Are Cockroaches Common in Portugal?

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 regularly see cockroaches scuttle across the street and you are likely to see them in your kitchen too. Thankfully, despite a similar climate, Portugal doesn’t really suffer from the same problem. 

This doesn’t mean there are no cockroaches in Portugal. They are more common in warmer parts of the country, and in areas close to restaurants, takeaways, drains, stagnant water, or open bins. Inside the home, pet food dishes, drains, holes for drain pipes, ventilation shafts, and dishwashers can all attract cockroaches and so need to be cleaned regularly. You may also need to fill up any gaps with silicone or a similar material. 

Some people report they’re more common in ground-level apartments and in older rather than newer properties. If there’s a gap beneath your door and the floor, this may be where cockroaches are entering the building. 

Cockroaches are more common during the hotter summer months. 

How to Get Rid of Cockroaches

The best way to get rid of cockroaches in a property is to keep it clean. Cockroaches may still come into the property, even if it’s spotless, but this definitely makes a big difference. 

If your property is clean and you still have a problem with cockroaches, boric acid (ácido bórico) is often recommended. There are also plenty of glues, gels, and traps, which you can find on Amazon or at a hardware store like Leroy Merlin. 

If that doesn’t work, you may want to consider the services of a specialist pest control company. There are several in Portugal, particularly in the Algarve or Lisbon.