Travel Guide - Braga 2016

TRAVEL GUIDEFor Delegates

BRAGA 2016 | EURO-IBERO-AMERICAN YOUTH FORUM

BRAGA 2016 – TRAVEL GUIDE FOR DELEGATES

TRAVEL GUIDE FOR DELEGATESBRAGA 2016 | EURO-IBERO-AMERICAN YOUTH FORUM

Images by: Freepik, Free Vector Maps, Get Bus,

Google Maps, Joaquim Rios Photography, Joana Gordinho and Metro de Lisboa

Published by:Associação Portuguesa do Parlamento Europeu dos

Jovens/European Youth Parliament PortugalRua Dona Antónia Augusta de Sousa, 63, 4460-665 Custóias, Matosinhos, Portugal

[email protected] · facebook.com/EYPPortugal

Dear Delegates,

Once again, congratulations on being selected for Braga 2016 – Euro-Ibero-American Youth Forum!

To help you start planning this great adventure, we have put together this Travel Guide. Please read it carefully.

As you will see, the Travel Guide is arranged in different sections: Flying to Portugal; Moving around in Porto; Moving around in Lisbon; Making your way to Braga; Moving around in Braga; Documents; Insurance. Make sure to go through all of them first, before deciding on travel options.

WELCOME WORDS


Following that, should you still have any doubts on how to proceed, please feel free to contact the Participant Support & Transport Team (and for the purpose of planning your journey, we ask that you do so via e-mail, only: [email protected]).

For more information on how to book extra nights, check the corresponding section in the FAQ document that you have also been sent.

Looking forward to welcoming you at the Forum, we wish you good readings and happy travels!

Yours,

The Team of Braga 2016

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FLYING TO PORTUGAL

When looking for flights, we would advise you to first consider flying to the nearest airport to Braga: Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO), in Porto. If that is not possible, you can always fly to Lisbon International Airport (LIS). Even if you do that, bear in mind that there are many connection flights between Lisbon and Porto every day.

Whatever you do, keep in mind that you must attend the programme in full (and we will begin first thing in the morning on Monday, the 22nd of August). For that reason, you will most likely have to arrive in Portugal one day earlier (on Sunday, the 21st of August).

LANDING IN PORTO

From Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO), you can take the Metro to pretty much anywhere in the city. To do so, simply follow the signs marked Metro. For more information, please see Moving around in Porto, on page 3.

LANDING IN LISBON

From Lisbon International Airport (LIS), you can also take the Metro to anywhere in the city. To do so, simply follow the signs marked Metro. For more information, please see Moving around in Lisbon, on page 4.

BRAGA

PORTO

LISBON


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To get to the airport metro station, just follow the signs marked Metro. Once you are at the station, head to the automatic vending machines to buy a travel card (Andante). This card will cost € 0.60 and can be topped up with trips at any point during your stay, so make sure you keep it also for your return trip after the Forum has ended.

To travel on any line and to any station in the Metro network (see Fig. 1), you must always check the number of zones you will be going through and top up your card with the corresponding amount.

From the airport to the city centre (Trindade), for example, you will be going through four zones; a four-zone single trip will cost € 1.85. A single trip is valid for one hour and, during that time and within the number of zones you charged your Andante with, you are free to change lines. For your convenience, a list of stations and corresponding number of zones is affixed on every vending machine.

Finally, although there are no gates, you must always validate your ticket before entering each metro carriage. For more information on lines and fares, and to plan your trip, please have a look at the Metro do Porto website. Fig. 1 – Porto Metro network

MOVING AROUND IN PORTO


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A

B

Fig. 3 – Arrivals at Lisbon Airport A – Exit | B – Metro Station

To travel on any line and to any station within the city (see Fig. 2), you must top up your card with the corresponding number of trips. Regardless of the number of lines you cross, one trip will cost € 1.40.

For more information on lines and fares, and to plan your trip, please have a look at the Metro de Lisboa website.

Fig. 2 – Lisbon Metro networkTo get to the airport metro station, from the Arrivals Hall, follow the signs marked Metro (see Fig. 3). Once you are at the station, head to the automatic vending machines to buy a travel card (Viva Viagem). This card will cost € 0.50 and can be topped up with trips at any point, so make sure you keep it also for your return trip after the Forum has ended.

MOVING AROUND IN LISBON


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PORTO—BRAGA

BY AIRPORT SHUTTLE BUS

If you decide to head straight to Braga (which we highly recommend as the most practical and least tiring option), you can do so using the airport shuttle bus service.

