I will be traveling to Portugal in late June. We were planning on renting a car for a week to see Geres National Park. Given all the current concern with fuel prices and shortages, I am wondering if this is the best way to spend that week. Does anyone have any feel for the current situation in Portugal? I don't want to be "a greedy tourist" using up gasoline that is in short supply.
Any comment appreciated.
There is a lengthy discussion of the matter on this thread. Though it is about jet fuel, it applies to automotive fuel as well. I haven't kept up on whether it covers Portugal specifically but it may address some of your concerns: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/possible-jet-fuel-shortages
Not Portugal, but in Spain right now fuel is the equivalent of about $7.11 a gallon. I’ve yet to see any petrol stations that are closed due to a petrol shortage. Our rental car is a hybrid and averages 41 mpg. Yesterday I filled it up at a Carrefour station and the price per litre was €1.57, or approximately $6 a gallon.
We're also planning to rent a car out of Lisbon, albeit in Sep/Oct so later than you. I saw several options for electric vehicles. I've not driven EVs on long stretches and am hesitant to have my first time be in a foreign country. But that's an option if you are worried about fuel prices or shortages.
I don’t have a car here (Cascais, Portugal), but read an article yesterday that gas is going up 6 cents a liter next week. The last time I noticed, it was a bit over €2. And, that is a liter - not a gallon.
I haven’t heard anything about shortages for cars, but have read a couple of things about Portugal having enough gas for planes for about six weeks. Both Portugal and Spain are better off than other EU countries because so much of our energy is from renewables. But, of course, that doesn’t extend to gas for cars.
You might think a bit about a back up plan to driving for that week - just in case.
We just spent the past month in Portugal. We didn't drive but there were plenty of gas stations open and I never saw a line. Just be ready to pay over 2 euros a liter or around 9 bucks a gallon when you put the convergence rate.
You should be fine. Basically supply and demand will take effect. Supply may be reduced by 10%, 20%, maybe more, but the response will be, the price goes up, people drive less. You will be able to get fuel, it just will cost more. At most, don't wait until you absolutely need fuel, keep the tank full. In Sicily now, can concur, gasoline is near 2 euro/liter Diesel more
