There are call boxes in most villages and all towns; there are also public telephones in many cafés and bars, from which you can make international calls. Internet cafés in the main tourist areas are usually set up for Skype.

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies and coverage exists across the whole country, but you can buy a cheap phone on arrival.

Wi-Fi access is available in various hotels, restaurants and public buildings. There are internet cafés in most urban areas, and some rural ones, while post offices offer web facilities.

Rádio e Televisão de Portugal (RTP) operates public TV and radio services, with two domestic TV channels plus two foreign ones on the mainland and in Madeira. SIC and TVI are the other commercial TV channels with TV Cabo the main pay-TV operator. Rádio Comercial and Rádio Clube Português are two of the commercial radio channels with Rádio Renascenca the very popular Roman Catholic Church owned channel. Each region has its own Portuguese-language daily newspaper alongside nationals Diario Noticias, Público and Expresso. The Portugal News (www.theportugalnews.com) is an English-language newspaper published in print and online, and English newspapers are available from airports. In 2004 Madeirans were granted access to standard (RTP) services without having to pay satellite subscription charges.

Airmail to European destinations from continental Portugal and the Azores takes three days; from Madeira, up to five days. Post to the USA can take up to two weeks.

Open Mon-Fri 0900-1800, while some are also open on Saturday and Sunday. The post office at Lisbon Airport is open 24 hours a day.