Should You Use A Buyer’s Agent When Buying Property in Portugal?
Buying a property in Portugal can be an exciting adventure, but it’s no secret that the Portuguese property market can seem a little like the wild wild west, especially if you’re new to the country. Enter the buyer’s agent, a professional who’s dedicated to holding your hand through the entire journey, from finding your dream home to signing on the dotted line. The Rise of Buyer’s Agents in Portugal While buyer’s agents (also known as buyer’s advocates) aren’t yet as …
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20+ Foods That American Expats Living in Portugal Sometimes Miss
Portugal has some fantastic food (pastéis de nata at the top of that list) but there are always some home comforts that you’re going to miss, regardless of where you’re from. Thankfully, you’ll be able to find a lot of these products in Portugal, particularly long-life products. However, some products (like dairy products) are harder to find, due to the distance, and some items are more related to American culture rather than a certain food (e.g. American-style takeaway coffees). If …
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Is there Walmart in Portugal?
If you’re moving to Portugal from the US, you may be used to certain supermarkets like Walmart, Trader Joe’s, Target, and Whole Foods. Generally speaking, most of these stores don’t have outlets in Europe and that includes Walmart – although there are Costco stores in Spain. Is there a Portuguese equivalent of Walmart? Not really. The nearest is probably one of the larger Continente stores, one of the main supermarket chains in Portugal, as the larger stores tend to have …
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Are there Costco Stores in Portugal?
Costco doesn’t have a store in Portugal, at least currently. There are, however, Costco stores in neighbouring Spain. Although Costco has stores in a handful of locations in Spain, the most popular store for people living in Portugal is the Seville store. If you live in Faro, the drive time to Costco in Seville is just a little over 2 hours. If you live in Lisbon, the drive time is around 4.5 hours, depending on traffic. For those living in …
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What To Bring When Moving to Portugal
If you’re thinking about moving to Portugal, you’ll get different advice on what to bring. Most people will tell you to come with as little as possible and avoid the challenges and costs of shipping your stuff. However, re-buying everything is expensive, particularly in Portugal, so there’s definitely an argument for at least thinking about shipping your stuff. There are some things you probably shouldn’t bring, particularly if you’re coming from outside Europe. This includes electronics that won’t work here …
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Where to Buy Electronics & Appliances in Portugal
If you’re planning on moving to Portugal, you may be wondering where you buy electronics and appliances and what the cost is likely to be. For those coming from the UK or US, the cost may be more than you’re used to paying, but due to the cost of shipping, the challenges of getting your stuff through Portuguese customs, and the differences in power, it can often make more sense to sell your stuff and buy afresh once you move. …
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Learning Portuguese to B1 (Lower-intermediate) Level
While a lot of people aim for an A2 level of Portuguese, as this is the level needed to obtain Portuguese citizenship, aiming for a B1 or lower-intermediate is a lot more practical if you’re going to be spending a lot of time in Portugal. Ideally, you should use this as a stepping stone to work towards a B2 level of Portuguese. With a B1 level, you’ll be able to have slightly more complex conversations and understand a lot more …
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Learning Portuguese to B2 (Upper-Intermediate) Level
A B2 level of Portuguese is a fantastic level to aim for. It isn’t as daunting as the C1, which can often take years to achieve, but it’s something that some people will be able to achieve in less than a year. Having a B2 or upper-intermediate level of Portuguese will give you the skills and confidence to speak Portuguese at quite a confident level. You may still struggle with accents, certain vocabulary or phrases, and expressing yourself as comfortably …
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Learning Portuguese to C1 (Advanced) Level
If your goal is to go about your day-to-day life speaking in Portuguese, you’ll want to aim for a C1 or C2 level of Portuguese. These are the advanced levels of language learning, according to the CEFR scale, with the C2 level essentially being native fluency. At this level, you’ll be able to read complex texts and discuss complex subjects in both social and professional settings. Most language learners end up plateauing at the intermediate level so you’ll be well …
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11 of the Best Places to Retire to in Portugal
Have you heard about the D7, sometimes known as Portugal’s retirement visa? If you’re reading this article, you probably have and you’re wondering where should I retire to in Portugal? In theory, you could move anywhere in Portugal. Yes, there are some parts which are more popular with retirees (like the Algarve and Silver Coast, for example) but that doesn’t mean you have to move there. You could move to somewhere more remote like the far north of Northern Portugal …
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