According to Idealista News, the median evaluation by banks for properties has reached a new record high. In only a month, the median values have increased by €17 per m2 and by €144 per m2 in a year. In March, the median value by banks was at €1,331 per m2, a €17 (1.3%) increase since the month prior, according to data revealed by the National Institute of Statistics (INE). This growth has accompanied the increase in property prices.
The evaluation of apartments grew by 13,5% in a year, while homes grew by 7,5%. For apartments, the median evaluation was at €1,476 per m2 in March, a 13.5% increase from the year prior and a 1% increase from the month prior. The highest value compared to the year before was seen in Algarve at €1,794 per m2 and the lowest in the Alentejo at €964 per m2. Apartments with three rooms saw the largest median value increase by €17 to €1,316.
For homes, the median evaluation grew to €1,067 per m2 in March, a 7,5% increase from the year prior and a 1,9% increase from the month prior. The highest values were in the Algarve (€1,815) and the Metropolitan Area of Lisbon (€1,788), while Alentejo (€900) and the center of Portugal (€901) had the lowest values. Homes with two rooms saw the largest median value increase by €46 to €1,047 per m2.
There were 32,000 bank evaluations of properties in March of 2022, 23,5% more than in the month prior.
Whenever you apply for a mortgage in a bank, the bank will conduct an evaluation of the property you are going to buy in order to set the amount that will be loaned. While for residents, banks tend to give out loans of 80% to 90% of the value of the property, non-residents will only be offered 65% to 70% of the value of the property. Therefore, for most, it is important that bank evaluations continue to increase as house prices do so that your mortgage loan covers as much as possible of the price of the home.
Bairrada is a Portuguese wine region in the province of Beira Litoral in the center region of the country. It stretches between the cities of Águeda and Coimbra until the dunes of the Atlantic coast side, being a small and narrow region on the coast. It includes the cities of Anadia, Cantanhede, Mealhada, and Oliveira do Bairro.
It borders the region of Lafões (an IPR – ‘Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada’, or Indication of Regulated Provenance) and Dão (DOC).
The region has the classification of DOC (‘Denominação de Origem Controlada’ or Controlled Origin Denomination), the highest wine classification in Portugal. The certification of the different wines are made by the Wine Commission of Bairrada (CVB). It’s known for its red wines with dense colors, elevated tannins, and often bell pepper and black currant flavors, made with the local grape type ‘Baga’. The white and sparkling wines are also of high quality, due to the diversity of terrain in the region, and the rosé production is fairly new but growing.
Besides having a long history, the classification is fairly recent. The DOC for white and red wine was certified in 1979 and for sparkling wine, it was in 1991. Besides the DOC, the region also has an IG (‘Indicação Geográfica’ or Geographical Indication), the IG Beira Atlântico also known as ‘Vinho Regional’ (Regional Wine) Beira Atlântico.
This region has a fertile terrain with some hills (not like some other wine regions, so we can consider it ‘flat’), even though most vineyards are made on flat lands, and a mild, maritime climate with a lot of rainfall due to its proximity to the ocean.
It’s here that around 2/3 of the national sparkling wine production takes place, with the city of Anadia being nicknamed ‘Capital do Espumante’ or ‘Sparkling Wine Capital’.
The wine production in Bairrada can be traced back to the 10th century when the region was conquered by the Christian Portuguese from the Moors.
Due to its proximity to Porto, this region was used already in the 17th century by the Port wine producers who would blend Bairrada wines with the wines coming from the Douro region and sold them to the British, as to be able to supply this growing market.
In the 19th century, this wine region became known by its own name as one that had good quality wines. This was because people that were traveling throughout the country would stop there for the famous ‘Bairrada piglet’, a very famous dish in all of Portugal, and would drink the region’s wines.
In 1867, a scientist named António Augusto de Aguiar studied the wine production systems and defined the region’s borders. 20 years later, he started the Practical Wine School of Bairrada, with the intention of promoting the region’s wines and better the planting and production techniques. The first outcome of the school was the creation of sparkling wines in the region, in 1890.
And this was what made the region known! Famous for being fruity with a mineral touch and a good structure, the sparkling Bairrada wines are a reference and made it the biggest producer of this wine in Portugal!
With time, other wines also earned their space, since the producers started to experiment with ‘Baga’, the native grape type of the region. This is the main grape used for red wines and the thing that differentiates it from the rest is its potential for aging which can get to 30 or 40 years easily, and can be used both for still wines and sparkling ones.
The region then became known internationally with the work of the Engineer Luís Pato, who became known as ‘Mr. Baga’. He did a thorough work with these grapes, discovering how to get a better and more authentic wine with them, with the minimum outside interference.
Nowadays, the region is very well known both for its cuisine and for its sparkling wines, putting the idea in the Portuguese culture that when you eat piglet, it must be with a glass of sparkling wine!
Bairrada Wine Region
This region borders the Mondego River on its southern border, the Vouga River on its northern border, the Atlantic Ocean on its East, and the mountains of Buçaco and Caramulo on its West. Besides this, the region has a low altitude.
