autoestrada
Published 30 October 2026, 20:39
autoestrada — motorway
The highest class of road: the carriageways are separated, and you can only leave at junctions; the speed limit is usually 120 km/h. Motorways are marked with the letter A and a number, such as A1 or A6. As a rule they are tolled: you pay portagens, often with no barrier, by number plate recognition or through Via Verde.
Where you come across it. Long journeys around the country, planning a route and working out the cost of a trip.
Not every stretch of autoestrada is tolled: some sections are free. On the former SCUT roads, you pay only by number plate recognition, and if the bill is not paid on time, a fine follows.
Official website: infraestruturasdeportugal.pt