Travel
Airports
Portugal has international airports in Lisbon and Porto, as well as Faro, Madeira and the Açores islands. Portela is Portugal's international airport and it’s on north-eastern fringes of Lisbon. An airport shuttle bus departs every 20 minutes, taking passengers to Praça do Comércio.
The national airline is TAP–Air Portugal. The regional air company, SATA, flies to the Açores Islands. There are also air links between Funchal (Madeira) and Porto Santo.
Ground transport
Portugal has an extensive regional and suburban railway network. International trains run daily between Paris and Lisbon and Lisbon-Madrid and express trains operate between Lisbon and Porto.
Taxis use meters and are cream with a roof-light, or black and green. Be aware that once outside urban boundaries taxi service is charged by the kilometre, and includes the price of the driver’s return trip to his starting point. From 10.00pm to 6.00am the rate increases by 20 per cent. Luggage weighing more than 30kg is charged according to a fixed rate.
In Portugal all road traffic drives on the right. Vehicles approaching from the right have the right of way, unless otherwise indicated on signposts. The use of seatbelts is compulsory. Fines for traffic violations are severe and must be paid on the spot.
Dining
Lunch is traditionally between 12 midday and 3.00pm, and dinner from 7.00pm–10.00pm. A good meal in Portugal begins with a soup, perhaps ‘caldo verde’ (a thick soup made from shredded cabbage and potatoes with a sprinkling of olive-oil and a slice of chorizo). ‘Bacalhau’ (dried and salted cod) is the national dish and the Portuguese have invented 1001 different ways of cooking it; the simplest is boiled with potatoes and cabbage.
Tipping
Taxis expect a 10 per cent tip on top of the fare.
Service charge is included in restaurants and cafes costs but a 10 per cent tip on top is not out of place.
Top Business Risks
OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
Multinational Enterprises should be aware of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises that provide voluntary principles and standards for responsible business behaviour in a variety of areas, consistent with applicable domestic laws. These Guidelines are endorsed and promoted by the Australian Government. For more information, go to the AusNCP website.
Bilateral agreements
Australia has social security agreements with several countries that address the issue of 'double super coverage' for employees sent to work overseas. To take advantage of these agreements, Australian employers sending employees overseas to work must apply to the Tax Office for a Certificate of coverage.
For more details, please visit the Australian Taxation Office website.