Bairrada’s location and its climate and soil characteristics make it a unique region. It has a mild and temperate climate with a lot of rainfall, due to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. The winters are fresh, long, and rainy, while the Summers are hot but freshened by the Atlantic winds. During the period of the ripening of the grapes, the region has a big thermal amplitude, with the temperature variation reaching 20ºC of difference between the daytime and nighttime.
In this region, there are mainly 2 types of soil used for the production of several wine types: the sandy ones, and the more clayey or muddy ones, from where the name ‘Bairrada’ came (clay in Portuguese is ‘barro’, so Bairrada).
The vineyards are usually planted in small discontinued plots of land that are shared with other crops. This means that the soil changes a lot, making it influence the type of wine that is created there.
Bairrada Wine Grape Types
Photo by marcosantiago on Pixabay
Baga
The most famous grape type in the region, as we’ve mentioned, is the Baga grape. It’s the dominant grape for red wines here and it’s usually planted on the clayish soils. These soils and the region’s climate make its wines be filled with color, highly acidic, and very rich in tannins, giving them a lot of longevity. This grape can be used both for red wines and for the region’s sparkling wines.
Red Wine Grapes
However, besides Baga, other grapes are used for red wines there, such as the Alfrocheiro, Camarate, Castelão, Jaen, Touriga Nacional, and Aragonez grapes. But by law, the Baga grape cannot represent less than 50% of the grapes.
White Wine Grapes
As for white wine grapes, the main ones would be Bical and Fernão Pires (which, in the region is called ‘Maria Gomes’). They are usually also planted in the clayish terrain of the region and create delicate and aromatic white wines. Other grapes include: Arinto, Cercial, Rabo de Ovelha and Verdelho.
Sparkling Wine
Recently, it became allowed for the planting of international grape types, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Chardonnay, Merlot, and Pinot Noir and they now share the land with the Portuguese native grapes.
This way, the wines used as a base for natural sparkling wine have to be made with either Arinto, Baga, Bical, Cercial, Maria Gomes, Rabo de Ovelha, Água-Santa, Alfrocheiro-Preto, Bastardo, Castelão, Cercialinho, Chardonnay, Jean, Moreto, Preto Mortágua, Tinta Pinheira or Trincadeira grapes.
Wine Production in Bairrada
The DOC Bairrada seal can be used in White, Red, Rosé, and Sparkling Wines, as well as in “Aguardentes Bagaceiras”, a kind of very strong spirit, traditional throughout Portugal.
The vines that are used for making these wines, should have at least 4 years of grafting. Manual watering should only be done in extreme cases since it should be watered naturally by the rain.
These wines are fixed at 55hl for the red wines and 70hl for the white, rosé, and sparkling. After these numbers, the bottled wine would be considered ‘Table Wine’.
To have the seal, the wine should be approved by the CVB and recognized by the Instituto da Vinha e do Vinho (Institute of the Vine and Wine).
The Portuguese Law specifies the authorized and recommended grape types for the wine production in the Bairrada DOC, also giving directions on how to make the different types of wines.
The wines that don’t follow these directions or don’t have the approved grape types, can’t get the DOC Bairrada seal and get the IG or ‘Vinho Regional’ Beira Atlântico seal.
Bairrada Wine Suggestions: Best Wine in Bairrada
In case you’re looking to buy a good Bairrada wine, here are some brands you can trust to have a very good experience, according to the 2019 contest “The Best Bairrada Wines 2019”:
White Wines
São Domingos
Medusa Reserva Branco
Positive Wine
Rosé
Quinta do Poço do Lobo
Marquês de Marialva
QMF Blush
Red Wines
Casa do Canto
Touriga Nacional
Ânfora 296
As for Sparkling Wines, according to the CVB 2020 contest “Bairrada Sparkling Wines Contest 2021”, these are some of the best brands:
If you’re a nature AND a wine lover, this is the best trip for you! Visit the prestigious Bairrada wine region and learn about its winemaking history and heritage while you taste this region’s famous sparkling wine.
Afterward, explore the amazing Bussaco Forest, filled with incredible nature and beautiful monuments! Then, stop at a local restaurant to try the main dish of the region, the roasted piglet.
If you’re in the area of Aveiro or Coimbra but you want to get out of the city and spend a day in the chilled wine country, catch this tour. You will spend an entire day visiting different vineyards in Bairrada and learning about the winemaking process while tasting the different wines. You will be able to see all around the vineyard, from walking between the vines to going to the cellar tunnels.
Now this one is for the sporty people out there! You will get the best of all the worlds, with the wonderful scenery of the vineyards while you cycle throughout Bairrada Route and a visit to one of the traditional wineries to finish with a tasteful wine tasting.
From young parents to single women, as rent prices rise and remote working becomes the norm, it seems that more and more people are seeking the freedom that comes with van life. You might have heard of it on YouTube or your favorite travel influencer, but many of us still don’t understand what this way of living is all about.
