Beware of Pickpocket in Lisbon: Safety Guide & What to Do If Robbed
Lisbon is a beautiful city, but like any major European capital, tourists face the risk of pickpocketing. The city dazzled us with its pastel buildings, soulful Fado, and winding alleys—but one moment changed everything. While exploring the historic Alfama district, we fell victim to a pickpocket in Lisbon. It was a jarring reminder that even seasoned travelers can be caught off guard. This post shares our real experience, how we handled the aftermath, and provides actionable Lisbon safety tips for tourists to help you avoid the same fate
The Day It Happened: Our Pickpocket Experience in Lisbon
After a leisurely stroll through Alfama, we decided to continue our day with a walking tour of Baixa. The main road connecting the two districts was quiet, lined with tiled façades glowing softly in the afternoon light. On the way, we spotted Sé Cathedral, Lisbon’s oldest church. A wedding was underway, and the scene outside was filled with a festive buzz—guests chatting, petals scattered, the air alive with joy.
I couldn’t resist stepping inside. The thought of capturing a few candid photographs was too tempting. We believed the crowd was likely just family and friends, nothing to worry about.
This was our critical mistake.
Inside, the cathedral glowed under golden light. The ornate interiors left us in silent awe. The bride and groom were far ahead near the altar, so we lingered briefly at the sides, took a few photos like other visitors, and stepped back out into the blue Lisbon sky. It felt good to breathe in the open air again. I even looked up and spotted a TAP Portugal plane flying overhead—a perfect moment, I thought, as I clicked one last photo.
TAP Portugal airlines
The Discovery of Loss
We had barely walked 200 or 300 metres when my husband suddenly stopped. “My wallet—it’s gone!” he said, his voice breaking the calm around us. For a few seconds, I hoped he was mistaken. But the look on his face said it all.
A nearby shopkeeper, noticing our distress, came out to help. Seeing the four of us huddled together in shock, he offered directions to the nearest police station, speaking slowly and kindly as we tried to make sense of what had just happened.
Before heading there, we retraced our steps to the cathedral—hoping, perhaps foolishly, that the thief might have discarded the wallet after taking the money. But it was nowhere to be found. A gentleman inside listened to our story and gently advised us to file a complaint with the police.
As we walked toward Lisbon Square, where the police station was located, we took stock of what we’d lost. Along with some euros, all the credit cards were gone. His wallet had a picture of our kids when they were babies and another one from the 90s. Those were gone too.
Thankfully, his international driving license and all our passports were safely with me. That small relief kept us from panicking completely.
Portugal Police Station
At the police station, disbelief gave way to reality. We weren’t alone. Two other couples were already there, reporting similar incidents, and as we waited, another pair of older tourists walked in—visibly shaken. The man’s voice trembled as he mentioned losing all his insurance papers. I felt a deep sympathy for them but couldn’t find words that would comfort.
The police officers were polite and professional. One English-speaking officer patiently took down our details and kept asking where exactly it might have happened. I mentioned the crowded church, though we couldn’t be certain.
In the end, he asked how long we planned to stay in Lisbon. When I replied, “Two more days,” he simply said, “Please be careful. We’ve put up ‘Beware of Pickpockets’ signs everywhere, yet such incidents keep happening.”
How Pickpockets Operate in Lisbon: Common Tactics
These tactics by pick pocketers are used world over and not just in Lisbon alone. Just remember these following scenarios and remain alert.
The Distraction Method – They are a team. One creates a distraction (spilling something, asking directions, performing street art) while another (invisible and swift) flicks your belongings.
The Crowd Crush – Dense crowds at tourist sites, trams, and events provide them the perfect cover.In such situations, physical proximity seems normal, making it impossible to detect a hand in your pocket.
The Wedding/Event Exploit – This happened to us. They use legitimate events to create “trusted” crowds where tourists lower their guard.
The Helpful Stranger – They appear to be helpful by offering help with directions, takes photos, or alerts you to a “problem” while an accomplice steals from you.
