Another week of bad weather is on its way. The Civil Protection is warning everyone in Portugal to watch out for the heavy rain coming Monday afternoon, which are likely to result in floods until Tuesday morning. Conditions similar to last week are expected where various urban areas flooded.
Heavy rain, thunder, and strong winds are expected to start this afternoon in most areas of mainland Portugal.
The next two days will include “large periods of heavy and persistent rain, accompanied by thunder and strong winds,” said the National Authority of Emergency and Civil Protection in a press conference.
The areas most affected include the North and Center regions of Portugal, including Lisbon. The most critical time will happen in the early hours of Tuesday, December 20.
Due to these weather predictions, 11 districts of the country are under “a yellow state of alert”: Viana do Castelo, Vila Real, Braga, Porto, Aveiro, Coimbra, Leiria, Viseu, Lisboa, Santarem, and Setubal.
Commander Andre Fernandes of the Civil Protection is warning the public to “adopt measures of auto protection and change their driving in line with the meteorological situation.”
He also asks the public to “monitor the areas more susceptible to landslides and to avoid risky behavior in coastal areas.” Moreover, he suggests cleaning water circuits and creating protection barriers in homes, so water does not enter, such as metal plates.
The weather is predicted to get better on Wednesday.
Between December 7 and December 15, the Civil Protection recorded over 7,900 incidents on national territory, including almost 5,000 floods and 88 displaced people.
Funchal, the capital of Madeira, an archipelago situated in the Atlantic Ocean, 1000 kilometers from Lisbon and 700 kilometers from the Moroccan coast, is one of our favorite places to visit in the winter. An autonomous region of Portugal, Madeira and its capital enjoy moderate winters with sunny days.
Funchal is the perfect city to visit in the winter, featuring plenty of activities that are easily enjoyed in the winter season without hoards of tourists. Before we get into the best winter activities in Funchal, let’s take a look at what the weather is really like during this season.
Winter is naturally the coldest season in Funchal, Madeira. However, temperatures are extremely moderate. The coldest months are February, and early March, where the minimum temperature is 14°C with a maximum of 20°C.
December is the rainiest month, with around 10 days of rain. January (8 days) and February (7 days) are also quite rainy, but in March, this pattern slows down.
What better way to see the views in Funchal in winter than protected from the rain and wind? Cable cars are the perfect activity for the whole family, as well as for a romantic date.
The best cable car is the one in Funchal, a 20-minute ride that goes up to 560 meters high. This one takes you from Funchal to Monte for 15 minutes, providing views of the mountains in Monte and a 360-view of Funchal.
We also recommend the Achadas da Cruz cable car on the Northern part of Madeira in Porto Moniz. This cable car is around 450 meters high and passes through the Fajã da Quebrada Nova where you can see crystal clear waters.
Did you know Madeira has its own wine? Wine is a big part of Madeirense culture and one that can be easily explored in Funchal.
Madeira wine is a fortified wine that is made from a variety of grapes, such as Tinta Negra Mole, Sercial, Verdelho, Bual, and Malvasia. It has a higher alcohol level than the average wine, usually about 20%, so keep that in mind! You will find all kinds of Madeira wine, from very dry to sweet.
Here are our favorite wine tasting experiences in Funchal:
This professional wine tasting includes a visit to vineyards in a 4×4 that passes by the valley of Serra d’Agua, Cabo Girao, and more.
This half-day wine tour takes you to amazing wineries that date back to 1850, where you’ll get to learn about the wine-making process and try some local wine.
Is there a better way to warm up than with delicious food? If you’re a big foodie, you need to book an experience dedicated to discovering Madeira’s cuisine. Is Madeirense food the same as in mainland Portugal? Although there are some similarities due to its geographic location, Madeira’s cuisine is unique to the island.
The local cuisine is known for its soups, seafood, and exotic fruit, as well as some of the bread in the world. We recommend trying limpets, mollusks that are attached to rocks on the coast, and a prego no bolo de cacao, a grilled steak served on local caco bread.
Here are our favorite food tours in Funchal:
This food and cultural walking tour in Funchal allows you to make the most of your day by visiting seven different places and tasting local specialties.
