Travel tips · Porto · Portugal
Porto 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: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Porto is a working, merchant city with a strong sense of identity, proud of its port trade, its football club and its tripe-eating nickname. People are warm but more reserved than in the south, and the city's granite buildings, tiled facades and river traditions give it a distinct character from Lisbon.
Key facts
- Language
- Portuguese
- Currency
- EUR
- Plugs
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink, though many locals prefer bottled water for the…
- Emergency
- 112 (European emergency number)
Things to know
- Greet with 'Bom dia' (good morning) or 'Boa tarde' (good afternoon) when entering a shop or café.
- Speak Portuguese or English rather than Spanish; Portuguese people appreciate the difference.
- Cover shoulders in churches and keep quiet during services.
- Queue patiently at bakeries and trams; pushing in is frowned upon.
- On São João night, being tapped on the head with a plastic hammer is part of the fun.
- Book Port-wine lodges in Vila Nova de Gaia ahead: Tours at popular houses fill up in summer; reserving a slot online a day or two ahead helps.
- Book Livraria Lello ahead: Timed tickets are sold online; buying ahead avoids the outdoor queue.
- Eat the prato do dia at lunch in local tascas for a full meal at a modest price.
Tipping
Tipping is modest: leaving small change in cafés and about 5–10% in restaurants for good service is appreciated but not expected.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bom dia | Good morning |
| Obrigado / Obrigada | Thank you (said by a man / a woman) |
| A conta, por favor | The bill, please |
| Um cimbalino | An espresso (Porto slang) |
| Saúde! | Cheers! |
What to wear
Casual and practical. Wear shoes with good grip for steep, sometimes slippery granite streets, and bring a waterproof jacket from October to April.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Drinking water
- Tap water is safe to drink, though many locals prefer bottled water for the taste.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Phone and internet
- Good mobile coverage throughout the city; EU roaming applies to European SIMs, and Wi-Fi is widespread in cafés and hotels.
- Time zone
- Europe/Lisbon
Porto is generally safe; pickpockets operate in crowded spots such as Ribeira, the trams and São Bento station. Wet granite streets are slippery, and Atlantic beaches can have strong currents, so swim only where lifeguards are present.
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 Porto?
Tipping is modest: leaving small change in cafés and about 5–10% in restaurants for good service is appreciated but not expected.
+Can you drink the tap water in Porto?
Tap water is safe to drink, though many locals prefer bottled water for the taste.
+What plugs are used in Porto?
Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
+What language is spoken in Porto?
Portuguese.