10 tips for motorcycling in Portugal
September 7, 2020- Always have a rain suit on hand. The motorcycle’s topcase is the best place to keep it for easy access. The Portuguese climate is usually hot and dry in the interior, especially in spring and summer, but the Atlantic facade is more humid, and it is not uncommon to see cloud dancing, making unexpected rain more likely.
- Beware of tolls! If we use toll roads when approaching large cities to avoid dense peripheral traffic (Lisbon is the perfect example), we must plan to have some coins or a credit card handy. In some tolls, the money is deposited directly into a machine, others have a highway toll collector. There are also many sections of electronic tolls, more and more, in fact, in which a reader identifies our license plate. In order to pay them and not commit an infraction, we can do so through our Spanish Via-T if we have one, by accessing one of the Easytoll terminals with a credit card and linking it to our registration, or by acquiring a prepaid Tollcard online (portugaltolls.com).
- Police roadblocks are not particularly common in Portugal, although on occasion we might run into one when entering or leaving a town. It is obvious, anyway, that it is mandatory to respect the traffic rules, because when there is a police presence.
- The west winds make Portugal an ideal destination for surfers. The force of these winds is such that on certain coastal roads it is not unusual to find sand from the beach washed up on the asphalt. Exercise extreme caution in these sections.
- Touring Portugal on a motorcycle is a pleasure for all the senses, including taste. The food served in restaurants is usually exquisite, and many times with generous portions, which if we have to continue riding on a motorcycle can be somewhat excessive. That is why it is advisable to be careful when ordering.
- There are no longer any border posts between Spain and Portugal. Under normal conditions, traffic circulates freely, without control, between the two countries. However, it’s always a good idea to have your passport handy in case it is requested in a routine control.
- The Portuguese are people with a melancholic appearance, although that first impression disappears when dealing with them: they are exquisitely polite and gentle, very friendly and intelligent also. Many people have a wide knowledge of English and Spanish, one positive idea for us travelers is to learn a few words in Portuguese to talk to them and start a conversation (most travel guides contain a short glossary with words in this language).
- Portugal is known for its geographical and topographical coves, which usually offer steep and beautiful cliffs overlooking the sea, often equipped so that tourists can contemplate their beauty. This is the case, for example, of the famous Cabo de Roca, the westernmost point of continental Europe. Although the sun can shine five hundred meters inland, at the cape it is possible for it to drizzle and be cool … Better to keep warm just in case.
- Meal times in Portugal are similar to those in central Europe: lunch and dinner are eaten earlier than in Spain, for example. When arriving in Portugal by land from the neighboring country, we must also bear in mind that we have to turn our clocks back one hour.
- The ideal type of accommodation in Portugal are hotels. From resorts in the Algarve to old restored citadels in the Lisbon area, to give just a couple of examples, on a guided motorcycle route with IMTBIKE we will enjoy the well-deserved rest after the day on the motorcycle in an accommodation meticulously chosen by our team.
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