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=== Hitchhiking ===
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. During the autumn or winter season, rain can be constant, especially in the north and centre of Portugal. Although, you still might be able to find long periods of beautiful sunshine. Anyway, keep in mind that Portugal is SO WINDY, especially in coastal areas due to the oceanic weather. This can be an ease in summer's hot afternoons, but it's definitely harsh at night, even more if your plan is to wildcamp or vivac.
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[[File:Hhlisboa.jpg|right|thumb|334px|A hitchhiker bound for Lisbon'']]
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 Southern coast of Portugal is also very touristic, so 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 yearsand it's easy to sneak in without paying, especially in short-distance regional trains around Lisbon.
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 ;)
=== 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.
Although walking along the highway (Autoestrada) can be an effective method in Portugal, you risk being stopped by the highway patrol. If you are friendly enough they might give you a lift to the nearest town or national road where it is legal to walk, but some have been known to call the police, particularly near Lisbon. Walking along the highway is not a punishable offense and there is no fine, but having the police called is a hassle for everyone involved. Note that simply hitchiking in general is perfectly legal, rather it is the act of walking along the highways which is illegal.
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 manual payment at a lane. Obviously, you will be less noticed when you ask for a lift during the collection of a ticket than during the payment at a lane.
=== Links ===
* [http://www.brisa.pt/PresentationLayer/homepageclientes.aspx?menuid=1 BRISA] has information on all the highways in Portugal and their exits and 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]
* 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}}
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