So, what is van life? It looks different to many people. To some, van life is a social movement of nomads who reject the social norm in favor of freedom, minimalism, and adventure. To others, it’s just a way to travel while saving thousands of dollars on rent. Regardless, van lifers have built a tight-knit community all over the world, many even making an income off by sharing their experiences online with audiences.
Whatever it might mean to you, van life has its perks. It gives you the opportunity to live a truly meaningful life, allowing you the freedom to travel while you work, save money, and spend time around nature. But we won’t sugarcoat, van life is not always glamorous. Van lifers have to get used to living in a tight space, worry about safety, and even shower less frequently.
If you’re looking into starting your van life journey, Portugal is a top place to consider traveling around. Luckily, this guide has everything you need to know about van life in Portugal for 2022.
Van Life in Portugal: Is Van Life Over in Portugal?
Although places like Canada and Mexico are the most mainstream spots for van lifers, Portugal has attracted this community for years due to its 300+ days of sun, hundreds of kilometers of coastline, and breathtaking nature. Many van lifers come to Portugal to live and travel in a more responsible and sustainable manner while enjoying all that the country has to offer.
However, over the past few years, many have done just the opposite and negatively impacted the environment, as well as the “slow-paced” way of life of the locals. Portuguese authorities have in the last years, restricted van parking and fined van lifers for parking illegally. Many van lifers have been calling this “the war on van life”. The truth is that many would travel to remote areas of Portugal, where they would park illegally, litter, and make noise late at night. These van lifers angered locals and sparked a heated discussion surrounding van life in Portugal.
For a while, it seemed van life was over in Portugal, but this is no longer the case. Let’s go through how laws regarding van life changed in the last year.
Van Life Laws in Portugal
While in the last few years van life laws in Portugal became a lot stricter, the country seems to be heading in a more lenient direction. In early 2021, due to local complaints concerning noise and pollution, the Portuguese government amended the Highway Code and established the decrees n°24/2020 and 102 B/2020. These stated that parking a motorhome (or a van you are living in) was banned outside of the authorized places, such as campsites or areas designated for van parking. However, this has changed once again!
In the summer of 2021, van life laws have taken a favorable turn! You can now park your van for a maximum period of 48 hours in a municipality, including overnight stays for that period (between 10 pm and 7 am). However, it is still forbidden to engage in wild parking in Rede Natura 2000 areas, a network of nature protection areas, protected areas, and areas concerning the Planos de Ordenamento da Orla Costeira.
The Algarve is one of the most visited regions by tourists and van lifers due to the long sandy beaches and best weather in the country. The Algarve is located on Portugal’s south-western tip and is lapped by the Atlantic from two sides. It is known for its surfing, picturesque cities, local crafts, cuisine, and golden sand beaches. This region has multiple cities and towns worth visiting. Check out our favorite places in the Algarve:
Right above Algarve, the region of Alentejo is where many spend their summers. From gorgeous beaches, golden plains, and rolling hills, this region provides tourists with both the farm life experience and beach vacation. The Alentejo is known for its production of regional tapestries, leather, cork, as well as of local wine, making it one of Portugal’s top wine destinations. Check out our favorite places in the Alentejo:
A must-see, Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in western Europe. The birthplace of Amália Rodrigues, the iconic Fado singer, Lisbon is rich in culture, history, and striking views. From the astonishing views to the nightlife and food, Lisbon has made a mark as a top capital to travel to in Europe. It is no surprise that around 4.5 million tourists travel to Lisbon each year. The capital has something for everyone’s taste: from activities to do with kids, to historical monuments and clubs to dance the night away.
Located on the Portuguese Riviera and a 20-minute drive from Lisbon, Cascais is known for its three stunning bays, luxurious hotels, and beaches. Take a walk to Boca do Inferno, a cliff formation with a stunning natural arch, and through the city center, where you’ll get to see picturesque houses and affordable restaurants.
A UNESCO World Heritage site, Sintra is a town known for its forested terrain, astonishing palaces that once belonged to royal families, and the delicious “Travesseiro de Sintra”. This place is perfect for a day trip if you are parked in Lisbon, as it’s only a 30-minute drive. We recommend visiting the Pena Palace, a colorful palace that looks like a fairytale, as well as the Castle of the Moors from the 8th century.
Located in Central Portugal, Peniche is one of the most famous coastal towns in the country. 100 KM from Lisbon, this fishing city has a strong cultural heritage and history connecting to the sea and is known for its cliffs and colorful houses. You should visit the Peniche fortress and surf on some of the best beaches in the country.
Porto might be the second-largest city in the country after Lisbon, but it is not the second best! 280 km north of Lisbon, the beautiful city of Porto lies along the Douro River. Home to Port wine, street art, and “francesinhas”, Porto is one of the world’s top 100 cities with the most international visitors. Over 1 million tourists visit Porto every year. We recommend visiting the Bolsa Palace, the first stock market in Portugal, and the Lello Bookstore. You should also head to the Douro Valley to try some of the best wine in Portugal (and the world).
