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Cathedrals, churches, museums, architecture, gastronomy and more. You won’t be bored for a second in the Portuguese capital. Whether you’re coming for a long weekend, a week or just living here, there’s always something to discover and do in Lisbon. It’s this richness and diversity that makes Lisbon one of the most interesting capitals I…
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Insuring yourself against the various risks of everyday life should always be one of the first things to do when moving abroad. And health insurance in particular! Today, Christophe Antone from MDS Expat(insurance broker) answers 8 questions about health insurance in Portugal. Christophe Antone, MDS Expat Also, if you’d like even more answers and details…
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If you’re going to live in Portugal, knowing its culture is essential. In my articles, I try to tell you regularly about Portugal’s many riches: its monuments, its azulejos, its calçadas, its beaches, its colorful houses, its fado, etc. But Portugal’s heritage is also made up of men and women who, thanks to their talents,…
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Portugal has become THE destination where everyone wants to settle. More and more people are choosing this beautiful Iberian country for a variety of reasons. Among those looking to move to Portugal are retirees, students and working people. For working people, one of the most important factors in their decision to settle here is whether…
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Many of you are planning to move to Portugal and would like to keep your car. If you keep your car in Portugal, you’ll need to register it there. You have 12 months from the date of your arrival to do so. The formalities are quite onerous, and the cost is high. The latter includes…
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You’re all set! Your “new” life in Portugal is imminent. But what are the little rules you need to follow to optimize and make a success of your move to Portugal? What are the dos and don’ts? In this article, written in the form of “10 commandments”(please note that I’m not imposing anything on you,…
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When you travel or move to a new place, all your senses are on alert. Living in Portugal means discovering a whole host of things in a short space of time. Some things will seem “normal”, others will strike you as unusual, but don’t worry, they’ll quickly become part of your daily life. These first…
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Many of you enjoyed the article “Discovering Portugal: 10 things you didn’t know”. The aim of this article was to help you discover things you didn’t know about this beautiful Iberian country. A goal that seems to have been achieved, since the majority of you have told me that you’ve learned new things about Portugal…
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(updated 1/12/19) New Year’s Eve is fast approaching and, like every year, many of you still don’t know what you’re going to do to celebrate it. Don’t panic, in this article you’ll find several ideas and addresses for celebrating your New Year in Portugal with friends, family or just the two of you, in a…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Today, let’s discover Portugal! I’ve challenged myself to show you 10 things you didn’t know about Portugal. This article will cover a wide range of topics related to gastronomy, history, geography, lifestyle, culture… in Portugal. The aim is to teach you things you didn’t know!(yes! even you behind your screen who think you know everything…
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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,…
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I’m a fairly optimistic person, but like everyone else(well, I think), I have my favorites and my pet peeves. In this article, I’m going to tell you about mine, which you may not share, but I’m going to do it at the risk of making some people cringe. After all, differences of opinion are what…
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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…
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Today, I’m taking you away for a whole weekend with me, Anne-Sophie, a French expatriate in Portugal. I arrived in this small Iberian country in April 2013. Back then, you didn’t hear as much about Portugal as you do now. I’d never set foot in the country before living here. I’d only heard about it…
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After an article on the Algarve here, and on the Silver Coast here, today we’re going to talk about the Lisbon region. When you hear the word “Lisbon region”, you instantly think of Lisbon: the Portuguese capital, the destination where everyone’s going these days, its narrow streets, its pasteis de nata, its fado, its big…
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Today, we’re going to discover a region of Portugal that’s a little less well known than the Algarve(covered in our previous article here), but which is nonetheless very interesting. Today’s featured region is the Costa de Prata (French for Silver Coast), and in this article we’ll look at why you should choose to live on…
