How to Pay for Everything in Portugal: A Tourist’s Practical Handbook

💰 Click here to see Portugal Budget Breakdown

💰 Prices updated: September, 2026. Budget figures are estimates — always verify before travel.

Exchange Rate: $1 USD = €0.88

Daily Budget (per person)

Shoestring: €40.00 – €70.00 ($45.45 – $79.55)

Mid-range: €150.00 – €300.00 ($170.45 – $340.91)

Comfortable: €400.00 – €1,000.00 ($454.55 – $1,136.36)

Accommodation (per night)

Hostel/guesthouse: €15.00 – €50.00 ($17.05 – $56.82)

Mid-range hotel: €70.00 – €150.00 ($79.55 – $170.45)

Food (per meal)

Budget meal: €10.00 ($11.36)

Mid-range meal: €25.00 ($28.41)

Upscale meal: €60.00 ($68.18)

Transport

Single metro/bus trip: €1.90 ($2.16)

Monthly transport pass: €40.00 ($45.45)

You land in Lisbon, the café at the airport wants cash for a coffee, your phone wallet isn’t set up, and the ATM is offering to “help” by converting your money into dollars. Small payment decisions like these add up to real money over a week. Portugal is a modern, increasingly digital country in 2026, but it still has its own systems and a few cash-only corners. This handbook shows you exactly how to pay for things, from a pastry to a rental car toll, without losing money to bad exchange rates.

The Euro Basics: Coins, Notes and What to Carry

Portugal is a Eurozone member, so the euro (EUR) is the only currency you need. Coins come in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, plus 1 and 2 euros. The notes you will use every day are €5, €10, €20, €50 and €100.

€200 and €500 notes exist, but shops rarely accept them for everyday purchases because of their high value and counterfeiting concerns. Carry smaller denominations. A few €5, €10 and €20 notes will solve most small payment problems.

Paying by Card: Visa, Mastercard, Amex and Contactless

Cards are the easiest way to pay in Portugal, especially in cities and larger towns. Visa and Mastercard work at virtually every place with a card terminal. American Express is less common. You will mostly find it at larger hotels, high-end restaurants and major retailers, so check for the logo at the entrance or till.

Contactless and PIN

Tap-to-pay is available on most terminals and is the quickest option. For payments up to €50, you usually do not need a PIN. Above €50, the terminal asks for your four-digit PIN. This limit has been stable since 2024, and it is expected to stay the same through 2026. Chip and PIN works on every terminal, so know your PIN before you travel.

Say No to Currency Conversion

Some terminals will ask if you want to pay in your home currency, such as USD or GBP, instead of euros. Always choose EUR. This “dynamic currency conversion” uses the merchant’s bank rate, which is usually worse than your own bank’s rate. The same trick appears on some ATM screens, and the answer is the same.

Surcharges

Within the European Union, merchants are generally not allowed to add extra fees for Visa and Mastercard credit or debit payments. If a shop adds one, question it politely.

Phone Wallets and MB WAY: What Works for Tourists

If a shop accepts contactless cards, it almost certainly accepts Google Pay, Apple Pay and Samsung Pay. You hold your phone or smartwatch against the terminal, and it links to the card you already have. For amounts over €50, or depending on your device settings, you may need a fingerprint, Face ID or PIN on the phone.

MB WAY is different. SIBS, the company behind Multibanco, built it as Portugal’s national mobile payment app. It handles instant person-to-person transfers, QR code payments in shops, online payments and cardless cash withdrawals. More than 5 million people use it. But to use it fully, you generally need a Portuguese bank account and a Portuguese mobile number, so most tourists will not use it directly. You will see locals splitting restaurant bills with it, and that is about as close as most visitors get.

If you do have the app through a Portuguese account, a cardless withdrawal works like this:

1. On the Multibanco screen, select “MB WAY.”
2. Select “Levantamento” (Withdrawal).
3. Enter the amount.
4. A QR code appears on the ATM screen.
5. In the MB WAY app, choose “Levantar Dinheiro” (Withdraw Money) and scan the code.
6. Confirm with your MB WAY PIN.
7. Take your cash from the machine.

Using Multibanco ATMs: Step-by-Step and Fees

Multibanco is the national interbank network. You will find its machines in banks, supermarkets, shopping centres and on the street. Look for the red “Multibanco” logo. The “MB SPOT” app for iOS and Android helps you find nearby ATMs.