Braga might not be a tourist hotspot, but it’s definitely a top city to visit in Portugal. Braga is the oldest city in Portugal, founded by the Romans in the year 16 BC. It’s known as the “Rome of Portugal” as it’s the home of more than 30 churches, as well as the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte. The city is also a famous university town in Portugal, frequented by thousands of young people.
Head to Guimaraes to uncover the beauty of this city and its great historical and gastronomical marvels. Guimarães is the birthplace of Portugal’s first King, Afonso I, making it a city with an important history. Its historical center has been a UNESCO site since 2001. The city has some of the most beautiful plazas in the control, as well as high-quality cuisine and wine.
If you’re looking for a van life experience where you’re surrounded by nature, Gerês is one of the best spots in Portugal. A one-hour drive from Porto, Gerês is the oldest protected area in the country and the only national park in Portugal. The park covers an area of 695.93 km2 and occasionally gets some snow in the winter. There are many hiking trails and “miradouros” (viewpoints) where you can get wonderful views. There are also many lagoons and rivers where you can take a dip in the summer, perfect for after a hike.
Photo by Tiago Aleixo (Unsplash)
Where to Park Vans in Portugal: Campsites in Portugal
For the days you do not feel like going off the grid, it’s important to know the best campsites in Portugal. Along with campsites, you can always look for “areas de servico” where you can park for free that sometimes have bathrooms and charging areas. You can check out the official list of “areas de servico” here (the ones labeled in red are free). We have also selected the 5 best campsites to park your van that won’t break your wallet, below.
1. Yelloh! Village Turiscampo, Algarve
This spot in Algarve is perfect for those looking for a beach vacation. Only 2 KM away from a beach, Turiscampo has a lagoon, pool, entertainment events on-site, a restaurant, and a spa.
Located in Cascais, Orbitur Guincho is literally situated on top of Guincho beach, the best beach in all of Cascais. The campsite is surrounded by a forest, behind the dunes of the beach that give a desert-like scenery. It has a restaurant, pool, and store for day-to-day products.
3. Parque de Campismo de Armação de Pera, Algarve
This campsite is located in a 120,000 m² area of eucalyptus, almond trees, and carob trees, 10 minutes away from the beach. It has a playground, sports ground, restaurant, as well as an outdoor swimming pool. You can also find a mini-market on-site and a laundrette.
4. Zmar Eco Campo, Alentejo
Located in Alentejo, Zmar Eco Campo is a sustainable campsite, a few KM away from the beach and city center. The campsite has an indoor and outdoor pool, supermarket, and even more than one restaurant.
Located in Estela, Porto, this campsite is located close to a gorgeous view of the sea and a little stream. It has a sports ground, restaurant, snack bar, and outdoor swimming pool. This place is also pet-friendly!
Why Portugal?
In 2019, Global Finance magazine ranked Portugal fourth amongst the safest countries in the world.
That same year, the Social Progress Index placed Portugal 18th on the list of best countries to live in, ahead of England, France, Spain, and Austria.
Portugal has a low cost of living.
As most Portuguese people speak English, you do not need to learn Portuguese.
Portugal is slow-paced and has a relaxing environment
The country has a moderate climate, with very sunny days.
Portugal is easily connected to other European countries you might want to visit, as well as a meeting point between Europe, Africa, and America.
Portugal is known for its cultural heritage, cuisine, as well as gorgeous nature.
Photo by Pedro Santos (Unsplash)
Where to Get a Camper Van in Portugal?
If you’re looking to buy an affordable (second-hand) van in Portugal, the best places to look are on Van Life Portugal Facebook groups and the platform OLX. You can take the risk and convert the van you purchase or you can hire a company to do the van conversion in Portugal for you. You can also purchase vans that are already converted and ready to be lived in, although these will always cost you at least five figures.
If you’re too scared to purchase a van and want to get a glimpse of van life before you commit, you can always rent a van in Portugal. A Portuguese company called Indie Campers is a great option. They have over 2000 camper vans of different sizes which you can pick up in 39 countries in Europe, including Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Belgium, Switzerland, Ireland, Iceland, Croatia, Sweden, and Austria. The great thing about this rental company is that you can pick up and leave a van in any of these countries so you can travel all around Europe, not just Portugal. You can rent a van starting at €30 a night.
Photo by Clay Banks (Unsplash)
Van Life Ethics in Portugal: The Unspoken Rules of Van Life
To make sure that van lifers and locals can coexist peacefully, there are certain unspoken rules that van lifers should follow in Portugal. Here are a few:
Clean up after yourself
Limit pollution
Keep noise levels low
Be respectful
Buy local products and use local services to contribute to the local economy
A 2,3 earthquake was felt on Sunday on the island of São Miguel in the Azores, according to CIVISA. According to the Richter scale, this is a minor earthquake that might be felt by individuals but does not damage buildings. The earthquake was felt at 11:58 PM on Sunday in Ponta Garça, in the municipality of Vila Franca do Campo, and in Ribeira Quente and Furnas, in the municipality of Povoação.
There has been a seismic volcanic crisis on the island of São Jorge since March 19th, the largest earthquake detected there occurring on March 29th, with a 3,8 scale. In the last month, there have been around 30,000 earthquakes on the São Jorge island, according to CNN Portugal.
