12 Mistakes To Avoid in Lisbon, Portugal

The biggest mistakes tourists make in Lisbon include falling for tourist traps, underestimating the city’s steep hills, and misusing public transport. Lisbon is an iconic tourist destination famed for attractions like Belém Tower, Jerónimos Monastery, and Castelo de São Jorge.

For instance, many tourists take overpriced tuk-tuks instead of using the affordable tram system or visit only the crowded areas like Baixa and Belém without exploring hidden gems like Alfama and Graça. Don’t assume the couvert in restaurants is complimentary or pay for viewpoints you can access for free either.

we reviewed traveler experiences, expert recommendations, and local insights to compile 12 common tourist mistakes in Lisbon and how to avoid them. Let’s take a look!

Table of Contents

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Mistakes To Avoid in Lisbon Portugal Assuming Couvert Is Free

Assuming couvert is free 1/5

12 Most Instagrammable Places in Europe for Your Bucket List

Wearing the wrong shoes 2/5

Speaking Spanish 3/5

Surreal Places in Portugal Elevador de Santa Justa

Paying for free views 4/5

12 Things You Should Definitely Not Do as a Tourist Avoid Exchanging Money at the Airport

Using a sketchy ATM 5/5

Results

Assuming couvert is free

13 6

Wearing the wrong shoes

14 5

Speaking Spanish

11 8

Paying for free views

11 8

Using a sketchy ATM

11 8

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Assuming Couvert Is Free

One of the easiest mistakes to make in Lisbon, Portugal, is assuming the couvert is free. For those who don’t know, couvert is a Portuguese restaurant custom of serving small appetizers before a meal. For example, a waiter or waitress might place bread, olives, or cheese on your table when you first sit down.

While this is a pleasant addition to your meal, you must know that couvert isn’t free. If you eat any food put in front of you, you will be expected to pay for it. In most restaurants, a couvert only costs a couple of euros.

However, it’s worth remembering if you’re on a particularly tight budget. If you don’t want the appetizers, politely ask your server to take them away.

Understand Couvert Costs: In Lisbon, couvert (appetizers like bread, olives, or cheese) is not included in your meal price, even if it’s placed on your table without asking. Costs typically range from €1 to €5 per item.
What to Do: If you don’t want the couvert, simply inform your server politely when it’s brought to your table (e.g., “No, thank you”). Otherwise, you’ll be charged.

Paying for Views You Can Enjoy for Free

Paying for views you can enjoy for free is one of the most common mistakes in Lisbon. In Downtown Lisbon, you’ll find a famous attraction called Elevador de Santa Justa. This 19th-century industrial-era lift is 147 feet (45 meters) tall.

It offers magnificent city views. Unsurprisingly, there are often queues of tourists waiting to ride the lift. Round-trip tickets cost approximately €6 ($6.30).

However, you don’t have to pay to enjoy the views. Savvy travelers have found a way to reach the viewpoint for free. You can by following these steps:

Walk past the Elevador de Santa Justa to Rua do Carmo and turn left.
Take a right onto Rua Garrett.
Take another right onto Calçada do Sacramento.
Turn right before Carmo Convent onto Travessa Dom Pedro de Menezes.
Walk up a short flight of stairs at the end of Travessa, and you’ll see the bridge connecting the Elevador de Santa Justa.

Lisbon Card Tip: If you want to ride the elevator instead of walking, consider purchasing the Lisbon Card, which includes unlimited rides on public transport and access to several attractions, including the Elevador de Santa Justa. Prices start at €22 for 24 hours.

Packing Unsuitable Footwear

One of the worst mistakes you can make in Lisbon is packing unsuitable footwear. Lisbon is known as the “City of the Seven Hills” because it’s believed the city was built on seven hills, like Rome, Italy. Furthermore, Lisbon is known for its calçada Portuguesa pavements, which can be tricky to walk on.

Therefore, pack the proper footwear so you can easily explore the city. Packing your favorite going-out shoes, i.e., high heels and dinner shoes, is perfectly okay, but don’t rely on them for your whole trip. Pack a comfortable and reliable pair of trainers or walking boots with a good grip.

That way, you can explore Lisbon without the risk of sore feet or nasty falls.

Pack Trainers or Walking Shoes: Lisbon’s calçada Portuguesa (traditional mosaic pavements) can be slippery, especially when wet.
Avoid High Heels: Save high heels or delicate shoes for dinners or indoor events and not for walking long distances.

