Is it safe to withdraw cash in Portugal or not?
In Coimbra, I had to withdraw cash after getting back late from a concert. It was about 12:15 am, and I found a Novo Banco ATM right next to a pharmacy on a main avenue. There was still some pedestrian traffic, and the area had good lighting, so I went ahead with the transaction. Everything went smoothly, but I made sure to pocket the cash immediately and head straight back. While Portugal isn’t high-risk, I wouldn’t use random ATMs in back alleys or empty plazas at night. Daytime is ideal, but night withdrawals can be safe with a bit of caution.
I spent most of March travelling through the Algarve and ended up needing cash around 9 pm in Lagos. I used a Millennium BCP ATM inside a petrol station convenience store and had no issues at all. The staff were around, the area was lit, and I didn’t feel unsafe. However, I did notice that standalone ATMs near the marina were poorly lit and isolated I wouldn’t use those late at night. Portugal is generally safe, but like anywhere, location matters. For night withdrawals, stick to indoor ATMs or those attached to banks or chain supermarkets.
In Porto, I had to grab some cash late at night after dinner probably around 11 pm and I used an N26 card at a Caixa Geral ATM just off Rua Santa Catarina. It was inside a shopping arcade entrance and felt totally fine. The street was still lively and there were people around. Still, I kept my phone away and stayed alert. I’d avoid withdrawing at night in quieter parts of town or near train stations. If you’re solo, look for ATMs attached to bank branches or inside 24-hour shops like Pingo Doce or gas stations for extra security.
I was in Lisbon earlier this year and withdrew cash a couple of times at night once around 10:30 pm near the Cais do Sodre area. The ATM was attached to a Santander branch and had decent lighting and foot traffic around, so I felt safe. That said, I made sure to avoid empty streets and never used the freestanding Euronet machines, which were often in darker corners. Portugal overall feels pretty safe, but I’d still recommend using ATMs during the day when possible, or at least sticking to well-lit, busy areas if you need to withdraw after dark.
At Banco BPI, its safer to use the ATM inside the bank-outside felt sketchy with people hanging around.