São Jorge’s volcanic alert has been raised to level 4 of 5, meaning there is a threat of a volcanic eruption. The last volcano eruption was in 1808 in Velas, São Jorge.
According to the Richter scale, earthquakes are classified as micro (1-1.9), minor (2-3.9), light (4-4.9), moderate (5-5.9), strong (6-6.9), major (7-7.9), and great (8 and above).
São Miguel, the largest island in the Azores is part of the Eastern Group of the Archipelago with the island of Santa Maria which is 80 kilometers away. The island has around 140,000 inhabitants, with 45,000 people residing in Ponta Delgada, the island’s largest city.
Post-Brexit, many UK citizens feared long waiting lines at passport checks within the European Union (EU). However, Portugal has just become the first country in the European Union to open e-gates at airports that allow UK citizens to be fast-tracked, rather than have to have their passports checked manually. The e-gates can be found in airports in Faro in the Algarve, Funchal in Madeira, as well as Lisbon and Porto.
While this is not what was decided with Brexit, EU member states have the right to set their own travel rules. The new measure means that UK citizens are essentially treated in the same manner at the airport as EU citizens. The e-gate system can also be used by nationals from Australia, Japan, Singapore, and New Zealand.
In 2019, around 2.5 million British nationals visited Portugal. Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy PC Agency believes this is the right move for tourism in Portugal, commending the country for “clearly leading the way in recognizing that they have to process vast numbers of British visitors as seamlessly as possible otherwise there would be long queues this summer”.
The e-gates read the passengers’ biometric data to authenticate documents in less than 20 seconds. It uses facial recognition to match the photograph on the document to the passengers and involves the system searching an international database. Quickly and surely, passengers are on their way in no time.
The extinction of the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) in Portugal has been postponed once again, without a particular extinction date set. SEF was set to be extinct on May 12 and be replaced by the Portuguese Agency of Migration and Asylum (APMA).
The Minister of Internal Administration, José Luís Carneiro stated the “transition should occur in a tranquil and safe manner” and that this transition is not yet ready. He also guaranteed that the fundamental rights of the workers at SEF will be safeguarded during the transition.
“We are working with the different ministries to make sure that this institutional transformation occurs with serenity, stability, and trust and in a condition that guarantees that the functions of security, that are paramount functions of the state continue to be safeguarded”, said Carneiro in Portalegre. The Minister went on to say that in the next few days a “legislative solution” regarding the APMA may be found.
The APMA which will replace SEF will take care of issues of requests for visas, asylum, and aiding refugees, as well as studying, promoting, and executing measures relating to migratory movements and politics The “policing” aspect of SEF is set to be given to law enforcement agencies such as PSP and GNR, while SEF will remain its administrative roles. SEF will no longer enforce border control, as well as deal with issues of illegal immigration and human trafficking. These will be left to the police.
The President of the Union that represents SEF workers, Acácio Pereira has said postponing the extinction of SEF is the right move as this is a “complex process”. He says that not all the rights of workers have been considered at this point in the process.
The current workers at SEF are given the chance to transition to APMA, if they wish. There are over 1,666 workers at SEF, 1,049 of which are inspectors.
The Lisbon city council approved on Thursday unanimously a free public transportation measure in the Portuguese capital for young and elderly residents. The measure is set to begin in June or July for those over 65 years old and in September for students up to the age of 23.
The Mayor of Lisbon Carlos Moedas from the Social Democratic Party (PSD) has said this is a “historic day”, stating that only two or three other European cities have approved such an initiative to fight climate change.
Moedas also emphasized how this measure has passed with his party’s majority in the city council, showing the “ability of doing politics with everyone”. He believes “this is the most important measure” of his mandate that will “stay in the history of the city”.
The mayor believes the measure will have a direct impact on climate change and that it is also socially relevant due to the increase in prices, the war in Ukraine, and the last two years of crisis due to the covid-19 pandemic.
Os lisboetas vão ter transportes públicos gratuitos.
Foi aprovada, em reunião de câmara, a proposta que dará transportes públicos gratuitos aos estudantes residentes até aos 23 anos e aos residentes com mais de 65 anos.
Prometemos e cumprimos. Esta é uma vitória dos lisboetas. pic.twitter.com/jqUTiVgVwf
Tweet translation: People from Lisbon will have free public transport services. The proposal to provide free public transport to student residents up to 23 years old and residents over 65 years old has been approved. We promise and we fulfill. This is a victory for all of us.
Since 2017, children up to 12 years old can already enjoy free public transport in the Metropolitano and Carris networks. Moedas said that in the future, the free public transport measure might be provided to other groups, such as students with a fiscal residence in the city, the unemployed, benefactors of the Social Integration Income (RSI), and people with disabilities.
The measure will cost around €6,266,000 in 2022, and for 2023, 2024, and 2025, should cost around €14,900,000 a year.
