James Cave

James Cave is the founder of Portugalist.com, a website he created in 2016 to make moving to Portugal more simple.

He’s also the author of Moving to Portugal Made Simple, now in its second edition and with more than 400 reviews on Amazon. Through Portugalist, James has helped thousands of people plan their move and settle into life in Portugal with clear, trustworthy, and up-to-date information.

Portugalist has been featured in countless publications including the WSJ, New York Times, and Independent.

Follow him on Linkedin and Amazon

Online Shopping in Portugal

A person is holding a Samsung smartphone, browsing an online shopping app displaying various black jackets. The person appears to be sitting indoors, looking at product images and details on the screen, with a wooden piece of furniture in the background.

Although Portugal has fantastic high-speed home internet, online shopping is not as popular in Portugal as it is in other countries. But it’s growing in popularity – both as a way of buying from Portuguese retailers and also as a way of buying (often cheaper) products from abroad. Read the guides Shopping at some sites – Amazon, for example – isn’t always straight-forward, but Portugalist’s guides help make things easy to understand. Amazon Amazon doesn’t officially have a presence in …

A street view of a small town with various shops and parked cars. On the right, there is a black building housing "Alexandra's Boutique". Further down the street are more businesses and a church steeple visible in the distance. The sky is overcast.

You might have heard of Little Portugal in London, the nickname for the large Portuguese community in the South Lambeth area of South London, but did you know there’s a very large Portuguese community in Massachusetts in the USA? Fall River, an industrial town that’s about 1 hour and 20 minutes south of Boston, is home to the largest concentration of Portuguese people in the whole of the United States. As of 2018, 46 percent of Fall River Residents claim …

Aerial view of a coastal area with a long sandy beach on the left, lined with sun umbrellas and calm blue water. On the right, there is a residential area with houses surrounded by greenery and trees. The scene extends to the horizon under a clear sky.

Nestled in the south of Portugal, the Algarve has long been a destination for those seeking sun, sea, and a touch of luxury. At the heart of this region lies the Golden Triangle, an unofficial term for the area encompassing the prestigious resorts of Vale do Lobo and Quinta do Lago, along with the charming town of Almancil. The Golden Triangle is strategically located between Faro, the Algarve’s capital and home to the international airport, and Albufeira, known for its …

Split image with "Braga" on the left showing a historic square with a fountain and old buildings, and "Porto" on the right displaying a view of a lit-up cityscape at dusk with the iconic Dom Luís I Bridge. "VS" in a circle at the center indicates a comparison.

When considering a move to Northern Portugal, two cities often stand out: Porto, the vibrant coastal metropolis, and Braga, the charming inland city steeped in history. Both offer unique living experiences, each with its own set of advantages and challenges. Let’s delve deeper into what life in these cities entails. Location and Accessibility Porto Porto, Portugal’s second-largest city, sits majestically along the Atlantic coast. Its international airport serves as a gateway to the world (or at least a lot of …

A vintage LAVIS 812 television with a red frame, black screen, and control knobs on the right side. The TV has dials for UHF and VHF channels, volume, tone, and brightness. The set is placed on a wooden surface against a blurred background.

Watching Portuguese TV can be a great way to learn a few new Portuguese words and phrases and immerse yourself in the sounds of the Portuguese language. Unless your Portuguese is already at a very good level, you’re going to need to watch TV with Portuguese subtitles (legendas). That way, you can listen and read at the same time and you’ll have a much better understanding of what’s going on. As you progress, you’ll get to a point where you …

A person is holding a tablet displaying an Amazon webpage. The webpage shows a search for Portuguese dictionaries, featuring listings for "Oceano Pocket Dictionary" and "Dicionário de Portugais 100% Visual." The handheld tablet has a black case.

Yes, you can shop at Amazon from Portugal. Amazon doesn’t have a warehouse in Portugal so you’ll have to shop at one of the Amazon stores in another country (for example Amazon UK, Spain, or Germany). Which Amazon should you shop at? Generally speaking, Amazon.es (Amazon Spain) is the best option for several reasons: The second best option is Amazon.de (Amazon Germany). The products are sometimes cheaper here, but you will typically need to pay for postage and, due to …

A woman wearing headphones smiles while looking at her laptop. She is sitting at a desk and taking notes in an open notebook, with shelves and plants in the background.

If you’re thinking about moving to Portugal, you may be overwhelmed at the thought of having to learn European Portuguese. But don’t worry: this article is designed for beginners and intermediate-level speakers, showing you the best resources, tips, and tricks to get from zero to fluency—and without blowing the budget! Although English is widely spoken in Portugal, particularly in places like Lisbon and the Algarve, you will need Portuguese to get by, make Portuguese friends, and integrate into the culture. …

A silhouette of a person sitting on a swing by the beach at sunset, with one arm outstretched towards the empty swing beside them. The sky is a vibrant orange, and the sun is setting over the ocean in the background.

Saudade is a Portuguese word that’s often described as untranslatable but, open a bottle of wine with a Portuguese friend and, they’ll happily try to explain it to you. The truth is that saudade can’t be translated into a singular English word, but that doesn’t mean we can’t explain it in a few English words. Well, more than a few considering the length of this blog post. It’s a little like German words. Torschlusspanik, for example, literally means “closing gate …

A white and brown bulldog sits in the back seat of a car, looking out the rear window. The dog wears a black collar and has a contemplative expression. Sunlight illuminates the interior and the snowy, urban landscape outside the car.

If you’ve been dreaming of sunshine, seaside towns, and a better lifestyle in Portugal, but hesitated because of the hassle of bringing your pet, there’s great news: the EU Pet Passport scheme is back for UK residents. As of May 19, 2025, a new agreement between the UK and EU means that pet passports are once again valid for cats and dogs traveling from the UK to the EU. This marks a welcome end to the post-Brexit red tape that …

A person’s hand holding a passport and boarding pass rests on the handle of a blue suitcase at an airport check-in area, with blurred signs and counters in the background.

A new proposal from the Portuguese government could dramatically reshape who qualifies for Portuguese citizenship — and how long they’ll have to wait. On June 23rd, the government approved a bill to increase the minimum legal residency period to obtain Portuguese nationality. The plan: This bill now heads to the Assembly of the Republic, where it will be debated and voted on. It is not yet law, but the government is clearly pushing for reform. What Exactly Is Being Proposed? …

James Cave

Online Shopping in Portugal

Welcome to Fall River: The Most Portuguese Town in America

What It’s Like to Live in the Algarve’s Golden Triangle

Braga Vs Porto: The Ultimate Guide to Living in Northern Portugal

20+ Portuguese TV Shows (With Subtitles) That You Can Stream

How To Shop At Amazon from Portugal

How to Actually Learn European Portuguese

What is Saudade?

Big News for Pet Owners: Moving to Portugal from the UK Just Got Easier

Is Portugal Really Raising the Citizenship Residency Requirement to 10 Years?