Portugal
Western Europe's most affordable gem for expats & remote workers
Key Scores
Why people move to Portugal
Atlantic-facing, deeply Catholic in roots but very secular in practice - gentle pace, expat-friendly, and the easiest soft landing in the EU.
People, religion & languages
Very high in cities and tourist areas - among the best in southern Europe. Older rural Portuguese speak less.
Historically Catholic; practice has declined steeply but cultural Catholicism (festivals, saints, family rituals) is still strong.
Mostly invisible. Sundays are quiet outside cities. Catholic festivals (Santo António in Lisbon, São João in Porto) are major social events.
Culture & etiquette
What locals value and what to watch for
- Greet with two kisses (right cheek first) among friends
- Wait to be seated at restaurants
- Try a 'bica' (espresso) at the corner café - daily ritual
- Learn 'obrigado/obrigada' and a few greetings
- Speaking Spanish and assuming it's the same - Portuguese take pride in their language
- Loud tipping displays - round up is enough
- Rushing meals or asking for the bill quickly
- Confusing Portugal with Spain in conversation
Smart casual. Beachwear stays at the beach; cover up when entering shops or restaurants.
Slow and warm. Long lunches, late dinners, early-evening promenades.
Among Europe's most welcoming. Large expat communities in Lisbon, Porto, Algarve, Madeira; many services in English.
Holidays & food culture
Seafood-centric, conservative, generous portions. Bacalhau (salt cod) appears in 365 supposed preparations.
Lunch 13:00–15:00, dinner 20:00–22:00. Coffee culture all day.
Meat and seafood heavy. Vegetarian options improving in cities, still limited rural. Wine cheap and excellent.
Work culture & business norms
Hidden Gems
Off the beaten path
Comporta - the anti-Algarve: rice paddies, flamingos, empty white-sand beaches, no high-rises
Peneda-Gerês National Park - Portugal's only national park, waterfalls and wolves in the north
Monsaraz - medieval walled village overlooking the Alqueva reservoir, barely touched by tourism
Single person, before income tax