How to Withdraw Cash

1. Insert your card.
2. Choose your language, such as English, French or Spanish.
3. Select “Cash Advance” or “Withdrawal” (Levantamento).
4. Enter your four-digit PIN.
5. Pick an amount. Common options are €20, €40, €60, €100, €150 and €200, or enter your own.
6. Confirm the transaction.
7. Take your cash, card and receipt.

What You Will Pay

For cards issued in the European Economic Area, Multibanco does not charge a direct fee for withdrawals. For cards issued outside the EEA, a fee of about €1.50 to €3.50 per transaction may apply. It is less common than fees from your home bank, but check the screen before you confirm, because practices can vary.

Your own bank is the bigger cost. Expect a foreign transaction fee of about 1–3% of the amount, and possibly a flat ATM fee of around €3–€5 per withdrawal.

Limits

Multibanco machines generally allow up to €400 per card per day, with a maximum of €200 per single transaction. Your home bank may set its own limits, higher or lower. Because of the flat fees, taking out fewer, larger amounts is cheaper than many small ones.

Travel Cards: Revolut, N26 and Wise

Prepaid and multi-currency cards like Revolut, N26 and Wise are highly recommended for tourists. You load money in advance, and they often convert at interbank exchange rates. They typically have low or no foreign transaction fees on purchases, and sometimes on a set amount of ATM withdrawals each month. Their use has grown strongly since 2024, and by 2026 they are close to mainstream.

A travel card also protects your main bank account. If you lose it, you freeze one card and keep your regular debit and credit cards safe in the hotel. Carry a second card from a different network as a backup.

When Cash Still Wins

Cards rule in Lisbon and Porto, but cash still has a place. Think of the soft clink of coins on the counter when you order a bica (espresso) at a traditional café, or the rustle of notes at a market stall piled with oranges and cheese. These are the places where cash is smoother.

• Small purchases: Coffee, a pastry or a newspaper at small cafés and kiosks, where cash is often preferred.
• Traditional markets: Local street markets often take cash only. Mercado da Ribeira in Lisbon is one example the research points to.
• Rural areas: Outside major cities and tourist hubs, small shops, guesthouses and restaurants may be cash-only or strongly prefer it.
• Taxis: Many accept cards now, but some prefer cash, or their machine may not work.

Cash Payment Limits

Tourists rarely hit legal cash limits, but they exist. For transactions between businesses and individuals who are residents, the legal limit is €3,000. For non-residents paying for goods or services outside a business context, the limit is €10,000, as long as the payer is not a resident of a tax haven. These limits have been stable since 2024. They matter only for very large payments, such as buying a car. If you plan one, confirm the exact rules first, because the legal wording can be nuanced.

Tipping Customs

Tipping in Portugal is never obligatory. It is a thank-you for good service, and it is less ingrained than in the USA.

• Restaurants and cafés: 5–10% if service was good. Many locals just round up to the nearest convenient euro. Check the bill for a service charge, though this is rare.



• Bars: Tipping is not common. Rounding up is fine.
• Taxis: Round up to the nearest euro, or add €1–€2 for longer trips or helpful service.
• Hotel porters: €1–€2 per bag.
• Housekeeping: €1–€2 per night, left on the pillow.
• Tour guides: €5–€10 per person for a half-day tour, €10–€20 per person for a full day.
• Hairdressers and spas: 5–10%.

Tips are easiest in cash. If you want to tip a restaurant server on a card payment, say the total you want to pay before they run the card, and make sure the terminal charges that amount.

Paying for Transport: Metro, Trains, Buses and Tolls

Lisbon: Viva Viagem

The Viva Viagem card is a reusable, rechargeable paper card for Lisbon’s Metro, Carris buses and trams, CP urban trains and Transtejo ferries. The card costs €0.50 and is non-refundable. You can load single tickets, 24-hour passes or “Zapping” credit.

Zapping is the most flexible option. You load a sum such as €5, €10 or €15, and each trip deducts a discounted fare. A single metro journey costs €1.61 with Zapping, against €1.80 for a single ticket. Buy the card at Metro stations (machines and counters), Carris kiosks and some newsagents (papelarias). Contactless card payment at the machines is now standard.

Porto: Andante

Porto’s Andante card covers the Metro, STCP buses and CP urban trains. It costs €0.60 and is non-refundable. Load it with “Andante Azul” for occasional travel, or “Andante Tour” for 24-hour or 72-hour tourist passes. Fares are zone-based. Buy it at Metro stations (machines and counters) and STCP sales points.

