Getting Euros for Your Trip to Portugal
Portugal has become one of the most popular destinations for British travellers, offering beautiful coastlines, historic cities, excellent food and wine, and great value for money. From the cobbled streets of Lisbon to the beaches of the Algarve and the port wine cellars of Porto, Portugal delivers memorable experiences at reasonable prices.
As a Eurozone country, Portugal uses the Euro, making it convenient to combine with trips to Spain or other EU destinations. The country has modernised rapidly and is now very card-friendly, with contactless payments accepted almost everywhere.
Key insight for 2026: Portugal's Multibanco cash machines work 24 hours a day, but no published source says they are free for UK cards, so check your own card's fees abroad. Combined with a fee-free travel card, you can manage your money in Portugal with minimal costs and no need to exchange cash before you go.
Best Ways to Get Euros for Portugal
- Fee-free travel cards (Wise, Revolut) - Best option. Pay by card everywhere with no fees. Portugal's card acceptance is excellent.
- Multibanco ATMs - Portugal's national network. Pick a machine set in a bank's wall, and check what your own card charges for use abroad.
- Online currency order - If you want cash, order Euros online. Better rates than high street bureaux.
- Post Office / Travelex - Order online for better rates. Walk-in rates are poor.
- Airport exchanges - Poor rates at both UK and Portuguese airports. Avoid.
Using Cards in Portugal
Portugal is extremely card-friendly:
Where Cards Work
- Restaurants and cafes - Almost all accept cards, even small establishments
- Shops - From supermarkets to small boutiques
- Taxis and Uber - Ride-hailing apps charge the card you register; ask a street taxi driver about cards before you set off
- Public transport - Lisbon and Porto metro accept contactless
- Hotels - All accept cards
- Markets - Many stalls now accept cards
- Beach bars and restaurants - Generally card-friendly
Where Cash Might Be Useful
- Traditional tascas (taverns) - Some small traditional places prefer cash
- Rural areas - Very small villages may have limited card infrastructure
- Flea markets - Feira da Ladra and similar may be cash-only
- Tips - If you want to leave a cash tip
ATMs in Portugal
Portugal has an excellent ATM network called Multibanco:
Multibanco ATMs
Multibanco is Portugal's national ATM network, shared by all Portuguese banks. No fee for UK cards is published, so check the screen before accepting. Look for the blue and red Multibanco logo, or ATMs attached to banks like:
- Millennium BCP
- Santander Totta
- Caixa Geral de Depósitos (CGD)
- Novo Banco
- BPI
ATMs to Avoid
- Euronet - Stand-alone machines; Which? says these often add extra charges
- Non-bank ATMs in tourist areas - Often charge extra
Important: Always decline currency conversion (DCC) and withdraw in Euros for the best rate.
Money Tips by Portuguese Region
Lisbon
Very card-friendly. The metro, trams, and Uber all accept cards. Restaurants in Bairro Alto, Alfama, and Belém are well equipped. The Feira da Ladra flea market may require cash.
Porto
Similar to Lisbon in card acceptance. Port wine cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia accept cards. Small traditional restaurants in Ribeira may prefer cash.
Algarve
Tourist infrastructure means excellent card acceptance. Resorts, restaurants, and golf clubs all take cards. Beach vendors may prefer cash for small items.
Madeira & Azores
Good card acceptance in Funchal and Ponta Delgada. Smaller villages and rural areas may be more cash-oriented. Always have some backup cash.
Tipping in Portugal
Tipping in Portugal is relaxed and optional:
- Restaurants - 5-10% for good service is generous. Rounding up is common.
- Cafes - No tip expected, leave loose change if you wish
- Taxis - Round up to the nearest Euro
- Hotels - €1-2 for porters
- Tour guides - €5-10 for a good tour
Service is included in prices and Portuguese workers earn proper wages, so tipping is genuinely optional.
Best Exchange Options for EUR
Top providers by category:
Unicâmbio
Best exchange rates in Lisbon and Porto.
Millennium BCP
Largest Portuguese bank. ATMs everywhere.
Novo Banco
Good ATM coverage, accepts foreign cards.
Lisbon Airport
Unicâmbio and banks available in arrivals.
Baixa Tourist Area
Poor rates near Rossio. Use Unicâmbio.
Compare EUR Exchange Rates
See what you'd receive from providers local to you
Frequently Asked Questions
Portugal's Multibanco machines run around the clock, but no published source confirms that UK cards go free of charge there, so check what your own card costs abroad. A travel card with no fees covers most spending, and for notes in Lisbon or Porto the guide names Unicâmbio as best for rates, while the Baixa tourist area near Rossio has poor ones.
Very little. Cards are taken in almost all restaurants and cafes, shops, hotels, many market stalls and on the Lisbon and Porto metro. Carry some Euros for traditional tascas, very small villages, flea markets such as Feira da Ladra, and cash tips, and before boarding a street taxi, ask whether the driver takes cards.
Use the Multibanco network, Portugal's shared national system, ideally a machine attached to a bank such as Millennium BCP, Novo Banco, Santander Totta, BPI or Caixa Geral de Depósitos. Nothing published confirms whether UK cards are charged, so read the screen before you accept and check what your own card costs abroad. Avoid stand-alone Euronet and other non-bank machines in tourist areas, and always withdraw in Euros.
Tipping is relaxed and optional, since service is included in prices and staff earn proper wages. In restaurants, rounding up is common and 5-10% for good service counts as generous; cafes expect nothing beyond loose change. Round taxi fares up to the nearest Euro, and consider €1-2 for hotel porters or €5-10 for a good tour guide.
Not necessarily. Multibanco machines run around the clock and, combined with a fee-free travel card, let you manage your money with minimal costs and nothing bought in advance. If you prefer carrying some Euros, order them online rather than paying walk-in high street rates, and avoid airport exchange desks in both the UK and Portugal.
Nearby Destinations
Planning to visit multiple countries? Check out exchange guides for nearby destinations:
Spain
Morocco
France