Travel tips · Lisbon · Portugal
Lisbon travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Vitor Oliveira from Torres Vedras, PORTUGAL, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Quick answer
Lisboetas are polite, unhurried and often reserved at first, with a strong sense of saudade, a nostalgic longing expressed in fado. Life is lived outdoors on squares and miradouros, coffee is drunk standing at counters, and meals are long and social.
Key facts
- Language
- Portuguese
- Currency
- EUR
- Plugs
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink; public drinking fountains are found in some parks.
- Emergency
- 112 (European emergency number)
Things to know
- Greet shopkeepers and waiters with 'Bom dia' (good morning) or 'Boa tarde' (good afternoon) before asking questions.
- Try a few words of Portuguese rather than Spanish; most people speak good English but appreciate the effort.
- Stay silent while fado is being sung; talking during a song is considered very rude.
- Dress modestly when visiting churches, with shoulders covered.
- Do not buy anything from street sellers offering drugs in the Baixa and Bairro Alto; it is a well-known scam.
- Book Jerónimos Monastery ahead: Ticket queues for the cloister are long in summer; buy online or with a Lisboa Card and arrive at opening time.
- Book Fado evening ahead: Popular fado houses fill up at weekends; reserve a table for dinner a day or two ahead.
- Book Lisbon Oceanarium ahead: Weekends and school holidays sell out at peak times; reserve a slot online.
- Use a rechargeable transport card instead of paying on board trams and funiculars, where tickets cost much more.
Tipping
Tipping is modest: leaving small change or about 5–10% in restaurants for good service is appreciated but not expected. Round up taxi fares and leave coins for coffee at the counter if you like.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bom dia | Good morning |
| Obrigado / Obrigada | Thank you (said by a man / by a woman) |
| Por favor | Please |
| A conta, por favor | The bill, please |
| Com licença | Excuse me (to pass) |
| Uma bica, por favor | An espresso, please |
What to wear
Casual, comfortable clothing is fine, but wear shoes with good grip: the polished limestone calçada pavements are steep and slippery, especially after rain.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Drinking water
- Tap water is safe to drink; public drinking fountains are found in some parks.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Phone and internet
- Free Wi-Fi is common in cafés and hotels; EU roaming applies to European SIMs, and visitors from elsewhere can use local SIMs or eSIM plans.
- Time zone
- Europe/Lisbon
Lisbon is generally relaxed for visitors, but pickpockets work on Tram 28, in the Baixa and at busy viewpoints. Street sellers offering drugs in the Baixa and Bairro Alto are a known scam. The polished stone pavements are very slippery when wet.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check Portugal's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Lisbon?
Tipping is modest: leaving small change or about 5–10% in restaurants for good service is appreciated but not expected. Round up taxi fares and leave coins for coffee at the counter if you like.
+Can you drink the tap water in Lisbon?
Tap water is safe to drink; public drinking fountains are found in some parks.
+What plugs are used in Lisbon?
Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
+What language is spoken in Lisbon?
Portuguese.