30 Things to Know Before Visiting Portugal

These are the things our members wish they’d known before their first trip to Portugal, and the things we’ve learned from living here. Read this and you’ll avoid the most common mistakes.

Quick answer: allow extra time at the border for the new EU Entry/Exit System (ETIAS hasn’t started yet), use the metro, Uber or Bolt rather than hiring a car in Lisbon or Porto, and take the toll device if you do drive. Pay in euros and skip Euronet ATMs, send back the bread and olives if you don’t want them, and expect a tourist tax of a few euros a night. Book the big sights such as Pena Palace and Belém Tower ahead, and remember many museums close on Mondays.

Getting in and getting around

1. Non-EU visitors now have their face and fingerprints scanned at the border under the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (fully running since April 2026), so allow extra time on arrival. The separate ETIAS online travel permit for visa-free visitors hasn’t launched yet and is expected to be delayed into 2027. Check the official EU website before you travel.
2. Lisbon and Porto airports are close to the city. The metro or a 15-minute Uber gets you in. See our Lisbon and Porto airport guides.
3. Uber and Bolt are everywhere and usually cheaper than taxis. See Uber vs Bolt vs taxi.
4. Get a navegante card in Lisbon (Andante in Porto) instead of paying per ride. See our Lisbon transport guide.
5. Trains between cities are easy, comfortable and cheap if booked early. See Lisbon to Porto by train.
6. If you hire a car, take the toll device. Several motorways still have camera-only tolls. See Portugal tolls explained.
7. Don’t drive in central Lisbon or Porto unless you have to. The streets are narrow and steep, and parking is a nightmare.

A few more transport points have changed recently. Since 1 September 2026, Uber and Bolt prices can rise a lot at busy times, as the old surge cap has gone, so compare before you book. From 15 October 2026, taxis at Lisbon airport that join the scheme charge fixed fares into the city. Under the new taxi tariff, in force from 23 October 2026 (meters have until January 2027 to switch over), taxis no longer add luggage or pet supplements. Several motorways, including the A22 across the Algarve, became toll-free in January 2025, but the main Lisbon to Porto motorway (A1) is still tolled.

Money

8. Cards work almost everywhere, but carry a little cash for small cafés and markets.
9. Avoid the Euronet ATMs and always pay in euros, not your home currency. See money in Portugal.
10. The bread and olives aren’t free. The “couvert” is charged if you eat it. Send it back if you don’t want it.
11. Tipping is optional. Rounding up or 5–10% for great service is plenty.
12. There’s a tourist tax of a few euros per person per night in Lisbon, Porto and many other places, paid at your accommodation.

As a guide, Lisbon charges €4 per person per night and Porto €3, for guests aged 13 and over, up to a maximum of 7 nights. It’s often paid on arrival, even if you prepaid the room online. See tipping in Portugal for more on what to leave.

Daily life

13. Portuguese isn’t Spanish. A simple olá (hello) and obrigado (thank you, said by men) or obrigada (said by women) goes a long way. English is widely spoken.
14. Meal times are later. Lunch runs roughly 12:30 to 15:00 and dinner from about 19:30 or 20:00. Some kitchens close between lunch and dinner.
15. Coffee is a ritual. A bica (Lisbon) or cimbalino (Porto) is an espresso, often drunk standing at the counter, and it’s cheaper there than at a table.
16. Many museums close on Mondays, and some small shops close on Sunday or Saturday afternoon.
17. Tap water is safe to drink.
18. Plugs are type F (two round pins), 230V.
19. Pharmacies (green cross) are excellent for minor health problems, and there’s always one open late on a rota.
20. Strikes happen, sometimes on trains, flights or the metro. Check the news before travel days.

Sightseeing

21. Book Pena Palace and the Belém monuments ahead. They use timed entry slots now.
22. Go early to Sintra, popular beaches and viewpoints, especially in summer.
23. Tram 28 is a pickpocket favourite. Ride it early or use quieter lines. See is Lisbon safe?
24. Benagil Cave rules changed in 2024: tours only, with no landing or swimming. See our Benagil guide.
25. Portugal is bigger than it looks. Don’t try to see Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve in five days. See our 10-day itinerary.

Some famous sights are closed or changed, so check before you plan around them. In Lisbon, the Glória, Bica and Lavra funiculars and the Santa Justa lift have been closed since the accident in September 2025, though the Graça funicular reopened in April 2026. The National Tile Museum and the National Museum of Ancient Art are closed for works. In Porto, the Guindais funicular has been suspended since July 2026. Private cars can’t drive up to Pena Palace in Sintra. See our Lisbon trams guide for the lines that still run.

