Live in Portugal blog

Portuguese breads are ubiquitous on tables from the north to the south of the country, and even on the islands. The type of bread varies from region to region. Rye-based breads are more common in the northern half of Portugal, and wheat-based breads in the southern half. Bread is the most widely consumed foodstuff in…

Covid and Christmas in Portugal: a thorny issue for the Portuguese government at the end of the year. An extraordinary council of ministers was held on Tuesday December 21, 2021 to debate the subject.  At the end of this council, António Costa, Portuguese Prime Minister, announced the new measures implemented in Portugal with the aim…

Comment ouvrir un compte en banque au Portugal ? C’est une question que vous êtes nombreux à vous poser dès lors que vous avez un projet au Portugal. Car avoir un compte en banque au Portugal facilitera votre quotidien. Les motivations pour ouvrir un compte en banque au Portugal sont multiples : vous envisagez de…

Portugal’s electronic tollgate system is a recent development. It has only been in place since 2011. I chose to write this article because I regularly see questions about it on the Amoureux du Portugal Facebook group and the Vivre au Portugal Facebook page. And no wonder! The toll system in Portugal may seem a little…

Through the Facebook group Amoureux du Portugal and the page Vivre au Portugal, I see many testimonials from people who dream of a life in Portugal, but who have many fears in relation to this project. And they’re right! Moving abroad is not a decision to be taken lightly, as I regularly tell you in…

Speaking Portuguese! It’s not an easy thing to do, but when you decide to live in Portugal, learning Pessoa’s language is an important step! Your first steps won’t always be easy, but a few words and phrases will help you communicate with the locals and integrate as quickly as possible! Mind you, the idea of…

Are you ready? Want to buy real estate in Portugal? Want to own your own home in Portugal? Buying property in Portugal is a fantastic project that involves a number of different stages. Research, credit, making sure you have all the necessary documents… Buying a property in Portugal therefore requires preparation, and it’s important to…

Despite the pandemic, demand for real estate remains high and investment is even on the rise in Portugal. Nor has covid-19 slowed the launch of new real estate projects in Lisbon, since in the first nine months of 2020, 33,614 homes entered the authorization process in Portugal, compared with 34,377 homes in the same period…

You are looking for a property in Portugal. You’d like to visit properties available for sale before investing. In this article, you’ll find our tips for coming to Portugal. It starts with selecting the properties you want to buy. The next steps are to organize your trip, book your plane to Lisbon, get ready to…

On this blog, as you know, I like to share with you life in Portugal and all the beauty this beautiful country has to offer. Unfortunately, news from Portugal (and the world) also includes our beloved covid-19. A little over a year after the start of this pandemic, and following numerous requests on the Facebook…

When you live in a country, mastering its language is important. I talk about this in my article 10 tips for learning Portuguese. Today, I’ve decided to share with you the many Portuguese expressions, some of which, when translated literally, can make you smile. And smiling is exactly what we all need right now. In…

Portugal is no exception to the rule. The country is paying dearly for the end-of-year festivities, with new “records” for deaths and covid-19 cases in recent days. Deaths are flirting with 150 a day, and covid-19 cases with 10,000 a day. A new containment in Portugal has therefore just been announced in order to contain…

Trick or treat? Contrary to popular belief, Halloween is not an American tradition. It was created in Europe over 2,000 years ago by the Celtic people. But then? Halloween in Portugal: what are the traditions? In Portugal, although Halloween(or dia das bruxas: witches’ day) is not a strong tradition, it has nevertheless gained a following…

Si vous lisez ce blog, c’est que le Portugal vous a déjà forcément un peu séduit. Le Portugal est un pays qui se distingue par son charme, un charme qu’on trouve à différents niveaux et il faut dire que les maisons typiques au Portugal y contribuent. Du nord au sud du pays, on trouve différentes…

The off-season has begun, and some of you may be thinking of taking advantage of these lovely months to discover Portugal. Are you planning a trip to Portugal, but wondering whether it’s feasible because of the pandemic? What rules have been put in place in Portugal? Do they prevent you from traveling? In this article,…

From north to south, from the Minho region to the Algarve, Portugal’s wines are numerous. Their vines cover the Portuguese plains and hillsides. Like an investigator of size, I went, just for you : eating grapes in the vineyards, crush grapes in vats, drinking wine in the cellars… All for you, of course! 🙂 Portugal…

When we talk about wooden houses, we all imagine a chalet in the mountains, but that’s not really what they are! Wooden modular homes are similar to traditional houses. Only the structure is made of wood, but the “shell”, as I like to call it, is not necessarily made of wood. I’m sure you’ve walked…

Have you always dreamed of staying in an unusual accommodation? Imagine sleeping in a bus, a train station, a wine barrel, a windmill… Well, it does exist! Today, in this article, I’d like to take you on a tour of these unusual places for an unusual vacation in Portugal. Experiences that are sure to create…

In Portugal, containment began in mid-March when there were still only around 100 confirmed cases of covid-19 in the country. A progressive decontainment plan associated with a timetable was put in place by the Council of Ministers on April 30, 2020 in order to contain the evolution of covid-19 in Portugal. The measures are being…

