Traffic report Portugal

Traveling to Portugal and going on vacation by car (and caravan), is a great outlook. Being well prepared for a long journey through Europe is half the job. Below you will find information on the busy roads, border crossings, traffic calendars, alternative routes, peak days and hours, traffic information services, etc., in Portugal.

Portugal Traffic News

Phone

• In Portugal English and French-language traffic information is provided by the ACP on telephone number 021 318 01 00 (from April to September from 9 am to 6 pm). Outside Portugal: +351 21 318 01 00.

Radio

• In Portugal, the broadcaster RTP does not broadcast traffic information in foreign languages. Frequencies can be found at rtp.pt.

Internet

• Detailed road information (in Portuguese only) can be found at estradas.pt
• Information on traffic and toll roads (also in English) can be found at brisa.pt and portugaltolls.com.
  Sister club ACP via acp.pt in Portuguese, very limited in English.

Road network

• Portugal has a well-maintained network of highways (autopistas).
• Secondary and rural roads are also often of good quality.

Roads and routes

• The fastest route from Northern Europe is on the motorways (toll) via Belgium – France – Spain.

New roads

• No information

Driving ban trucks

• In Portugal there is no general driving ban for trucks on public holidays or weekends.

Busy roads

It can be extra busy on the following routes, especially in the summer period:

• The access roads to and from Lisbon: A1, A2, A5, A8, EN6, EN10 and IC2.
• The access roads to and from Porto: A1, A3, A4, A28, A29, VCI, EN1, EN13 and EN109.
• Bridge of the 25th of April (Lisbon – Almada).
• A1 Lisbon – Porto: bottlenecks at Lisbon, Santarém, Aveiro and Porto.
• A2 Lisbon – Algarve: bottlenecks at Lisbon, connection A6 and connection with A22.
• IC1 Lisbon – Algarve: bottlenecks at Lisbon, connection A6 and connection with A22.
• A12 Lisbon – Setúbal.
• A5 and EN6 Lisbon – Cascais.
• IC19 Lisbon – Sintra.
• IC20 Almada – Costa da Caparica.
• EN125 Vila do Bispo – Vila Real de S. António (Algarve).
• IC1 (A28) Porto – Viana do Castelo.
• IC1 (A29) Porto – Espinho.

Busy border crossings

With Spain

• Vilar Formoso.

Traffic in the summer

• In the summer period it is busy every weekend on the roads to and from the beaches.

Traffic in winter

• No data.

Events and holidays

Count on extra traffic around important events and holidays:

• Freedom Day: April 25.
• Labor Day: May 1.
• Europe Day: May 9.
• Dia de Camões (National Day): June 10.
• Saint Anthony of Padua, Lisbon region: June 13.
• Saint John the Baptist, Porto region: June 24.
• Saint San Pedro, regions of Évora and Sintra: June 29.
• Assumption of Mary: August 15.
• Republic Day: October 5.
• All Saints’ Day: November 1.
• Independence Day: December 1.
• Christmas: December 25 and 26.

Peak hours

• Lisbon and Porto are extra busy during rush hour, especially in the summer period

Breakdown assistance in Portugal

• Safety first
• Stop in a safe place – If possible, stop in the side of the road or on the emergency lane as far to the right as possible (make sure there is room to step out on the right). Turn your front wheels towards roadside or guardrail.
• Turn on your emergency lights – Let the emergency lights of your car flash to warn the other traffic (and also keep them on after you have placed a warning triangle). Make sure that the low beam also lights up in the dark.
• Put on a safety vest – As a driver, you are required to wear a safety vest if you walk alongside the road in the event of a breakdown or accident. Preferably put on a safety vest before you leave your vehicle and also let your passengers put on a safety vest. Motorbike drivers and their passengers are also advised to put on a safety vest in the event of a breakdown or accident.
• Get out of the car – Carefully get out, and let all passengers get out, on the side where there is no traffic and find a safe place behind the guard rail or on the roadside. Never cross a highway.
• Place a warning triangle if necessary – You are only required to use a warning triangle if you are outside the built-up area due to breakdown or an accident in a place where traffic behind you cannot see your car in time or when visibility is poor due to weather conditions (even if you warning lights are on). Place the warning triangle on motorways at least 200 to 250 m behind your car and on other roads outside built-up areas 150 m behind your car. (Within built-up areas, that distance should be approximately 50 m.) Place the warning triangle no more than 1 m from the edge of the road.

Here you will find more information about Portugal.