The blog
Portugal, from the inside.
Paperwork, daily life, neighbourhoods, budget, culture: everything we wish we had known before unpacking.
Working remotely from Portugal: cities, coworking spaces, status
Remote work in Portugal: where to settle, internet, coworking, social security, tax, the digital nomad visa and IFICI. The 2026 rules, made clear.
9 min readFamily and workWorking in Portugal: finding a job as a foreigner
Working in Portugal as a foreigner: sectors that hire, IEFP and EURES, the 2026 minimum wage, contracts, paperwork and getting your diploma recognised.
9 min readWhere to liveWhere to live in Lisbon? The neighbourhoods under the microscope
Where to live in Lisbon? Alfama, Campo de Ourique, Alvalade, Parque das Nações, Cascais: strengths, drawbacks and rents for every profile.
6 min readWhere to liveWhere to live cheaply in Portugal: 8 towns worth a close look
The cheapest places to live in Portugal? 2026 rents, climate, healthcare, transport: eight mid-sized towns, from Braga to Évora, with their downsides.
7 min readHealthUtente number and the SNS: getting healthcare in Portugal
The utente number in Portugal opens the door to the SNS. How to get it, documents, family doctor, S1 for pensioners, emergencies: your healthcare guide.
6 min readCultureTraditional festivals in Portugal: the calendar to know
Santos Populares, Carnival, Easter, Christmas, regional festivals, public holidays: the festivals in Portugal, to live the year the Portuguese way.
7 min readDaily lifeSupermarkets in Portugal: where to shop (and pay less)
Continente, Pingo Doce, Lidl, Mercadona… A guide to supermarkets in Portugal: which is cheapest, loyalty cards and the habits to know at the till.
7 min readFamily and workSchools in Portugal: French lycées, international or state schools?
Schools in Portugal for expat families: the AEFE French lycées in Lisbon and Porto, international schools, Portuguese state schools and how to enrol.
6 min readBudgetRetiring in Portugal: the guide to preparing it well
Retiring in Portugal in 2026: the end of the NHR regime, tax on pensions, the S1 form for healthcare, towns and budget. The guide to preparing well.
7 min readPaperworkRenting a flat in Portugal: the guide with no nasty surprises
Renting in Portugal: Idealista, documents, deposit, fiador, a lease registered with the Finanças, scams to avoid. The guide to signing with confidence.
7 min readDaily lifePortugal's markets: where to buy fresh, local and cheaper
Lisbon, Porto and the Bolhão, Loulé, Olhão, Funchal: a guide to the markets in Portugal, seasonal produce and the codes for shopping like a regular.
6 min readWhere to livePortugal's climate: what the weather is really like, region by region
Climate in Portugal region by region: temperatures, rain, sunshine and sea, from the Minho to the Algarve, Madeira, the Azores. And cold homes in winter.
7 min readPaperworkOpening a bank account in Portugal: banks, paperwork, pitfalls
Opening a bank account in Portugal: NIF, documents, remote opening, a basic account capped at €5.37 a year. The guide to avoiding nasty surprises.
6 min readPaperworkNISS in Portugal: how to register with Portuguese social security
The NISS in Portugal is requested online, free of charge. Who needs it, and which papers for EU and Swiss citizens, employees, freelancers or retirees.
6 min readPaperworkNIF in Portugal: the guide to getting your tax number
Getting a NIF in Portugal is free, but you need a Finanças appointment. Documents, applying remotely, tax representatives: the step-by-step guide.
7 min readDaily lifeMultibanco, MB Way: how people (really) pay in Portugal
MB Way in Portugal, Multibanco, paying by reference, foreign cards, cash: the guide to paying like a local from your very first week.
6 min readPaperworkMoving to Portugal: the complete checklist, month by month
Moving to Portugal without forgetting a thing: the month-by-month checklist, from the steps before you leave to the NIF and the residence certificate.
7 min readWhere to liveLiving in the Algarve: the sun, the towns, real life all year round
Living in the Algarve is not an endless summer. Towns, winter, cars, healthcare, rents: what to know before you settle in the south of Portugal.
6 min readDaily lifeLiving in Portugal: 25 everyday codes nobody explains to you
Coffee, manners, paperwork, recycling, opening hours: 25 codes for living in Portugal like a regular and avoiding the blunders of your first weeks.
7 min readWhere to liveLiving in Porto: neighbourhoods, budget and way of life
Living in Porto in 2026: which neighbourhoods to choose, what rent costs, the real weather and what gets on your nerves. A guide to settling in.
6 min readWhere to liveLiving in Madeira: the island of eternal spring, unfiltered
Living in Madeira: Funchal's climate, the island's towns, terrain, transport, 2026 rents and the downsides of island life. What to know before you move.
6 min readWhere to liveLisbon or Porto: where should you settle in Portugal?
Lisbon or Porto? Climate, rents, jobs, transport, beaches, airport: our honest comparison to help you choose the city where you settle in Portugal.
7 min readCultureLearning Portuguese: methods, courses and tips that actually work
European or Brazilian Portuguese, pronunciation, free PLA courses, apps, the CIPLE exam: how to learn Portuguese fast when you move to Portugal.
6 min readDaily lifeGetting around Lisbon: metro, tram, bus and the Navegante card
Metro, Carris, trams, suburban trains, ferries: a guide to Lisbon public transport, with 2026 fares and the Navegante card explained simply.
7 min readPaperworkEU residence certificate in Portugal: the steps to follow
The residence certificate in Portugal is compulsory after 3 months. Where to apply, documents, €15 to €18 fee: the guide for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens.
6 min readPaperworkElectricity, internet, phone: setting up your contracts when you arrive in Portugal
Internet in Portugal, electricity, water, SIM cards: providers, the NIF you need, minimum terms and pitfalls, to set everything up as soon as you arrive.
7 min readCultureEating in Portugal: typical dishes and where to try them
Bacalhau, francesinha, cataplana, pastel de nata: traditional Portuguese food region by region, the prato do dia, the couvert and how to order.
6 min readDaily lifeDriving in Portugal: tolls, Via Verde and the rules to know
Driving in Portugal without fines: electronic tolls, Via Verde, foreign plates, speed limits, alcohol, roundabouts, parking and vehicle inspections.
9 min readBudgetCost of living in Portugal: what you will really spend
Cost of living in Portugal in 2026: rents by city, groceries, electricity, transport, healthcare and wages. The official figures to build your budget.
6 min readYour move, one step at a time.
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