You can usually arrange mobile data and payments before leaving the airport. Start with what you already have: check your phone contract and card charges rather than buying a travel plan or withdrawing a large amount of cash by default.
Do I need a Portuguese SIM or eSIM?
If your mobile plan is from an EU country, EU roaming rules generally let you use calls, texts and data in Portugal at domestic rates during a short trip. Fair-use data limits can still apply, especially to unlimited or very cheap plans. Check the allowance in your operator's app before travelling. Visitors from outside the covered roaming area should compare their home operator's Portugal rate with a local SIM or travel eSIM.
For an eSIM, confirm that your phone supports it, is not locked to a carrier and can install the plan while you have internet access. Check whether the offer includes data only or also a Portuguese number, calls and texts, when it starts, how long it lasts and whether it renews. Local operators such as MEO and Vodafone publish prepaid offers; prices and bundles change, so compare the current terms. Keep your original SIM active if you still need bank verification messages, and check your phone's settings so the intended line supplies mobile data.
Can I pay by card, and what is Multibanco?
Portugal uses the euro. Card payment is common, but a small amount of cash is useful for a place that does not take your particular card. Ask before ordering if payment method matters. Multibanco is a Portuguese ATM and payment network; an ATM's accepted card logos indicate whether your card can be used. Do not assume every foreign card can use every domestic Multibanco function, including MB WAY.
Before withdrawing, check your own bank's foreign-use charges and read any fee or conversion shown on the ATM screen. If a card terminal or ATM offers to convert a euro amount into your home currency, compare the displayed conversion with your card's terms before accepting. The Banco de Portugal's card and ATM information explains that the applicable charges depend on the card and transaction; there is no single fee that fits every visitor. Keep a second way to pay in case one card is declined.
Are tips expected?
A tip is a choice, not a fixed charge to add automatically. The Portuguese tourism authority says an additional tip is customary in restaurants; the amount is up to you. Check the bill before paying, and ask if a suggested amount on a card terminal can be skipped. Our guide to café and restaurant customs also explains the couvert and other common questions about the bill.