Latest Articles - Page 14

Can You Live in Portugal Without a Car? The Honest Answer Depends on Where

A lot of people that dream of moving to Portugal dream of ditching the car and relying on public transport instead. And you can do this with varying degrees of success, depending on where you live and how determined you are to make this work. Besides weighing up whether the place you’re moving to is car-friendly, the main thing you need to think about is the lifestyle you plan to have in Portugal. Do you plan to go to the …

A circular Starlink satellite dish is mounted on the roof of a building with several solar panels. The sun is setting behind a mountain range in the background, casting a warm, golden light across the scene.

Portugal has great internet coverage, but there are definitely some parts of the country that aren’t covered – not just by fibre broadband but by mobile internet as well. If that’s the case, you may be looking at other options and wondering whether Elon Musk’s Spacex Starlink could be the answer to your problems. With a monthly cost of €40 (and, as of August 2024, a hardware setup cost of between €249 and €349), getting internet through Starlink isn’t as …

A man in a white coat holding a tablet sits at a desk with office supplies, notebooks, and a computer. The background shows a bookshelf with various items. Text overlay reads, "Understanding the Portuguese Health System.

Portugal’s healthcare system, like many in Europe, offers a unique blend of public and private options. But how does it stack up against other countries, and what can newcomers expect? A WHO study from 2000 ranked Portugal 12th globally, outperforming the UK (18th) and the US (37th). However, given how much time has passed, this data is now outdated. More recent assessments paint a similar but varies picture: These rankings suggest Portugal’s healthcare is solid within Europe and impressive on …

A large library in Portugal with shelves filled with books, a metal staircase leading to an upper level, and a white sculpture of a person riding a bicycle suspended in mid-air from the ceiling.

Buying books, especially foreign-language books, can be a challenge in Portugal. And, if you can find the book you want, it often costs a lot more than you’re used to paying for a book. Getting used to the higher prices for books is just a part of living in Portugal, but the bigger challenge is not being able to find the book you want at all. All of this wasn’t such a big issue prior to Brexit. However, now that …

A person in a pink shirt is using a laptop on a white desk. The laptop screen displays a photo of an outdoor patio with greenery. Also on the desk are a glass of water, a pen, a notepad, a calculator, and a rotary phone.

If you’re familiar with Zillow or Realtor.com in the US—or Rightmove and Zoopla in the UK—your instinct is probably to look for “the one big website” that lists every property for sale. In Portugal, that doesn’t exist. There is no MLS system, and that means two things: Think of Portugal as a patchwork: different agents upload to different portals, some post only on their agency website, and a surprising number of rural owners still list only on classifieds. Below is …

A symmetrical facade of a building covered in blue and white tiles with 15 windows in a grid pattern. Each window has a blue wrought-iron balcony railing. The design is consistent across the entire surface, creating a harmonious and repetitive visual effect.

Buying a home in Portugal is one of those ideas that feels wonderfully simple on the surface. An apartment in Lisbon. A quiet stone house in the countryside. A villa near the sea. For many people, it’s tied up with lifestyle dreams, retirement plans, or the idea of putting down roots in Europe. And in fairness — buying property in Portugal is absolutely achievable for foreign buyers. There are no restrictions on foreign ownership. The legal system is well established. …

A picturesque town in Portugal with a cluster of white and pastel-colored houses with orange-tiled roofs nestled among lush green hills under a clear blue sky. The vibrant, serene landscape features a mix of residential buildings and greenery.

With its warm weather, laid-back lifestyle, and great selection of fresh, locally-produced fruit and vegetables, Portugal is a popular destination for those seeking a greener, more conscious, eco-friendly lifestyle. You’ll find like-minded people all throughout the country, but there are a few spots that particularly stand out. If moving to an area where there’s already a large community of similar-minded people, then these should be at the top of your priority list. The Algarve When some people think of the Algarve, they …

A couple sits at a table with a man in a suit. The man from the couple is signing a document while the woman, smiling, rests her hand on his shoulder. The suited man watches attentively. The table has papers and a cup on it.

The last big step in the house buying process in Portugal is the signing of the Deed of Purchase and Sale or Escritura de Compra e Venda (commonly referred to as the escritura). This is the point where you hand over the final cheque or payment and in return, the sellers hand over the keys to the property. Although there will be a few small things to do afterwards, this is the last big hurdle in the buying process and …

A historical town square with a central statue atop a tall pedestal surrounded by a circular garden with yellow flowers. The background features colorful multi-story buildings, outdoor café seating, and people walking under a bright blue sky.

If you’re visiting Coimbra, or lucky enough to live there, the big question you’ll be asking yourself is: what should I eat? You’ll find all the most common Portuguese dishes in Portugal, for example, caldo verde soup, bacalhau dishes like bacalhau com natas and bacalhau à bras, and grilled fish. But those are dishes that you’ll find all over Portugal and you may have tried them plenty of times before. So, instead, look out for a few local dishes that …

A piece of caramel flan with a glossy top sits on a white square plate. Caramel sauce is spread around the flan, reminiscent of traditional Portuguese desserts. A spoon rests on the plate next to the indulgent treat.

From Bom Jesus do Monte to Braga Cathedral, there’s plenty to see and do in Braga. But for foodies, a more important question is: what’s there to eat? The following are five of the most popular regional dishes that you should try in Braga. Bacalhau à Braga Portugal has lots of different recipes for its national dish. Some say there are more than 365, while others say that there are more than 1,000. Either way, that’s a lot of dishes. …

Can You Live in Portugal Without a Car? The Honest Answer Depends on Where

Does Starlink Work in Rural Portugal? An Honest Assessment

Portugal’s Healthcare System: What Expats Need to Know About Public and Private

Buying English Books in Portugal: Bookshops, Amazon, and What Actually Works

Property Websites in Portugal: The Rightmove, Zillow and Realtor Equivalents

Buying Property in Portugal: The Real Process, Not the Brochure Version

7 Places for Alternative Living in Portugal: Eco Villages, Communities, Off-Grid

Signing the Deeds (Escritura) in Portugal

Coimbra Food: The Best Typical Foods To Try in Coimbra

Braga Food: Six Regional Dishes That Make the City Worth Moving To For Lunch Alone