Praia da Luz & The Algarve Information

Praia da Luz Guide

Miscellaneous Algarve Information
Luz Holiday Information

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Miscellaneous Algarve Info - Luz-Info.com

Miscellaneous Algarve Information
News, Holidays, Markets, Weather, Fire & Police

Click for Faro, Portugal Forecast
Faro

A collection of miscellaneous information for the Algarve, all can be found in many places on the web but I've gathered them here here to save you ( and me! ) looking. There is a real-time Sterling / Euro currency converter. Actual weather and average temperatures, a few phrases, regional market days, national and school holidays. Tourist office, Police & Fire telephone numbers. Daylight Saving Time reminder. Algarve district abbreviations. With regard to the Temperatures for the Algarve, bear in mind from East to West temperatures can be quite different especially the sea temperatures as you get toward the Atlantic coast (Sagres and North). You will find that a lot of 'local Algarve town' forecasts on the web but more often than not they use the Faro data, which can be significantly different.
 03/2009  I've added the useful Holiday Weather.com widget in the left column ( it is the only source I've found that had a weather forecast for Praia da Luz ). However, I'm not sure whereabouts the temperatures are actually measured as they seemed 'a bit off', so I've used nearby Portimao as 'the next nearest', and it seems a bit more realistic.
 04/2009  A new addition is the Babylon translator in the left column. Useful for a quick word or phrase either into or from Portuguese. ( You need to allow 'Pop-Up's for it to function properly )



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Daylight Saving Time 2013

The EU's version of Daylight Saving Time runs from 01:00 on the last Sunday in March (when the clocks go forward by an hour) through to 02:00 on the last Sunday in October (when they go back by an hour).
For 2013 clocks go forward by one hour on the night of Sunday 31st March ( 01.00 ).
They go back again on the night of Sunday 27 / 28 October ( 02.00 ).

Average Rainfall in Algarve ( Millimetres )

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jly Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
70 70 35 31 25 5 1 1 5 51 55 65

Average Air Temperature oC

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jly Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
15 16 18 20 22 25 29 30 26 22 19 15

Average Sea Temperature oC

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jly Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
14 14 16 16 17 19 20 21 21 19 17 15
Weather Conversion Chart: 25.4mm=1 inch - ºF= (1.8 x ºC ) + 32

National Holidays 2013

TuesdayJanuary 01New Years Day
TuesdayMarch 19Fathers DayNot a public holiday.
FridayMarch 29Good Friday
ThursdayApril 25Freedom DayLiberation Day
WednesdayMay 01Labour DayMay Day
SundayMay 05Mothers DayNot a public holiday.
ThursdayMay 30Corpus ChristiNot a public holiday.
MondayJune 10Portugal Day
ThursdayJune 13Feast of St Anthony( Lisbon only )
MondayJune 24Feast of St John the Baptist( Porto Only )
ThursdayAugust 15Assumption Day
SaturdayOctober 05Republic DayNot a public holiday.
FridayNovember 01All Saints DayNot a public holiday.
SundayDecember 01Restoration of IndependenceNot a public holiday.
SundayDecember 08Immaculate Conception Day
TuesdayDecember 24Christmas Eve
WednesdayDecember 25Christmas Day

School Holidays 2013

Between 10 and 14 September 2012School begins ( confirm with the school )
17 December 2012 to 2 January 2013December break ( Férias de Natal )
11 to 13 FebruaryCarnival break ( Férias de Carnaval )
18 March to 1 AprilEaster break ( Férias de Páscoa )
pre-school 5 JulySummer holidays ( Férias de Verão )
7 June 2013Summer holidays ( Férias de Verão ) 6th, 9th, 11th, 12th grades
14 June 2013Summer holidays ( Férias de Verão ) 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th, 10th grades
16 December * to 02 January 2014 * Christmas holidays ( Férias de Natal ) * t.b.c.

A few useful Phrases

Just a few phrases for everyday use.
Try here ( Babylon7 ) or here for more comprehensive services.
Also give the 'quick' Babylon translator in the left column a try.
Ola Hello Adeus Goodbye
Bom dia Good Morning / day Ate logo See you later
Boa Tarde Good Afternoon Obrigado (a) Thank you
Boa Noite Good Evening / Night Por Favor Please
Com licença / Desculpe Excuse me Cuidado Take Care
Quanto / Quantos? How much / many? Porquê? Why?
Como? How? Quem? Who?
Enjoy the meal! Bom apetite! Quê? What?
Boa viagem! Have a safe journey! Onde? Where?
Desejo-lhe umas boas férias! Have a good holiday! Qual? / Quais? Which, Which ones
Sim Yes Não No
 07/2008  Thanks Nana, ( Brazil ) for a few corrections.
Just a few additional words that you frequently see whilst travelling. Maybe not that important but just make you wonder what they mean. I'll be adding to them as as they catch my eye.
móveis furniture I originally thought Portugal had a stack of video rental stores.
vende se for sale Not necessarily proper sign boards, sometimes just spray painted on ruins.
sem chumbo unleaded One to remember when filling the rental.
oferta (especial) offer ( special ) Worth remembering?
     