Weather and the sea

26. The Atlantic is cold, even in summer, and can be rough. Swim at lifeguarded beaches and respect the flags.
27. The sun is strong from spring to autumn. Wear high-factor sunscreen and a hat.
28. Old houses can be cold in winter without central heating. Check that your accommodation has heating. See the best time to visit.

Beach flags are simple: green means safe to swim, yellow means paddle but don’t swim, and red means stay out of the water. The official bathing season, when lifeguards are on duty, usually runs from about June to mid-September, with dates set by each area.

Comfort

29. Wear shoes with grip. The polished stone pavements (calçada) are slippery, especially when wet, and the hills are steep.
30. Pack light if you can. Cobbles, stairs and narrow streets make big suitcases hard work. Check our Lisbon and Porto neighbourhood guides for flatter areas.

Eating out

31. Look for the prato do dia, the dish of the day at lunchtime. It’s often the best-value meal in town, sometimes with a drink and coffee included.
32. Fish and seafood are often priced by the kilo. Ask for the weight or the total price before it’s cooked, so the bill isn’t a surprise.
33. House wine is good and cheap. Order the vinho da casa by the jug in local restaurants.

Safety and emergencies

34. Call 112 for police, ambulance or fire. Operators usually speak English.
35. Portugal is one of Europe’s safest countries, but pickpockets work busy trams, viewpoints and train stations. Keep your phone out of back pockets. See is Portugal safe?
36. Bring your EHIC or GHIC if you’re from the EU or UK, plus travel insurance that covers medical costs.

Timing and holidays

37. Summer is busy and hot. July and August are the peak months for crowds and prices. May, June, September and October are usually the sweet spot.
38. Public holidays close a lot. Banks and many shops shut on national holidays, and local saints’ days close whole towns, such as 13 June in Lisbon and 24 June in Porto. See the Portugal festivals calendar.

Got a question we haven’t answered? Ask the 305,000 members of our groups, or grab our free Portugal trip checklist.

Plugs and voltage

Portugal uses Type F (Schuko) and Type C plugs, two round pins, and 230V, 50Hz electricity. Visitors from the UK, Ireland, the US, Canada and Australia need a plug adapter. Most phone and laptop chargers are dual-voltage, but check older hair dryers and straighteners from North America.

Plugs

• Type F: two round pins with earthing clips on the sides. This is the standard socket.
• Type C: the slimmer two-pin Europlug, which fits Type F sockets.
• From the rest of continental Europe: your plugs will usually fit.
• From the UK and Ireland (Type G), the US and Canada (Type A/B) or Australia (Type I): you need an adapter.

Voltage

• 230V, 50Hz: the same as the rest of Europe, the UK and Ireland.
• Dual-voltage devices (marked 100-240V) work fine with just an adapter. Most phones, tablets and laptops are dual-voltage.
• 110-120V-only devices from North America need a voltage converter, or they may burn out.

Tips

• Bring a multi-port USB charger so one adapter charges everything.
• Power bank: useful for long days of navigating and photos.
• Hotels: many have USB sockets, and some lend adapters at reception.
• Buy locally: adapters are sold at airports, supermarkets and electronics shops.

FAQ

Do I need to speak Portuguese?

No. English is widely spoken in Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve and most hotels and restaurants. A few words, like olá and obrigado or obrigada, are always appreciated, but don’t assume people want to speak Spanish.

Can you drink the tap water in Portugal?

Yes. Tap water is safe to drink, so bring a refillable bottle and save money on bottled water.

Do I need cash in Portugal?

A little. Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere, but carry some cash for small cafés, markets and tips, and take it out at bank-run Multibanco ATMs rather than Euronet machines.

What plug adapter do I need for Portugal?

One for Type F sockets (two round pins), which also take Type C plugs. The supply is 230V, so check that devices from North America are dual-voltage.

Mobile data sorted before you fly: if you’re coming from outside the EU, a travel eSIM such as Airalo’s Portugal eSIM means maps and ride apps work the moment you land. See our eSIM guide.

From our sister blog: 55 essential tips for your first trip to Portugal on Sunset Travellers.

See also: entry requirements, trip costs, packing list, safety, phrases, etiquette, first time in Portugal, is tap water safe?, what’s changed in Portugal for 2026, travel insurance for Portugal and Portugal’s tourist tax by city.

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