SOS - Emergencies Fire or Ambulance emergency service anywhere in portugal: 112
Hospitals
Faro Hospital	Telephone : 289 803411
Lagos	Telephone : 282 770100
Portimao	Telephone : 282 450300
Local Police Stations
Albufeira	Telephone : 289 583310
Almancil	Telephone : 289 393200
Carvoeiro	Telephone : 282 356460
Faro	Telephone : 289 801828
Lagos	Telephone : 282 762809
Loule	Telephone : 289 462782
Portimao	Telephone : 282 417717
Quarteira	Telephone : 289 389477
Tavira	Telephone : 281 325704
Vila do Bispo	Telephone : 282 639112
Vilamoura	Telephone : 289 313040
Consulates
British Embassy Largo F.A Mauricio, Portimao	Telephone : 282 490750
Local Tourist Information Offices
Lagos Tourist Information Rua Vasco da Game	Telephone : 282 763031
Lagos Tourist Information Largo Marques de Pombal	Telephone : 282 764 111
Aljezur Tourist Information Largo do Mercado	Telephone : 282 998229
Portimao Tourist Information Commercial harbour	Telephone : 282 416556
Portimao Tourist Information Rua 25 de Abril	Telephone : 282 442255
Sagres Tourist Information Rua Comandante Matoso	Telephone : 282 624873
Faro Tourist Information Av. da Republica, 18	Telephone : 280 800400
Faro Tourist Information Rua da Misericordia	Telephone : 289 818 582
Faro Tourist Information Located at Faro Airport	Telephone : 289 818582

 
 
 

Banks
Open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 3pm. Closed all weekends and public holidays, Exchange rates for traveller's cheques are slightly higher than for cash notes. Cash advances available on most credit cards. There are ATM machines all over Lagos including supermarkets.

Consulates
In the misfortunate case of lost or stolen passports and other mishaps or emergencies, contact your national consulate in the Algarve or embassy in Lisbon. The British consulate also handles commonwealth nationals such as Australians and New Zealanders.

Medical Matters
There are emergency departments in health centers in majour towns including Faro, Portimao and Lagos. Hospitals are also open 24/7 where you will be required to show your passport when requesting treatment.

Post Offices
Open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 6pm. Closed for weekends and public holidays, smaller village post offices close for lunch from 12:30 entill 2pm (lunch times varie depending on village but generally 12-3 covers all the ones that I know off)

Public Holidays
Banks, post offices and many businesses close almost everywhere on national holidays and in specific towns or villages on local holidays except in tourist areas where many shops stay open all day normal hours.

Telephone
Call from coin or card phone boxes in post offices or scattered around town,cards can be brought from the post office, hotels and some smaller bars and newsagents. Dail the prefix 0044 for calling the UK or 00353 for ireland followed by the area code and number. for reverse call charges and international information dail 099.


Some of the Algarves beaches have been awarded "Bandeiras Azuis" which in English is "Blue Flag" this is in recognition of the high standards of safety, cleanliness and facilities these standards must be maintained for resort to retian there status.

Flag Guide
Green Flag - Swimming is permitted.
Yellow Flag - Swimming forbidden.
Red Flag - Forbiddon to swim or enter the water.
Chequered Flag - Beach is temporarily unattended by life gaurds.