No way! Are you really planning a trip to Portugal? What a coincidence! We were actually about to give you some cultural tips you should take into consideration when traveling to Portugal. Honestly, we think that’s really important information when going abroad. Because every country has its own culture, and every culture is different.
Though there might be some similarities, people have different lifestyles, traditions, gastronomy, languages, and rules. Breaking one of these things might only give away that you’re a tourist, but it can also make you get in trouble. To avoid any problem or embarrassing situation you should soak up in Portugal’s culture as much as you can before your trip.
Eat Real Portuguese Food
When we travel abroad, one of the things we like to explore the most is the gastronomy of that country. Who knows? We might find our new favorite dish. Portugal is no exception to this.
Often, there are many places that sell Portuguese food geared toward tourists. That is, they don’t have real traditional Portuguese food or dishes. Not with the same flavor, at least. This is something that also happens in many countries around the world. It usually happens in the most touristic streets in a country.
And so food it’s not only unrepresentative of the country, but sometimes also more expensive. This is actually something that tends to happen in the Baixa district in Lisbon. So you might want to go somewhere else to eat something that truly represents this country.
To avoid all that, you might want to look up for restaurants that locals go to. That way, you’ll eat like a true Portuguese. And whichever opinion you form of their food will be based on real dishes. Not on that type of food that some places like to offer just to sell anything. We bet you’ll love true Portuguese gastronomy.
Don’t Assume They Speak Spanish
Because of how similar both Spanish and Portuguese are, people tend to think that if you speak one language, you’ll understand the other. So many tourists that go to Portugal and know Spanish speak it instead of Portuguese.
This can make some Portuguese people mad, because they have their own language and oftentimes people overlook it. They feel like people assume they speak Spanish, almost like it’s their first language, and it’s not.
Don’t get it wrong, many people there can know or understand Spanish. But they’d rather speak Portuguese with you. They’ll feel more appreciated that way.
Of course, if Spanish is the only language you know, you’ll have to speak it. But you could still learn a couple of important basic Portuguese words and phrases beforehand, like “obrigado / obrigada” (thanks).
Now, if you don’t know Portuguese, they’d prefer you speak English rather than Spanish. We also recommend you ask first which language they’d prefer you’d speak in: Spanish or English. This way you won’t be assuming right away, and they’ll be glad to help you. Hey, maybe someone will be fine with speaking Spanish just because you asked first.
Portuguese Greetings
One of the most confusing things when we go to another country is how to greet people. This is also one of the cultural aspects that put us in embarrassing situations. Because each culture tends to have a different way of greeting other people. Some countries are more enthusiastic, and some others are more introverted. So, how am I supposed to greet people in Portugal?
You can shake their hands and that will be just fine, especially considering you’re a stranger. You’ve probably heard, though, that it’s quite common for Portuguese people to greet each other by giving a kiss on the cheek. How true is that?
Well, between men, they usually just greet each other with a handshake. But between women they tend to do two kisses, one on each cheek. The same goes for a man and a woman. The first kiss is on the right cheek, the second on the left one.
Now, some people prefer to give just one kiss instead of two. That’s up to the person.
If you’re too nervous and don’t know if you should kiss or not, wait for the other person to see what he/she does. If they do try to greet you by kissing you, then you know that kissing that person it’s okay. If not, maybe just a handshake will be fine.
But wait! When you’re in a very formal environment, like your job, then greet with handshakes. It doesn’t matter if you’re a man or a woman nor who you’re greeting. A handshake is more serious. Maybe you moved to Portugal for work. Now you know how to greet your boss and new coworkers without making an awkward scene.
Oh, and of course, let’s not forget to say something nice or ask how someone’s doing. For this, you can look up and learn some Portuguese words and phrases to greet.
Schedule of Establishments
Be aware of time, because schedules might work differently in Portugal than in your country. For example, restaurants tend to close for a while in the afternoon and open again at night.
Their typical hours are from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Then they open once again from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm. So if you’re used to restaurants being open for almost the whole day, you might be surprised during your trip.
Coffee shops tend to open quite late compared to other countries. They usually open around 9:00 am.
In terms of shopping, it’s also common for stores to close on Sundays. So maybe don’t plan to shop your souvenirs during that day. Though, of course, it also depends on the store. Maybe if you’re in a super touristic place you’ll find something open.
Now, if you love going to parties and clubbing, you’ll probably love and will be impressed with their night schedules in Portugal. Bars close until 3:00 am or 4:00 am. But the night doesn’t end there, Portuguese people keep the party going at a club. And they party until the morning, like until 6 am or even later.
Tipping Culture
Countries differ a lot on this topic. Some cultures find tipping as a sign of gratitude for the service; if you tip, you’re basically saying you liked the service. But some other cultures find it disrespectful and some could even get offended. For example, countries like Mexico and the U.S. do tip and it’s common to leave a twenty percent tip. But what about Portugal?
Well, in Portugal tipping has never really been something that people expect; it’s also not an obligation. So if you don’t do it, it’s okay, you’re not disrespecting anyone. But if you do tip, they will appreciate it. It’s recommended to tip five or ten percent.
Couvert
Do you know how sometimes in restaurants waiters bring you some appetizers you didn’t order before your food comes? So you’re very happy that you can eat a small, free snack before your main dish. Or maybe you think you’ll be able to combine those appetizers with your food for free.
Well, this happens in different countries around the world. But the thing is that in some places these appetizers are totally free. But in Portugal, it is not!
In Portugal, this tradition of bringing food you didn’t order to your table is called couvert. It can be bread, cheese, sardines, olives, butter, or any other delicious snack. Sometimes they’ll even bring two or more.
But they don’t tell you that it isn’t free. So you might get a big surprise at the end, when it’s time to pay. You’ll notice that your check is a bit more expensive. Why? Because they’re charging you the couvert.
The couvert can vary on price. Some places charge just €2, but in some other places it can be more expensive. So it’s up to you to check your budget and see if you can afford it or if you truly want it. If you do, go for it; it’s probably delicious.
If you don’t want it, just kindly say that. So they take it away.
TruFluency Prepares You for Portugal
There are many different things you can do to prepare for your next trip to Portugal. You could watch some Netflix shows in Portuguese, read Portuguese books, listen to some podcasts, and, of course, read our blogs about tips.
This will make you feel less lost when immersing in a new culture and language. But the truth is, the best you can do is take some European Portuguese lessons.
There are some cool classes out there. We recommend you look for schools that teach you the language, but also about the culture. After all, language and culture go hand in hand.
You don’t know where to find classes that complete? Oh, don’t worry. We got you! TruFluency offers Portuguese language classes with native teachers! That’s highly beneficial, because you’ll get to hear the correct accent and pronunciation. Plus, you’ll learn everyday idioms and expressions from people that truly know Portuguese culture, because they’re natives.
Our tutors will also customize the lessons based on your language goals and needs. So if you need more vocabulary for your trip to Portugal, we’re here for you. Or if you need Portuguese slang to adapt to your new life in Portugal, we’re here to help. Or maybe you want to learn how to write a business email, we also know that.
Oh, and of course your speaking skills will improve as well. We actually base our lessons on our Bellieu Method, created to help you speak using what you’ve learned. So you achieve Portuguese fluency.
Lose no more time and take two one-hour trial classes now for only 59! They’re completely online and you can choose your schedule. We’ll make the best plan for you!
