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

15 Of the Best Places to Live Near Lisbon

A person wearing a white shirt and a watch is holding and pointing at a large, detailed city map with yellow highlighted areas. The person is standing outdoors near a wall, with part of a car visible in the background.

Lisbon, the ever-popular capital of Portugal, has long been a magnet for those seeking a blend of historic charm, vibrant culture, and a laid-back lifestyle. However, as the city centre burgeons with popularity, it’s becoming increasingly expensive and competitive to secure a home within its narrow, cobbled streets. For many, the allure of Lisbon isn’t confined to its central districts. In fact, the towns near Lisbon and neighbourhoods on the outskirts offer a fantastic alternative for those wishing to be …

6 of The Prettiest Towns on the Algarve

Are you dreaming of a sun-soaked getaway filled with stunning beaches, rich history, and authentic Portuguese charm? Look no further than the Algarve! While this beautiful region has seen its fair share of development, with modern resorts and bustling tourist spots, there are still plenty of hidden gems waiting to be discovered. Join us as we explore six of the prettiest and most authentic towns in the Algarve, where you can immerse yourself in the local culture and fall in …

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If you’re looking to live in a large Portuguese city, there are really only two options, Lisbon and Porto. Both cities offer a unique blend of tradition and modernity but come with their own distinct characteristics. So which should you pick? Lisbon, the larger of the two, is the political, economic, and cultural centre of Portugal. Situated along the Tagus River, it offers a mix of historic neighbourhoods and new developments, providing a broad range of living options. The city …

A blue Walmart shopping cart is positioned in an empty parking lot in front of a large Walmart store. The sky is clear and sunny, and a tree is partially visible on the left side of the image.

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 …

A picturesque scene of traditional, colorful houses with white walls and blue and yellow accents under a vibrant blue sky. Lush green plants and trees are in the foreground, and a cobblestone path leads to the houses, with a grassy field in the distance.

It might seem unusual to compare life in Mexico and Portugal, but it’s a common comparison for many Americans considering moving abroad, particularly for retirement. In the past, Mexico and other Latin American countries like Panama, Costa Rica, and Ecuador were where most Americans set their sights. Recently, however, more and more Americans have been looking for ways to move to Europe and Portugal has come into the limelight as a place Americans can easily move to. Both offering a …

A woman and a man wearing face masks are in a kitchen. The man, dressed in work attire and holding a spray canister, is inspecting the area under the cabinetry. The woman, wearing a purple top, is crouched beside him, observing the inspection process.

In short, not really. You will see cockroaches every now and then, usually on the street and sometimes inside an apartment, but it is quite rare. Live in Portugal for long enough and you should only see a cockroach one or twice a year. However, it does depend on where you’re living, including the property you live in. This is in contrast to Spain, particularly the south of Spain, where cockroaches are a much more common occurrence. Here, you will …

Living in Portugal Without A Car

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 family of four sits on a sandy beach in front of a white cottage with green shutters. The mother and father, both smiling, have their three children with them: a baby on the father's lap, a young boy sitting beside them, and an older girl leaning into the mother.

Portugal is a fantastic place for families. In fact, a recent study ranked Funchal in Madeira and Lisbon, the capital city, first and third as the top places to raise a family in the whole of Europe. Porto also made the list at 22. The study, which focused on factors like education, health and safety, and lifestyle and leisure, listed 30 cities around Europe and it’s just one of many studies that say Portugal is a great place to raise …

A woman wearing headphones sits at a wooden table in front of a laptop. She is writing in a notebook with a pen. The background features large green plants and window blinds that let in natural light. Glasses and other items are placed on the table.

If you’re learning European Portuguese, a good milestone to aim for is the A2 level. This level, which is the second level in the CEFR scale, will give you enough Portuguese to navigate many basic day-to-day conversations and basically just get by. The B1 and B2 levels (or intermediate) will give you more skills to handle day-to-day conversations and really get by, but at the A2 level, also known as upper-beginner, you’ll have a good foundation on which to keep …

Can You Learn European Portuguese with Duolingo?

Duolingo is one of the most popular language learning apps and so it isn’t surprising that many people download it when they decide to learn Portuguese. But after a while, some people end up realising that Duolingo teaches Brazilian Portuguese and not European Portuguese. This might not seem like a big deal. After all, many people learn American English and get by in the UK just fine (and vice versa). Unfortunately, the differences between European and Brazilian Portuguese are a …

James Cave

15 Of the Best Places to Live Near Lisbon

6 of The Prettiest Towns on the Algarve

Lisbon VS Porto: Where Should Expats Choose to Live?

Is there Walmart in Portugal?

Portugal VS Mexico: Which is Better for Expats?

Are Cockroaches Common in Portugal?

Living in Portugal Without A Car

7 Great Places for Families Moving to Portugal

Beyond The Basics: How to Learn Portuguese to A2 Level

Can You Learn European Portuguese with Duolingo?