Paying on São Miguel: cards, cash and Multibanco

One of the most common questions before arrival is the dullest one — and still worth settling in advance: how do you pay here?

The short answer: almost everywhere by card, but not quite everywhere.

First, the good news

Portugal is in the eurozone. No conversion, no exchanging money, no fees for paying with a European card. In the supermarket, at the petrol station, in most restaurants and at the car hire desk, your card works exactly as it does at home, contactless included.

Where you will still want coins

• Small cafés and bars in the village — an espresso for small change is often a cash affair.
• Market and roadside stalls, eggs or vegetables from a neighbour.
• Some taxis, especially outside Ponta Delgada.
• Entrance fees and parking machines at smaller places.

We suggest arriving with a little cash in small notes and withdrawing the rest once you are here. Fifty euros in your pocket covers everyday life comfortably.

Multibanco: the machine that does more

Cash machines here are called Multibanco and carry a blue and white sign. They take the usual European cards, will switch to English if you ask, and withdrawals are generally capped at around €200 per transaction — though you can simply do it twice.

As an aside: at those same machines people pay bills, buy tickets and top up phones. You won’t need any of that, but if the person ahead of you is tapping away for three minutes, now you know why.

Where the nearest machine is, we are happy to tell you before you travel — just ask when you book.

“Contribuinte?”

This question comes at every till and throws almost every guest. It refers to the Portuguese tax number, which locals give so it appears on their receipt. As a holidaymaker you don’t have one. A friendly “Não, obrigado” is all it takes, and you still get your receipt.

Tipping

More relaxed than in many countries. In a café you round up; in a restaurant, five to ten per cent after a good meal is a nice gesture — it is not expected, and nobody looks twice if it doesn’t happen. Tips are best left in cash, even when you pay by card.

And the house itself? That goes directly through us, not through a platform — you get the payment details with your booking confirmation. Questions beforehand are welcome via the contact form.

Here you can see when the house is free.

Frank, Bärbel, Maren & Simon