This food, wine, and culture walking tour allows you to find the best local flavors on this 4-hour walking food tour while absorbing the rich culture of Madeira.
This food and wine walking tour takes you through Funchal’s restaurants and markets while learning about Madeira’s rich gastronomic history in a 3-hour tour.
If instead of booking a food tour or experience, you want to venture out on your own, our favorite restaurants in Funchal are O Celeiro, Il Gallo D’Oro, and Quinta do Furão.
4. Day trip to Santana
A 40-minute drive from Funchal, Santana is a unique municipality located along the northern coast of Madeira island. Santana is a Biosphere Reserve classified by UNESCO, featuring beautiful landscapes such as mountain ranges and river valleys. Santana is inhabited by less than 9,000 people and covers an area of 96.2 km2.
Santana is mostly known for the traditional architectural style featured in the Santana houses. The houses are red, white, and blue and have thatched roofs. Its unique style comes from its isolation. Santana was not accessible by sea and land, so the locals preserved its characteristics without outside influences.
To see these, head to the Center for Traditional Houses. Locals no longer live in these houses, but they are open to visitors. You will be able to see inside, including the quaint kitchens and where the locals keep their products. Many of the houses have been restored into shops for you to buy souvenirs.
Traditional Santana house. Photo by Reiseuhu (Unsplash)
5. Winter beach day in Funchal
Who says you need 25-degree weather to spend a day at the beach? Beaches in Funchal are still beautiful in the winter.
You might not be inclined to take a dip, but a walk on the sand or picnic is a great activity to enjoy on a cold day. The sun is still likely to be out to warm you up! Funchal beaches offer a unique environment with a contrast of rock and mountain views. However, there are amazing beaches all over the island to explore!
Here are our favorite beaches in Madeira:
Praia do Porto do Seixal: This small beach has a cliff backdrop, with a large green mountain and a waterfall, providing a stunning contrast with the black sand.
Prainha Beach: A quiet beach for relaxing without the large crowds, you’ll find clear waters and a calming environment.
Faial Beach Complex: The Faial beach complex has a small pebble beach, as well as a natural pool that is isolated from the waves and strong winds.
Calheta Beach: Located on the sunniest part of the island, this is one of the calmest beaches in Madeira, with no waves, making it the perfect beach for kids.
Paul do Mar Beach: This is one of the most popular beaches in Madeira. The pebbled beach has great facilities, such as showers and restaurants nearby.
Paul do Mar Beach. Photo by Adam Johnson IG @Ias_bermudas
6. Take a ride on a Madeira “basket car”
Looking for an adrenaline rush to warm you up? We have just the activity for you! A traditional activity in Madeira is riding basket sledges down sloped streets, a tradition with more than one hundred years of history.
These are wickerwork sleds on wooden runners on which you will be seated on. They will descend through the hills of the mountains with two men, called carreiros or sled drivers, on each side of the car controlling it.
These basket cars do not have mechanical breaks. However, don’t be scared, as you are in safe hands of experienced people.
While winters in Madeira are not as cold as elsewhere, you will still need to pack accordingly. Here is a list of items to pack for Funchal in the winter:
Jeans
T-shirts
Long-sleeve sweaters
Warm hoodies
Scarf
Warm shoes and/or sneakers
Boots
Hat
Sunglasses
Sunscreen (the sun is strong even in winter)
Warm jacket
Raincoat with hood
Does it snow in Madeira?
Yes, kind of! It is becoming less frequent, but you can still find snow on the top of mountain peaks sometimes.
However, in November 2020, there were some areas of Madeira that had almost 1 meter of snow, which is unusual. Families went up to the mountains to enjoy the snow, playing with snowballs and sliding in the snow.
Still, if you want to visit somewhere in Portugal that is more likely to have snow, we suggest heading to mainland Portugal. It only snows in a few areas in mountainous zones up north.
The most common place to see snow in Portugal is in the Serra da Estrela mountains, the highest mountain range in Portugal.
Serra da Estrela is actually home to its own ski resort, as at the peak of the winter season, there is around 114 mm of snow.
However, while skiing and other ski sports are possible in Serra da Estrela, the amount and quality of snow are not the same as in other countries like Italy.
After a strong performance the week before, Portugal was knocked out of World Cup on December 10 after losing against Morocco.
