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

Card is the default for nearly everything in Lisbon. Contactless Mastercard and Visa are accepted at supermarkets, restaurants, metro stations, and most taxis without friction. Locals tap their phones or cards without a second thought, and the city's payment infrastructure is solidly modern. That said, carry 20-40 euros in cash for specific situations: some older tascas and tabacarias in Mouraria or Alfama run card minimums or simply prefer notes, street market vendors at Feira da Ladra operate cash-only, and the occasional small pastelaria will look at you sideways if you pull out a card for a 90-cent coffee. ATMs (Multibanco machines, the domestic network) are everywhere and reliable; use them over airport currency exchange desks. Tipping is done in cash even when the bill is paid by card. Beyond those edge cases, you will move through the city entirely on plastic without any practical inconvenience.

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