Portugal
Lisbon and Porto are both very app-friendly. Bolt is cheaper than Uber, and Glovo handles food delivery.
🚖Rideshare & Taxi
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European rideshare with cheaper fares than Uber in many cities. Also offers scooters.
Cheaper than Uber across Portugal.
The most widely available rideshare service globally. Works in 70+ countries.
Works well throughout the country.
💳Payments & Wallets
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Multi-currency wallet with great FX rates. Useful in Europe, UK, US.
Useful for FX since EUR/PT bank fees can sting.
🗺️Navigation & Maps
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Works almost everywhere except mainland China. Offline maps are critical when roaming.
Strong transit data for Lisbon and Porto.
🍱Food Delivery
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Spanish food + parcel delivery, big in Portugal, Italy, Eastern Europe, and Africa.
Dominant food delivery in Portugal.
Is Portugal one stop of several?
Add your other destinations and get one combined app list, with the adapters and currencies for the whole trip.
The practical basics
Power & plugs
- Plug type
- C / F
- Voltage
- 230V
- Frequency
- 50Hz
- Type C: Two round pins. Used across most of Europe, South America, parts of Asia and Africa.
- Type F: Two round pins + grounding clips on top and bottom (Schuko). Standard across most of Europe.
Same as Germany.
Tipping
Tipping is modest and not mandatory, as service is not added automatically. Rounding up the bill or leaving 5-10% at restaurants for good service is customary; a euro or two is fine for taxis and cafes.
CurrencyEUR
Portuguese you'll actually use
Etiquette and scams to know
✓ Do
- Greet with a handshake, or two kisses on the cheek (starting with the right) between women or between men and women who are acquainted
- Say 'bom dia', 'boa tarde', or 'boa noite' when entering shops and cafes
- Dress neatly; Portuguese tend to dress smartly and casually scruffy attire stands out
- Be patient and unhurried at meals; lingering over food and conversation is the norm
- Address older people and strangers as 'o senhor' / 'a senhora' or by their title until invited to be casual
- Wait to be seated at restaurants and keep your voice down, as loud behavior is considered rude
✕Don't
- Do not confuse Portugal with Spain or assume Spanish language and customs apply; it can offend
- Do not be loud or boisterous in public, which is seen as poor manners
- Do not snap fingers or wave aggressively to get a waiter's attention
- Do not skip a greeting before asking for help or directions, which comes across as abrupt
⚠️ Common scams to know
- Restaurants near tourist areas serving unrequested 'couvert' appetizers (bread, olives, cheese) that are charged to your bill; you may decline them
- Pickpockets and bag-snatchers on Lisbon's tram 28 and in crowded squares and metro stations
- Fake petitions or 'deaf-mute' donation cards used to distract you while an accomplice steals your belongings
- Drug dealers in Lisbon's Baixa and Bairro Alto offering 'hashish' that is fake; engaging draws you into a scam
This page was last reviewed in September 2026. Apps launch, rebrand and pull out of countries all the time, so confirm anything your trip depends on. Spotted something out of date? Tell us — here's how we check.