Guimaraes Car Rental Guide
The current page gives you information about car rental in Guimaraes and describes the basic car rental and driving restrictions valid in Portugal.
Rental Restrictions
To rent a car in Portugal, you must be at least 21 years old (age may vary by car category) and have held your license for 1 year. Drivers under the age of 25 may incur a young driver surcharge.
Cars rented in Portugal are not allowed into the following countries: Albania, Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and the former Yugoslavian republics.
Driving Restrictions
In Portugal, driving is on the right and passing on the left. The minimum driving age is 17 years. Children must be at least 12 to sit in the front.
The maximum blood alcohol limit is 0.5‰ and drunk driving is subject to very severe fines.
Roads are often three lanes wide – use the middle lane for passing in both directions. At the junction of two roads of equal importance, traffic coming from the right has priority.
The use of the horn is only allowed in cases of extreme and immediate danger. Do not flash your headlights – it is illegal.
You must park in the direction of traffic, except where parking is allowed on one side of the road only. Illegally parked vehicles will be confiscated. In many towns, there are Blue Zones and you have to obtain a disc to park in this zone.
The police are authorised to collect fines on the spot.
Speed limits:| Area | Speed |
| City | 50KM/H |
| Main roads | 90KM/H |
| Motorways | 120KM/H |
Emergency Numbers
Police/fire/ambulance: 112
Road Tolls
In Portugal, many motorways and several bridges and tunnels are tolled. You can pay for the ticket with a card, but it is advised you carry cash. The tolls are rather expensive.
Some useful expressions for tourists visiting Portugal
Car rental agency – agencia de aluguer de carros
Parking – estacionamento
About Guimaraes
Guimaraes was the first capital of Portugal and has preserved a mediaeval atmosphere on its streets. It is situated at the foot of a mountain range and is known for its craft industries.
There are many historical buildings in Guimaraes. The Church of St. Francis contains the most dramatic church interior in town. The Palace of the Dukes of Braganca is another great attraction, possessing various treasures. The city boasts several museums, such as the Alberto Sampaio Museum, displaying a large silver collection, paintings and mediaeval sculpture. The Sacred Art Museum is also worth visiting.
In the city centre, you will find many taverns, cafes and restaurants. The narrow mediaeval Rua de la Santa Maria is a beautiful street with lots of small shops.
Population: 52,000
Country: Republic of Portugal
Time Zone: GMT/UTC 0 (+1 in summer)
Monetary Unit: Euro
