Portugal
Cards, ATMs and cash in Portugal: what to expect
Yes — cards work almost everywhere in Portugal, so most travellers need only €30–50 in cash for small cafés, markets and tips. Use a bank ATM (Multibanco), always decline the machine's own conversion and pay in euros. Carry some cash if you are heading to villages or the Alentejo.
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Key facts
- Card acceptance
- Widely accepted in cities, hotels, supermarkets, restaurants and tolls; Visa and Mastercard safest
- Cash still needed
- Small cafés, pastelarias, markets, rural shops, tips, some taxis
- ATM network
- Multibanco — the national interbank network, at banks and in many shops
- ATM feescheck
- Portuguese banks usually charge no local fee; your own bank's foreign-use fee still applies
- Currency conversion
- Always choose to be charged in EUR, not your home currency
- Card securitycheck
- Contactless is standard; some machines ask for PIN on any amount
- Cash limitcheck
- Cash payments for goods and services are capped (check current figure)
Details
Portugal runs on cards. Supermarkets, hotels, chain restaurants, fuel stations, tolls and most museums take Visa and Mastercard, and contactless is the default at the till. American Express is accepted in fewer places, so treat it as a backup rather than your main card. Debit cards from US, UK, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and Irish banks generally work, though your bank may add a foreign transaction fee of around 1–3% per purchase.
Cash is not obsolete. Small neighbourhood cafés and pastelarias, municipal markets, rural shops in the Alentejo and Beiras, some taxis and the occasional family-run guesthouse still prefer notes. Keep €30–50 on you for these, for tips and for the odd machine that is offline. Larger towns and the Algarve resort strip are effectively cashless.
ATMs in Portugal are almost all Multibanco, the shared national network. You will find them at bank branches, inside shopping centres, at airports and train stations, and increasingly in supermarkets and petrol stations. Multibanco machines also sell transport tickets, top up phone credit and pay bills, so do not be surprised if the menu looks longer than a plain cash machine.
On fees: Portuguese banks have generally not charged foreign cardholders a local withdrawal fee, but this is a commercial practice rather than a rule, and some operators have introduced charges. Your own bank's fee for using a card abroad is the bigger and more predictable cost. Withdraw larger amounts less often rather than small amounts repeatedly, and check the fee screen before confirming.
The single most expensive habit is accepting the ATM's or card machine's offer to convert the amount into your home currency. That is dynamic currency conversion, and the rate is usually 3–7% worse than the interbank rate. Always choose euros. If a terminal insists, cancel and pay cash or use another machine.
Security is normal by European standards. Contactless is standard, and some terminals ask for a PIN on any amount, so know your PIN rather than relying on a signature. Skimming happens occasionally at isolated machines; use ATMs inside bank lobbies or busy shopping centres, cover the keypad, and check the card slot for loose fittings. Report a lost card to your bank immediately and keep a second card stored separately.
| Situation | Card or cash | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel, supermarket, chain restaurant | Card | Contactless standard |
| Small café, pastelaria, market stall | Cash | Some take cards; ask first |
| Rural Alentejo and Beiras shops | Cash | Card machines may be offline |
| Taxi | Either | Apps and larger firms take cards |
| Tolls and fuel | Card | Via Verde transponder for hire cars |
| Tips | Cash | 5–10% in restaurants |
| Museum and monument tickets | Card | Online booking often cheaper |
Acceptance varies by region; the Algarve and Lisbon are the most card-friendly.
Tips
- Use Multibanco ATMs at bank branches or inside malls rather than standalone street machines.
- Decline every offer to convert to your home currency — pay in EUR.
- Withdraw a larger amount once or twice instead of several small withdrawals.
- Tell your bank you are travelling if it still uses travel notices.
- Carry a second card, kept separately from your main one.
- Keep small notes and coins for tips, markets and rural purchases.
- Check whether your card charges a foreign transaction fee before you rely on it.
- Photograph your card's back and your bank's emergency number, then store it offline.
Questions people ask
Are credit cards widely accepted in Portugal?
Yes. Visa and Mastercard work in hotels, supermarkets, restaurants, fuel stations, tolls and most museums, and contactless is standard. American Express is accepted in fewer places. Small cafés, markets and rural shops may still be cash-only, so carry €30–50.
Which ATMs have the lowest fees in Portugal?
Multibanco machines at bank branches are the usual choice; Portuguese banks have generally not charged foreign cardholders a local fee, though this can change. Your own bank's foreign-use fee is the larger cost. Always decline conversion to your home currency.
Should I pay in local currency or my own?
Always pay in euros. If an ATM or card terminal offers to charge you in your home currency, that is dynamic currency conversion, typically 3–7% worse than the interbank rate. Choose EUR, or cancel and use another machine.
How much cash should I carry in Portugal?
€30–50 is enough for most trips. Cards cover the rest. Carry more if you are heading to the Alentejo, Beiras or small villages, where card machines can be offline or absent.
Do I need a PIN for my card in Portugal?
Yes, know your PIN. Contactless is standard, but some terminals ask for a PIN on any amount, and chip-and-PIN is the norm rather than signature.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialBanco de Portugal
- officialMultibanco (SIBS)
- officialVisit Portugal
- secondaryWikivoyage – Portugal