Moving to Portugal solo

Cheryl · 2021-11-24T07:37:33+01:00

Explore personal experiences and tips for moving to Portugal solo, covering integration, accommodation choices, and advice for single expats.

Cheryl Moderator

Member since 15 October 2018

CherylModerator24 November 2021 05:37:33

13914

Hello everybody,

Moving to Portugal is a challenge in itself, but even more when you decide to go alone. If this was your case when you arrived, we would like you to share your experience. It might help other people who are also preparing for this new life in Portugal.

Do you have any tips for people who are about to move to Portugal on their own? Is the country suitable, for instance, for a single woman?

What was your state of mind when you arrived in Portugal?

What type of accommodation did you choose: house-share, self-contained accommodation or apartment complex?

How did your integration go once settled? Do you think that being alone made it easier to make friends?

Did you encounter any particular difficulties, being alone when you arrived? If you had to do it all over again, would you take a chance?

Thank you for your contribution!

Cheryl,
玩偶姐姐 team

Strontium Serial expat

Member since 27 April 2019

StrontiumSerial expat24 November 2021 10:15:33

392

I'd just advise to book some accommodation, small hotel/AirBnB etc聽聽in several areas you want to investigate and physically go to them and experience as much as possible. Get a cheap Portuguese SIM/phone number. Go into local Estate Agents and explain you are looking for and could do with some local advice, go into shops, cafes, markets and talk to anyone.聽 You'll know in a couple of days if you hate the place or it doesn't have what you are looking for, then try a different area. There is no substitute to going to the places personally to making these decisions. Also realise places differ at different times of year.

sagittar74 New member

Member since 20 September 2021

sagittar74New member29 November 2021 15:21:08

Hi, Still i am here in my country i could not received any feedback from expat how i arrive to Portugal. I realized it's not seems to easy to go to Portugal. Thanks

LorieAnneC Contributor

Member since 07 October 2020

LorieAnneCContributor29 November 2021 17:06:14

114

I first visited Portugal house sitting for three months in 2019, so had the opportunity to visit many places.聽 Then I settled on Portim茫o, because of the beautiful beaches, plenty of hiking, great restaurants. Also, I was able to ditch my car as I can walk or Uber everywhere.

Since I have been traveling the globe solo (as a widow), there really wasn鈥檛 much of a transition for me, as I was used to it.

As for acquiring my D7, I did hundreds of hours of reading and research. I hadn鈥檛 joined any Facebook or other forums, so finding a helpful person in the Portuguese consulate in Montreal was so very helpful.

I鈥檓 here now, and brought my Rottweiler, which added an additional layer of paperwork and headaches, but we persevered and have rented a lovely condo near the praias.

Hints, do your research, and get different opinions, because I sometimes found totally different answers to the same questions.

Be friendly and try to correspond (via different apps) in Portuguese!

Good luck!