Travel Information

Conference Venue (LNEC)Getting to LisbonGetting Around LisbonVisa and Passport information

Conference Venue: LNEC - National Laboratory for Civil Engineering

Overview

The National Laboratory for Civil Engineering (LNEC), established in 1946, is a public research institution, devoted to science and technology, with the status of State Laboratory.

Located near the center of Lisbon, in a 22 ha campus, LNEC develops its work in all the main fields of civil engineering and related scientific areas, giving it a unique multidisciplinary perspective.

The basic missions of LNEC are to contribute to pursue the public policies and to provide expert support to the public authorities in the various Public Administration sectors, particularly in what concerns the quality and safety of works, the protection and re-qualification of both natural and built heritage, as well as the technological upgrading and innovation, namely in the building construction sector. The scope of LNEC’s activity includes public works, infrastructures, housing and urban planning, hydraulics and water resources, transportation, environment, construction materials and other products. Its main objectives are safety and quality of the works, protection and rehabilitation of the natural and built patrimony, technological innovation in the building sector and in the fields of water and environment. The activities related to regulation, standardization and quality of construction are equally relevant.

Facilities

LNEC has devoted facilities to host conferences and meetings. For this purpose, there is a specific building, with a main auditorium for a maximum of 400 participants and 5 rooms with 50 seats each one. In the surrounding buildings are located the small auditorium, with about 100 seats, and the amphitheater, with a capacity for 250 participants. This set of buildings is surrounded by a large garden.


Outside view of the facilities


Reception desk and exhibit area


Auditorium

Location


Getting to Lisbon

BY AIR

Portugal’s excellent geographical position makes it easy to get to. Lisbon is only a short flight away from most European cities and 6/8 hours from North America. Lisbon International Airport “Humberto Delgado”, 7 km /4,6 miles away from the city center, has daily flights to and from major cities in the world, with more than a thousand weekly direct connections.

BY RAIL

Scores of national and international trains arrive in Lisbon every day to Oriente and Santa Apolónia stations. CP - Comboios de Portugal (www.cp.pt), the Portuguese railway company, offers a vast rail network covering the whole of mainland Portugal and also offers international train services to Vigo, Madrid, and Paris.

There are a number of options to meet the needs:

  • The top-of-the-range “Alfa Pendular” trains offer the fastest and most comfortable rail link between Lisbon and the Algarve and, in the north, Porto or Braga, with stops in Coimbra. 
  • The “Intercidades” or Intercity service covers the Lisbon-Porto-Guimarães, Lisbon-Guarda, Lisbon-Covilhã, Lisbon-Évora- Beja and Lisbon-Faro routes. 
  • The international Sud-Express train and Lusitânia hotel-train leave from Lisbon. 
  • There is a vast network of regional, inter-regional and suburban trains covering the whole of the country and Estoril coast, as well as Sintra is served by trains every 15 minutes.

BY SEA

Lisbon is a port of call for several types of cruises towards numerous destinations including the Mediterranean, Northern Africa, and Northern Europe as well as Transatlantic routes.

As one of the leading cruise destinations in Europe, Lisbon features three cruise terminals – Alcântara, Rocha Conde de Óbidos, and Lisbon – all of which are located on the banks of the Tagus estuary and in close distance to the city’s historical center.

The city currently welcomes over 500 000 cruise passengers per year and the port authorities have the ambition to double this figure over the next ten years.

BY ROAD

Portugal has a good road network composed of Motorways (AE), Main Trunk Routes (IP), Complementary Trunk Routes (IC), Main (National) Roads (EN) and Secondary (Municipal) Roads. Arriving in Lisbon by road is a pleasant experience, as the visitor can enjoy the beautiful countryside along the way. The good access and the two bridges - 25 de Abril and Vasco da Gama - make the city an easy place to get to.

BY BUS

There are regular bus services between Portugal’s main towns and cities. For details of routes, timetables, and fares visit www.rede-expressos.pt, the website of Rede Nacional de Expressos 


Getting Around Lisbon

Public Transportation 

In Lisbon, the city of the seven hills, you can choose between bus, underground metro, elevators, electric trams or railway, within the city or to the suburbs. Trains and express bus services also link the main towns of the country.

When inside the city, the major transportation companies - Carris and Metro - cover the entire city with regular buses and subway stations. The trams in Lisbon are one of Lisbon’s most important tourist attractions.

The “Lisboa card” gives you unlimited use of all public transport facilities in the city and trains between Lisbon and Sintra or Cascais and also offers free entrance or discounts in monuments, museums or tourism circuits: www.askmelisboa.com

Besides the public transport companies, more than 3.500 taxis are available. 

Upon arrival to Lisbon International Airport, it is possible to choose between the worlds well-known rent-a-car companies such as Avis, Hertz, and Budget.

Driving  

Vehicles drive on the right side of the road. The use of safety belts is compulsory, and children under 12 must ride in the back seats. Portugal has actually a large freeway network crossing the whole country from the North to the South in Algarve, and from the Ocean front to the border with Spain.
Valid driving licenses from EU countries, the USA, Canada and other major countries are acceptable for use in Portugal up to 6 months stay.

Car Rentals

There are car rental services at airports, international rail terminuses and in the main towns and cities. Drivers with mobility difficulties, or anyone who prefers to, can rent automatic or adapted vehicles.
To rent a car you must: 

  • be at least between 21 and 25 years old, depending on the company’s rental policy; 
  • show identification (identity card for EU citizens or a valid passport for other nationalities); 
  • having a driving license for more than one year.

Visa and Passport information

To visit Portugal you must have a valid passport or, in the case of European Union Member States, a national identity card. A visa is required for the citizens of countries that do not have visa-exempt agreements with Portugal.

Please visit the following website by the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to confirm if you would require a visa in entering Portugal: http://www.secomunidades.pt/vistos

If you need to apply for a visa, please register for the conference, pay your registration fee in full and request an invitation letter to our secretariat.

Do not forget to include your full name, passport data (country, number, issue and expiry date), date of birth and contact details (address to which the letter of support has to be sent) in the email request. Visa acquisition process is time consuming. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to get the necessary paperwork completed in time for your departure. The Conference Local Organizing Committee, or its agents, cannot accept any responsibility for visa applications. Where a delegate is unable to attend because of failure to obtain a visa on time, the normal cancellation policy for registration fee and accommodation will apply.

Please contact your local Portuguese Consulate to learn more about visa acquisition.

Portuguese embassies

www.mne.gov.pt/mne/en/ministerio/missoes/

Portugueses consulates

www.secomunidades.pt/vistos/index.php/en/informacao-pedido-de-visto.html

www.secomunidades.pt/web/guest/PostosConsulares

Portuguese Immigration Authority

www.sef.pt