Not Carrying Cash

We now live in a world where cash is used less and less, with most places worldwide accepting Visa, Mastercard, and even Cryptocurrency. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still carry cash in Lisbon. While you can easily get around the city paying with your bank card, it’s still well worth carrying some Euros.

You’ll find that many authentic local shops, smaller market stalls, and street vendors only accept cash. Some ticket machines don’t accept cards either. You’ll find that many market stalls in the famous Mercado de Santa Clara only accept cash.

You’ll also find that cash comes in useful when leaving a tip after a meal. That said, take out some Euros before flying to Lisbon.

Withdraw Cash in Lisbon: If you don’t bring Euros with you, use ATMs from trusted banks like Multibanco after arriving. Avoid standalone ATMs in tourist hotspots as they may charge excessive fees.
Emergency Backup: Always carry a small amount of cash for times when cards aren’t accepted, such as when using some public transport ticket machines or visiting local shops.

Using Euronet ATMs

Ideally, you’ll withdraw the Euros you need for your city break in Lisbon before you arrive. However, if, for whatever reason, you need to use an ATM to take cash out in the city, avoid using Euronet ATMs. Euronet is one of Lisbon’s most common ATM companies, but you don’t want to use them.

Unfortunately, this type of ATM is renowned for its high cash withdrawal fees. In some instances, they’ve been known to charge 13% of the total withdrawal amount. As such, these ATMs are sometimes called tourist ATMs because it’s usually only tourists who fall for them.

Luckily, you can use other ATMs to avoid the hefty fees. Other travelers recommend using Santander, Caixa Geral de Depósitos, and BPI ATMs.

Locate ATMs Safely: Use ATMs at banks or within secure areas (like shopping malls) instead of freestanding ones in tourist-heavy locations. This minimizes the risk of scams or high service fees.

Speaking Spanish

A surprising mistake people make in Portugal is speaking Spanish. Hola and Ola might sound the same, but Spanish and Portuguese are two separate languages. You’ll be surprised by the number of travelers who speak Spanish in Portugal by accident.

If you don’t speak Portuguese, don’t panic; English is widely spoken across the capital. In fact, most people in Portugal learn English throughout their schooling years. Therefore, you don’t need to embarrass yourself by speaking Spanish because you don’t know Portuguese.

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However, learning a few phrases ahead of your trip is a good idea. Here are some to get you started:

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Bom dia – Good morning
Boa tarde – Good Afternoon
Por favor – Please
Ola – Hello
Adeus – Goodbye

Don’t Confuse Spanish and Portuguese: While Spanish and Portuguese share similarities, they are distinct languages.
Rely on English If Needed: English is widely understood, especially in Lisbon and popular tourist areas.

Eating in the Main Tourist Areas

Eating in the main tourist areas is one of the most costly mistakes you’ll make in Lisbon. You’ll find that Lisbon’s main tourist streets are home to more expensive restaurants, bars, and cafes. You may even encounter a handful of tourist traps trying to trick travelers into overpaying for food and drink.

Lisbon isn’t alone in this. Most restaurants in popular European tourist destinations increase prices to exploit travelers. In Lisbon, you want to avoid eating at Rua Augusta and Avenida da Liberdade, two hugely popular tourist streets. Instead, you can find more affordable food and drink on Rua dos Correeiros and Rua Nova do Carvalho.

Alternatively, leave the touristy areas and enjoy a cheap, local experience.

Venture to Local Neighborhoods: For a truly authentic and inexpensive meal, head to neighborhoods like Alfama, Graça, or Campo de Ourique. Look for family-run taverns (“tascas”) serving traditional meals for €8–15.
Better Alternatives: Try Rua dos Correeiros or Rua Nova do Carvalho (Pink Street) for more affordable and authentic food options. Here you’ll find local dishes like bacalhau à brás (salt cod) or bifanas (pork sandwiches) at fair prices.

Eating Too Early

Don’t eat too early during your Lisbon city break. Like much of Portugal and neighboring Spain, people in Lisbon prefer to eat dinner later. Typically, most people eat around 8:00 or 9:00 pm.

This is a long-standing tradition because it’s considered a more social and relaxed eating time. This will seem late to most people, myself included, but it’s the norm in Portugal, so try to join in with the local culture. Besides, you’ll likely miss out if you don’t eat later.

Typically, only tourist-focused restaurants will be open earlier in the evening. Therefore, you might find that the best local restaurants aren’t open if you go out early. Worse yet, you’ll miss the lively dining atmosphere later in the night.