Tram 28 Specialty – This iconic Lisbon tram is notorious. Thieves board at popular stops, strike during the crush, and exit quickly.
Safety Tips for Travelers in Lisbon
Here’s what we wish we’d known before the incident:
- Avoid distractions: Pickpockets often work in teams—one distracts while the other strikes. Stay alert in crowded areas like trams, elevators, and tourist hubs.
- Secure your belongings: Use anti-theft bags with lockable zippers. Keep wallets and passports in inner pockets or money belts.
- Be cautious on Tram 28: This scenic route is notorious for theft. Stand away from doors and avoid displaying valuables.
- Know the hotspots: Alfama, Baixa, and Rossio Square are beautiful but busy—prime zones for pickpockets.
- Use digital backups: Scan and store copies of your passport, ID, and travel documents in cloud storage.
What to do immediately after being pickpocketed
- Stay Calm and Assess your belongings. Retrace your steps if you detected the loss almost immediately. Ask people nearby if they found anything, tell them the loss that just happened.
- Report theft immediately. Head to the nearest police station or call 112. Almost everyone we came in contact within the first hour of discovery of loss advised us the same.
- At the police station ask for a theft report (auto de ocorrência) for insurance claims.
- Call up your banks and inform them of the loss. Block all stolen cards. Enable instant transaction notifications via SMS/app.
Portugal Police
FAQ: Staying Safe from Pickpocketers in Lisbon
Q1. Is Lisbon safe for tourists overall?
Yes. Lisbon has very low violent crime rates. Pickpocketing is primarily opportunistic property crime targeting distracted tourists. With proper precautions, most visitors never experience theft.
Q2. How common is pickpocketing in Lisbon?
Pickpocketing is relatively common in tourist-heavy areas like Alfama, Baixa, and Tram 28. Travelers should remain vigilant and avoid carrying valuables in easy-to-reach pockets.
Q3. What should I do if I get pickpocketed in Lisbon?
Immediately report the theft to the local police. You’ll need a formal report to file insurance claims. The emergency number in Portugal is 112.
Q4. Are there safe areas to stay in Lisbon?
Yes, neighborhoods like Príncipe Real, Campo de Ourique, and Estrela are quieter and considered safer for tourists.
Q5. What are the best anti-theft travel accessories for Lisbon?
Consider RFID-blocking wallets, crossbody bags with lockable zippers, and hidden money belts. Avoid backpacks in crowded trams.
Q6. Is Lisbon safe for solo female travelers?
Generally yes, but like any major city, it requires caution. Stick to well-lit areas at night, avoid isolated alleys, and trust your instincts.
Q7. Where are the main pickpocket hotspots in Lisbon?
The most frequently reported areas are the Tram 28 route, the Alfama district, the crowded plazas of Baixa-Chiado (especially near Rossio Square), and inside or near tourist attractions like Jerónimos Monastery and Se Cathedral.
Q8. What time of day are pickpockets most active?
Peak hours are 10 AM – 6 PM when tourist sites are crowded. However, incidents also occur in nightlife areas after 10 PM.
Q9. Will my travel insurance cover pickpocketing?
Most policies cover theft if you file a police report within 24-48 hours. Check your specific policy for limits on cash and electronics.
Q10. Can I get an emergency passport the same day?
Yes, most embassies can issue emergency travel documents same-day if you have proof of imminent travel (flight tickets) and a police report.
Parting Thoughts: Don’t Let Fear Stop You
Lisbon is a magnificent city with stunning architecture, delicious food, warm locals, and rich history. Millions of tourists visit annually without incident. Don’t let pickpocketing fears prevent you from experiencing it.
The Silver Lining: Lessons Learned
While losing my husband’s wallet—and especially those precious photographs from the 1990s—was devastating, the experience taught our entire family valuable lessons:
- Vigilance is constant: You can’t relax your guard even in “safe” tourist crowds. We had lowered our guard inside the church.
- Separate resources: We now always travel with backup cards and cash in different locations.
- Document everything: Double digital copies of all important documents saved us enormous hassle. I do this in every travel of mine.
