As a nation, the Portuguese take pride in their food and eating is of great cultural importance. Their cuisine has all the staples of a Mediterranean diet with African and Eastern influences thrown in for good measure. Fresh meat and seafood feature heavily, and each region has their own take on famous dishes.

We take you through some of Portugal’s regional dishes and explain why the places they come from could be great places to live.

 

Lisbon: Pastel de nata

Pastéis de nata is famous throughout Portugal. But arguably, the best place to try one of these delicious egg custard tarts is in Lisbon. Pastéis de Belém is a bakery in Lisbon that has been operating since 1837 and always has queues of people waiting to taste this famous sweet treat.

Offering a great quality of life, historical heritage, natural beauty and over 280 days of sunshine, Lisbon is a great place to buy an overseas property. Like all capital cities, Lisbon has lots of neighbourhoods, each with a different feel. Property prices vary across the areas, too.

 

The Alentejo: Açorda

A hearty dish originally made by peasants, Açorda is a must-try if you’re in the region of Alentejo. Alentejo’s rural landscape is filled with beautiful farms, vineyards and green hills, and after a long walk, there’s probably nothing better than sitting down with a plate of Açorda. It consists of bread mashed with garlic, coriander, olive oil, vinegar and poached eggs, sometimes with added seafood or meat.

The Alentejo area is broadly divided into the Alto (higher) and Baixo (lower) regions. Alto lies inland east and north of Lisbon, while the Baixo is just north of the Algarve. As well as plenty of rolling hills and inland space, the region spreads to Portugal’s west coast, meaning that you could enjoy rural living or life by the sea.

 

Porto: Francesinha

After a day taking in the sights of Porto, stop off for lunch and order a Francesinha. Portugal’s answer to the French croque-monsieur, it’s a sandwich full of meat, cheese and tangy tomato sauce, sometimes with an egg thrown in for good measure. There’s no better way to refuel than with a Francesinha accompanied by a side of fries.

Porto is a lively and friendly city, and one that’s easy to reach all year round. Properties are still extremely affordable compared to those in most comparable EU cities.

 

Aveiro: Caldeirada de enguias

If you love seafood, the coastal city of Aveiro will not disappoint. It’s famous for caldeirada de enguias, an eel stew with peppers, potatoes and onions. Find a restaurant in the fisherman’s district to enjoy this unique meal with a glass of Portuguese wine.

Less than an hour south of Porto airport, Aveiro is one of the Silver Coast’s more northern towns. However, it still enjoys a warm summer Mediterranean climate. With a population of around 80,000 people, and a popular university, Aveiro is both vibrant and charming.

 

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If you would like further advice on the selling process in Portugal, download your free Portugal Guide.

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