With over 300 days of Mediterranean sun, Portugal is the perfect place for a destination wedding, boasting 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Europe’s westernmost country provides marginal scenarios from stunning ocean views, mountain ranges, beaches, and green countrysides. With food and high-quality wines playing an important role in Portuguese culture, your guests will not be disappointed.
Portugal is also easily accessible to international cities with direct flights being abundant and affordable. While weddings in countries such as the USA tend to be immensely expensive, Portugal offers a lot more affordable options for a destination wedding.
Despite an increase in destination weddings in Portugal, according to a 2019 study by Eurostat, Portugal is among the countries with the lowest marriage rates in the European Union, along with Italy, Slovenia, France, Spain, and Luxembourg.
Additionally, while Catholic weddings were once the top choice for couples, in 2019, more than half of weddings were civil ceremonies. In Portugal, couples can choose to have either a Catholic or civil wedding.
For other religions, a civil ceremony needs to happen before the religious wedding so that the marriage is legal. For internationals, although civil ceremonies must be conducted in Portuguese, a translator can be present.
Does Portugal sound like the location for your dream wedding? Let’s go through everything you need to prepare for your destination wedding in Portugal, such as venues, prices, and legal requirements.
Best Wedding Venues in Portugal
Finding the perfect venue can make or break your wedding. Whether you’re looking for a luxurious Sintra palace or a more informal venue, Portugal has a wide range of venues available, all throughout the country. Let’s go through our 6 favorite wedding venues in Portugal and wedding packages so you can figure out how much your dream wedding will cost you.
Located in the Serra de Sintra, 25 minutes from Lisbon, the luxurious 5-star Palacio de Seteas is a romantic palace hotel that will take you back to the XVIII century. The palace boasts views of Mouros Castle and Pena Palace, surrounded by elegant green gardens. The palace is well prepared for weddings, featuring a choice of three ballrooms decorated with amazing frescos for luxurious weddings, holding up to 280 guests.
You can also opt to have your wedding outside in the lush green gardens with typical XVII century palace mazes, lemon trees, and flowers, offering views of the Sintra mountainside.
For a smaller wedding, you can also opt to have your wedding in the restaurant, providing a stunning view of the mountain.
The Experience Team at the palace will organize every detail, such as booking places of worship in Sintra if you would rather have the ceremony in one of these. You can also book the ENTIRE palace for a day for €20,000 per day which includes:
The palace exclusivity for one day, total privacy
All 30 rooms, including the Diplomatic Suite, for occupancy with breakfast included
Exclusive butler service for couples getting married
All palace rooms, gardens, and facilities
Capacity to hold up to 200 guests
Service staff during all event event
The wedding can be held until 5:00
20% of all spa treatments for the couple
10% off on all spa treatments to the guests
However, this price does not include the wedding banquet. Menus start at €155 per person.
Located on kilometer 41 on the Douro River in northern Portugal, Douro41 is a 5-star hotel built of schist and glass in a system extending nearly all the way to the river. The hotel was built with a desire to blend with its natural surroundings while addressing environmental concerns.
In a contemporary and inviting space, a wedding at Douro41 provides the perfect combination of breathtaking scenery and signature architecture. The hotel features venues with unique atmospheres, such as striking gardens, two outdoor swimming pools with a panoramic view of the Douro, a library, a movie corner, and the Raiva Restaurant.
You can hold your ceremony beside their panoramic pool or at one of the indoor or outdoor venues. Douro41 also provides enriching experiences for guests, such as surprise picnics in secret hideaways, boat tours, and hikes.
To rent out the entire hotel exclusively for the wedding party, costs €550 (up to 70 guests). This does not include an overnight stay… In fact, for weddings with more than 60 guests, the entire rooms in the hotel must be reserved for a minimum of 2 nights.
Wedding parties that book the entire hotel rooms receive a special gift: a voucher to celebrate their first anniversary that includes 1 night’s accommodation, a bottle of champagne, and a couple’s massage.
There are multiple menus available starting at €110 and going up to €160. These only include food, a separate drink menu is required. The Douro41 selection of wines costs €35 per person, and the premium selection costs €60 per person. The open bar fee is €37 per person for 2 hours, and each extra hour costs €16.
This wedding package also includes chairs for up to 100 guests and the bridal table with table cloth and flower arrangement with flowers from their gardens. Prices do not include decorations, entertainment, the price of the ceremony, the wedding cake, or the accommodation.
Situated on the hills of Sintra, Casa dos Penedos is a 20th-century palatial mansion designed by renowned Portuguese architect, Raul Lino. For a mythical palace-like wedding, Casa dos Penedos is a stunning option, boasting multiple luxurious rooms and outdoor spaces for your guests.
The wedding venue has a maximum capacity of 220 seated guests. This venue offers menus starting at €116 per person, including a seated meal, wine selection, wedding cake, 2 hours open bar, parking, and a tasting menu for 2 people. Obviously, this does not include the venue rental and everything else that comes with planning a wedding.
