How to Change Money in Portugal
ATMs, cards, exchange offices and the screen prompts that quietly cost you money, explained for visitors from the US, UK, Canada and Australia.
How to change money in Portugal comes down to one habit: pay by card, take cash from a bank-branch Multibanco ATM, and say no every time a screen offers to convert the amount into your home currency.
Cash exchange desks, airport booths and standalone ATMs are where visitors lose the most. Below is how to change money in Portugal the way we explain it to friends about to land in Lisbon or Porto: what to carry, where to get cash, what to decline and how much to tip. Fees and limits vary by bank and card, so treat the figures as typical and check your own card’s terms before you fly. Last checked: 12 October 2026.
Bring a Visa or Mastercard debit or credit card with low foreign fees, and use it for most things. Take extra cash from a Multibanco ATM at a bank branch. Always choose to pay in euros, avoid airport exchange booths and Euronet machines, and keep a small amount of cash for cafés, markets and tips.
Should you bring cash or use a card in Portugal?
Mostly a card, which is how most visitors handle money in Portugal. Contactless is the norm in Lisbon, Porto and the main tourist areas, and phone wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay work in most shops, restaurants and taxis. Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere. American Express is accepted at many hotels and mid-range restaurants but is less reliable in small places, so carry a Visa or Mastercard as your main card.
Cash still earns its place in your pocket. Carry a modest amount, and top it up as you go instead of arriving with a thick envelope.
- Small cafés and bakeries. Many take cards, but some set a minimum spend for small amounts.
- Markets, stalls and kiosks. Fruit stands, flea markets and street sellers often prefer cash.
- Rural towns and remote beaches. Terminals can be missing or offline.
- Tips and small favours. Cash tips go straight to the person who served you.
- Backup. A card can be blocked by your bank or simply refused by one terminal, so never rely on a single one.
Booked your flights? Tell us your dates and we will check the light and the route for a private session in Lisbon, Sintra, Cascais or Porto.
Check availabilityEuro notes and coins: what you will see
Portugal uses the euro, like the rest of the eurozone, and coins from any euro country are valid here. You will handle eight coin values (1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, plus €1 and €2) and six banknote values, from the smallest to the largest still printed.
The European Central Bank stopped issuing the €500 note in 2019, but existing notes remain legal tender. In practice you will almost never see one, and many small shops hesitate over the two largest notes too. Ask your bank for smaller notes when you can, and keep a few coins for public toilets, small purchases and tips.
Check that notes are in decent shape. A torn or heavily marked note is likely to be refused by a small vendor, even though a bank would still exchange it.
What is the best way to get euros in Lisbon and Portugal?
Withdraw them from a Multibanco ATM with your debit card. Multibanco is Portugal’s national ATM network, and machines at bank branches generally do not add an operator fee for foreign cards. Your own bank may still charge a foreign withdrawal fee or a percentage, so look up your plan before you go.
- Choose a Multibanco machine at a bank. Branches of CGD, Millennium BCP, Santander, BPI, Novo Banco and similar banks are the safe bet. Look for the Multibanco (MB) logo.
- Insert your card and choose your language. Most machines offer several.
- Enter the amount, then decline any conversion. If the machine asks whether to charge you in your home currency, choose euros.
- Take the card, cash and receipt. Keep the receipt until you have checked your statement.
Cash machines are easy to find: at the airport, in metro stations, in shopping centres and along main streets such as Avenida da Liberdade. Waiting until you are in the city to use a branch machine is usually kinder to your wallet than the first one you see in the arrivals hall. If you land with no cash, a small first withdrawal for transport and a coffee is plenty. Our Lisbon airport arrival guide shows what to do in your first hour.
Withdrawal limits. Multibanco machines commonly cap a single withdrawal at a couple of hundred euros, and your own bank sets a separate daily limit on your card. If you need more, take it in several smaller withdrawals, and check your app before you travel because limits vary by machine and issuer.
Where to exchange money in Portugal, and where not to
If you want to swap physical cash, you have three options, and none beats a card or a branch ATM on price. The comparison below is about convenience as much as cost.
Bank branches
Some branches exchange cash during weekday opening hours, usually with your passport. Many only serve their own customers, and some charge a commission, so ask before you queue.
Fine if you already have a bank to askCasas de câmbio
Dedicated offices in central Lisbon and Porto change cash for ID. Compare the rate with the mid-market rate on your phone and ask for the exact euro amount you will receive after fees.
Compare, then choose oneBooths and front desks
Convenient, but airports and hotels usually give poorer rates. A “no commission” sign normally means the cost is built into a worse rate.
Only for a small emergency amountThe practical rule: change very little at the airport, none at tourist-street kiosks, and everything else by card or ATM. If you do use an exchange office, ask “How many euros will I get in my hand?” before handing over your cash, and check the figure on the receipt.
