You may have holidayed to Portugal many times and absolutely adore it. But holidaying and living somewhere are quite different experiences. And, as excited as you may be to make the move, it’s perfectly normal to find it a little daunting. So, here’s some tips on how to make Portugal feel like home with ease.
Before you go…
Online forums
Luckily, online forums mean that you do not have to wait until you’ve moved to Portugal before you start adjusting to the move. There are many expat Facebook groups spread across Madeira, the Algarve and Lisbon. All you really have to do is look up “expats in Loule” in the Facebook search bar – and hey, presto. Some of these groups may be private but if you just send a message to the group admin they should let you in.
You may want to just quietly observe and get a feel for the place that you’re moving to – often, you’ll get a more realistic picture than you would elsewhere. But you could also strike up a chat, share your any concerns, get a number for a cleaner, and promise to bring over your new neighbours’ favourite brand of biscuit.
Choose an expat-friendly area to buy
Ready to enjoy life in Portugal?
In Portugal, you’ll find areas that are densely populated with international residents. Locations like Albufeira, Lagos, Tavira are all popular. Here, you’ll find that English is widely spoken, British food choices and, if you’re looking, job opportunities, especially in the tourism sector. Lisbon has a cosmopolitan, international vibe, with almost 10% being non-nationals. If you have little to no Portuguese, moving to one of these areas will make integrating easiest.
Learning Portuguese
Even if you move to a super expat-friendly area, it’s no secret that learning Portuguese will endear you to the locals even more. Plus, it’ll give you the opportunity to embrace your new home country even more. You can start classes in your home country before you go – you may even meet people who are also looking to make the move too.
Once you are there…
Embrace your hobbies & or find new ones
Fan of a bracing morning swim? Swap it for a less bracing one. Love to hike? Let your feet discover new terrain. Enjoy an afternoon at the golf course? Welcome, you’re now living in (arguably) the best country for it. Follow your passions, or start new ones, and you’re sure to find others doing the same.
The two main English newspapers, The Portugal News and The Portugal Resident, have loads of useful information about meetups.
To the bar: bonding over beer & port wine
The bar is a huge part of social life in Portugal. Heading there will be a great way to kickstart friend-making.
Don’t forget to ring home
It is now super easy to keep in touch with people from home. Text photos to make them jealous, call and videochat. You might think that the best way to integrate into Portugal is not to hold on too tightly to your life in your home country, but there are no prizes for doing that. Chat away, feel assured that they’re only a plane ride away, and have them over to check out your new hiking route and favourite bar.
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