You can also opt to contact an English-speaking wedding planner, such as Lisbon Wedding Planner, offering a €15,000 package for 50 wedding guests (VAT not included). For every extra guest, this costs €200 per person. This package includes:
Located on the Portuguese Riviera in Cascais, Farol Hotel is a XIV century mansion renovated into a modern and luxurious 5-star hotel. With a view of the ocean and Cascais, this venue might just be the perfect location for your dream wedding. From a minimalist ceremony to a grand wedding, the hotel’s facilities allow you to have the wedding that fits you best.
The venue holds two major rooms, the Private Mix Room on the first floor which holds 10 to 30 people and has views of the ocean, as well as the Farol Room which holds 34 to 120 people and has direct access to the terrace. The hotel also offers a natural rock deck with views of the ocean that is perfect for a ceremony. The hotel has 33 rooms if you would like to book those for your guests. Menus here start at €150 per person.
Located on the Portuguese riviera of Estoril, Forte da Cruz was built in the XVII century during the reign of King Filipe III of Portugal overlooking the Tamariz Beach. The beachfront castle can host up to 110 guests indoors and up to 500 guests on the terrace overlooking the beach.
Menus start at €135,15 per person and include a starter, main dish, cocktails, and two hours of an open bar. The rental price starts at €2,000. You can also book a wedding planner. Lisbon Wedding Planner offers a €15,000 wedding package for 50 guests, with a €200 fee for each additional guest. This package includes:
A 5-star beach hotel in Alvor, Algarve, Pestana Alvor Praia is located on one of the most beautiful beaches in the Algarve. Surrounded by extensive green gardens where guests can enjoy an outdoor ceremony with views of the city, as well as banquet rooms, this is the perfect venue for an outdoor and indoor wedding, hosting up to 300 guests.
The hotel offers an excellent team to take care of your wedding, as well as photography, music, and decoration services. Menus here start at €75 per person, an affordable price. They also offer a full vegan menu! Their menus do not include an open bar, but the price for this starts at €15 per person per hour. The menu price also includes:
Ceremony table
White towels for tables
White chairs
Menu and wine tasting for two guests
Kids 0 to 3 years old – Free
Kids 4 to 12 years old – 50% discount from the adult menu or child menu option
Services such as entertainment, flowers, make-up artists decorator, photographer, etc are not included.
Like anywhere in the world, a wedding can cost a fortune and in fact, be as expensive as you wish, impacted by the venue, flowers, food choices, and more. The average price for a wedding in Portugal is anywhere between €15,000 and €25,000 for 85 to 100 guests. Although this is a substantial amount of money, wedding prices in Portugal are a lot more affordable than in Western Europe and the United States.
Affordable Elopement Wedding Packages in Portugal
Looking to save a buck and have an intimate elopement wedding? There are multiple affordable wedding packages if you are looking to elope to Portugal for a wedding with your other half. Here are our favorite affordable elopement wedding packages in Portugal offered by various companies.
Summer Picnic Elopement by The Wedding Planner in Portugal
This company’s summer picnic elopement happens in gorgeous palace gardens and includes:
Wedding Planner Assistance
Ceremony in the Palace Gardens
English Wedding Celebrant (symbolic wedding)
Guitar Player for the Ceremony
Professional Photographer for the Ceremony
Bride’s Bouquet + Boutonier (flowers from the season)
Adorable Picnic in the Palace Gardens
Price: €2.350
Beach Elopement Package by The Wedding Planner in Portugal
This wedding package allows you to get married on a beach and includes:
Wedding Planner Assistance
English Wedding Celebrant (symbolic wedding)
Professional Photographer for the Ceremony
Sparkling wine for the toast
Price: €1.710
Lady of the Rock Package by Love and Lace
This wedding is set on a romantic clifftop and includes:
Venue Rental
Ceremony Set up at the clifftop with Arch & Flowers
Legal Fee for Civil marriage OR Celebrant for symbolic Blessing
Wedding planning services and wedding ceremony coordinator
Price: €3.055
Oceanfront Elopement by The Wedding Planner in Portugal
This wedding package happens in a stunning Villa by the Sea and includes:
Wedding Planner Assistance
Ceremony at a Villa by The Sea
English Wedding Celebrant (symbolic wedding)
Professional Photographer for the Ceremony
Bride’s Bouquet + Boutonier (flowers from the season)
Romantic Dinner with Sea view (Drinks included)
1 Night Stay at the Villa
Price: €2.890
Portugal Elopement Package by Somewhere Crazy
This wedding package for an elopement in Portugal includes the option of choosing various locations and the price could change depending on the time of year, guests, and other factors.
A wedding celebrant and a customized ceremony
A photographer – 4-hour photoshoot
A flower bouquet and buttonhole
Wedding planning- including timeline, team & location
Portugal is blessed with over 300 days of sun every year so while in your home country, a wedding must occur in a few short months, Portugal is more flexible. The weather in Portugal is quite moderate meaning it does not get that cold in the winter.
However, to make sure you have a sunny day, the best times to get married in Portugal are between late March and late October, avoiding the winter months. The warmest month is August with an average of 30 degrees celsius, but this month will be the busiest with tourists, along with July.
