Should you ask for the check in Portugal?

When you're ready to leave, ask for the check with a conta por favor. In a busy, loud restaurant, getting yourself heard might be hard. In those situations, signal the waiter and pretend you're holding a pen and writing in the air. They will immediately understand you want the check.



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Payment and Tipping Depending on the establishment, you will either pay at the front counter before leaving, or you'll need to let your waiter or waitress know that you are ready to pay. If you are paying by card, typically they will bring the card reader to your table, rather than taking your card.

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Tipping expectations in Portugal are not the 15% or 20% that we're used to in the U.S. In my experience, a 5% to 10% tip is considered generous, and it's what I typically do when I eat out in large groups. A sunny day in downtown Cascais.

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Generally though, Portugal is not considered expensive to eat out. To eat breakfast out at a pasteleria (Portugal's famous bakery shops) with an expresso shot included, you can pay as little as €4. Many restaurants in Portugal offer set lunch menus, and you can find a solid lunch deal for typically €8 per person.

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When you're ready to leave, ask for the check with a conta por favor. In a busy, loud restaurant, getting yourself heard might be hard. In those situations, signal the waiter and pretend you're holding a pen and writing in the air. They will immediately understand you want the check.

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While Portugal has all the facilities to accept card payments you'd expect from a modern economy, there are going to be many instances when you need cash on your trip. Some places won't take cards if you're spending less than €10 – €20 Euros, while other merchants won't take cards at all.

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Portuguese are the third latest risers on the planet, with research saying they wait until 8.10am to get out of bed. This is only beaten by Greece (8.18am) and Saudi Arabia (8.22am). On average, Portuguese head to bed at 00.47am, 25 minutes before Iranians, who are the last to go to bed, according to the research.

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Yes, Portugal is very safe for American tourists, with many US citizens visiting and even moving to Portugal each year.

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English is widely spoken in Portugal, especially in the larger cities and in the Algarve. Plenty of foreigners live comfortably and reasonably efficiently speaking only in English. (In fact, it can be difficult to find a Portuguese who will speak to you in Portuguese.)

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