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Golden visa: why does Portugal appeal to investors? It has recently been revealed that Portugal has the world’s top residence-by-investment program according to the Global Residence and Citizenship Programs report released regarding 2017-2018. For its third consecutive year, Portugal’s Golden Residence Permit Program has been announced yet again as the best residence-by-investment program around the…
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I’ve been lucky enough to live in several countries, and I can tell you that one of the keys to a successful expatriation is choosing the right place to settle. Indeed, moving abroad is an important step in your life. We all have different criteria, and it’s essential that the place you choose is suited…
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Many of you have the common desire to move to Portugal (and we understand!). This move involves a number of different steps, one of which is very important: finding your new “cosy nest”. While some will opt to rent, as discussed in a recent article, others will choose to buy, either by building or renovating…
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When you move to another city, region or country, you obviously discover many things that are different from the habits you might have had in your home town. Every place has its own identity, and that’s one of the reasons why travel is so exciting. Without falling into “clichés” and beyond the sun, pretty beaches,…
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On today’s menu: food, food and more food! Portuguese gastronomy is one of the best I’ve ever tasted, yet it’s little-known outside its borders. When you arrive in a new country, the beginning of your integration is often through the cuisine. It’s your first introduction to the culture, your first conversations with the locals, and…
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Portugal is a country where traditions and customs are deeply rooted, and for me, this is one of the things that makes the country so beautiful and interesting. So it’s not surprising that popular festivals in Portugal are an integral part of the culture. The Portuguese love to go out, dance, sing, share convivial moments……
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Moving to Portugal is what many of you would like to do, and one of the factors influencing your decision to settle in will be whether or not you can find your new home. In the press, on the internet, at the bistro counter… when we talk about real estate in Portugal today, we very…
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Following on from our last blog article on the fears that are holding you back in your plans to move to Portugal, many of you have highlighted the concerns you had about moving with your children because of schooling and integration. Many families are wondering what schooling is like in Portugal for French-speaking children? French-speaking…
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Depending on your age, personality, family or professional situation… the fears of moving abroad are different for everyone. For everyone, leaving their environment and comfort zone brings with it a mixture of feelings: excitement and apprehension. Today, I’ve decided to draw up a non-exhaustive list of 5 fears that could prevent you from taking the…
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Eric Cantona, Madonna, Monica Bellucci, Christian Louboutin, Florent Pagny, Philippe Starck, someone you know, me, maybe you… have all decided to move to Portugal in recent years. Numerous companies are setting up shop here, and some have even recently chosen Portugal as their European headquarters, following in the footsteps of behemoths Amazon and Google. 6…
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Once upon a time… the Villa Feria adventure theVilla Feria adventure began a little over a year ago. My husband and I created this company with the aim of sharing our own experience of moving to Portugal and helping foreigners with all the formalities involved in expatriation and buying a house/second home. The creation of…
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Opportunity to join the Villa Feria team Since its launch in November 2016, the Villa Feria adventure continues to run its course. We remain faithful to our original idea: to accompany those who dream of moving to Portugal, simplifying their procedures and acting as the trusted local person.We are now expanding our team so that…
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This is the second part of the “Guide for expatriates” article on the steps to take in Portugal once you’ve settled there. If you haven’t yet read the first part, here is the article in question: Guide for expatriates: preparing your move to Portugal. If you’re reading this article, chances are you’ve decided to move…
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1. Christmas traditions in Portugal December means Christmas! The whole of Portugal is gearing up with its illuminations, cultural activities and celebrations… to bring the magic of Christmas to life in Portugal! I was pleasantly surprised to find that here, Christmas lights and decorations are unveiled a month before Santa Claus arrives, rather than in…
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Letter to Portugal In this article, I’d like to deliver a heartfelt message to the country that welcomes me: Portugal! Here’s a declaration of love from a Frenchwoman to Portugal “Dear Portugal, I met you a few years ago(well, 15 years ago!). I only knew you through the stories of my husband, his family and…
