Portugal is famously welcoming. Most visitors quickly notice how patient and kind people are when foreigners try to navigate daily life in a new culture. It seems a place you can't do anything wrong....
But if you want to blend in a little better, there are a few habits that instantly reveal you’re not from around here.
None of these are bad mistakes—locals expect visitors to be visitors. But if you’re curious about how Portuguese culture works, here are five things North Americans often do that immediately give them away.
1. Speaking Spanish
This is the fastest way to identify yourself as a clueless tourist.
Portugal and Spain share the Iberian Peninsula, but the languages and history are very different. Portuguese people understand Spanish more or less, but hearing it from a visitor often signals that a clueless someone assumes the two cultures are interchangeable. It's like thinking a Canadian is an American, it hits a nerve.
A better approach is to try a few Portuguese words:
Bom dia – Good morning (up to 1 pm)
Boa tarde – Good afternoon (1 pm to 8 pm)
Por favor - Thank you
Obrigado / Obrigada – Thank you (male/female)
Even a small effort in Portuguese is usually appreciated.
2. Asking for Iced or Italian Coffee, or worse... To Go
Portugal is a country that takes coffee seriously.
But if you walk into a café and ask for an iced coffee, you might get a funny look. The traditional Portuguese coffee culture revolves around small, strong espressos—usually ordered as a bica or café. We don't make Italian coffee, except for tourists, and iced coffee you walk around with is better left at home.
Cold coffee drinks exist, but they’re not part of everyday café culture the way they are in other places. And just walk past the Starbucks...
Most locals simply stand at the counter, drink a café with friends, and continue their day. Its a social thing, not a walk about thing.
3. Over-Tipping
North Americans are used to leaving 18–20% tips. In Portugal, that can surprise people. It can insult - and many are happy to take your big tip, too.
Service workers are paid wages, so tipping is appreciated but modest. Most locals will:
Round up the bill a few euros
Leave a euro or two
Or perhaps 5–10% for exceptional service
Leaving a very large tip isn’t offensive—but it definitely marks you as someone from North America. Read up on the not-so-nice origins of your huge tip culture... really.
4. Eating Dinner Too Early
In many parts of North America, dinner might start at 6:00 or 6:30 pm.
In Portugal, that’s practically teatime.
Restaurants often don’t even fill up until 6:30 or 7:00 pm, and in cities like Lisbon or Porto people commonly dine later than that.
If you walk into a restaurant at 6:00 pm, you may find yourself the only customer for a while.
5. Not Knowing When to Kiss Hello
One of the small cultural surprises in Portugal is how people greet each other.
Among friends, colleagues, and acquaintances, it’s common to exchange two light kisses on the cheek when saying hello.
Americans often hesitate—should it be a handshake? A hug? One kiss? Two?
The basic rule is simple:
Two kisses, starting on the right cheek. Men to women only. This is not France...
Of course, if you’re meeting someone in a formal setting, a handshake is perfectly fine. But once people know each other, the cheek-kiss greeting becomes very natural.
The Truth Is… People Don’t Mind
Here’s the good news: Portuguese people are generally very relaxed about these differences.
Visitors speaking imperfect Portuguese, asking questions, or navigating cultural quirks are simply part of everyday life in a country that welcomes millions of travelers each year.
Still, understanding a few local habits makes the experience richer—and sometimes leads to better conversations, warmer smiles, and maybe even a free tip from the café owner about the best pastry in town.
Just remember one thing.
Whatever you do… please don’t say “gracias.”