7 things you should not do when you are in Portugal

Every year, Portugal is taken over by hordes of wintering digital nomads. In spring and autumn, Lisbon and Porto are grateful destinations for city trips, and in summer, hordes of tourists flock to the south coast of the country. Are the Portuguese really that happy about it? Probably not always. To make it a bit more enjoyable and easier for them and for yourself, here are seven things you should especially avoid when visiting Portugal.

1. Saying Gracias

In terms of language, the Portuguese and Spaniards borrow from each other, which might make you think you can get away with Spanish in Portugal. But that is quite sensitive. I once dared to answer sí to the question of whether I wanted a bag with my groceries, and the girl behind the cash register looked at me as if I had just called her mother a spoiled sardine. Look, they are similar: bom dia in Portuguese is buen día in Spanish. The same, but still different. Hello is another trap. Because what is the difference between olá and hola? Yes, the accent. In Portuguese, it is on the second syllable. In short, google the basics before you go out and remember that nothing makes a Portuguese angrier than being addressed as a Spaniard. On behalf of the Portuguese: Gracias! Uh… Obrigado.

2. Buying water

Yes, we get it. You are used to superior filtered Dutch tap water. Tasteless, clean, boring. In Portugal, they add some extra lime, iron, and chlorine to kill bacteria. And you can taste it. Is that bad? Of course not. If the Portuguese can handle it, then your delicate stomach can too. Spend your money on good wine instead of bottled water. The choice is huge and it doesn't cost a dime.

3. Paying everywhere with a card

In the Netherlands, we are used to being able to pay with a card everywhere and for any amount. However, that is not always the case in Portugal. Yes, you can find an ATM on almost every street corner – by the way, avoid Euronet ATMs, those jerks charge criminally high extra fees – but in stores, there is often a minimum card payment amount. Especially in the numerous small supermarkets and bakeries, you can only pay cash for amounts under five euros. So having cash on hand is not a luxury if you just want to pay for a pastel de nata.

 4. Expecting Portuguese people to be on time

This one is simple: if you make an appointment with a Portuguese, add ten minutes and avoid frustrations. Really, you get used to it quickly.

5. Eating sardines out of season

The Portuguese take their fish specialties very seriously, and rightly so. Take, for example, the sardinhas assadas, grilled sardines, a Lisbon specialty that should actually only be eaten in June during the Santos Populares festivals. For this, you need to be in a neighborhood like Madragoa, Alfama, or Graça. During these festivals, entire streets are closed off for weeks to make room for countless stalls where the sardinhas are roasted and sold. Combine with boiled potatoes, salads, rice, or grilled vegetables. Of course, you can order sardines at restaurants all year round, but that's not the real deal. Respect the seasons!

 6. Expecting service when you don't speak Portuguese

The tasca. More than a café, simpler and more informal than a restaurant. Perhaps best described as a bistro. Here, the Portuguese eat, alone or together, after a long day at work. Simple, traditional, good food. Sometimes it has a nice atmosphere, but often it is a bit ugly, there is football on TV, and they almost snap at you when you don't speak Portuguese. It doesn't sound nice, but it is. The food is ALWAYS good there. Every day the menu is different, depending on what is available. Usually, the tasca’s have fixed menus on certain days of the week to give loyal customers a bit of stability. Accept that the service is a bit curt and that it takes a while to get your beer; that's the charm. And throw in a few Portuguese words, that can also help.

7. Falling flat on your face

Those little white cobblestones on the hilly sidewalks of Lisbon? When it rains, they get slippery. Slipperier than the other stones. You wouldn't be the first to fall like a burglar from Home Alone. Wear shoes with good soles. Thank me later.