In this country, a large influx of tourists is expected in June and July, which is not easy for a 10-million-strong country to cope with. Hotels and holiday homes - old and new - will be in maximum demand. But they are unlikely to provide shelter for everyone. The Portuguese authorities have promised to solve the problem using the capacities of military bases. They say that if necessary, tourists will be accommodated there.
A lure for tourists
Portugal is an attractive country with an interesting past, present, and future. It is located on the southwestern edge of Europe, consists of a continental part, the Azores archipelago, and the island of Madeira, and is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. A single land border separates Portugal from Spain, with which they were once one whole. But in 1140, the first Portuguese king, Afonso Henriques (after whom the stadium in Guimarães is named), proclaimed independence.
Many years have passed since then, and the country has experienced much that was interesting and not so interesting. The Portuguese took a direct part in the great geographical discoveries (Vasco da Gama, Ferdinand Magellan, Bartolomeu Dias, Pedro Cabral forever went down in history), expanded their possessions, united and separated from the Spaniards. In the 20th century, Portugal became a republic, then a state ruled by dictator António Salazar, and after the "Carnation Revolution" 30 years ago and colonial wars again became a democratic state. 18 years ago, the Portuguese, having overcome the financial crisis, together with Spain entered the European Economic Community.
Today Portugal is a quite stable state with a strong economy and well-developed tourism infrastructure, which makes this corner of the Iberian Peninsula, with a thousand kilometers of luxurious beaches, attractive for vacationers. However, it is also not cheap.
Eight Portuguese cities will host the matches of the European Football Championship. In addition to the capital Lisbon and the country's second most important city, Porto, Braga, Guimarães, Coimbra, Aveiro, Leiria, as well as Faro and Loulé, between which the newly built Algarve stadium is located, have been admitted to the continental forum.
Each of these cities will offer the fan not only a football spectacle but also a lot of interesting things. After all, Portugal has a rich historical heritage; various styles - Western and Eastern - have mixed in the architecture of its cities. The north of the country abounds in ancient castles and churches, which are also located in very picturesque corners. And the temperature in June is conducive to a pleasant pastime. Summer here is traditionally warm, but they say it is only very hot in this country far from the ocean. But on the famous beaches of the Algarve, it is just right...
Useful tips
Citizens of the European Union do not need a visa to enter Portugal. Tourists from Canada, the USA, Australia, and New Zealand can stay in the country without a visa for no more than 90 days. Residents of the EU (as well as Brazil, the USA, and Switzerland) can use their national driver's licenses. Others are required to have an international driver's license with them. Portugal is compact, so renting a car is an excellent solution to many problems. But do not forget that drivers from southern countries are traditionally unceremonious.
Since January 1, 2002, the euro has been in circulation in Portugal. Local banks will gladly exchange any currency for you, but they will charge a certain fee for the pleasure. For the convenience of plastic card holders, 24-hour ATMs operate in almost every city.
Students, teachers, young people under 26, and elderly people over 59 can expect some discounts.
The practice of tipping is widespread - 5-10% of the bill amount in a restaurant. At the same time, in markets and even in some stores, you can safely bargain and get a discount.
The country uses the metric system. Distance is usually indicated in kilometers, mass in kilograms, volume in liters, and temperature in degrees Celsius.
Tap water in any corner of Portugal is safe to drink.
Smoking is allowed almost everywhere, although the situation is gradually changing. Smoking is prohibited on public transport but permitted at the stadium.
The single free emergency call number is 112. By this number, you can contact the police, firefighters, and any other emergency service, including in the event of a car accident, order a crane manipulator in Moscow for loading and transporting vehicles.
Most stores operate on a schedule of 9:00-19:00 with a lunch break from 12:30-14:00. Banks are open from 8:30 to 15:00 Monday through Friday. Government and postal institutions work from 9:00 to 18:00 (break 12:30-14:00). Museums do not receive visitors on Mondays, and on other days they are open from 10:00 to 17:00 with a standard break.