Wedding legal requirements: What do you need to get married in Portugal?
You will need a marriage license from the Civil Registry Office and it usually takes around one month for the Portuguese authorities to process this request. When you have the license granted, you can book a date for the civil wedding. The request for the license must be done at least 6 weeks before the wedding and the wedding must happen within 6 months of the authorization.
You will get married according to Portuguese law, in the presence of a Registrar. You cannot be married at an embassy in your own country.
You can have a Civil or Catholic wedding, both are legally binding. However, before any religious wedding, a civil ceremony and the marriage certificate must occur for it to be legal.
Don’t worry, you won’t just be married in Portugal! After the wedding, an international certificate is issued so you can register the marriage in your country.
No legal residency requirement!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Weddings in Portugal
How much does a wedding in Portugal cost?
The average price for a wedding in Portugal is anywhere between €15,000 and €25,000 for 85 to 100 guests. However, if you opt for a smaller wedding such as an elopement with just the couple present this should cost less than €5,000.
Can you legally marry in Portugal?
Yes. You will get married according to Portuguese law, in the presence of a Registrar. However, after the wedding, an international certificate is issued so you can register the marriage in your country.
Can a foreigner get married in Portugal?
Yes, you can marry according to Portuguese law. There’s no legal residency requirement for weddings in Portugal.
Are same-sex marriages legal in Portugal?
Yes. In 2010, same-sex marriages became legal in Portugal, while same-sex partnerships have been recognized since 2001. Same-sex married couples have the same rights regarding property, taxes, and inheritance.
What is the best time to get married in Portugal?
The best time to get married in Portugal is between late March and late October, with late May and early June being the best months for sunny days, without too much heat.
German child abuser Christian Brueckner, 44, has been made an official suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann by the Portuguese authorities on Thursday. The suspect is currently in prison in Germany after raping a 72-year-old woman in 2005 in Praia da Luz, the same area Madeleine disappeared in 2007.
Madeleine McCann was a 3-year-old British toddler when she disappeared almost 15 years ago, in Praia da Luz in the region of Algarve in Portugal, while on holiday with her family. Also known as Maddie, she went missing from her family’s holiday rental apartment while her parents had dinner with friends at a nearby restaurant.
Christian Brueckner has been made an “arguido”, which translated to “named suspect”, but has not been arrested or charged. The only other suspects were Madeleine’s parents Kate and Gerry McCann who were named suspects in 2007 but later cleared.
The investigation has been conducted with the help of the British and German authorities. However, Christian Brueckner’s name has been in the media regarding this case previously, as in June 2020, German police stated that Brueckner was likely responsible for the disappearance and that Madeleine was likely dead. However, the case continues to be treated as a missing person case.
The Portuguese authorities’ decision to make him an official suspect could have been caused by the 15-year limit for prosecuting serious crimes in Portugal, which will expire next month.
Brueckner lived in the Algarve between 1995 and 2007 and along with raping a woman in 2005, stole from hotels and holiday rentals, falsified passports, and was also caught stealing fuel from a Portuguese harbor.
He is also being accused of raping a 20-year-old girl in the Algarve in 2004 to which he will face trial this year.
In his 15-minute speech to the Portuguese parliament on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky compared Putin’s regime to the fascist dictator Antonio Salazar’s, a few days before the 25th of April celebrations marking 48 years of freedom in Portugal. Zelensky compared the fight for freedom of the Portuguese people in 1974 to that of the Ukrainians in 2022, stating “you know what we are feeling”.
In his classic green t-shirt and with a Ukrainian flag in the background, Zelensky described horrific Russian war crimes and asked Portugal for more weapons and sanctions, as well as humanitarian aid. Zelensky said Russian troops continue to bomb houses, supermarkets, schools, universities, and churches. He stated that in Mariupol, “a city as large as Lisbon”, “not one home was left intact”. Zelensky stated that over 500,000 Ukrainians have been captured and deported, “a number twice as large as the population of Porto“.
Zelensky called upon Portuguese companies working in Russia to stop doing so. He also asked the Portuguese parliament for “simple things”, as he stated, asking for “weapons so that we can defend ourselves strongly”.
The Ukrainian president alerted the parliament that after Ukraine, Russia will try to also invade Moldovia, Georgia, and Baltic countries, urging Portugal to help Ukraine become a European Union member state.
While most in parliament applauded the Ukrainian president at the end of the speech for 60 seconds, including President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, most of the government ministers, including Prime Minister Antonio Costa did not. This caused an uproar on social media, however, this is parliamentary tradition.
Tweet translation: Each day of war is another day of unbearable pain. The words we heard today by the president of Ukraine in parliament have shaken us.
There were six seats empty – those of the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) who refused to witness the speech. Paula Santos from the PCP justified this previously: “…Volodymyr Zelensky that personifies a xenophobic and belligerent power, surrounded and sustained by forces of a fascist and neonazi nature, including of a paramilitary nature, such as the Azov Batallion”. In March, Zelensky banned all remaining left-wing parties in Ukraine, including socialist and communist parties.
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