Common tourist scams in Portugal and how to avoid them

Portugal's tourist scams cluster where crowds stand still: tram 28 in Lisbon, the São Bento and Aliados area in Porto, Belém, the metro at Baixa-Chiado and Restauradores, and the beaches and stations of the Algarve in July and August. The pattern is almost always distraction plus a quick hand, or a small overcharge you only notice later.

On tram 28 and the Lisbon metro, groups work the doors at the moment of boarding. One person blocks, another bumps you, a third takes the phone or wallet from an open bag. Keep your bag zipped and in front of you, phone in an inside pocket, and do not stand at the door with your backpack turned outwards. The same applies on the Porto metro and on the funiculars.

At Rossio, Oriente and other stations, and around Belém, people offer to help with ticket machines and then ask for a fee, or sell you a printed ticket that is not valid. Buy from the machines or the ticket office only. If someone insists on helping, decline and step to another machine.

Restaurant bill padding is common enough in heavy tourist streets: couvert (bread, olives, cheese) arrives unasked and is charged; a dish you did not order appears on the bill; the card machine shows a different amount from the menu. Ask the price of couvert before eating it, check the itemised bill, and confirm the amount on the terminal before tapping. Tipping is optional in Portugal, so a service charge added without a note is worth questioning.

ATM skimming and dynamic currency conversion are the two card problems. Use ATMs attached to a bank branch during the day, cover the keypad, and always choose to be charged in euros rather than your home currency. If a machine offers a conversion rate, decline it. Contactless and mobile wallets are widely accepted and avoid the issue entirely.

In the Algarve and on Lisbon's beaches, watch for the beach-bag grab while you swim and for people selling fake or overpriced tours, boat trips and tuk-tuk rides from the street. Book through your hotel, a licensed operator or a well-known platform. Rental deposits and fuel policies are a separate trap: photograph the car, note existing damage and confirm the fuel rule in writing.

Taxi and ride-hailing: use the meter or the app. A driver who quotes a flat fare to the airport, or who takes a long route, is the classic overcharge. In Lisbon, the airport to the centre is a short ride; agree the meter or use an app and you remove the argument.

Carry a small amount of cash for cafés and small shops, but keep the bulk on a card you can freeze from your phone. Split money between two places so a single loss does not end the day.

In Lisbon, the pickpocket risk is highest on tram 28 between Graça and Baixa and on the metro at Baixa-Chiado. If you want the tram experience without the crowd, take it early morning or use tram 24 instead.

If you are scammed, act quickly: cancel cards through your bank app, file a police report at a PSP station, and keep the report number for your insurer. For card fraud, your bank's dispute process usually needs that report. Emergency number is 112; the SNS 24 health line is 808 24 24 24.

Do not confront a pickpocket. Hand over nothing, but do not chase; report it and move on. Travel insurance with card and cash cover is worth the small cost on a Portugal trip.