Posts by Simone Barbosa

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…

When people talk about Portugal, they often talk about its ideal quality of life! This is linked to a number of factors, one of which is undoubtedly the beauty of Portugal’s beaches. With an immense coastline, the country offers, from north to south, numerous beaches with different charms. We couldn’t possibly list all the beaches…

Update 07/28/2019: The opening is postponed to a later date, for more information please contact Anne Gasser. Many of you regularly ask questions about expatriating as a family. In particular, you’re wondering about schooling for your young darlings. A few months ago, I wrote an article on the subject of schooling in Portugal and the…

“O Porto não é um lugar, é um sentimento” – Belisa Ferreira (Porto is not a place, it’s a feeling). As you can imagine, today I’m taking you with me to the north of Portugal to discover some of the must-do things to do in Porto. Also known as the Invicta City, Porto is Portugal’s…

Thinking of moving to Portugal? One of the first questions that will probably come to mind is the cost of living in Portugal. When we hear about Portugal in the media or at the local bar, we often talk about its unrivalled quality of life and low cost of living. I often hear: “In Portugal,…

Today, we’re sharing a commercial article for our partners at Careertrotter, in the hope that it might inspire some of our readers who want to move to Lisbon to live and work. Looking for something to eat other than croissants and pains au chocolats? Why not try a delicious “pastel de nata” on a beach…

Article updated on 15/11/2019. Advent calendars are invading supermarket shelves and Christmas decorations are lighting up the streets. There’s no doubt about it, the countdown to Christmas 2019 is well and truly underway! As last year, here is a non-exhaustive list of some of the Christmas markets in Portugal that will delight young and old…

Last week, you discovered the first part of this article entitled “Living in Portugal: 5 people tell their stories”. In it, you met Alex, Anne-Marie and Nathalie. Today, I invite you to discover the second part of this article and the expatriation to Portugal of Mirana, who has already been living in Lisbon for 7…

As I told you in a previous article: “Living in Portugal: 7 heartbreaks and gripes“, I always try to add a little of my own experience to my articles, so that you can get as much insight as possible into life in Portugal through them. However, apart from my own experience, there are many other…

This article is intended for owners or future owners of real estate in Portugal who wish to rent out their property on a seasonal basis(known as “alojamento local” in Portugal). In recent years, Portugal has seen a boom in tourism, and seasonal rentals have multiplied. Many of you are asking us questions on this subject,…

When we talk about tourism or living in Portugal, we often talk about the Lisbon and Algarve regions. However, Portugal, although a “small” country in terms of surface area, includes many other regions with undeniable assets. These include the Silver Coast, discussed inone of my previous articles, the Alentejo, which I’ll tell you about in…