Arrival and Settling In 

 

alojamentoYou are now beginning a new chapter in your life, so, IPLEIRIA is committed to make your adaptation as easy as possible, starting with the moment that you arrive in Portugal. We believe that arriving in a new country can be both stimulating and frightening! At the time you are reading this guide you must already know in which school you were admitted in. So take a look to the information that we prepare for you:

 

1Accomodation

IPLeiria has 7 student residences in the cities of Leiria, Caldas da Rainha and Peniche. Any student can be lodged in the residences, although they are destined, preferably, to the scholarship students of IPLeiria’s Social Services. According to your profile and budget you have also available, private rooms and hostels. Find below a list of accommodation possibilities:

 

Accommodation in the city of Leiria:

Leiria also offers a variety of other residential options for students. Check the different options below:

Contacts of IPLeiria’s residences: sas@ipleiria.pt

2When arriving in Portugal | At the airport

Most students will arrive in Portugal by plane, so please be aware that you must declare your entry in the airport at the Customs Service. The Entry Declaration must be delivered to the Immigration and Borders Service as stipulated by law. Once this period has passed you will have to pay a fine. If you are a Non-European student arriving in Portugal through a border not subject to border control (with no passport stamp) please be aware that you must contact the Department for Foreigners and Border Control Immigration and Borders Service within three days after your arrival in the country to declare entry. 

 

3How to get to your school city | From the Airport to Leiria – Peniche – Caldas da Rainha

If you are arriving to one of the international airport (Lisbon or OPorto) you can reach your school by bus (best and cheap option):

Pay attention to your city destination:

 Leiria – If you were admitted to ESTG, ESECS or ESSLEI 

Caldas da Rainha – If you were admitted to ESAD 

Peniche – If you were admitted to ESTM 

// From Lisboa

If you are in Portela´s airport you must catch transportation to Terminal Bus of Sete Rios. You can choose one of these options:

By PERSONAL DRIVER: NavegaFácil .

 By METRO: Lisbon’s metropolitan ( Aeroporto Station to Sete Rios Station).

 By BUS :Direct bus to Sete Rios or AEROBUS 3.

By TAXI: Taxi to the Terminal Bus of Sete Rios (Rede Nacional de Expressos) in Sete Rios. 

In the city the price is fixed by using taximeters; outside the charge is per kilometer. Between 10pm and 6am there are extra tariffs of +20%. It is advisable to ask for a receipt and in case of longer distances to ask for the price before. Baggage transport has fixed rate. Taxis in Portugal beige or green and black, and can be recognized by their luminous signed on top.

Once you get to Bus Terminal of Sete Rios ask for a ticket to your city school destination. Take note of trip duration and price:

 

More information here       
 From Lisbon  To: Leiria   To: Caldas da Rainha   To: Peniche
   Duration  Price   Duration   Price  Duration   Price
 By bus (Terminal Bus of Sete Rios)  1h45   13€ approx.   1h15   9€ approx.   1h30   9€ approx.

 

// From OPorto

To get a bus to come to your school, and if you are in Francisco Sá Carneiro airport, you may choose one of these options:

 BY METRO: Oporto’s metropolitan (Aeroporto Station – Bolhão: Line E – violet) 

BY TAXI: Taxi to the Terminal Bus of Beira Litoral-Garagem Atlântico (Rede Expresso)

In the city the price is fixed by using taximeters; outside the charge is per kilometer. Between 10pm and 6am there are extra tariffs of +20%. It is advisable to ask for a receipt and in case of longer distances to ask for the price before. Baggage transport has fixed rate. Taxis in Portugal beige or green and black, and can be recognized by their luminous signed on top.

 

More information here       
 From OPORTO  To: Leiria   To: Caldas da Rainha   To: Peniche
   Duration  Price   Duration   Price  Duration   Price
By bus (Terminal of Beira Litoral Garagem Atlântico ) 3h00  16€ approx.  3h30  19€ approx.  4h30  22€ approx.

 

 

4Money Money Money | Currency

Portugal is part of the European Monetary Union with the EURO as its currency. Cashpoints & Credit Cards Cashpoints (ATM) can be found everywhere throughout the country. They are easy to identify by the sign MB. The maximum withdrawal is 200 Euro. Payment by Maestro or Credit Card is accepted in various supermarkets, shops and restaurants. The most common credit card are Visa, American Express, Eurocard and Mastercard, but others might be accepted, too.

 

5Data, Post & Phone | Time to call home

Electric Power | All over the country the line voltage is 220 Volt AC.
Weights and measures | In Portugal solidly the metric system is used: meters (m), Kilograms (Kg), liters (L) and cubic meters (m3). Clothes and footwear are arranged according to standard European sizes.
Post Office | Post Office are usually open from Monday to Friday between 9am and 6pm. However, you can buy stamps in several other places, like coffees and shops markets by the signed CTT.
Phone/ calls abroad

Mobile Phones

If you already have a mobile phone you can use roaming or buy a prepaid SIM card. You may also do a contract. SIM cards are available in major Portuguese mobile telecommunications operators:

MEO: http://www.meo.pt/
Vodafone Portugal: http://www.vodafone.pt/
NOS: http://www.nos.pt/

Public Phone Boxes

Public phone can be found in a big number in the streets as well as in Post Office. They are mainly to be used with phone cards that can be bought in Post Offices, newspaper stands and gas stations. The price depends on the number of phone calls that can be made with one card. Calls are cheaper between 9pm and 9am, as well as on weekend and public holidays. The international prefix for Portugal is +351. To call abroad dial 00+ international country code + area code + phone number.
Students living in the IPL’s Residence Halls can also receive calls there.

For more information ask in the Office for Mobility and International Relations (GMCI).