Lisbon Travel Forum

hi! my friend and i are planning to visit lisbon in spring..we were wondering whether is it safe for just 2 teenage girls to travel around portugal just by ourselves. we dont speak portugese or spanish, and we are afraid we might be target of crime since we are foreigners

many thanks, Sue

I don't know where are you from and what kind of person are you if you are afraid you might be targeted as foreigner!
Portugal is safe as any other European country as long as you are not drunk and you don't hang out with shady crowd.
You might be pickpocketed as it happens all over the WORLD. But that is preventable with the use of common sense and keeping your valuables in a safe place.
The only foreigners I have ever herd about being targeted anywhere in the WORLD are the one that LOOK FOR TRUBLE!!!
I have been to Portugal last summer and drove rental car, hung out at night and I never seen a scared tourists... even though some of them were very obnoxious.

Hi Sue! I have been many times in Portugal alone. Travelling by train and bus. Nothing special never happen! It is safe

In traveling through Portugal I found the Portugese to be exceedingly friendly and helpful and never felt threatened or nervous. It is a beautiful country and wonderful place to visit. It requires no more effort to stay safe than anywhere else you may travel. You need to use good judgement and stay alert to your surroundings no matter what country you visit.

Not speaking Spanish in Portugal is fine! Portuguese is the official language.

Many people seem to think the two languages are interchangeable and that is absolutely not the case.
But I would recommend that you at least try to learn some basic Portuguese phrases - particularly the courteous words of please and thankyou and the words for greeting and leaving. If possible buy a book that comes with an audio aid - cd, tape whatever - to help with pronunciation.

You will enjoy your holiday all the more if you make this little effort to communicate.
I once met a young woman guide in Lisbon. Her English was perfect and I asked if she had been to University in England . Turned out that she left school at 17 with a little English. continued to study by herself and went to see Ebglish language films, shown without dubbing, only sub-titles. That she said was her University!
Don't be afraid - just take care as you would anywhere and enjoy your trip.

Great country, people, language. Learn some Portuguese! You can get away with just English but definitely the old generation in Portugal do not speak English; the newer generation is a different story.

Martin

Hi Sue
Portugal is a great country to explore and it is not a dangerous country. We Portuguese are used to receive all kind of tourists. Young people speak English and old people may not speak English but they try to help foreigners anyway. So enjoy Portugal!
Greetings from Portugal
Nat