More than 39,000 places Num knows across Lisbon and Porto, from tascas in Alfama and pastelarias in Campo de Ourique to the port lodges of Vila Nova de Gaia.
Portugal for most first-timers is two cities on two rivers, and Num covers both: Lisbon with 25,686 places and Porto with 13,728. Lisbon's list stretches beyond the postcard hills into Amadora and Odivelas, led by 3,982 restaurants, 1,733 cafés and 1,294 hotels, with 115 markets as a category of their own. Porto's 1,640 restaurants and 1,043 cafés sit alongside 886 hotels, and the coverage crosses the river to Gaia and out to Matosinhos for the fish.
Portuguese cities reward the small, timed question. Ask Num for a tasca in Alfama with grilled sardines and a table now, a pastelaria open at seven for a pastel de nata still warm, a fado house that is not a dinner show, or a pharmacy on a Sunday in Campo de Ourique. In Porto, a francesinha place locals actually go to, a port lodge in Gaia with a late tour, a bar in Cedofeita open past two. It answers with one place and how to reach it.
Every destination Num covers here, with how many places it holds in each. Open one for the full picture.
| Currency | Euro (EUR) |
|---|---|
| Languages | Portuguese; English very widely spoken in both cities |
| Plugs | Types C, F · 230 V |
| Emergency | 112 for police, fire and ambulance |
| Tipping | Not expected; rounding up or leaving five to ten per cent for good service is appreciated |
Portuguese cards and phone payments are universal, and most places take foreign cards, but a few small tascas and market stalls are cash or Multibanco only. Carry a little cash for those.
In Lisbon, buy a reusable Navegante card at any metro station and load it; it also works on trams, buses and the Cascais and Sintra trains. A contactless bank card can also be tapped at the metro gates. In Porto the equivalent is the Andante card, and you must validate on every trip.
The yellow trams are lovely and packed, and the crush is where most Lisbon pickpocketing happens. Keep bags in front and consider riding early in the morning or from the quieter end.
Bread, olives and cheese put on the table are not free; you pay for what you touch. Send them back untouched if you do not want them, which is entirely normal.
Many restaurants close on Sunday evening or Monday, and a good number of small Lisbon places shut for two or three weeks in August. Check before crossing town.
Message Num the way you would message a friend who lives here, in any language. It answers with one real place that fits, open now, and how to get there. It is free for travelers. Businesses list free and pay only when Num completes a booking for them, so nothing here is ranked by who paid.
Yes, and consistently ranked among the safest countries in Europe. Pickpocketing on trams and in Bairro Alto at night is the main issue, along with people selling fake drugs around Rossio and Cais do Sodré, who are best ignored.
Yes. Message it in any language and it answers in yours, with one place that fits and how to reach it, in Lisbon or Porto.
Lisbon is bigger, sunnier and has more to fill a week, including Sintra and the beaches. Porto is compact, more relaxed and easier in three days. The train between them takes about three hours, so many people do both.