Championship and celebration
Returning directly to football, it should be noted that a great deal is expected from the upcoming Euro-2004 in Portugal. Starting from obtaining material benefits and ending with moral benefits. At one of the latest meetings of the European Championship organizing committee (it meets twice a week), its president Gilberto Madaíl said: "Euro-2004 is very important for every city and for the whole country, because thanks to the tournament we will be in the center of attention of the whole world. The European Championship will allow us to show the country in all its colors. Many various events will be held during the tournament, and their program has already been drawn up. This is an excellent opportunity to tell about Portuguese cities, because in the next 30 years we will not be able to claim to host the European Championship."
The organizers also promise that the festive program will be quite rich: “The main entertainment zones have already been determined - giant television screens will be installed there, and people will be offered numerous entertainment events. In terms of timing, the European Championship coincides with Portuguese national holidays, which plays into our hands.”
What, where and how
The main burden of hosting Euro-2004 matches will fall on Lisbon and Porto, each of which will have two stadiums in use. So, let us introduce the ten “participants.”
“Aveiro Municipal” (30,000 seats) is located five kilometers from the center of Aveiro and is directly connected to Portugal’s motorway network. From Lisbon and Porto, the easiest way is via the A1. From the city center, the stadium is easiest to reach by public transport (bus). The nearest airport is in Porto (Francisco Sá Carneiro).
“Braga Municipal” (30,000 seats) has already been called a work of art. The arena is literally built into a hillside. The stadium is located in the northern part of Braga and will be part of the City Park. To the north of the stadium runs the A3 motorway, which connects Porto and Braga, and Guimarães is just a 15-minute drive via the A11. The nearest airport is Francisco Sá Carneiro in Porto. You can reach Braga by bus (from any city) and by train (from Porto).
“Afonso Henriques” (34,500 seats) stands in the center of Guimarães, a few minutes’ walk from Praça do Toural. The central bus station is located in the western part of the city, and you can also arrive in Guimarães via the A11, A7, IP3, and IP4 motorways.
“Coimbra City” (30,000 seats) is located near the center of Coimbra. It is easily accessible via the A1. During the championship, a bus will run from the center to the stadium. Next to the stadium is the “Coimbra” railway station. The nearest airport is in Porto.
“Magalhães Pessoa” (30,000 seats) is in the very center of Leiria near the Lis River. It is easily accessible from the A1 and A8. Three hours away along the A1 is Spain and one of the most popular border crossing points. From other cities, the easiest way is by bus. Lisbon airport is 150 km away, Porto 180 km.
“Luz” (65,000 seats) will celebrate its 50th anniversary this year. The renovated stadium is conveniently located in the northern part of Lisbon near the Segunda Circular ring road. Within 2.5 km of the stadium there are two metro stations. Lisbon’s international airport is a 15-minute drive from the arena.
“José Alvalade” (50,000 seats) is a 10-minute drive from the center of Lisbon and five minutes from the airport. The easiest way is by metro (Campo Grande station). In addition, a lot of buses go to the stadium, and for drivers there is the Segunda Circular ring road.
“Bessa” (30,000 seats) is located in the western part of Porto next to the Cintura Interna ring road, from where you can easily reach the A1 motorway to the south and A3 and A4 to the north. Porto is connected to other cities by bus and rail routes. From the center of Porto, you can get to the stadium by bus from Praça da Liberdade and Avenida dos Aliados. A 10-minute drive from the stadium is Campanhã railway station, and an hour and a half drive is Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport.
“Dragão” (50,000 seats) is a completely new arena in Porto, one of the parts of the “City of Sports.” A boulevard, an inner ring road, and a network of city highways lead to the stadium. Exits to the A1, A2, and A3 motorways, which lead to Lisbon, Guimarães, and Braga, are nearby. The Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport is 15 km away.
“Algarve” (30,000 seats), as already mentioned, is built between Faro and Loulé in the town of João da Venda. It is convenient to reach from Lisbon and other cities in Portugal, as well as from the Spanish province of Andalusia. Faro International Airport is a 15-minute drive away.