Portugal Travel Tips for First-Timers
Portugal travel tips for first-timers from the US and Canada: entry rules, money, tipping, driving, trains, meal times, safety and mistakes to avoid.
January 6, 2026 • 6 min read
Portugal by Train: How It Works
Portugal Quick Facts
Before You Go
Entry Rules
Portugal is in the Schengen Area, so US and Canadian citizens can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa, counting all Schengen countries together. Since April 2026, the EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU travelers' fingerprints and photo at the border. ETIAS, a new online travel authorization for visa-free visitors, is expected to start in the last quarter of 2026, with a transition period. Check the official EU website before you book.
Flights and Jet Lag
Lisbon has nonstop flights from about ten US airports and from Toronto and Montreal, taking around seven to eight hours from the East Coast. Most overnight flights land in the morning, so plan an easy first day, with a walk and an early dinner, rather than a full day of sightseeing.
Phones and Data
EU roaming rules do not cover US and Canadian phone plans, and roaming day passes can add up. An eSIM or a local SIM card is usually cheaper, and most hotels, cafés and restaurants have free Wi-Fi.
Money and Tipping
- Cards and cash. Cards, including contactless, are widely accepted, but carry some cash for small cafés, markets and rural areas.
- ATMs. Use Multibanco machines run by banks, and avoid independent ATMs with high fees.
- Pay in euros. When a card machine offers to charge you in dollars, choose euros, as the exchange rate offered is usually worse.
- Tipping. Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory. In restaurants, around 5 to 10% for good service, or rounding up the bill, is common. There is no expectation of 15 to 20% as in North America.
- Tourist tax. Lisbon and other cities charge a small tax per person, per night, paid at your hotel.
Getting Around
Trains Between Cities
Trains link Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra, Braga and the Algarve, and the Alfa Pendular is the fastest. Book Alfa Pendular and Intercidades trains in advance, as seats are reserved and early tickets cost less.
Driving
A car is the best way to see the countryside, the Alentejo, the Costa Vicentina and the villages between Lisbon and Porto, but you do not need one in Lisbon or Porto, where traffic, steep streets and parking make driving hard.
- Licenses. Portugal recognizes US and Canadian driving licenses for visitors. Check with your rental company whether it also asks for an International Driving Permit.
- Speed limits. 120 km/h (75 mph) on motorways, 100 km/h on dual carriageways and 50 km/h in towns.
- Alcohol. The limit is 0.5 g/l (0.05%), lower than the 0.08% limit in most US states, so do not drink and drive after a wine tasting.
- Tolls. Many motorways have tolls, and some are electronic only. Ask your rental company how tolls are charged.
- Manual cars. Many rental cars in Europe are manual, so book an automatic early if you need one.
Food and Meal Times
- Lunch is the main meal for many Portuguese, usually from about 12 pm to 3 pm, and many restaurants offer a good-value prato do dia, the dish of the day.
- Dinner starts later than in North America, from about 7:30 pm.
- Watch the couvert. Bread, olives and other starters brought to your table before you order are not free. Send them back if you do not want them.
- Tap water is safe to drink in Lisbon. Ask for água da torneira.
- Coffee at the counter is the local way, and usually cheaper than at a table.
Hills, Cobblestones and What to Pack
Lisbon and Porto are built on steep hills, and the polished stone pavements, the calçada, get slippery, especially when wet. Bring comfortable shoes with good grip, layers for cool evenings, a rain jacket from October to April and sun protection in summer.
Safety
Portugal ranked 7th of 163 countries in the 2025 Global Peace Index. The main risk for visitors is pickpocketing on crowded trams, at viewpoints and in busy tourist areas. Keep your wallet out of your back pocket and leave your passport in the hotel safe.
Know the Regions
Common First-Timer Mistakes
- Trying to see everything in a week. Pick two bases, such as Lisbon and Porto, or Lisbon and the Algarve.
- Renting a car for Lisbon or Porto. Pick it up when you leave the city.
- Expecting Spanish. Portuguese is a different language, and a simple obrigado (thank you) goes a long way.
- Leaving summer bookings late. The Algarve and summer trains sell out.
- Forgetting Monday closures. Many museums close on Mondays.
- Over-tipping. A small tip is enough.