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An “Entreprendre.pt” day 2 weeks ago, I spent two days at the French Embassy for the 2nd Salon de la création d’entreprise et d’emploi organized by Entreprendre.pt. In this article, I take a look back at the “Entreprendre au Portugal” conference. These two days were packed with conferences, and I also had the opportunity to…
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On the Facebook group, I’m receiving more and more messages asking me for advice on preparing to leave for Portugal. I had planned to do an article on the subject, then I put it off again and again, but this morning I finally decided to do the article some of you have been waiting for!…
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Aujourd’hui, je vous raconte notre trajet de Strasbourg à Lisbonne! Une route vers le Portugal que de nombreuses personnes font mais que je n’avais encore jamais faite! À mon tour alors de découvrir le fameux trajet France-Portugal en voiture. 1. Première partie: le grand départ Après plus d’un an d’allers-retours entre Strasbourg et Lisbonne, nous…
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More and more people are contacting me, sharing their dream of moving to Portugal and asking me lots of questions: What’s life like in Portugal? How do you takethe plunge and overcome your fears? What jobs can they do? How do I feel and why did I decide to live in Portugal? (Various articles on…
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Dans la série “À la découverte du Portugal”, je vous propose aujourd’hui de découvrir la ville historique de Coimbra. C’est une ville qui nous touche tout particulièrement car Marilou, la tante de mon mari y a fait ses études. D’autre part, cet article m’a été proposé par Pierre-Marie, historien et guide de Coimbra. Quand il…
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Today I’m sharing an article for the readers who did not yet have the chance to discover Lisbon, or very little of it. Lisbon clearly is my favourite city in Portugal, there is always something to do and new places to discover, I have the feeling that I can never get bored here as the…
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Today I am writing a shorter but more practical article where I would like to share with you 10 tips that simplify your life in Portugal. 1. A multibanco payment card If you are not familiar with Multibanco, put it simply it is the most commonly used payment method in Portugal. It is a debit card…
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What are the best regions to live and invest in Portugal? a frequently asked question from our readers and followers. I will do my best to respond to it in this article. Of course, it is rather challenging to provide a complete response because it really depends on people’s individual needs, tastes and preferences. With…
Read MoreThis article is going to introduce your construction project of modern houses in Aroeira, South of Lisbon. It is a project very close to my heart because it is located where I live. This property development project is attractive for expats who would like to invest in Portugal, even though the majority of buyers are…
Read MoreToday, I’m going to talk about Portugal and golf! I’m not a great golfer, so you’re probably going to ask me why? Well, for 3 reasons: we live 500m from a golf course we stayed in a hotel on the sublime Sintra golf course (my husband’s wedding present) many of the people we know and…
Read MoreToday, I’m sharing with you a memorable moment in my life, our conference on living and investing in Portugal, which took place on May 20, 2017 in Strasbourg 1. Preparing for the event In January 2017, my husband and I decided to organize a conference on living and investing in Portugal, integrating 3 important aspects…
Read MoreSince our stay in Portugal in April, time has flown between our participation in various events(including a meeting with a secretary of state of the Portuguese government and the 30th anniversary celebration of the Portuguese Cultural Association of Strasbourg), the organization of our conference on real estate investment in Portugal, and finally taking the time…
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Even though I love my home country, France, I chose to move out to live and build my family in Portugal. I did this for many reasons: quality of life, sun, beach, security, the feeling of warmth and being welcome by the locals, lifestyle…the list is long! By the way, most people who come to…
Read MoreAs planned, I’m starting to discover some regions and cities in Portugal that I don’t know yet. Today, I’m going to tell you about my two days in the Algarve in Portugal with my husband. We decided to go to Lagos and Alfufeira, where we planned to meet real estate partners. Might as well combine…
Read MoreIn this article, I’ve decided to talk about the best-known festivals in Portugal in April. Whether religious, historical, cultural or sporting, the Portuguese never miss an opportunity to get together and celebrate. If you’d like to find out more about Portugal’s most popular festivals throughout the year, check out this article: Popular festivals in Portugal.…
Read MoreFollowing numerous requests from our readers, I’ve decided to write this article in order to respond in a slightly more structured way to the subject of building a house in Portugal. It’s a subject very close to my heart, as my husband and I have studied the subject in depth, right up to the point…
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