itinerário principal
Published 5 November 2026, 22:39
itinerário principal (IP) — main route
A class of roads in the Portuguese network: those linking the country's main centres with one another and with the border crossings. They are marked with the letters IP and a number, such as IP2 or IP4. Part of a route may run along an autoestrada and part along an ordinary road, so the same IP is sometimes a fast road and sometimes not.
Where you come across it. Trips around the country, especially to inland areas with no autoestrada.
An IP number is no guarantee of a dual carriageway: on many stretches it is an ordinary road with oncoming traffic, so you cannot calculate journey times at motorway speeds.
Official website: infraestruturasdeportugal.pt