Carrier from Portugal to the Czech Republic: what you need to know
Portugal is the most distant mainland country goods are regularly imported from into the Czech Republic: Porto to Prague is approx. 2,550 km, Lisbon to Prague approx. 2,800 km, and a full truck takes roughly 4–5 days, groupage typically 6–8 working days. Because the route is so long, plan with some slack and aim for collection early in the week. We book the truck with a carrier heading back north from the Iberian Peninsula.
How long goods take from Portugal
| Collection point | Distance to Prague | Full truck | Groupage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Porto, Braga, Guimarães | approx. 2,550 km | 4–5 days | 6–8 working days |
| Aveiro, Leiria, Coimbra | approx. 2,600–2,700 km | 4–5 days | 6–8 working days |
| Lisbon, Setúbal | approx. 2,800 km | 4–5 days | 6–8 working days |
The route crosses the whole of Spain and France. The driver must take statutory breaks and daily rest, so anything under four days for a full truck is unrealistic. If the truck loads on a Thursday or Friday, weekend lorry bans in France and Germany will lengthen the journey.
The time difference: a small thing that causes delays
Portugal is one hour behind the Czech Republic and Spain. If you agree a collection “at eight”, check that it means local time. The same goes for closing time: when it is half past four in Prague, it is only half past three in Porto – which can make it look from here as if the warehouse closes early.
When to book the truck
Ask for transport as soon as you know when the goods will be ready – a week ahead is fine. Fewer trucks run from Portugal to central Europe than from France or Italy, and the sooner we know about your shipment, the likelier we are to pair it with a return run that is covering the route anyway. If the supplier moves the date, tell us straight away; shifting a collection by a day is easier than finding a new truck.
What is imported from Portugal, and from where
- North (Porto, Braga, Guimarães) – textiles, footwear, furniture, cork, metalwork, car parts.
- Centre (Aveiro, Leiria) – ceramics and porcelain, plastics, moulds and tooling.
- Lisbon area – wine and food, paper products, goods stored at the port.
Checklist: what to get from your Portuguese supplier
- the exact collection address and opening hours in local time,
- number, size, height and weight of pallets, and whether they stack,
- the date the goods are ready – given the distance, ideally early in the week,
- a contact in dispatch who speaks English,
- the delivery term and who will load the goods,
- whether the goods can take several days without temperature control, especially in summer.
What to ask the carrier
- Will the goods stay on one vehicle all the way, or be transhipped in Spain?
- How many days do you expect, and exactly when will you collect?
- Do you run from Portugal regularly, or only pick up loads now and then?
- How will I know where the truck is – the trip takes several days?
Groupage or a whole vehicle?
For small shipments from Portugal groupage is usually cheapest, but expect a longer transit and transhipment. If you need the goods by a fixed date, or they are fragile, consider a part load – trucks from Spain or Portugal often pick up several consignments and then run without a depot stop. The differences are explained in groupage, part load or full truck.
Documents
Portugal is in the EU – no duty, and an invoice and a CMR note are enough. None of the EU VAT-territory exceptions apply to Portugal. Who pays for transport under Incoterms is covered in import documents within the EU.
Send your request through the calculator. We will arrange collection with your supplier in Portugal ourselves, in English. If you are also buying in Spain, let us know – the two shipments can often travel on one truck.