Backpacking or traveling in Portugal?

• Portugal, an increasingly popular country among travelers from all over the world. Small perhaps, but don't let that fool you. Portugal has a tremendous amount to offer for the traveler and backpacker. From beautiful Portuguese hotels, to cozy backpacker hostels and from rugged cliffs of the Algarve to the vineyards of the Douro Valley - Portugal has something for every traveler. Historic cities like Lisbon and Porto combine ancient charm with vibrant modern culture. As you pass through quaint villages, discover the warmth of the locals, taste the rich flavors of traditional dishes and enjoy the relaxed rhythm of life.
• Activity spotting: explore the historic districts of Lisbon, visit fairytale Sinta, taste Port wine in Porto, hike one of the beautiful hiking trails such as the Camino, Fatima or the Fishermanstrail, surf in Nazaré, visit Roman Evora, Relax on the Algarve coast, explore paradisiacal Madeira and the Azores, enjoy Portuguese cuisine and delicious, inexpensive coffee, visit the medieval town of Óbidos. 

Studying in Portugal?

• The quality of higher education in Portugal is generally good, with some universities enjoying international recognition. You will also find good polytechnic institutes, similar to technical colleges. Portugal is known for academic traditions, especially in humanities and social sciences, as well as technology and management. Popular studies include engineering, business and economics, health sciences, social sciences and tourism. 
• Study culture: social and friendly. Students are involved in studies and there is a great emphasis on collaboration and group work. There are also many extracurricular activities that shape students' social lives. 
• Language of study: mainly Portuguese, with a growing number of programs in English. 
• Study cities: Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra, Braga.

Internship in Portugal?

• You can intern in several major companies in business administration, consulting, marketing, IT, telecommunications and applied arts such as architecture. In addition, the tourism sector is also popular for internships. Internships can last from four weeks to a year. 
• Cities: Porto, Lisbon, Faro. 
• Competencies: Portuguese language skills, diplomacy and sensitivity (Portuguese love indirect communication), customer-oriented work, patience in decision-making, flexibility. 

Volunteer in Portugal?

• In Portugal, you can do all kinds of volunteer work. From nature and animal protection (think about helping at the hedgehog shelter, or forest protection, for example) to education and combating food waste. You can also help with community support, sustainability projects or in the tourism sector at a surf camp, for example. Work is available from a week to several months. 

Working in Portugal?

• If you don't speak English it can be difficult to find a job in Portugal unless you work in a call center, in marketing or in the tourism industry, for example. If you have the qualifications (TEFL), you can also work as an English teacher. 
• Do you speak Portuguese? Then there are opportunities especially in IT, engineering, accounting, HR, hospitality, healthcare and STEM. 
• Work culture: max 40 hours per week, with 8 hours per day. 22 days off and 14 national holidays. Work-life balance is good. People tend to take long lunch breaks, working longer hours, and relationships with each other are highly valued. 

Working as a digital nomad in Portugal?

• Portugal is very popular among digital nomads because of its wonderful climate, affordable cost of living, large community of digital workers and reliable Internet.
• Favorite locations: Lisbon, Porto, Madeira, Ericeira, Algarve. 
• Visa: Portugal offers a special digital nomad visa. 

Living in Portugal?

• Portugal is a very popular relocation country among expats. Its mild winters and warm summers make it an attractive place to live. The friendly people, delicious food and wide range of adventure and traditional activities also contribute to a high quality of life. In addition, costs are quite low for Western Europe. 
• There is a large expat community. So you can participate in many activities and easily get to know other expats. 
• But... disadvantages are that Portuguese is still essential for daily life and integration into society, and you will have to get used to the bureaucracy. 
• Health insurance: health care is good, but make sure you have your own well-covered health insurance.

Stories, tips and experiences from Portugal