Portugal began in Group H for this year’s FIFA World Cup 2022, along with Ghana, Uruguay, and Korea. Portugal was able to beat Ghana (3 – 2) and Uruguay (2 – 0), while later losing against South Korea (2 – 1).
However, it made up for its loss a few days later when Portugal beat Switzerland 6 – 1. This was Portugal’s biggest-ever victory in the knockout rounds of the World Cup and the third time the country reached the quarter-finals.
In this 6-1 victory, Portugal’s coach Fernando Santos opted to replace Cristiano Ronaldo with Gonçalo Ramos, who was the man of the night, scoring three goals on his first international debut.
Sadly, four days later, Morroco beat Portugal 1 – 0 in a less impressive performance for Portugal. Fans and players were equally devastated. Cristiano Ronaldo took to Instagram in an emotional message to fans, saying that his life long dream of winning a World Cup had ended.
Portugal World Cup Match Recaps
Portugal – Ghana (3 – 2)
Portugal beat Ghana 3 – 2 in their opening game for Group H, marking their fifth successive game without defeat against African sides at the World Cup. In this match, Cristiano Ronaldo made history by becoming the first male player to score at five World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022).
There were no goals in the first 64 minutes until Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal. Andre Ayew then scored a goal for Ghana at 73′. At this point, tension fills the stadium as the teams are tied.
However, only five minutes later, at 78′ Joao Felix scores a goal after a long pass from Bruno Fernandes. Portugal is in the lead again with 2 – 1 against Ghana!
No more than two minutes later, Rafael Leao scores at minute 80 after another assist by Bruno Fernandes. Things are looking good for Portugal.
At 89′, Ghana scores another goal after substitute Osman Bukari takes the game to 3 – 2.
At minute 90, 9 more minutes are added to the game. There’s still time for a tie. Ghana’s players make a couple of attempts at Costa’s goal but fail. Portugal wins 3 -2.
Portugal’s second game was eventful. Portugal advanced to the round of 16 after beating Uruguay 2 – 0, both goals scored by Bruno Fernandes. Bruno Fernandes scored twice at 54′ and 90 + 3′, the last goal during a penalty and was crowned man of the match.
Regarding the first goal, Cristiano Ronaldo thought he touched the ball in the first goal with his head. However, it was then shown this wasn’t the case, and the goal was credited to the Manchester United midfielder.
South Korea – Portugal (2 – 1)
Portugal lost against South Korea on December 2, although it still passed on to the next phase. South Korea seemed to have a strong defense tactic to keep the ball away from Portugal.
At minute 5, Portuguese forward Ricardo Horta scored a goal with an assist by Dalot. At 27′, South Korean defender Kim Young-gwon scores the first goal for Korea.
By halftime, South Korea and Portugal are tied 1 – 1. Throughout most of the second half, the score remains the same. It seems the game will go into extra time. However, at 90+1′ Korea’s Hwang Hee-chan scores after an assist by H. Son.
Portugal – Switzerland (6 – 1)
In possibly Portugal’s best performance, the national team beat Switzerland 6 – 1. Portugal had reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the third time, after 2006 and 1966.
Goncalo Ramos made his international debut extra special, scoring three goals. He scored his first goal at 17′ with an assist by Joao Felix.
Pepe then took the match to 2 – 0 at 33′ after an assist by Bruno Fernandes. The first half of the game showed Portugal in the lead, playing a strong game.
A few minutes into the second half, Gonçalo Ramos scored at 51′, taking the match to 3 – 0. At 55′, Raphael Guerreiro scores after an assist by Ramos.
Three minutes later, at 58′, Manuel Akani scores for Switzerland, taking the match to 4 – 1.
At 67, Gonçalo Ramos scores the 5th goal after another Felix assist.
Cristiano Ronaldo enters the game at 73′, substituting Joao Felix. Ricardo Horta replaces Gonçalo Ramos, and Rafael Leao replaces Bruno Fernandes.
At 90 + 2′, Rafael Leao scores the final 6th goal after receiving the ball from Guerreiro.
Morocco – Portugal (1 – 0)
The Morocco – Portugal game was both a stressful and historic match. Throughout the match, Portugal’s performance wasn’t as high as expected, although the stats remain in the country’s favor, with 74% possession and 85% pass accuracy.
