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Travel Essentials

Portugal: What To Know Before You Go

Plugs: Types C and F, 230 V. Emergency: One number for everything 112. Tipping: Not expected; rounding up or leaving 5-10% for good service is appreciated. Tap water: Generally safe to drink.

Open The Portugal Trip Kit

Plugs And Power

Types C and F, 230 V

Emergency Numbers

Checked 13 Oct 2026 against the official page: gov.uk

Tipping

Not expected; rounding up or leaving 5-10% for good service is appreciated.

Water And Health

Tap water

Generally safe to drink

Vaccines

Routine vaccines; hepatitis A for most travelers; hepatitis B for unvaccinated travelers under 60; rabies for some travelers

Malaria

None

Checked 13 Oct 2026 against the official page: wwwnc.cdc.gov

Apps To Download Before You Go

• Bolt: The most popular ride-hailing app in Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve.
• Uber: Widely available in cities and also offers Uber Eats delivery.
• MB WAY: The Portuguese mobile payment app used for shops, transfers and even splitting bills.
• CP: Comboios de Portugal's app for intercity and regional train tickets.
• navegante: Lisbon's public transport app for loading passes and checking metro, bus and tram times.
• Via Verde: Handles motorway tolls, essential when driving on Portugal's electronic-toll roads.
• Rede Expressos: Books intercity coaches, often the cheapest way between towns.
• Glovo: A leading food and grocery delivery app across Portugal.

Customs And Etiquette

Greetings. A handshake is standard; friends and family often exchange two cheek kisses (starting with the right cheek). Use titles (Senhor/Senhora) until invited to be informal.

Meal times and pace. Lunch and dinner run later than in much of Northern Europe (lunch ~1-3pm, dinner from 8pm); meals are unhurried and rushing a waiter is considered rude.

Tipping. Tipping isn't obligatory but rounding up or leaving 5-10% for good service is appreciated; a service charge is rarely included automatically.

Safety And Scams

Portugal has a very low crime rate and consistently ranks among the world's most peaceful countries; the main risks for tourists are pickpocketing and petty scams in crowded areas of Lisbon and Porto rather than violent crime.

Shell game / street hustles. Fast-moving crews around squares like Rossio and Praça do Comércio run rigged betting games with planted 'winners'; don't engage or hand over money.

Clipboard distraction. Someone blocks your view with a petition or survey while an accomplice reaches into your bag; keep bags zipped and in front of you in busy areas.

Fake drugs / street offers. Men near Bairro Alto and Cais do Sodré sell fake drugs (often pressed leaves); simply decline and walk on.

Women travelers. Solo women travelers generally feel safe; catcalling occurs but rarely escalates. Avoid walking alone late at night through Intendente or Martim Moniz, and use standard caution in Bairro Alto's nightlife at closing time.

LGBTQ+ Travelers

Legal · Safe

Portugal is one of the most LGBTQ+-friendly countries in the world: same-sex marriage and adoption have been legal since 2010 and 2016 respectively, and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is banned in employment, housing, and services; Lisbon has a lively LGBTQ+ scene, though a 2026 bill to roll back gender-recognition protections for minors has drawn opposition.

What Things Cost

2026-09

Best Time To Visit

May and September are the sweet spot: warm and sunny without the peak-summer heat and crowds; March-June and September-October are generally the best window.

Do You Need A Visa?

Portugal visa requirements by nationality

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