Local Tip
Unicâmbio's Praça da Figueira branch, beside Rossio, opens every day, but its shop on Rua Portas de Santo Antão shuts at weekends and over lunch. Later in the evening, its counters in the Colombo and Vasco da Gama shopping centres stay open until midnight.
Where to change money in Lisbon
Unicâmbio has branches from the Baixa to Parque das Nações and at the airport. Each exchange carries a commission, listed online and at the branch, so weigh the euros offered against a card withdrawal.
- Unicâmbio, Baixa Praça da Figueira 4 A, next to Rossio, opens daily: weekdays 08:30 to 20:00, Saturdays 09:00 to 19:00, Sundays and holidays 09:00 to 18:00. The branch at Rua Portas de Santo Antão 54/56 opens on weekdays only, 09:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 18:00.
- Unicâmbio, Cais do Sodré station Shop 6, Praça Duque da Terceira: 08:00 to 20:00 on weekdays, and 09:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 18:00 at weekends and on holidays.
- Unicâmbio, Oriente, Vasco da Gama and Colombo The Gare do Oriente gallery branch (shop G-219) opens every day; the Vasco da Gama and Colombo centre counters stay open until midnight.
Changing money at the airport
Lisbon airport lists four Unicâmbio counters, all in Terminal 1 and none in Terminal 2. Arriving at Terminal 1, you pass two: one in the baggage collection room and one in the public arrivals hall, both open 05:00 to midnight. The other two are airside in departures, at the central plaza and on the south pier. Unicâmbio also handles VAT refunds here.
ATMs and cards in Lisbon
Portugal's cash machines include Multibanco, the SIBS network, ATM Express, and Euronet's independent machines, common in tourist districts and airports. SIBS's no-fee statement covers cards from Portuguese banks only; a UK card may still pay for the conversion or for machine access, plus your own bank's fees. Any of the three networks may suggest converting a Lisbon withdrawal into sterling for you: refuse, and let it go through in euros.
Paying for transport in Lisbon
Metro Lisboa's gates take contactless Visa, VPAY, Electron and Mastercard cards, and Apple Pay or Google Pay set up with Visa, VPAY or Mastercard. A ride costs €1.92 (September 2026) anywhere on the network; tap out with the card or device you tapped in with, and keep your phone charged until the exit. Each traveller needs their own. Carris buses and trams accept contactless too. The alternative is a personal navegante occasional card, €0.50 from Metro ticket machines and offices and reloadable for a year with tickets or pay-as-you-go credit; Metro Lisboa lists a Metro journey at €1.72 and a 60-minute Carris/Metro ticket at €1.90. Fares change from time to time.
Good to know
- Diário de Notícias reported in July 2026 that pickpocket thefts of bags, phones and wallets in Lisbon rose 9.5% in the first half of the year, averaging about ten a day, and pointed to tourist areas such as Belém and São Jorge Castle.
- The UK Foreign Office says thieves in Portugal often work in groups and use distraction; keep valuables close on buses, trams and the Metro and at busy stops.
Born in Lisbon: the Banco de Lisboa, 1821
Created by a law of 1821, the Banco de Lisboa was a private bank allowed to issue paper money, and its first notes, valued in réis and made entirely in Portugal, came out in 1822. In 1846 it merged with the Companhia Confiança Nacional to form the Banco de Portugal, which counts those notes as the country's first banknotes.
Checked November 2026. Sources: Banco de Portugal · Routledge
Key Areas in Lisbon
Click to open in Google Maps
- Exchange offices this guide names: Unicâmbio at Praça da Figueira 4 A, at Rua Portas de Santo Antão 54/56, and at Cais do Sodré station.
- Cash machines, as mapped by OpenStreetMap.
- Lisbon airport is off the map: Unicâmbio has desks there.
Exchange bureaux, banks and cash machines, as mapped by OpenStreetMap. The map loads only when you ask for it.
Open Lisbon in OpenStreetMap (new tab)
Lisbon travel money FAQ
Where is the best place to exchange money in Lisbon?
Unicâmbio has two Baixa branches, on Praça da Figueira and Rua Portas de Santo Antão, plus counters at Cais do Sodré and Oriente stations, two shopping centres and the airport, all charging a commission it publishes. A card withdrawal in euros is the alternative.
Can I change money at Lisbon airport before I leave the baggage hall?
Yes, at Terminal 1: Unicâmbio has a counter in the baggage collection room and another in the public arrivals hall. The airport lists none at Terminal 2, so if you land there, plan to use your card.
Can I pay for the Lisbon Metro with a contactless card?
Yes, at €1.92 a ride (September 2026), with one card or phone per person. Tap out with the same one you tapped in with; the Metro takes each day's fares from your account after that day ends.
Checked September 2026. Fees, fares and opening times change, so check locally before relying on them. Sources: Unicâmbio · Lisbon Airport (ANA) · Metropolitano de Lisboa · Portugal.com (5 December 2024) · Postal do Algarve (August 2026) · UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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