At minute 41′, Youssef En-Nesyri scored a historic goal for Morocco that remains the only goal scored during this match and ultimately gave Morocco the win. Although there was still hope in the second half, Portugal was not able to score a goal.
Morocco became the first African team to qualify for the World Cup semi-final, making this a historic win.
Uma equipa que deu tudo em campo. Adeptos que nunca se cansaram de puxar pela Seleção, em qualquer parte do mundo. Queríamos todos chegar mais longe, mas vamos continuar juntos a orgulhar Portugal. 🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/UAmMNgPN3o
This was likely Ronaldo’s last World Cup. In his interview with Piers Morgan, Ronaldo said that he wants “to finish at 40. I think 40 will be a good age, but I don’t know, I don’t know the future.”
Ronaldo will turn 38 in February 2023, so he will be over 40 in the next World Cup. Regarding the Euro 2024, Ronaldo has previously said he would like to play and obtain another victory for Portugal.
Ronaldo’s retirement age has not yet been confirmed, however.
Has Portugal won any World Cups?
Portugal has never won a World Cup. However, it did win UEFA European Championship in 2016 after a final against France, as well as the UEFA Nations League in 2018.
According to a report in the expresso newspaper of December 2, 2022, “to buy the same set of essential products you need to spend 35.60 Euros more than nine months ago,” representing a substantial increase of 19.4% since the beginning of the war in Ukraine.
These products include foods with prices that have been hyperinflated. According to the same newspaper, not even a year ago, a kilo of rice would have cost around 1.14 Euros, and that price today is already approximately 1.80 Euros. The same happens with products like fresh hake, where a kilo went from 6 euros to around 10 euros (a 78% increase).
Portugal thus becomes one of the European Union countries where food prices have risen the most. And the future doesn’t look very bright, with prices expected to continue to rise. And while inflation has been a nightmare for everyone, in Portugal, prices have also increased due to the effect of the extreme and severe drought that hit the Portuguese territory.
The lack of water means no food for humans or animals. And with a large part of the cereals being imported from Ukraine, the closing of this market and the search for other alternatives have formed the perfect mixture for a huge problem: galloping inflation that has been strangling the financial capacity of many Portuguese, who are increasingly resorting to aid to be able to feed themselves.
It is no wonder that consumers’ choices have changed, opting for cheaper products, reducing quantities, and buying fewer products thought to be non-essential.
All this has put an enormous strain on the lives of the Portuguese, who constantly have to re-adapt to this price escalation.
As such, one could say that the middle class has become poor, while the poor are now miserable, and hunger is looming over the lives of many Portuguese.
Housing, an extra quandary in Portugal
But if the food basket and how much a Portuguese intends to spend on groceries is cause for alarm, the housing situation in Portugal is as disturbing, having become the new social scourge. There are no houses, and those that exist are directed at a wealthy class that the average Portuguese will never be able to reach.
For this reason, the exceptionally high housing prices in Portugal have already removed 76 thousand people from Lisbon and Porto, two cities where, according to the same newspaper, “between 2019 and 2021 have almost seen 10% of their population leave”.
It is mainly young people who move to the outskirts, looking for more affordable houses to buy and rent. This phenomenon makes Portuguese cities reconfigure, with their centers becoming more filled with foreign inhabitants, so-called expats or digital nomads.
At the exorbitant price of everything, no Portuguese, whose average salary, according to the National Institute of Statistics, is around 1300 euros a month, will ever be able to afford rent of around this amount.
Therefore, they move far away, even though they keep their jobs in the city centers, which implies wasting more time in traffic jams, gaining more stress, and losing their quality of life.
In environmental terms, all this is a disaster because when looking for cheaper housing, this often means being far away from transportation, implying the use of cars to go to work, which is clearly harmful to the environment.
If they are not already so, the Portuguese risk becoming service providers for a foreign elite occupying their centers and inflating housing prices.
According to Visão magazine, from December 1, 2022, housing prices in Portugal “have soared by more than 80% since the beginning of 2016”, something widespread throughout Portugal but clearly more exponential in the metropolitan areas of Lisbon and Porto.