- Local kindness exists: The hotel staff, cathedral staff, and police officers were genuinely helpful and sympathetic.
- Perspective matters: We lost money and cards, but we didn’t lose our passports, our health, or each other. The trip continued.
Lisbon is a beautiful city and tourists often get immersed in amazement at the sights! Two days later, we were back exploring Lisbon’s beautiful streets—wiser, more cautious, but still enchanted by this incredible city.
Related Reading:
Pin this for later
Did this guide help you? Share it with fellow travelers planning trips to Lisbon!
About the author: Indrani Ghose is a travel blogger and photographer who has explored 15+ European countries across multiple trips. Based in Bangalore, she shares authentic travel experiences—including the challenges—to help fellow travelers navigate the world more safely and confidently. You can follow her on her social media handles Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to see the wonderful destinations, beautiful offbeat places and get instant updates about them.
I’ve hard that Spain is really bad with pickpocketing. Knock on wood. I’ve never had it happen to me. I think it’s a lot about being vigilant with your belongings. Carelessness is what usually leads to stuff getting stolen
Geez! Pickpockets are real everywhere. Losing money and a big chunk of it is very hard especially if you’re travelling overseas. You won’t have anyone to contact and even more, there are additional costs. Let’s all be careful!
Pickpocketing seems to be a major problem across Europe. I am really sorry that you had to go through it. I read some other posts on pickpocketing in other major cities in Europe. I have a trip lined up there..need to be extra careful
I am so sorry! I think this is a very good example for the other tourists and travelers to be aware of pickpockets! You could lost anything from wallet, cell phone, to cigarette box. I lost my cigarette when I was in LRT in Manila. I think that’s why we need to buy travel insurance. And people who can’t afford it, shouldn’t travel.
Wow! I didn’t know that pickpocketing in Lisbon is rampant too. Thank you for sharing your experience. At least, when we travel there in the future, we’ll be careful with our belongings. Truly, when we are preoccupied, the snatchers are at work. Good thing the passport and his international driver’s license is with you. It’s more horrifying and problematic if that got stolen.
Perhaps Lisbon was too pretty? And the sights were so mesmerizing that it is easy for tourists to forget the surroundings? But pickpockets do exist and they often prey on tourists. It is a fair assumption to say that tourists probably carry more cash than the average locals.
Good thing you lost some money. Credit cards can be taken care of with a phone call.
Losing money in whatever method sucks, much more during a trip where money is much needed. I am so sorry to hear about what happened to you in Lisbon, but it’s good that other than that, no physical harm happened to you guys.
oooohhh…. hope you still managed to enjoy your stay in Lisbon after what happened. Once my tour guide in Romania told me that pickpocketers dwell in crowded in place when your attention is focused on something, your post reminded me about this.
I’m so sorry to hear about your experience, but I am glad to hear that there were locals and the police station were helpful. It can be so easy to get caught up in the moment when you visit a new place that you don’t realise how easy it is to be pickpocketed.
I’m glad the police were helpful and courteous, but I can’t believe this is a reoccurring thing in Lisbon. It’s good to hear true stories, that way if I travel there, I’ll know what to look out for and where to be on my guard the most.
Sorry to hear about this. Unfortunately this happens to a lot of tourists who go to cities and dont expect this. The thing is, some places have bad reputations, but we need to remember that even places where you might not expect this to happen, it still could. What an annoying nightmare.
This is sad, being a Portuguese myself (who doesn’t live in Portugal anymore) but the country is in such a bad state, that I wouldn’t be surprised 🙁 At least I hope you enjoyed the beautiful views of Lisbon and hope you are luckier next time.
Oh no. This is a nightmare ! To face a loss like this is the worst thing that can happen, when is travelling ! I didnt know Lisbon had this problem.
This can happen in any big city but some how didn’t expect it to happen to us.
Thanks Asha for the visit and comment.
What an awful turn of events on a holiday Indrani.
Shocking.
Yes, that evening was spoilt totally! We continued the next day.
Thanks Indu.