Dynamic currency conversion and other traps to avoid
Dynamic currency conversion (DCC) is the most common way visitors overpay. At a card terminal or ATM, a prompt offers to charge you in dollars, pounds or Canadian or Australian dollars instead of euros. It looks helpful, but the conversion uses the provider’s rate, which is usually worse than the one your own bank would apply. Always choose euros, and read the screen twice, because some ATMs show the choice more than once.
- Standalone blue and yellow ATMs. Machines run by Euronet and similar operators sit in busy tourist areas and are widely reported to charge a fixed fee of several euros per withdrawal and to push DCC. Stay with Multibanco machines at banks.
- “Zero commission” exchange signs. There is no such thing as a free exchange. The cost is hidden in the rate.
- Card terminals that ask for a tip or a currency. Check the total and the currency before you tap or enter your PIN.
- Strangers offering help at an ATM. Politely decline and use another machine.
If a terminal has already charged you in your home currency, ask the staff to cancel and run the payment again in euros before you leave. It is much harder to fix afterwards.
How does tap-to-pay work in Portugal, and what are the limits?
Very well. Contactless is everywhere, and the Banco de Portugal confirms that payments of up to €50 can be made without a PIN. Above that, you enter your PIN. After several taps in a row, your card may ask for a PIN as an extra check, and your bank can set a lower limit, so do not be surprised if it happens.
Lisbon’s Metro accepts contactless Visa and Mastercard bank cards, physical or on your phone or watch, at the ticket gates with no ticket needed. Each person needs their own card, and you tap in and out. For trams, buses, trains to Sintra and the cheaper travel passes, read our guide to getting around Lisbon. For a data connection to go with your phone wallet, see how to use mobile data in Portugal.
Tipping in Portugal
Tipping is optional and modest, and it is not expected in the way it is in the United States.
- Restaurants. Rounding up or leaving about 5 to 10 percent for good service is common. Check the bill first: if service is already included, you do not need to add more.
- Coffee or a drink at the counter. No tip needed. Leave small change if you like.
- Taxis and rides. Rounding up the fare to the next euro is plenty.
- Hotels. A euro or two for porters or housekeeping is a kind gesture.
Leave tips in cash where you can. Many card terminals have no tip option, and tips added to a card do not always reach the person who served you.
Are Portuguese ATMs safe, and what if your card is lost?
The usual precautions apply at any cash machine in Lisbon or Porto. We cover wider city safety in our Lisbon safety tips.
- Use machines inside bank branches or in well-lit places, ideally in daylight.
- Cover your PIN and do not accept help from anyone standing nearby.
- Look at the card slot. If anything seems loose or added on, use another machine.
- Save your bank’s international number in your phone, so you can freeze a lost or swallowed card quickly.
A short money checklist before you fly
- Tell your bank you are travelling and ask about foreign transaction fees, ATM fees and your daily withdrawal limit.
- Pack two cards from different banks and keep them in separate places, so one lost card does not end your trip.
- Add your cards to your phone wallet and set a PIN you remember.
- Arrive with a few euros if your bank can supply them at a fair rate, or plan a small branch-ATM withdrawal on day one.
If you carry €10,000 or more in cash (or the equivalent) when entering or leaving the EU, you must declare it to customs. Our Portugal entry requirements checklist covers passports, EES and the other paperwork. Travel cards from fintech providers can lower fees, but each has its own limits, so check them before you rely on one.
Spend a little on memories while you are here
Once the money side is sorted, you can plan the fun part. We run private sessions for visitors in Lisbon, Sintra, Cascais and Porto, with a professionally edited private gallery included. Whether you want a quick portrait at a viewpoint or a relaxed hour in Alfama, you can read about our Lisbon photographer sessions or couple photography in Portugal.
To book, choose your session, location and date, then message us to check availability or pay by card to reserve. We confirm the details on WhatsApp, and “Surprise me” lets us pick the spot. Current prices are on the booking page, and you can pay by card or arrange another way with us.
Common questions
What is the best way to get euros in Portugal?
Withdraw cash from a Multibanco ATM at a bank branch with a debit card that has low foreign fees, and choose to be charged in euros. Use your card for most purchases.
Should I exchange money before I travel or when I arrive?
A card and a branch ATM usually beat exchanging cash, in either place. If you want a few euros on arrival, take a small amount from an ATM in the airport or from your bank at home, and do the rest in the city.
What is dynamic currency conversion and should I accept it?
It is a prompt at a terminal or ATM that offers to charge you in your home currency. Decline it and pay in euros, because your own bank’s rate is normally better.
Can I use my US, UK, Canadian or Australian card in Portugal?
Yes. Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere and contactless is common. American Express is less widely accepted, so carry a Visa or Mastercard too.
How much should I tip in Portugal?
Tipping is optional. At restaurants, rounding up or leaving about 5 to 10 percent for good service is normal if service is not already included. At cafés and in taxis, rounding up is enough.
Is there a limit on tap-to-pay in Portugal?
Contactless payments up to €50 work without a PIN, and you may be asked for a PIN after several taps. Your bank can set a lower limit. Larger payments need your PIN.