There, prices have doubled in many parishes, and in certain areas, according to the same magazine, houses have been sold “for prices equivalent to three or four times the national average.”
All this would be fine if wages kept up with all these prices. However, wages in Portugal still need to rise so Portuguese people can return to the cities where they grew up.
In addition, the rental market, with its exorbitant prices, presents deplorable locations. Many rooms are over 300 Euros, some without windows or natural light.
The good ones that used to be rented to students have turned over to tourists, taking these spaces out of this niche market. At the same time, the student residences are insufficient, and one is lucky to get a place in them.
This news makes life difficult for many students and their families, who either give up studying or, if they can, make endless trips from home to university, spending more than four hours a day going back and forth. It is easy to see how someone, even if young, quickly loses academic performance.
Now all this seems like just numbers, statistics, and journalistic articles if we were not living through this. But I, too, as a young person—not getting that young anymore—find myself at this enormous crossroads of getting a space of my own that I can finally call home.
Constantly working precarious jobs, my generation has been putting life off, always hoping for better days. And even though employability may be higher now than it was a few years ago, we now find ourselves in the dilemma of not being able to afford a life in Portugal.
It is no wonder that about 30% of young Portuguese between the ages of 25 and 34 still live with their parents. Clearly, in a country with such a demographic problem, these people will also put off starting a family.
All this becomes a chain of events. The housing problem and inflation aggravate the demographic crisis in a country eager for generational renewal.
Investing in construction
Construction investment seems to be the easy way out in a country where the sector has had a massive problem restructuring itself after the 2008 financial crisis. The bureaucracy regarding licensing, always delayed in the city councils, makes the product more expensive in a world where time is clearly money.
From personal experience, being the daughter of an ex-builder and the sister of a civil engineer, the 2008 crisis was just the culmination of a problem that started to be visible at the beginning of the millennium.
And if now there is a shortage of houses and buyers, the feeling twenty years ago was that there were plenty of houses but a lack of people to buy them. This resulted in the indebtedness of several construction companies that dissolved and never opened again.
On the other hand, there is a considerable lack of workforce in the sector. There is no investment in professional schools to train people for this sector. But it’s easy to understand why no one wants to follow this career. It’s not attractive; a tough job with meager salaries doesn’t make anyone want to dedicate their lives to it.
This is a paradox since houses are sold at million-dollar prices, but those who make them, now mainly African immigrants, continue to have miserable salaries and, in many places, also poor working conditions.
Population imbalance
This whole housing situation is again aggravated by the maldistribution of the Portuguese population. We have an increasingly overloaded coastline and a more desertified interior. And on the coast, where the territory for construction is already limited, prices clearly tend to rise.
Meanwhile, less inhabited areas are less attractive for various reasons (no leisure options, no job opportunities, poor access), becoming, in many cases, dormitories and putting more pressure on an already overcrowded territory.
With such an incipient economy and uncompetitive wages, the struggle for fundamental rights such as food and housing has become a real burden in the lives of the Portuguese, who constantly worry about being able to feed themselves and have a roof over their heads.
Christmas is the most celebrated holiday in Portugal, one that has become more cultural than religious. Christmas traditions in Portugal have been for many decades set in stone and passed on, while in recent years, many have had to adapt some for convenience and affordability.
The Portuguese celebrate Christmas on December 24 and 25, with Christmas eve being the main celebration. On January 6, another celebration is quite common to bring about the end of the Christmas season. Let’s take a look at the Christmas traditions in Portugal!
Christmas Eve in Portugal
While in other countries Christmas day is the most important celebration, this isn’t the case in Portugal. Christmas eve on December 24th is the main day of celebration. Families get together to enjoy dinner and celebrate until late.
Gatherings tend to start between 6 and 7 pm. While dinner is only served later, between 8 and 9 pm, for a few hours, families enjoy their time together, drinking wine and enjoying some starters.
For Christmas eve dinner in Portugal, the star of the show tends to be bacalhau or salted cod. During the “Consoada” Portuguese families tend to enjoy cod baked in the oven with potatoes, boiled egg, and cabbage. Cod is usually also served as a starter ingredient in pasteis de bacalhau, battered codfish fritters.