Once you land in Porto, collect your luggage and head out to the Arrivals Hall. From there, take one of the exits marked C, turn right and walk to the Get Bus desk, where you can buy your tickets (see Fig. 4). A round trip costs € 14.

To find more about timetables and other useful information, you can visit the Get Bus website.

BY TRAIN

If you decide to take the train, you must first take the metro to São Bento on line D (yellow). There, take the exit marked Praça de Almeida Garrett and cross the street towards São Bento train station, where you can buy your tickets from the vending machines. A round trip on an urban train costs € 6.20.

To find more about timetables and other useful information, you can visit the Portuguese railroads (CP) website.

BY BUS

If you decide to travel by bus, you can take the metro to Bolhão or São Bento. You can see Google Maps walking instructions from either station to the Rede Expressos bus station, here and here. There, you can buy your tickets from the desk. A round trip costs € 12.

Please bear in mind that this option will only be viable if you travel from Porto to Braga on Sunday, the 21st of August, as the earliest bus available the next day would only arrive after the programme begins.

To learn more about timetables and other useful information, you can visit the Rede Expressos website.

MAKING YOUR WAY TO BRAGA

A – Luggage Room | B – Arrivals Hall | C – ExitFig. 4 – Arrivals at Porto Airport


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BY BUS

If you decide to take the bus, you must first take the metro to Jardim Zoológico on the blue line. There, follow the signs marked To the buses, where you will find a row of ticket desks. The youth fare for a round trip is € 33.60.

To find more about timetables and other useful information, you can visit the Rede Expressos website.

BY TRAIN

If you decide to take the train, you must first take the metro to Oriente on the red line. From there, follow the signs marked To the trains, which will lead you to the ticket office. The youth fare for a round trip in second class on an InterCity train is € 39.00.

To learn more about timetables and other useful information, you can visit the Portuguese Railways (CP) website.

Oriente train station

Rede Expressos bus station

LISBON—BRAGA


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FROM THE BUS STATION

If you travel to Braga with either Get Bus or Rede Expressos, you will arrive at the Central Bus Station (Central de Camionagem de Braga). From there, your best option is to take a taxi to the accommodation venue (Residência Universitária Lloyd Braga). There are always taxis waiting outside the station and the trip, including the luggage fee, should cost no more than € 10. You can check Google Maps for the route.

MOVING AROUND IN BRAGA

FROM THE TRAIN STATION

From the train station (Estação de Braga), your best option is also to take a taxi to the accommodation venue. You can always find taxis outside the station and the trip, including the luggage fee, should also cost no more than € 10. You can check Google Maps for the route.

C

B

A

Fig. 5 – Arrivals in Braga A – Bus Station | B – Train Station | C – Accommodation Venue


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DOCUMENTS

Delegates coming from the European Union, Albania 1, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, FYROM 1, Mexico, Moldova, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela will only require an ID card or passport to enter Portugal. Please check with your national authorities whether you need one or the other.

Delegates coming from Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bolivia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Turkey and Ukraine will require a Visa to enter Portugal. If this is your case, please be sure to refer it and provide the following data to [email protected]:

• Full name (including any and all special characters, as stated in your ID card/passport);

• Date of birth;• Nationality;• Place of birth;• ID number (if your country does

not issue national ID cards, you may include only your passport number);

• Passport number, date of issue and date of expiry.

1 You are only exempted from a Visa if you have a biometric passport. If you have an older passport, you will be required to apply for a Visa with your local authorities.


Once you have, we will send you an invitation letter; if everything checks out, we will forward it to the Embassy in charge of providing you with a Visa. Please, make sure to inform us whether the Embassy requires a printed document or whether a digital version would be enough.

All Delegates must travel with the appropriate documents. This includes both your ID card and/or passport and your university student card 2. Also, please bear in mind that your ID card/passport will have to be valid for at least three months after the end of your trip (i.e. until, at least, the 28th of November).

Finally, if you require a Visa, please be sure to also print and carry with you the invitation letter we will be sending you. This is important, as airport authorities may ask you to prove the purpose of your trip.

2 If your university does not issue a student card, please make sure to bring a copy of the Declaration of Enrolment (the same you have provided us with).

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INSURANCE

Travel insurance is mandatory and must cover accidents, sickness, medical fees, repatriation and personal/civil liability. Portuguese nationals will need insurance, too.

European Delegates are also advised to request a European Health Insurance Card, which ensures the bearer can get necessary medical treatment through the national healthcare system under the same conditions any Portuguese national would. This, however, is not an alternative to travel insurance.

Once you have purchased an insurance policy, and are in possession of all other details relating to your travel, please be sure to fill in the Travel Form we will soon send you.


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WITH THE SUPPORT OF: