With more than 1.6 million tourists visiting Porto each year, there is no shortage of tourist scams and pickpockets in the city. Especially if you’re going to Porto for the first time, you should know what to look out for so you avoid falling victim to one of these tourist scams.

Tourists are usually easy to identify and, therefore, vulnerable to pickpockets and other schemes. The most common goal of scams like these is usually to make you overpay or even have money or items stolen from you.

While you can never avoid these things 100% of the time, there are ways to keep yourself and your belongings safe. Keep these 9 scams in mind if you plan to visit Porto. Have you come across one that isn’t on this list? Comment below!

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Why you can trust this article about tourist scams in Porto

As digital nomads, we’ve been able to spend long periods of time living and working in different cities across Europe, and Porto is one of them. We also got to spend quite some time in Lisbon, as well as the Algarve region, so we’ve experienced our fair share of tourist scams and pickpocket incidents in Porto and other places in Portugal.

Since we’re not just tourists spending a few days in Porto, we have more insight into how scams work in Portugal and can tell you exactly what to avoid.

If you’re looking for even more tips and advice on visiting Porto, our complete guide has all you need to know.

Are scams frequent in Porto?

After reading this post you might feel as though Porto is not a safe city. This is far from the truth, and you should not be intimidated by the examples given on this list. Like any other large tourist city in Europe, Porto does have some tourist traps and scams. However, it is in no way unsafe.

You can go sightseeing or even out at night without having to feel uncomfortable or at risk. The examples on this list are merely things to watch out for because you could come across them.

On the other hand, you might not encounter a single scam on this list and enjoy your trip to Porto without any issues. As always, make sure you keep your belongings close when you’re out sightseeing and have common sense. That way, you can make the most out of seeing this amazing city.

How to get to Porto

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Check here how much a rental car from Discover Cars would be for your trip. It may be more affordable than you think!

9 scams you need to watch out for in Porto

Here are some common scams and pickpocket instances to look out for during your time in Porto and all of Portugal.

1. Bridge jumpers in Porto

This is a scam that is almost unique to Porto and can appear to be pretty harmless at first. The Ponte de Dom Luis I is one of Porto’s most famous landmarks and a tourist hotspot.

If you’re visiting during the warmer months you’ll frequently see young men climbing onto the railings of the lower level of the bridge while drawing attention to themselves by shouting and whistling.

They’ll ask tourists to pay €1 or €2 for them to jump off the bridge into the river below. This often causes a crowd to gather by the riverbanks as the bridge jumpers take up to 15 minutes to hype up the crowd before actually jumping.

Paying a few euros to see someone jump into a river might seem harmless at first, but pickpockets are the real danger of this scam. While everyone is distracted, waiting for the men to jump, it’s their time to strike.

Plus, this scam is a frequently reoccurring event. People jump off the bridge around every 30 minutes, so it is definitely not worth paying €2 for. If you want to watch, make sure to keep all your belongings close and stand away from the crowd.

2. Fake parking in Porto

On-street parking is very scarce in Porto’s narrow streets. If you’re coming by car, I would advise you to park it in an official parking garage or further away from the city centre.

If you do find a place to park on the street, be very careful how you pay. Frequently, there will be unofficial parking assistants that help you park and then ask for a tip.

This is fairly harmless, however, in some cases, they will tell you that you pay for parking with them and not at the ticket machines. They will pocket this money, and you will end up with a parking fine since you did not buy an official ticket.

Often the police are aware of this scam and tolerate or even encourage it as it lets them charge more fines.

Always buy your tickets from an official machine and do not give money to anyone who isn’t in a uniform. Always lock your car even if you’re just buying a ticket, and leave no valuables behind.

3. Pickpockets in Porto, Portugal

Like any large city in Portugal and all of Europe, Porto has pickpockets. They’re most common in large crowds and in places where people tend to be distracted and take a lot of photos.

Especially the historic tram lines are, unfortunately a popular place for pickpockets. Avoid carrying your valuables out in the open, and make sure to keep your bag or backpack close.

Don’t put your phone into your back pocket, and keep any wallets or cash in a safe and hard-to-reach place.

If you have a camera with you, be careful when you carry it around your neck or shoulder. Camera straps are very easy to cut, and they might be gone before you even realise what happened.