Dine After 8:00 PM: Many authentic restaurants won’t start serving dinner until 7:30 PM or later, so plan meals accordingly to avoid empty dining rooms or limited options.
What to Do if You’re Hungry: If waiting for a late dinner feels like a stretch, follow the local tradition of grabbing a petisco (a Portuguese snack, like cod fritters or cheese) with a drink at a café or bar earlier in the evening.

Tipping Too Much

Tipping too much is one of the easiest mistakes in Lisbon if you’re from the United States. In the US, it’s common, or should we say expected, for diners to leave a 15 to 20% tip. In Portugal, it’s not necessary to leave such a tip.

In fact, tips aren’t expected at all. The locals don’t have the same intensity regarding tips as the US tipping culture, so you don’t have to leave a tip if you don’t want to. Having said that, it’s always nice to leave a tip if you’ve enjoyed your meal.

However, don’t waste money by overtipping. A tip of 5 to 10% is perfectly acceptable in a restaurant.

Know the Norm: Tipping in Portugal isn’t mandatory or as ingrained as it is in the US. A 5–10% tip is acceptable in restaurants if the service is good. For smaller meals or cafes, rounding up the bill or leaving €1–2 is polite but not expected.
Cash Tips Are Preferred: If you want to leave a tip, give it directly to the waiter in cash, even if you pay the main bill by card. This ensures they receive it personally.

Trying To Do Too Much in One Weekend

Cheap Getaways in Portugal Lisbon — © SeanPavonePhoto / Adobe Stock

Trying to do too much in one weekend is a huge mistake many travelers make when visiting Lisbon. Portugal’s vibrant capital might be a popular weekend city break destination, but you can’t see it all in one weekend. Unfortunately, there is too much to see and do in such a short space of time.

That said, don’t even attempt to cram everything into one weekend. You’ll tire yourself out and not fully experience some of the city’s most beautiful locations. So, take your time, enjoy the attractions you decide to visit, and indulge in a delicious glass of red wine in a local bar.

You can always see the city again, so don’t ruin your trip by overdoing it.

Allow Time to Wander: Lisbon’s charm lies in its atmosphere. Set aside time to stroll the streets of Alfama, Chiado, or Bairro Alto and discover hidden viewpoints, quiet cafes, and unique shops.
Explore the Gulbenkian Museum: Perfect for art lovers, featuring exquisite European and Eastern art collections. An all-inclusive ticket costs €16.00. Check their official website here.

Not Eating Pastel de Nata

Portuguese Dishes Pastel de Nata Lisbon — © Sabino.parente / Adobe Stock

One of the biggest mistakes food enthusiasts can make in Lisbon is not eating pastel de nata. Pastel de nata is a Portuguese egg custard tart. This devilishly delicious treat is made with flaky pastry shells stuffed with egg custard and dusted with cinnamon.

Admittedly, it’s hard to miss them because most cafes and bakeries across Lisbon serve them. However, I’ve visited Portugal multiple times, and I failed to try one the first few times. It’s fair to say I won’t make that mistake again.

To make sure you don’t make the same mistake as me, here are some places to try pastel de nata in Lisbon:

Eat Them Warm: Pastéis de nata are best enjoyed fresh and warm. Many bakeries bake multiple batches throughout the day, so ask for a warm one for the ideal flaky and creamy experience.
Pair with Coffee: For a true Portuguese experience, enjoy your pastel de nata with a bica (Portuguese espresso). The slight bitterness of the coffee perfectly balances the sweetness of the tart.

Riding Tram 28 at Rush Hour

13 Best Neighborhoods and Hotels To Stay in Lisbon — © Armando Oliveira / Adobe Stock

One of the biggest mistakes you’ll regret making in Lisbon is riding Tram 28 at rush hour. Trams are one of the most inexpensive and scenic ways to get around Lisbon, and Tram 28 is the most famous.

This iconic yellow tram from the 1930s runs from Martim Moniz Square to Campo Ourique, passing through the historic districts of Alfama, Baixa, Estrela, and Graca. The tram is rarely quiet, but riding it at rush hour is a big no-no. You’ll have to compete for a spot on the tram with hundreds of locals and travelers.

You might be left waiting for an hour to get on the tram. Avoid Tram 28 between 8:00 and 10:00 am and 6:00 and 8:00 pm.

Another mistake is to use expensive tuk-tuk tours to go around Lisbon instead of using affordable public transportation, like Tram 28.