Expat Communities in Portugal: Where to Find Your Tribe
Portugal has a reputation for being welcoming, and many newcomers find it is. But a warm welcome and an actual friend group are different things, and the second one takes a bit of work.
Here are expat communities in Portugal that you can start with, from Lisbon to the Algarve.
What helped in our own move
When my partner moved from Switzerland to the Netherlands, her first real friends came from work, a group sports class, and the partners of my friends. Locals are open to new people, but most already have their close circle. That's why expat groups and other international couples are often the quickest way in, and why the groups below are worth trying.
Online communities
Expat.com (Portugal). Expat.com has a Portugal network with a forum, guides on moving, banking and healthcare, classifieds, and a tool for creating events and inviting other expats. Pages cover Lisbon and the Algarve among other areas.
Lisbon
Lisbon Digital Nomads. A large Meetup group run as a non-profit by volunteers. It describes itself as open to nomads, expats and locals, with weekly Thursday meetups, co-working sessions, talks, dinners and volunteering events. You don't have to be a digital nomad to feel welcome there.
Other Lisbon Meetup groups. Meetup lists several groups for newcomers and expats in and around Lisbon, including Lisbon Expats&Travellers, Lisbon Cascais Expats Friends and Lisbon Community Connections Group. Look at what each one actually does before you join.
The Algarve
Expats Portugal Algarve Meetup. A social networking group for foreigners living in the Algarve, based in Loulé and organised by Expat Centre Portugal. Events include coffee meetups and Q&A panels, like "Where to live in Portugal?".
Work and sport
Don't underestimate the people you see every week anyway. Say yes to after-work drinks, and sign up for a sports class or club you'll actually go to. Regular, repeated contact is how acquaintances turn into friends.
Groups change. Member numbers, meeting days and organisers move over time, so check each group's own page for what is on right now.
When you miss the place you left
Finding people helps, but it doesn't make the missing go away. Many expats keep something in their new home that holds both places. A custom artwork can do that: your new city and the one you came from, in one piece. The Two-City Skyline Canvas (from €99) blends both, and the Two City Poster Set (from €69) gives you one print per city, made to hang side by side. You see a free digital preview before anything is printed. Create Your Artwork · See Personalised Poster Sets
Tips for finding your people in Portugal
Go to a few events before you decide which group fits. Return to the same one more than once. Add something local to your week too, like a class, a club or a language exchange, so your circle isn't only newcomers. And be patient: friendships take longer than the first three weeks.
Also see our guides to expat communities in Spain, the Netherlands, Germany and Canada, our moving abroad checklist, and blogs and resources for anyone moving abroad. Moving there soon? Our culture shock guide explains what the first months can feel like.
Who we are
We're TwinCity Artworks. We make custom artwork that combines two or more cities into one piece, for people whose hearts live in more than one place: expats, couples in different countries, and families spread across the map. You choose the cities, see a free digital preview, and request changes before anything is printed. Visit TwinCity Artworks
FAQ
Where can I meet other expats in Portugal?
Online, Expat.com has a Portugal network and forum. In person, Meetup groups in Lisbon and the Algarve run regular social events, including coffee meetups and weekly gatherings.
Are expat groups in Portugal only for digital nomads?
No. Lisbon Digital Nomads says it welcomes nomads, expats and locals, and groups like the Algarve Meetup are aimed at foreigners living in the region.
Do I need to speak Portuguese?
Most expat groups run in English, so you can start without it. Learning Portuguese will help you meet local people and feel more settled over time.
Where do I find expat groups outside Lisbon?
Start with Meetup and Expat.com for your area, then ask other members about smaller local groups. The Algarve has its own Meetup group.
Can art help me feel at home in Portugal?
Some expats hang a custom artwork of their new city and their old one together, so both places are in the room. Our Two City Poster Set starts at €69, with one print for each city.
