View of Mondego River from Penacova

Wondering which of the smaller towns near the city of Coimbra might be of interest for a visit or even to live in? Here’s a quick overview of the main towns and villages within an hour’s drive of Coimbra. All of them are easily accessible by car or public transport,Read More →

Lagos city skyline view from the marina, with boats in the foreground. A popular destination for people moving to the Algarve, Algarve

The warm weather and glorious coastline attract many people who are looking to relocate to the Algarve region of Portugal. What first-time visitors may not realise is that the Algarve has much more to offer than it’s iconic beaches, and that the coastline and towns differ dramatically from east toRead More →

Inside Lisbon's Christmas tree. Image by Julie Dawn Fox in Portugal

If you’re going to be spending Christmas in Portugal, or New Year, and don’t know what to expect, this post is for you. Find out how and where to celebrate, how the Portuguese do things and what events are going on during the festive season. Note: As information gradually becomesRead More →

Lisbon skyline. Best place to live in Lisbon

Over the past decade, Lisbon has become one of the most popular destinations for expats in Europe. Perfect weather, vibrant culture and stunning scenery, especially alongside Portugal’s liberal visa policies make life in Lisbon appealing for people from all backgrounds. So where are the best neighbourhoods to live in LisbonRead More →

Residence permit. Moving to Portugal

Having lived and worked in several different countries besides Portugal, both myself and expat coach, Deborah Dahab, are well aware that relocating is a stressful, life-changing event. Especially when you have family members to consider, both ones who may be coming with you and those you are leaving behind. There’sRead More →

If you’re moving to Portugal or buying property here, you won’t get far without a NIF number. NIF stands for Número de Indentificação Fiscal, i.e. Tax Identification Number but is most commonly referred to as a NIF (pronounced niff) or (número de) Contribuinte, i.e. Taxpayer number. Note: If you alreadyRead More →

City of Porto, Portugal. Things to consider before moving to Portugal

If you’ve already visited Portugal, you might be seriously smitten and imagining yourself moving to Portugal. Or perhaps your dream of living abroad is still a seed of an idea and you haven’t decided on a country or location yet. If so, there’s a strong chance that Portugal will beRead More →

Dictionaries and resources to learn European Portuguese at different levels.

Do you really need to learn European Portuguese if you’re coming to Portugal? The short answer is yes. Even if it’s only how to say please and thank you. How far you go beyond the basics in Portuguese will depend on many factors but if you’re planning to spend anyRead More →