Resources – Portugal | Books, Websites, and More

Resources for Expats in Lisbon

Living in Portugal is an incredible experience, surrounded by history and culture. If you wish to delve deeper into Portuguese life, there are many books and useful websites available to you.

Books

The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis is a classic 1984 novel written by Portugal’s only Nobel Laureate, Jose Saramago. It tells the story of Ricardo’s final year in Lisbon after returning from Brazil. If you enjoy Kafka and Borges, then this novel will be to your taste.

The Book of Disquiet by Fernando Pessoa is another deep dive into the culture, poetry, and musings of Lisbon. One of Portugal’s most significant writers, poet, and philosopher. This book is a collection of his writings compiled fifty years after his death.

300 Days of Sun by Deborah Lawrenson is an intriguing novel set in the small Portuguese town of Faro.

A New Life in the Algarve, Portugal by Alyson Sheldrake is an anthology of life-stories

Guidebooks

Lonely Planet Pocket Lisbon 2019

DK Eyewitness Top Ten Pocket Travel Guide 2019

Rick Steves Portugal 2021

Lonely Planet Portugal 2019

Cookbooks

Eat Smart in Portugal: How to Decipher the Menu, Know the Market Foods, and Embark on a Tasting Adventure. 2017

Lisboeta: Recipes from Portugal’s City of Light. A cookbook from Portugal’s City of Light. 2017

Everyday Portuguese Home-style Cooking 50 Great Recipes. 2013

Portuguese Cooking Easy Classic Recipes from Portugal. 2017

Government Websites

https://imigrante.sef.pt/en/ This is the website for visas and all matters related to immigration.

https://eportugal.gov.pt/en/servicos/tirar-a-carta-de-conducao This site is for all matters related to driving in Portugal, exchanging a driver’s license or first-time drivers license.

Tourism

https://www.visitportugal.com/en

https://www.travel-in-portugal.com/

https://www.portugalvisitor.com/

https://www.visitlisboa.com/en

Airlines

https://www.azoresairlines.pt/en Azores Airline formerly known as SATA

Classifieds

OLX Portugal is the most popular for buying and selling as well as finding a rental property.

CustoJusto is a similar site for buying, selling, and renting.

Trovit Portugal advertises houses, cars, and jobs.

Craigslist Lisbon.A familiar website for many Americans and Canadians. You can find everything you need here.

ClassiPortugal is a site offering all types of classified ads in Portugal.

Groups for Foreigners living in Portugal

Internations Lisbon is your Expat community in Lisbon.

Facebook Expats in Lisbon Group

Meetup in Lisbon Group

Newspapers

The Portugal News

The Portugal Resident Your daily news from Portugal

The Local Portugal has local news stories

Blogs

Julie Dawn Fox in Portugal This blog has everything you need to know about life in Portugal. Julie has been living in Portugal for 12 years and has a deep understanding of the country. This blog is the perfect starting point to plan your travels. Learn about the different areas before you decide where to live.

Portugalist is a blog written by James and Jemma, who have chosen to make Portugal their home. It covers everything you need to know to travel and live in Portugal.

Salt of Portugal describes the culture, cuisine, cities, and everything glorious about Portugal.

Top Tips

01	When renting a flat, be sure to ask about heating. Portuguese homes are notoriously cold in winter as usually there is no heating. Houses aren’t insulated, and electricity costs are expensive. Therefore, people forgo heating. But be aware, winters are freezing as well as humid. Many ex-pats are surprised at just how severe a Portuguese winter can be.
02	Why not start your day like a local with a café and pastel de nata (traditional custard tart) sitting on an outdoor terrace. What better plaza than Lisbon’s main square Praça do Comércio.
03	Take the Ascensor da Gloria to the top arriving in Bairro Alto. Turn to your right, to find the famous viewpoint of San Pedro de Alcantara. This scenic lookout offers sensational views over the city.
04	Be very vigilant while traveling on the funiculars. Pickpockets are rife, especially in the high season. They will sit close to you, engage in conversation while a partner will take your wallet.

Useful links

https://www.visitlisboa.com/en

The official tourist information site for Lisbon. Find out everything you need to know to make the most of your trip.

https://www.lisbon.net/

Here is another site with information about activities and day trips from Lisbon.

https://imigrante.sef.pt/en/

The official website for Portuguese immigration matters. Find out about visa requirements and how you can gain Portuguese citizenship.

https://www.meetup.com/cities/pt/lisbon/
For information about residence and all immigration-related questions.

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/

Lisbon has a large expatriate community. This a great resource to find like-minded people in Lisbon. Whatever your interest, there is probably a group that meets up.

https://www.metrolisboa.pt/en/

This is the Lisbon Metro website in English. You can plan your journey here.

Interesting Facts

1. Portugal produces 50% of the world’s cork. Portuguese cork from the Algarve region is superior and used by Moet Chandon for bottling its famous champagne. Other famous companies like NASA, Rolls Royce, and Airbus prefer to use Portuguese cork.

2. The book shop, Bertrand, is the oldest in the world and you can visit it in Lisbon. It has been doing business since 1732.

3. Nazaré, a coastal town north of Lisbon is famous for its epic waves. It is well-known among surfers to have some of the best and biggest waves in the world. The waves are known to get as high as 30 meters or 100 feet.