Indrani, we had a similar experience in Milan early this year, as we were getting into the subway train. Fortunately they just took the euro and dropped the wallet with the dollar and cards.
I wouldn’t mind a loss the similar way Juby. Hubby still misses the 2 pics that were there in the wallet from 90s. Thanks for sharing your story! Hope the loss wasn’t much.
What a terrible thing to have happened. Ruins the pleasure of traveling. Fortunately the passports were not lost. You were wise to have had a set of back up cards.
But nuisance value is a lot too, and generally a feeling of misery clouds the trip.
Hope you never experience this again.
Yes jolted us from the happy feeling we were having till then. And yes thank God I decided to safekeep the passports. No not again hopefully! Thank you so much for the visit and comment.
Very bad. Such things happening in European countries is a little bit strange. Paris is yet another place where you need to be cautious.
They happen in all big cities! All travel guides ask to exercise caution. There are caution boards put up in several parts of the big cities for tourists. Thank you very much for the visit and comment. 🙂
Thank god you had all the important docs and passport or else it would have been a nightmare ….running to embassy and all 🙁
Precisely. One of my friends recently had this same harrowing experience of loosing passports in London. Thanks Swati!
I detest pickpockets as they can literally ruin somebody’s vacation. At least you kept going and enjoyed the rest of yours!
Yes some sour moments to remember. 🙂
Really bad news… but thanks for sharing your experience. I’ll take care of it, if i visit Lisbon
Glad this will be of help to you!
Some cities are famous for pickpockets aren’t they? I know what what it’s like to lose your belongings in a foreign country. Good your passports weren’t gone.
Lovely images here, Indrani.
Have a nice weekend. 🙂
Yes especially the bigger cities. But the smaller ones are such a joy to visit. We had no worries in places like Elvas and Evora. Thank you D, have a great weekend!
so sorry you had to have such an experience! But yes, next time we all will be aware as well. When we were in Venice (which is infamous for pickpockets as well), we had to wear our backpack strapped on our chest.
Venice, Rome too are infested with them. One has to be careful.
Thank you Sonia.
Good information- Wanted to go to lisbon- didn’t have any more weekend
Glad you found this good for yourself, Hope you have a safe stay there when you visit.
I’m sorry to hear about this, Indrani. It’s so sad pickpockets were spoiling your trip. One can’t be careful enough in big cities. Specially loosing some personal belongings like photos is very sad.
Yes but for the photographs we have almost forgotten the incident.
Thank you for the visit and comment. 🙂
Oh! Thats terrible! Spoils the good memories 🙁
Good that you didn’t lose a lot. Credit cards must’ve been blocked immediately I guess.
Yes all were blocked. They wouldn’t attempt using the card because of security cameras all around. Yes a sour incident to remember.
Thanks Leena.
Oh wow, I am sorry your husband’s wallet was stolen. I am always paranoid about this happening while we are traveling. I am glad the important papers were safe with you. I let my credit card company know when I am traveling, they keep an eye on purchases that way. I remember my sister was pickpocketed in San Francisco, so it can happen anywhere. Wishing you a happy weekend!
Yes we learn lessons the hard way. So sorry for your sis.
A happy weekend to you too Eileen!
I remember a visit to Barcelona were in the tunnel from the airport to the exit two members of our group already missed their handbags. After half an hour the airport police came back with the handbags but missing everything from value inside. The pickpockets had the habit to dump the empty ones on a spot known to the police so they are going to look there first but that doesn’t return your passport or money.
More than the money my husband regrets the loss of two pics in his wallet from our analog days. Wish the Portugal Police had found the wallet. We haven’t heard from them, it is 5 months now so I guess they are gone!
I feel sorry for you friends in your group.
Thanks a lot for the comment.
Tough luck indeed!
True that! 🙂
Sad… losing wallet at our place is a different thing and a foreign place is completely devastating.
Yes Sadhvi, for a while we felt like that.
This is so sad! And this is one thing that am a bit wary of during my travels! Take care
Thanks Archana and be careful during your travels.
Horrible, but in this world, many have to do it. They have to eat.