4. Rose sellers

This is quite a common scam in many countries and unfortunately, Porto is no exception. I personally have only seen this scam with roses, however, I have heard stories of the same happening with items such as bracelets or other souvenirs.

In most cases, someone will give you something for free, like a rose and claim it is a gift.

This scam often happens to couples. They will then end up asking for a donation or a price in hindsight after you already accepted the item, making it very hard to return it.

In the case of couples, they will accuse the man of not wanting to spend money on his partner.

Usually, they will become so persistent or even start drawing attention to the situation that it will be easier to just pay a few euros rather than start a public scene.

Sometimes, other rose sellers will join to give you the feeling that you have no option but to pay. Just keep in mind that nothing is ever free, and don’t accept any gifts from a stranger.

5. Cheap drinks

Alcohol is quite cheap in most places in Portugal, Porto included. You’ll find a number of bars offering ridiculously cheap drinks, which seem a little too good to be true.

Usually, you’ll end up getting a drink that’s a lot smaller than expected, or that has been watered down. This happens frequently with cocktails.

Once you’ve tried your drink, it’s hard to return it and since most bars in tourist locations do not rely on returning customers, they do not have to worry too much about the customer experience.

Try to avoid really cheap places that advertise their low prices and head to the area around the university for affordable nightlife.

6. Illicit substances

All drugs have been decriminalised in Portugal since 2001. This, however, does not mean that they are legal and can be freely purchased and consumed.

Tourists should be especially careful with illicit substances when visiting a foreign country, as there will be a high chance of getting caught and having to face the consequences.

Selling all kinds of drugs to curious tourists is a common practice in Porto and the rest of Portugal. You’ll encounter people offering these to you on the street in broad daylight, which might make it feel like it is easy and acceptable to buy some.

Be aware that the vast majority of drugs that will be offered to you in such a way will be cut with dangerous substances or fake, to begin with.

The police are more than aware of this and often work with street dealers to immediately identify tourists who buy drugs in Portugal. Either way, it is not worth it, and you should steer clear of illicit substances abroad.

7. Taxi scams in Porto

Taxi scams are quite common in big tourist hotspots, and Porto is no exception. Make sure to only use official taxis and insist on paying by meter rather than a fixed price.

Scams where drivers “forget” to turn on the meter and end up charging an inflated price are common, so be aware of that. In some cases, drivers will take a longer route, so you end up having to pay more.

A little bit of research can go a long way in avoiding these scams. A great solution is to utilise ride-sharing apps like Uber to get around. These are paid through the app, so you don’t have to worry about being charged more.

Plus, the drivers rely on positive ratings, so customer service is important.

8. Fake tickets

You might encounter fake ticket scams where vendors will sell used or invalid tickets for tourist attractions. In Porto, this might include Port wine tastings, the cable car or boat tours.

Never buy tickets for these attractions from unofficial places. Stick to tourist offices or tour companies and do your research beforehand to find out what exactly you want to see.

If someone offers you a very cheap price for an otherwise expensive attraction it is likely to be a fake or some sort of scam. If you’re in doubt, visit the Porto tourism office, where you’ll find all the information you need.

9. Euronet ATMs

You’ll come across Euronet ATMs all across Europe, and specifically Portugal.

They impose a significant fee for transactions, ranging from anywhere between 10% to 20% of the withdrawal amount, which is extremely high. In addition to that, the imposed fees are often not very clear during the transaction, so you might be overpaying without realising it.

These ATMs have become increasingly prevalent across Portugal, appearing in major cities and regions such as Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve, and the Azores, and even in airports.

While it’s not unusual for ATMs to charge fees, Euronet ATMs charge a lot more than is normal, and if you’re not paying attention to where you’re withdrawing your money, you can easily fall victim to this scam.

Instead, try to locate an ATM from a reputable bank, and always make sure to read the fine print when it comes to fees.

Scams and pickpockets in Porto FAQ

Before you go…

You’re ready to avoid the most common scams and pickpockets in Porto, Portugal, and we think you might like more of our travel guides.

Packing for a trip to Portugal? Here are 19 things that every traveller needs. Don’t forget to check out our 2-week Portugal road trip itinerary and our four-day Lisbon itinerary.

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