are mostly simpleAccording to the International English Proficiency Index [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EF_English_Proficiency_Index], Portugal has a high proficiency level in English, proficiency higher than in countries like Italy, France or Greece.

=== Sleep Legal stuff ===Normally, police won't bother you. Despite is forbidden to hitchhike at the middle of the highway, like mostly everywhere, your chances increase if you ask for a lift at the service stations or even at the tolls. In Portugal highways are payable, and so many of the vehicles stop at the tolls in order to pay.

if you don't find anything through Although walking along the typical hospitality exchange networkshighway (Autoestrada) can be an effective method in Portugal, you can try to stay with risk being stopped by the firemenhighway patrol. Each Bombeiros station in Portugal has If you are friendly enough they might give you a room lift to the nearest town or national road where they can host passing travellers, and it is freelegal to walk, but some have been known to call the police, particularly near Lisbon. These (mostly volunteer) firefighters are friendly Walking along the highway is not a punishable offense and chattythere is no fine, when they speak englishbut having the police called is a hassle for everyone involved. Make sure you go ask early enoughNote that simply hitchiking in general is perfectly legal, however, as rather it is the act of walking along the station commander has to verify that you can stay..highways which is illegal.

Throughout A traditional toll plaza usually has an electronic toll lane and one or more lanes for manual payment. Not all the vehicles stop because they have the electronic system which collects their costs with no need to stop. The vehicles which stop will do it at least by two different times. First, they collect a ticket which signs the start of their trip at a certain place. Later, they stop for the three warmer seasonsmanual payment at a lane. Obviously, and you will be less noticed when you ask for a lift during the collection of a ticket than during the payment at a lane. === Crossing the border ===Portugal borders only with Spain. The rest of the country is surrounded by the Atlantic ocean. Portugal has signed the [[Schengen Agreement]] which means that borders with Spain are open. At times, there are mobile checks by the police or customs, especially in winter too if border regions like [[Vilar Formoso]]. === Crossing Spain to get to Portugal ===If you have a tent just want to get to Portugal from somewhere in Europe (or find sheltervice-versa), you 'll want to to keep your hitch journey in Spain as short and quick as possible. This will happen by sticking to the the main road (AP-1 and A-62, Autovía de Castilla) from Bayonne/San Sebastian to Salamanca / Vilar Formoso (the portuguese border near Guarda). Even if you come from, say, Montpellier, it's recommended to hitch up to Bayonne and cross the basque country. A good technique is to stay in one of the last service stations on the A63 in France before the spanish border, and wait for someone who can sleep take you all to way to Portugal. Portuguese plates (1/3 of portuguese nationals live outside without much hasslePortugal) or tourists (20 million invaded Portugal in 2016) will pass there. Otherwise, don't let your drivers drop you at just any gas station along the way - try your best to stick to busy ones (on the right side and near the highway, Repsol and Galp). If your ride is only taking you to somewhere near Vilar Formoso border and you want to go further in Portugal, stay at the last Cepsa gas station on the right side of the road, 5kms before the border. Gas is cheaper in Spain, and many cars fill up their tanks in there before entering Portugal.

{{nomadwiki}}* [http://www.brisa.pt/PresentationLayer/homepageclientes.aspx?menuid=1 BRISA] has information on all the highways in Portugal and their exits and gas petrol stations.For the location of some of the petrol stations click [http://www.brisa.pt/PresentationLayer/areasservico.aspx?menuid=10 here].* For the locations of the petrol stations in A28 click [http://nortelitoral.pt/site/category/viajar/viajar-seguro/areas-de-servico/ here]*[http://www.bp.com/pt_pt/on-the-road/portugal/localize-a-bp-mais-proxima.html bp Portugal] for bp highway petrol stations in Portugal. * For informations about all highways and respective exits, connections to other roads, and petrol stations click [http://www.portugalconvida.net/pdf/AUTOESTRADAS.pdf here] for a pdf doc* To find local festivities "festas bravas", it's recommended to check [http://festabravanoribatejo.blogspot.pt this website]. [[User:EliasExplores|EliasExplores]] had most excellent experiences being in those small villages. As seen on his [https://www.youtube.com/FictionSource Youtube Channel]{{wikipedia-link|Portugal}}