Portugal is such a diverse country that it is an attractive destination for truly every type of traveler. Long-haired backpacker hippies, sporty surfers, organized bus tours, couples in rental cars or family vacationers on the beach, the country offers something for everyone. From the popular beaches of the Algarve to the dreamy hinterland and cultural metropolises like Lisbon or Porto, there is a lot to discover.
But as a visitor to this travel treasure trove on the western edge of Europe, what should you watch out for when interacting with the locals? Are there hidden etiquette pitfalls you can fall into or absolute no-go’s you haven’t thought of yet? With our dos and don’ts for Portugal, we’ll help you cut a fine figure during your trip – and maybe even open your eyes to some exciting and endearing differences between home and abroad.
General manners
In Portugal, we are very familiar with manners when it comes to greetings. People shake hands, and women are welcome to hug and kiss each other. Compared to other Western European countries, the Portuguese are rather reserved and formal.
Punctuality
Punctuality is – this is probably not a big surprise now – interpreted much more liberally than in Germany. This means that you don’t have to be surprised (or even complain!) if you show up at an appointed time but your Portuguese friends show up 15-30 minutes later.
How to deal with this without taking it personally? A little tip: Just be yourself and be on time – but take a book with you and wait reading for the others. Then the time won’t be wasted and hopefully you’ll be relaxed when the rest decide to show up. If you’re invited, you can take it easy and show up ten minutes later. It’s best to bring a small gift like flowers or a bottle of good wine.
Tip
You can also relax when it comes to tipping: In Portugal, it is customary to add about ten percent to the price in restaurants and cafés. Unlike in Germany, however, you don’t announce the final price when you check out, but simply leave the tip at the table when you leave.
Also worth reading: City trip to Lisbon or Outdoor City Guide Porto.
Dress code
Even though you probably plan to spend a day or two at the beach in Portugal, don’t forget that apart from beach life, there is another world where swimwear may not conform to the usual dress code. Please put something on when you go out to eat or visit a church.
Even shorts for men are a rarity among Portuguese and you would do well to dress more conservatively than you might on vacation. In general, you would do well to remember that you are a guest in a country with a normal everyday life that has nothing to do with tourism – just like at home. You would probably also look quite a bit if four half-naked tourists met you on the street, wouldn’t you?
Fancy a trip? In our travel section you will find destinations and tips.
Respect for age, consideration for children
A really nice observation you’ll make in Portugal is the active participation of all ages in public life. Here, the elderly sit in cafes chatting over a coffee and a pasteis de nata (puff pastries), while children scurry and romp between restaurant tables even late at night, despite having school the next day. One gets the impression that society here is much more active than in Central Europe – and that life doesn’t have to disappear completely into the private sphere just because you’re old or a parent.
This leads to a certain respect for old age, which is the order of the day in Portugal. As a result, seniors also enjoy a certain fool’s license that younger people are not granted. If a lady simply cuts in front of you in line, we often just overlook it – and you would do well to do the same. Likewise, if you complain about toddlers running around at dinner, you probably won’t get much credit. If you want quiet, you’ll either have to go to a higher class restaurant – or just cook at home. Try to let the bustle of Portuguese life into your world and enjoy it.
Quick facts about Portugal
- Official language: Portuguese
- Form of government: parliamentary republic
- Population: approx. 10.6 million
- Capital: Lisbon (approx. 552,700 inhabitants, without catchment area)
- Currency: Euro (EUR)
- Time zone: UTC+0, UTC +1 (March to October) [without Azores].
- Climatically warmest period: June to September
- Telephone area code: +351
More information as well as some useful phrases including examples of the correct pronunciation can be found on the official tourism website for the destination Portugal: https://www.visitportugal.com/en/.
