We Hope You Won’t Need This
We Hope You Won’t Need This
If you've made it this far, we're assuming that your journey went smoothly, you found your hotel, survived the Portuguese roundabouts, and managed to order a coffee without accidentally being handed a galão instead.
Even so, just to be on the safe side, we've included a few useful contacts below for the less enjoyable situations. We sincerely hope you won't need any of them.
Emergencies
In Portugal, the national emergency number is:
112
It should be used in urgent situations requiring police, fire services or emergency medical assistance. It operates 24 hours a day throughout the country
GNR and PSP: What’s the Difference?
In Portugal, there are two main police forces.
GNR – National Republican Guard
The GNR is the police force primarily responsible for rural and semi-rural areas. As Alenquer and Meca fall within the GNR’s jurisdiction, this will normally be the police force responsible for the area where the wedding is taking place.
Alenquer GNR Contact: +351 263 710 350
Location: maps.app.goo.gl/vxbvh7joXkX6BG3h9
PSP – Public Security Police
The PSP is the police force responsible for Portugal’s main urban areas, including Lisbon.
For situations within the city of Lisbon:
PSP Contact: +351 218 111 000
Road Accidents Without Injuries
First of all: take a deep breath. It happens to the best of us.
If there is only material damage and no one has been injured:
Outside Lisbon (Alenquer and Surrounding Areas)
Contact the GNR, which is responsible for road policing in the region.
Contact: +351 263 710 350
Within the City of Lisbon
Contact the PSP Traffic Division.
Contact: +351 217 501 200
Tolls and Other Adventures on Portuguese Motorways
If you rent a car, there is a good chance that at some point you will drive through a toll station without being entirely sure what just happened.
Don't worry. You wouldn't be the first.
For questions related to toll payments or identifying motorway charges, you can contact Brisa:
Brisa Customer Support: +351 210 730 300
Not Feeling Well?
Before heading straight to an hospital emergency department, it is best to contact:
SNS 24 — 808 24 24 24
SNS 24 operates 24 hours a day and is Portugal’s national health advice service. A healthcare professional will assess your situation and advise you on the best course of action, referring you to the most appropriate healthcare service if necessary.
In fact, hospitals themselves now recommend contacting this service before attending an emergency department whenever the situation is not an obvious emergency.
Nearest Hospital
Should you require hospital care, the nearest hospital serving Alenquer area is:
Hospital de Vila Franca de Xira
Location: maps.app.goo.gl/mkDsGGACcNv5okfc9
Contact: +351 263 006 500
Located approximately 10–15 minutes from Alenquer.
The hospital has a 24-hour emergency department.
Pharmacies
Portuguese pharmacies usually operate on a rotating duty system, ensuring that there are always pharmacies open outside normal business hours.
To find the nearest pharmacy on duty, we recommend:
Farmácias Portuguesas – Pharmacy Locator: www.farmaciasportuguesas.pt/localizador-de-farmacias
In Summary
We hope that the only emergency this weekend will be figuring out who can still dance after midnight.
But should any unexpected mishap arise, we hope this little guide helps you deal with it quickly, so that you can get back to what really matters: celebrating with us, enjoying Portugal and creating wonderful memories.