Portugal: good to know
The general-information half of trip planning: how expensive Portugal feels, what is considered polite, what is not, and the everyday practicalities - alongside our 405 written places.
Gentle, unhurried and courteous; saudade melancholy and genuine warmth coexist.
✓ Considered polite
- Greet with Bom dia or Boa tarde - it is noticed and returned
- Try speaking Portuguese first; Spanish works but is not always loved
- Accept that couvert starters on the table cost money - wave them away politely if unwanted
- Take time over coffee; a bica at the counter is a ritual
✗ Better avoided
- Rush service or expect strict punctuality
- Eat and run - meals are social time
- Underestimate hills and cobbles - Lisbon in flip-flops is a sprained ankle waiting
- Expect dinner before 19:30 outside tourist zones
Worth knowing
- Tipping is modest - round up or 5-10% for good service
- Cards are widely accepted; small tascas may want cash
- Intercity trains and buses are cheap booked ahead
- August is when locals holiday - some family restaurants close entirely
Plugs and voltage: Wikipedia, «Mains electricity by country» (after the IEC World Plugs list), read 15 October 2026.
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Keep planning
Customs are living things - regions differ, cities relax, generations shift. Take these notes as a friendly head start, watch what locals do, and when in doubt a smile and a greeting in the local language cover almost everything.