Bolt Wins Again
Like Estonia, Bolt is just... better and cheaper than Uber here. Why do people still use Uber in Portugal? Brand loyalty? Masochism?
Uber is 20-30% more expensive for the same ride. Bolt has more drivers. The app works better. This isn't a competition.
FREE NOW (formerly MyTaxi) exists for official taxis but why would you pay more for the privilege of a yellower car?
Food Delivery: Pick Your Fighter
Uber Eats vs Glovo. That's it. Those are your options.
Glovo has more restaurants usually. Uber Eats has better promos sometimes. Both will deliver to the wrong address and insist you're wrong about where your own apartment is.
Neither has every restaurant because Portuguese restaurants are still living in 2015 where if you want food you walk there and order it like a caveman.
The MBWAY Exclusion
Everyone in Portugal uses MBWAY to pay each other. It's instant, free, tied to your phone number. It's perfect.
You can't have it.
Well, you can if you have a Portuguese bank account. Which you can't get without a NIF (tax number). Which you can't get without proof of address. Which you can't get without a rental contract. Which you can't get without a NIF.
So you're stuck entering your card details manually like an animal while watching Portuguese people tap their phones together and complete transactions instantly.
Transportation Apps (The Pain):
CP (trains) has an app that works maybe 60% of the time. The other 40% the app crashes or says "service unavailable" and you buy tickets at the station like it's 1997.
Different cities have different transit apps:
- Lisbon: Navegante app or paper Viva Viagem card
- Porto: Andante app or physical card
- Other cities: Who knows, figure it out when you get there
There is no unified Portuguese transit app. This is offensive given how small Portugal is.
What Works:
Bolt for rides (stop using Uber, I'm begging you) Glovo or Uber Eats, flip a coin Revolut or Wise for banking as a foreigner
What Doesn't:
The CP app when you're running to catch a train Trying to explain to delivery drivers where your apartment is (they'll call you, you'll struggle in broken Portuguese, they'll leave your food with the neighbor) Getting MBWAY without a Portuguese bank account (impossible)
The Weird Stuff:
A Bola app if you care about football. Everyone here cares about football. Expect notifications about Benfica vs Porto drama at 11pm.
Too Good To Go for restaurant leftovers at discount prices. Works well in Lisbon and Porto, dead everywhere else.
My Honest Setup:
- Bolt (deleted Uber, never looked back)
- Glovo with notifications off
- Wise for money
- WhatsApp because landlords don't email
- CP app downloaded but zero faith in it
Portugal is lovely and cheap and functional but the digital infrastructure is weirdly behind Spain despite being right next door. You'll figure it out. Probably. Eventually.