Yes you are right! Hope the money helped fill some hungry stomachs that night.
Thank you Bob!
Oh No.. Now that is sad.. its not about the loss of the money but the loss of docments that is the biggest hassle.. takes ages to replace them.. I hope you have called your credit card people to cancel the cards …
but dont let this dampen your holiday .. have a good time and enjoy ,….
Bikram’s
We are back Bikram. This happened on 22nd may 2015. We could get things in control soon. Thanks! 🙂
Such a terrible thing to happen on holiday. Thank God you had other important docs with you & you guys could handle the loss patiently.
Paris is one more notch ahead. There even children are involved in petty thefts.
We were careful in all those cities but didn’t quite expect it in Lisbon.
And yes thank God it wasn’t something more serious!
Im sure that it’d have been a harrowing experience! That too in a strange city and country! Great that you managed to cope with it.
Yes Rakesh. We often hear these things happening to others but when it happens to us it takes a while to overcome it psychologically.
Apart losing money, this could have interrupted your scheduled. Although being cautious sometime things happen beyond our control… I think it must be very difficult for you with lose of all credit cards.
That day’s evening was spoilt totally! After lodging the complaint we returned to our rooms early.
Oh…. That’s sad Indrani!!!
Thank you for the comment Bhavani.
This is such a terrible thing to happen on holiday. Thank goodness you had the important documents with you. I haven’t travelled much in Europe but I understand that many places have this pickpocket issue. I’m always so worried about losing money and papers on any holiday and try to take great care just like you tried. It’s interesting you mentioned about the wedding. When I took those Skywatch photos on the beach, there was a small wedding party there too.
It is only the major cities like Barcelona, Rome, Madrid and some more…This was our 4th trip to Europe and Portugal the 15th country… we had gained a sort of confidence to travel there, now we know we have to be extra careful. Your SWF pics were fantabulous. 🙂
Thank you for the thoughtful comment. 🙂
Very sad to hear this.
Thanks for writing this as a separate post.
Cheers,
Sriram & Krithiga
All kinds of experiences make a travel, this too had to be experienced. 😛 🙂
Thank you Krithiga!
Sad to hear
Thanks for reading and the comment. 🙂
The experience is a nightmare and dilutes the holiday spirit!
Yes nightmarish indeed.
Thank you Uppal ji!
Pick-pocketing is really a bad experience! :/ Thanks for spreading this word of mouth.
Thanks for the visit and comment Maitreni!
Oh that’s too sad, Indrani. We have to watch all our possessions at all times in South African cities. Puts a dampener on things doesn’t it. Enjoy the rest of your stay – I love your skywatch contribution. Jo
Precisely, these kind of incidents do damp the fun of traveling.
Oh, how terrible!
Rightly said Ladyfi!
So, India is not the only place. I hope there wasn’t too much of a trouble because of the incident.
You are right India is not the only place. 🙂
I had a standby set of cards so in spite of the loss we could continue!
Thank you Kishor!
It’s an unfortunate event and sorry to hear the same, Indrani.. Hope everything is in control now!
All well now Sreedhar Sir! 🙂 Thank you!
Everywhere you go nowadays, there are pickpockets especially in big cities. Sorry you had to be victims.
Victims yes, we did learn a lesson and so did the children. 🙂
Thanks for the visit and comment.
Very bad. So its a common case there 🙁 Thanks for the alert i think we need to be careful in all tourist places.
Yes Arun, better to be careful than be sorry later.
That is sad.
Yes that did jolt us a bit, but later we continued.
That is too bad a experience. It looks these people are too fast at the rate people are queuing up in police station to lodge a complaint.
The rate of these incidents is very high there and that police station was exclusively for tourists’ help. Thanks Rajesh for the visit and comment.
That is so sad, but so common — or at least I found it to be quiet common in Lisbon, but these days, sadly, it is all too common in many place and particularly in the large cities here as well as the rest of the world. I hope you have a lovely weekend, Indrani!!
You are so right Sylvia. These kind of thing is common in many parts of the world particularly in big cities. Thank you for the visit and comment. 🙂