OPENING HOURS
Normal business hours for shops are from 9 am to 1 pm and from 3 pm to 7 pm from Monday to Friday. Shops close at 1 p.m. on Saturdays from January to November, but are open from 9 am to 1 pm and from 3 pm to 7 pm from Monday to Saturday in December. Portugal's many shopping centres (centros comerciais) are open for much longer periods, generally from 10 am to midnight. Restaurants are open for lunch from 12 noon to 3 pm and for dinner from 7 pm to 10 pm or later. Banks are open from 8.30 am to 3 pm over the five working days, while chemists (farmácias) are open from 9 am to 1 pm and 3 pm to 7 pm from Monday to Friday and from 9 am to 1 pm on Saturdays. By dialling 118 or consulting a quality daily newspaper, you can find out which is the nearest chemist on duty. 24-hour petrol stations incorporating small mini-markets can be found on main routes and motorways and in urban areas all over the country.