Some families enjoy cod as a main dish in another dish. The Portuguese say that there are 1001 ways to cook cod. Another Christmas eve dish with this ingredient is Bacalhau a Gomes de Sa, where the cod is cooked with potatoes, onions, and layered with a hard-boiled egg.
However, the price of cod has been increasing exponentially, where today most cannot afford a whole cod. Therefore, many will opt for another Christmas eve dinner that is more affordable.
Any left over cod is put away for the next day and made into “roupa velha”, translated into “old clothes”. This is a mix of cod, potatoes, Portuguese cabbage, and boiled egg that is delicious.
Photo by Libby Penner (Unsplash)
After dinner, there are many delicious desserts to enjoy. The table tends to be switched into a “dessert table” with many Portuguese Christmas desserts on display. The most traditional Christmas dessert in Portugal is the Bolo Rei, a traditional cake filled with fruits and nuts. Other traditional desserts include arroz doce, rabanadas, pao de lo, and sonhos.
After dinner, families will enjoy some Port wine and coffee while socializing, laughing, and playing games.
Presents are traditionally open at midnight. Even small kids will often stay awake until this time to open presents. There is often a delegated Christmas present giver that will stand by the Christmas tree and give out everyone’s presents.
However, for the more religious, midnight is for the Missa do Galo. This is a mass celebrated on Christmas eve that starts at midnight. Catholics head to their local church for this important mass. They will later open presents or do so beforehand.
Families will then spend time together for a few more hours after opening presents and then head to their respective homes. Christmas eve can actually end pretty late for many families, at like 1 or 2 am.
Christmas Day in Portugal
Christmas day in Portugal is a day of rest. Usually, presents have already been opened. However, there might be extra family or friends coming on the 25th, so there might still be a few presents to open!
Lunch starts between 1 and 2 pm. On Christmas day in Portugal, the main dish tends to be a meat one such as cabrito assado no forno. This is a delicious oven-roasted lamb with roast potatoes. Alternatively, a stuffed turkey might also be the main dish as it is more affordable.
The traditional “roupa velha”, a mix of last night’s cod, potatoes, and cabbage might also be available as a side or starter.
After lunch, the Christmas desserts will be present again, such as Bolo Rei, arroz doce, rabanadas, etc.
The rest of the day is usually spent socializing or watching Christmas movies on the television as a family. Some will even take a nap on the couch. Friends and extended family members might even come by after lunch to bring presents or enjoy some dessert!
Traditional Portuguese Christmas Food
Bacalhau: Salted cod is a Portuguese staple for Christmas, particularly on Christmas eve. The most traditional way to prepare it is to bake it in the oven and serve it with boiled potatoes, eggs, and Portuguese cabbage.
Cabrito Assado: Oven-roasted lamb is traditionally served for lunch on Christmas day, accompanied by roasted potatoes.
Photo by Karelman (Flickr)
Peru Recheado: Also served on Christmas day as a more affordable alternative, a turkey is stuffed with vegetables and other ingredients.
Roupa Velha: Roupa velha is a way of fighting food waste, using the leftover cod from Christmas eve and mixing it with potatoes, egg, and cabbage. It is then drizzled with quality olive oil and served for lunch on Christmas day.
Photo by Pedro Varela (Flickr)
Bolo Rei: A fluffy cake filled with fruits and nuts traditionally eaten on Christmas Day (December 25) and Kings Day (January 6).
Photo by Britta Frahm (Flickr)
Arroz Doce: This “sweet rice” recipe is made with rice slow cooked in sweet milk and topped with cinnamon.
Photo by PortoBay Experiences (Flickr)
Rabanadas: Similar to French toast, the Portuguese rabanadas are fried bread coated with sugar and cinnamon.
Photo by Francisco Antunes (Flickr)
Pão de Ló: This Portuguese dessert is a humid cake with egg yolks. Some are made drier, and others are covered with sugar for an added flavor.
Sonhos: Meaning “dreams” in Portuguese, sonhos are deep-fried pastry balls covered with sugar and cinnamon
Christmas Gifts in Portugal
Gift-giving is an important part of Portuguese culture, particularly during Christmas. This is highlighted by the fact that the Portuguese receive an extra monthly salary for Christmas.
