Portugal Travel Tips 2026: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go

Portugal uses the Euro (€). Card payments are widely accepted in cities and tourist areas. Contactless is standard. ATMs are available in all towns.

In rural areas and at local markets, cash is still preferred. It's worth carrying €20–€50 in small notes for cafés, taxis, and market stalls.

The best exchange rates are at ATMs on arrival or through your bank before travelling. Airport exchange desks offer poor rates. Revolut and Wise cards offer excellent rates with no foreign transaction fees and are widely used by travellers to Portugal.

By train — CP (Comboios de Portugal) operates a good intercity rail network. The Lisbon–Porto route takes about 3 hours on the Alfa Pendular express. Lisbon–Faro (Algarve) takes about 3.5 hours. Book in advance for the best fares at cp.pt.

By bus — Rede Expressos operates comfortable long-distance coaches connecting all major cities and towns. Often cheaper than trains and with more routes to smaller destinations.

By car — A car is recommended for exploring the Algarve coast, the Douro Valley, the Alentejo, and rural areas. Roads are generally good. Tolls are common on motorways — most are electronic (no cash booths) and require either a Via Verde transponder or pre-registration of your rental car's number plate. Ask your rental company about toll options before you drive.

In Lisbon — The Viva Viagem card (a reloadable travel card) gives access to the Metro, buses, trams, and the Cascais train line. The Metro is the fastest way to get around the city. Trams are scenic but slow and crowded.

Eat lunch — The Portuguese lunch (almoço) is the main meal of the day. Most restaurants offer a prato do dia (dish of the day) at lunchtime — typically a main course, bread, and sometimes a drink for €8–€12. This is the best value eating in Portugal.

Avoid tourist menus — Restaurants with photos on the menu and staff outside touting for business are almost always overpriced and mediocre. Walk one or two streets away from the main tourist areas and you'll find far better food at half the price.

Couvert charge — In many Portuguese restaurants, bread, butter, olives, and cheese are brought to the table automatically. These are not free — they appear on the bill as a couvert charge (typically €1–€3 per person). You can refuse them if you don't want them.

Coffee culture — Portugal has excellent coffee. A bica is a short espresso (the standard). A galão is a tall, milky coffee similar to a latte. Coffee is cheap (€0.80–€1.20 at the counter) and quality is consistently high.

Tipping in Portugal is appreciated but not obligatory. The general conventions:

Restaurants: 5–10% for good service. Check whether a service charge has already been added.

Cafés and bars: Rounding up to the nearest euro is standard. Tipping bar staff is not expected.

Taxis: Round up to the nearest euro or add 5–10% for good service.

Hotels: €1–2 per bag for porters; €2–3 per night for housekeeping is appreciated.

Electricity: Portugal uses the European two-pin plug (Type F). Voltage is 230V/50Hz. UK visitors need an adaptor. US visitors need an adaptor and possibly a voltage converter.

Language: Portuguese is the official language. English is widely spoken in Lisbon, Porto, and tourist areas. In rural areas, Spanish is often more useful than English as a second language.

Safety: Portugal is one of the safest countries in Europe. Petty theft is the main risk in busy tourist areas of Lisbon — particularly on Tram 28 and in the Alfama. Keep bags in front of you in crowded areas.

Driving: Drive on the right. Speed limits: 50km/h in towns, 90km/h on rural roads, 120km/h on motorways. Drink-driving limits are strict (0.5g/L blood alcohol). Parking in Lisbon city centre is difficult — use park-and-ride facilities or public transport.

Emergency number: 112.