Home of the world-famous Cristiano Ronaldo… but not only … Portugal’s Madeira Island, nicknamed the “Island of the Flower”, is one of Portugal’ s – and indeed the world’s – must-see jewels, with the title of “World’s Best Island Destination” awarded every year since 2016 by the World Travel Awards. Every year, at the end…

Many of you have questions about taxes in Portugal. Which taxes do you have to pay if you live in Portugal? In this article we’ll talk about some of these taxes: Taxes on your income (wages, pensions) Taxes on your car: IUC, ISV Taxes on your property purchase: IMT, IMI, AIMI, imposto do selo Taxes…

Easter in Portugal is widely celebrated. It’s an important time for family and friends to get together. This year, because of the confinement, it may be difficult to get together, but you can always enjoy a good “folar” at home (more about this in the article). In the north of the country, Easter Monday is…

I’m writing a very special article today, one that I never thought I’d write. As you all know, we’re going through a global health crisis, and many countries have gone into lockdown, inviting everyone to stay at home. It goes without saying that these rules must be respected, even if it’s not easy to do…

Many of you want to move to Portugal, and many of you have questions about taxation in Portugal once you’ve settled there. Recently, there have been some changes to the taxation of pensions for foreigners(with RNH status) moving to Portugal: taxation has risen from 0% to 10%. In this article, you’ll find some answers to…

A few weeks ago, we celebrated 2020. A new decade was born, while another came to an end. From 2010 to 2019, I’d like to take a look back at some important dates in Portugal. Dates that have, more or less, left their mark on Portugal over the last decade: joyous events, news items, serious…

You’re all familiar with the city of Lisbon, the Portuguese capital that has been in the spotlight for the past few years, and with good reason: it’s a magnificent city!(in all objectivity) The Portuguese capital is often chosen as a destination by people wishing to settle in Portugal, but these same people are sometimes surprised…

You may not know it, but under your feet in Lisbon’s Baixa Chiado district are a series of labyrinthine galleries that you can visit! In this article, find out more about these Roman galleries in Lisbon. History of Lisbon’s Roman galleries These almost 2,000-year-old galleries date back to the Roman occupation. They were discovered in…

In the 16th century, the first Portuguese arrived in Japan. They were the first Europeans to land in Japan. As a result, there are many similarities between Portugal and Japan today. Portuguese influences in Japan can be seen in gastronomy and language. Portugal and Japan: Portuguese influence on Japanese cuisine One of the most famous…

You’ve probably already heard of the University of Coimbra in Portugal. It’s the oldest university in Europe, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And that’s not all! I’m telling you about this university today because I’d like to highlight the Joanina Library, which is located high up in the historic center of the University of…

Portugal is a country with many traditions. Some are more original than others, like this tradition in Aveiro, Portugal, which I’m going to tell you about today and which takes place in just a few days’ time(from January 9 to January 13, 2020). Every year, around January 10, the day of São Gonçalo de Amarante,…

“A received idea is an opinion between the stereotype, the cliché and the common idea. It is widespread and sometimes false.” You may have preconceived ideas about life in Portugal that are at odds with reality. So, if you’re thinking of living in Portugal, it’s important to be well-informed and aware of the reality of…

In a previous article dedicated to renting in Portugal, we saw that renting in Portugal is not so easy, but what about buying a property in Portugal? The language barrier, distance, market prices, local legal and tax specificities, etc. are just some of the difficulties you’ll encounter if you decide to buy a property abroad,…

Freelance status, also known as auto-entrepreneur, independent worker or sometimes micro-entrepreneur, is becoming increasingly popular. In Portugal, too, this status is becoming increasingly popular. Freelancers in Portugal are commonly referred to as “recibo verde” (in reference to the type of invoices they issue, which we’ll talk about in the article). So, when you arrive in…

Do you have a French driving license(the pink license) and are you a resident of Portugal(anyone living in Portugal for more than 183 days a year is considered a resident)? If so, you are obliged to exchange your French driving license for a Portuguese one after two years of residence in Portugal. Today, in this…

Are you planning to live in Portugal but don’t speak the language of Camões? Don’t panic! You’re not the first or the last to be in this situation. Although we’ve all dreamed of speaking a foreign language in the blink of an eye, unfortunately it’s not that simple! There’s no magic formula: you just have…

If there’s one thing I don’t understand, it’s the French who move to Portugal in search of French products and services. Many people want to find in Portugal: a French supermarket, a French school, a French restaurant, a French bakery, a French beautician, a French hairdresser, French television, a French sports coach, French friends ……

When we travel or live abroad, we like to bring back little souvenirs for our loved ones(and for ourselves too, let’s be a little egotistical!). Even though I’ve been living in Portugal for over six years, every time I return to France, I usually pack a few souvenirs from Portugal to delight my loved ones,…

In Portugal, you won’t be bored for a second, as this beautiful country is full of treasures: landscapes, gastronomy, customs, exceptional places, monuments, etc. There’s always something to discover! There’s always something to discover! Today, I’m unveiling a few places and activities in Portugal that I think you should discover or experience at least once…