CP Trains

CP (Comboios de Portugal) runs the national network, including Alfa Pendular, Intercidades, regional and urban trains. Its website is www.cp.pt. Booking online is recommended for long-distance trains, to secure a seat and possibly a better fare. Payment is by Visa, Mastercard, Amex or MB WAY. Station ticket offices take cash and cards. Machines at most stations take cards and sometimes cash.

Rede Expressos Buses

Rede Expressos (www.rede-expressos.pt) is a main intercity bus operator. Book online for popular routes and peak times, paying by Visa, Mastercard, Amex or MB WAY. Terminal ticket offices accept cash and cards.

Tolls and Via Verde

Many Portuguese highways use electronic tolls with no booths to pay at. If you rent a car, make sure it has a Via Verde transponder. Rental companies usually charge a daily fee of about €1.85 to €2.50, plus the actual tolls, or include it in the package. The tolls are billed to your credit card afterwards.

Paying electronic tolls manually as a tourist is complicated. It often means paying days later at a CTT post office or Payshop agent, which is impractical when you are moving on.

2026 Budget Reality: What Your Payment Setup Costs

The way you pay changes how much you lose to fees. These tiers use the fee figures above.

• Budget: A Revolut, N26 or Wise card for shop payments and ATM use, paying in EUR every time. Fees are low or zero on purchases. Use Zapping in Lisbon to pay €1.61 instead of €1.80 per metro trip. Pay the €0.50 Viva Viagem card fee once.
• Mid-range: A regular home bank card. On a €200 ATM withdrawal, a 1–3% foreign fee costs €2–€6, and a €3–€5 flat fee brings the total to roughly €5–€11. Non-EEA cards may also see a €1.50–€3.50 Multibanco fee, so one larger withdrawal beats several small ones.
• Comfortable: Cards for most spending, plus a pocket of small notes for tips. A 10% restaurant tip, €1–€2 per hotel bag and €10–€20 per person for a full-day guided tour all add up. A Via Verde device on a rental car adds €1.85 to €2.50 per day on top of tolls.

What Has Changed Since 2024

The shift since 2024 is gradual, not dramatic. Contactless payments, both by card and phone, have spread even to smaller businesses. Google Pay and Apple Pay are normal wherever tap-to-pay works. MB WAY has become more embedded in Portuguese daily life and its online integration with CP and Rede Expressos is smoother, but it is still mostly a tool for residents.

Cash use is slowly falling, though markets and rural areas still depend on it. Metro and ticket machines in Lisbon and Porto have improved their card options. The Multibanco network and core payment systems are not expected to change in any major way by 2026.

Common Payment Mistakes to Avoid

• Relying on Amex alone: Visa or Mastercard is the safer main card.
• Changing money at the airport: Airport and tourist-zone exchange desks usually have poor rates. Use an ATM or a travel card instead.



• Bringing €200 or €500 notes: Few places will take them. Stick to €100 and below.
• Forgetting your PIN: Payments above €50 and ATMs both need your four-digit PIN.
• Planning around MB WAY: Without a Portuguese bank account and phone number, don’t count on it.
• Heading to a village with no cash: Rural guesthouses and small restaurants may not take cards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use only a card in Portugal?

In Lisbon, Porto and other cities, mostly yes. Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere with a terminal. But markets, small cafés, rural guesthouses and some taxis may prefer cash, so carry €5, €10 and €20 notes as backup.

Is tipping expected in Portugal?

No, tipping is never obligatory. In restaurants, 5–10% is appreciated for good service, and many locals just round up the bill. For taxis, round up or add €1–€2. Hotel porters usually get €1–€2 per bag.

What is the contactless limit in Portugal?

For payments up to €50, a PIN is typically not required. Above €50, the terminal asks for your four-digit PIN. This limit has been stable since 2024 and is expected to stay the same through 2026. Phone wallets may ask for a fingerprint, Face ID or device PIN.

Can tourists use MB WAY?

Mostly no. MB WAY is Portugal’s national payment app, with over 5 million users, but full use generally needs a Portuguese bank account and mobile number. Most tourists are better served by Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, Google Pay or a travel card like Revolut, N26 or Wise.

How do I pay tolls in a rental car?

Ask for a car with a Via Verde transponder. Rental companies usually charge about €1.85 to €2.50 per day plus the actual tolls, then bill your credit card later. Paying manually afterwards at a CTT post office or Payshop agent is complicated and not recommended.

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📷 Featured image by Matej Pribanic on Unsplash.