What to do when visiting Portugal for the first time? A complete guide for beginners to avoid pitfalls

10 tips to help you avoid tourist traps and enjoy life like a local 1. Must-visit cities: Lisbon + Porto + Sintra ✅ Lisbon: Take tram No. 28 through the Alfama district and watch the "Orange Sea Sunset" at the Castle of St. George in the evening; ✅ Porto: You must take the 17:00 cruise on the Douro River. The sunset reflects on the exterior walls of the winery like an oil painting; ✅ Sintra: Enter the Pena Palace before 9:30 to avoid the tour groups, and wear non-slip shoes to climb the Moorish Castle. 2. Cultural experience: Listening to more Dharma does not equal attending a commercial show ❗Avoid traps: Most of the signs in Alfama that say "Fado show €30 including meal" are tourist traps; ✅ Authentic way to play: Find a tavern deep in the alley (such as "A Tasca do Chico"), order a glass of port wine and listen to the songs quietly, €10 ticket + €2 coin to put into the singer's black hat to show respect. 3. Egg tart wars: This is the original one ✅ Pasteis de Belém: A century-old shop in Belém, €1.3/piece, sprinkled with cinnamon powder and served with espresso; ❗Warning: The "Egg Tart Museum" in the city is actually a high-priced souvenir shop, so be careful when buying "innovative flavors". 4. Traffic Pitfalls: Don’t Get Overcharged by Elevators ✅ One hour queue for Santa Justa lift? Walk for 3 minutes around the back mountain trail to the top for free; ✅ Porto Metro Z4 ticket covers all attractions, a single-day ticket is €7, saving 40% compared to a single purchase; ❗Warning: Taxi drivers often take detours and insist on using the meter (Ligar taxímetro). 5. Seafood critique: pricing by kilogram is reliable ✅ Cais Sodré restaurant code in Lisbon: "Peixe do dia" (fresh fish of the day) is 30% cheaper than the menu; ❗Must inspect the goods: When ordering grilled sardines, ask to see the gills (bright red is preferred), and refuse pre-fried frozen ones. 6. The metaphysics of tiles: old goods are hidden in the ruins ✅ Go to the LX Factory Cultural and Creative Park flea market to find 19th century hand-painted fragments for €5; ❗Don’t buy: Most of the "hand-painted tiles" around tourist attractions are factory printed products. Use your fingernails to scratch the glaze to determine the authenticity. 7. Wine routine: wine tasting ≠ entering the winery ✅ Porto Nova de Gaia riverside wine cellar (such as Sandeman), €12 for 3 items + free carved wine glass; ✅ Supermarket bargains: Buying 10-year-old Tawny Port wine (€15) at Continente supermarket is 3 times cheaper than at the airport. 8. Beach Tips: Enjoy the scenery on the south bank and play in the waves on the west bank ✅ Algarve Benagil Cave Kayaking, choose the 9:00 group (€25) to avoid the midday sun; ❗Cold Fact: The spectacular sight of huge waves crashing against the shore only occurs when the tide is high (check the tide table). 9. The ultimate money saver: Take advantage of "free prime time" ✅ Free admission to the National Museum of Ancient Art from 9:00 to 14:00 on Sunday; ✅ 50% off castle/monastery tickets on the first Saturday of every month; ❗Hidden benefits: The Lisbon Card includes transportation + attraction discounts, but the cost will only be recovered after 72 consecutive hours of use. 10. Etiquette minefield: Don't make the "OK" gesture randomly ✅ Correct operation: Restaurant checkout gesture imitates writing a check (waving with palm facing down); ❗Taboo: Giving a thumbs-up to locals = provocation, so use a "C'est bon" smile and nod instead. Conclusion Portugal is the city of Easter eggs—Michelin restaurants are hidden in abandoned monasteries, and the tram terminus is at the elopement cliff. You don't have to expect perfection when you first visit something. Leave some regrets as an excuse to come back again. Boa viagem! (Have a nice trip!)