Algarve Regional Market Days

These are not the permanent municipal markets as in Lagos, Albufeira, Faro. These markets move around and are set up just for the day. Those nearest to Luz are marked with an *.
E.g. 1st Monday in the month there are markets in Portimao & S.Marcos.
Wk# Where Wk# Where Wk# Where Wk# Where
Monday
1st Portimao, S.Marcos 2nd Algoz* 3rd Silves*, Aljezur, Tavira 4th Messines
Tuesday
1st Albufeira 2nd Alvor* 3rd Albufeira 4th none
Wednesday
1st Alte( St Margarida), Quarteira 2nd Qurteira 3rd Qurteira 4th Qurteira
Thursday
1st Armacao, Fuzeta, Vila do Bispo* 2nd Vaqueiros 3rd Alte, Armacao 4th Boliqueime
Friday
1st Sagres 2nd Monchique, Moncarapacho 3rd none 4th none
Saturday
1st Lagos*, Loule, S. Bras, Bensafim 2nd Loule, Rogil, S.Bras 3rd Loule, S.Bras 4th Loule, S.Bras
Sunday
1st Almacil 2nd Estoi, Lagoa*
(except July and August)
3rd Vila Nova de Cacela 4th Almacil, Santa Catarina

Tourist Information Offices

Praia da Luz doesn't have a proper office, but it does have a small 'hut' located on the promenade ( beach bar end ) that is generally open during the summer season ( no fixed hours! ). They are good for local information.
Normally Open 7 days a week, 09.30 - 12.30 / 14.00 - 17.30
Albufeira
Rua 5 de Outubro +351 (289) 585 279
Monte Gordo
Avenida Marginal - +351 (281) 544 495
Alcoutim
Praça de República - +351 (289) 546 179
Ponte Int. Do Guadiana
Monte Francisco - +351 (281) 531 800
Aljezur
Largo do Mercado - +351 (282) 998 229
Olhão
Largo do Lago - +351 (289) 713 936
Alvor
Rua Dr. Afonso Costa 51 - +351 (282) 457 540
Portimão
Commercial Harbour and
across football stadium - +351 (282) 416 556
Armação de Pêra
Avenida Marginal - +351 (282) 312 145
Praia da Rocha
Av. Tomás Cabreira - +351 (282) 419 132
Carvoeiro
Largo da Praia - +351 (282) 357 728
Quarteira
Av.Infante Sagres - +351 (289) 389 209
Castro Marim
Praça 1º do Maio - +351 (281) 531 232
Sagres
Rua Comandante Matoso - +351 (282) 624 873
Faro (Head Office)
Av.da República - +351 (289) 800 400
Rua da Misericórdia - +351 (289) 803 604
Airport - +351 (289) 818 582
São Bras de Alportel
Rua Dr. Evaristo Gago - +351 (289) 843 165
Lagos
Rua Vasco da Gama - +351 (282) 763 031
Silves
Rua 25 de Abril - +351 (282) 442 255
Loulé
Edificio de Castelo - +351 (289) 463 900
Tavira
Praça da República - +351 (281) 322 511
Monchique
Largo dos Chorões - +351 (282) 911 189
 

Municipalities

ABFAlbufeira ACTAlcoutim AJZAljezur CTMCastro Marim
FARFaro LGALagoa (Algarve) LGSLagos LLELoulé
OLHOlhão PTMPortimão MCQMonchique SBASão Brás de Alportel
SLVSilves TVRTavira VBPVila do Bispo VRSVila Real de Santo António

Fire Brigade

Police

  • Albufeira - +351 (289) 513 333
  • Alcoutim - +351 (281) 546 269
  • Aljezur - +351 (282) 998 258
  •  
  •  
  • Faro - +351 (289) 822 122 / 823 630
  • Lagoa - +351 (282) 352 888
  • Lagos - +351 (282) 760 115
  • Loulé - +351 (289) 416 702
  • Monchique - +351 (282) 992 115
  • Olhão - +351 (289) 701 108
  • Portimão - +351 (282) 422 122
  • Silves - +351 (282) 442 411
  • Tavira - +351 (281) 322 122
  • Vila do Bispo- +351 (282) 636 628
  • Vila Real do Santo António- +351 (281) 543 202
  • Albufeira - +351 (289) 587 224
  • Alcoutim - +351 (281) 546 208
  • Aljezur - +351 (282) 998 130
  • Almancil - +351 (289) 393 200
  • Carvoeiro - +351 (282) 356 440
  • Faro - +351 (289) 801 828
  • Lagoa - +351 (282) 352 310
  • Lagos - +351 (282) 762 809
  • Loulé - +351 (289) 462 782
  • Monchique - +351 (282) 992 628
  • Olhão - +351 (289) 703 089
  • Portimão - +351 (282) 417 217
  • Silves - +351 (282) 442 414
  • Tavira - +351 (281) 325 704
  • Vila do Bispo- +351 (282) 639 112
  • Vilamoura - +351 (289) 313 040
  • Vila Real do Santo António- +351 (281) 544 355