Cash or card in Lisbon — what do locals actually use?

Card is the default in Lisbon now, and you can get through an entire trip without touching cash. Contactless payment works at grocery chains like Pingo Doce and Continente, most restaurants, pharmacies, and the Metro. Even many taxis and all Uber rides are card-only by design. That said, carry 20-30 euros in cash for two specific situations: small pastelarias and tascas in older neighborhoods like Mouraria or Intendente that still run paper-only operations, and street markets like Feira da Ladra, where vendors rarely have readers. Tipping remains a cash culture even where the bill goes on card, so a few coins matter. ATMs are plentiful; use ones attached to banks rather than standalone Euronet machines, which charge aggressive fees. Multibanco is the national payment network and accepts virtually every international card without drama. The short version: tap your card everywhere, keep a small cash reserve for the old city and markets.

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