American Express -- The representative in Porto is Top Atlantic Tours, Praça Humberto Delgado 269 (tel. 22/207-40-20). It's open Monday to Friday 9:30am to 6:30pm.
Banks -- Most banks and currency-exchange offices are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 to noon and 1 to 4:30pm. Two central ones are the Banco Espírito Santo & Comercial de Lisboa, Av. dos Aliados 45 (tel. 22/209-00-00), and the Banco de Portugal, Rua da Firmeza 588 (tel. 22/206-00-00).
Consulates -- The United States and Canada don't maintain consulates in the north. There's a British Consulate at Praça da Liberdade (tel. 22/618-47-89).
Drugstores -- Porto has many pharmacies. A centrally located one is the Farmácia Central do Porto, Rua do 31 Janeiro 203 (tel. 22/200-16-84). If you don't speak Portuguese, ask someone at your hotel to call for you, or dial tel. 118 for a recording of pharmacies that remain open throughout the night.
Emergencies -- Emergency numbers include police (tel. 112), fire (tel. 112 or 22/507-37-00), Red Cross (tel. 22/600-63-53), and Hospital de Santo António, Rua Prof. Abel Salazar (tel. 22/207-75-00). Otherwise, phone tel. 112 for an ambulance.
Post Office -- The main post office is at Praça General Humberto Delgado (tel. 22/340-02-00), near the tourist office. It sells stamps Monday to Friday 8am to 9pm and Saturday and Sunday 9am to 6pm. You can send telegrams and faxes during those hours.
Telephone -- It's possible to place long-distance calls at the post office . Otherwise, go to the phone office, Praça de Liberdade 62. It's open daily from 8am to 11:30pm. By placing your calls at these public institutions, you avoid hotel surcharges, which can be as much as 40%.
