by Helga Meyer, maut1.de - June 6th, 2023
It all depends on your travel destinations. Both options in Portugal have advantages and disadvantages. In short, if you want to get to your destination easily, quickly and comfortably, we clearly recommend the toll roads.
Tip: There are motorways in Portugal on which tolls are charged. These motorways are called "Autoestradas" and usually require you to pay a toll at toll booths or use an electronic toll system such as the "Via Verde". With our toll box, you can conveniently and easily drive through all toll stations and get to your destination even faster.
If you want to use the motorways, find out about all the charges that apply on Portuguese motorways on our Tolls in Portugal page.
Toll-free roads in Portugal
In addition to the toll motorways, the many Portuguese motorways, national roads and country roads, all of which are toll-free, are also ideal for a round trip through Portugal.
If you are not in a particular hurry or are travelling with a motorhome, for which the toll is charged in the 80 percent more expensive vehicle class 2, you can definitely save money on these roads. In the Algarve, for example, the N125 not only offers you a free alternative to the A22, but also guarantees a beautiful view of Portugal's nature.
The roads on which no tolls are charged are usually called "Estradas Nacionais" (National Roads) and have numbers such as "EN1" or "EN2".
The toll-free roads in Portugal are a good way to explore the country, especially for travellers who want to avoid motorway tolls. Note, however, that sometimes the toll-free roads are not as well developed or as fast to drive on as the motorways.
Overall, Portugal offers a good choice of roads, both toll and toll-free, to explore the country and reach different destinations.
Using toll roads in Portugal offers some advantages compared to free roads:
- Faster journey times: Toll roads such as motorways in Portugal are usually better developed and offer a higher speed limit than free roads. This allows you to reach your destination faster as there is less traffic and obstacles.
- Better infrastructure: Toll roads are better maintained and have higher quality infrastructure. They are usually well signposted, wider and have safer lanes. This leads to a more pleasant and comfortable driving experience.
- Less traffic: Because toll roads require a fee, they are often less congested than free roads. This means that you may experience less congestion and traffic congestion on toll roads, resulting in a more efficient journey.
- Additional services: Motorways and toll roads are often equipped with rest stops and service areas where you can refuel, rest, eat and access other services. These facilities provide additional comfort and convenience during your journey.
- Increased safety: Toll roads are usually more closely monitored and have a higher level of safety compared to free roads. They have emergency call boxes, regular patrols and safety monitoring systems to ensure the safety of drivers.
Use our toll box for Portugal to be able to use ALL roads without any complications. You can drive along the toll roads with our toll box without any problems, and you will receive an invoice conveniently by e-mail 30 days later.