For Portuguese families, the heart of this tradition is placed on children. Children will often receive a gift from each family member, as well as friends and extended family friends. This looks different in every family due to finances, but it is quite common for kids to be showered with gifts.
It is also common for friends and family to give each other gifts, although these do not have to be expensive or luxurious at all. Still, the Portuguese tend to spend a portion of their salary on Christmas gifts.
While “Secret Santa” is becoming more popular, particularly in times of economic difficulties, it is still not mainstream. Most families give gifts to each person in attendance.
If you are invited into someone’s home for Christmas, it is a sign of respect to bring gifts, at least for the hosts. A gift can be some wine and a nice cake such as a Bolo Rei.
The hosts will have spent a lot of money on preparing the festivities, particularly on groceries, as these can be quite expensive. However, in Portugal, asking to pitch in for Christmas groceries is not very socially acceptable unless you have a very close relationship with the hosts.
End of Christmas: Dia dos Reis
The Christmas season only technically ends on January 6, on “Dia dos Reis” which translates to “Day of the Kings.” This is the day when traditionally, the Portuguese pack up their Christmas trees and decorations, saying goodbye to the season.
This day is a Catholic celebration that says that three wise men, known as Reis Magos, visited baby Jesus on the night of January 5 after being guided by a star. The three kings, Belchior, Baltazar, and Gaspar, gifted Jesus gold, incense, and myrrh.
On this day, Portuguese families get together to celebrate the end of Christmas. They enjoy Christmas dishes such as codfish, Bolo Rei, rabanadas, and more, as they would on the 24th and 25th.
However, many Portuguese families no longer celebrate this day. Many even leave their Christmas tree up until the end of January.
Throughout the night, the Portuguese Civil Protection registered over 1,000 incidents in Portugal, mostly related to flooding. Over 30% of the registered incidents occurred in the Lisbon district, which was under red alert due to heavy rain and flooding.
The Civil Protection is asking everyone in Portugal to avoid leaving their home, with Lisbon City Hall urging people not to enter Lisbon. Schools are likely to close.
The Mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas, highlighted that while such rain events are common every 50 years, weekly events are a matter of concern.
Most of the incidents were registered in Algés. Last week, a similar scenario occurred where Algés faced heavy flooding, and a person died. This week, the tunnel of Algés station was completely underwater.
Those in Portugal received on Monday a Civil Protection alert warning about possible flooding in Leiria, Setubal, Lisbon, Evora, Santarem, and Portalegre.
The following roads and locations are closed or compromised in Lisbon this morning:
Túneis Campo Pequeno + 2 Campo Grande + Av Joao XXI + Av. Berlim
Acesso Eixo Norte Sul
Radial de Benfica
Av. Infante D. Henrique junto ao Túnel Batista Russo
Located in the south of Portugal, the Algarve is perhaps the most sought-out area for families in the summer looking for a relaxing vacation in Portugal. This region caters to families with various interests, including those who love to spend days at the beach relaxing, as well as the more adventurous kids. Let’s take a look at 7 best things to do in the Algarve with kids for your next family trip!
The Algarve is home to popular waterparks. These are usually only open between April and October and are a great activity for children. You can spend the whole day at a water park for an unforgettable day out.
Slide & Splash is located close to Alvor and is one of the largest waterparks. This child-friendly waterpark opened in 1986 and has an area of 10 hectares, including giant slides, loungers, spaces for animal shows, restaurants, and a shop. There are slides for all ages!
Another favorite is Aquashow, a waterpark that is part of a leisure complex with a 4-star hotel. The waterpark features plenty of slides, pools, a watercoaster, and more attractions for the brave, as well as activities for smaller children.
If you choose to stay at the Hotel Aquashow, it features 148 rooms, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a gym, a restaurant, bars, and more.
Photo by William Warby (Flickr)
2. Algarve family beach day
A beach day is the classic Algarve day out with the family that never gets old. The Algarve is a vast region with several wonderful beaches. Most would argue the Algarve has the best beaches in all of Portugal. There are so many options, so which beaches are the best in the Algarve for a family day?
Praia do Alvor is one of the most well-known beaches in the region of the Algarve in the south of Portugal. The beach is composed of fine white sand and stretches over 3.5 kilometers, featuring a long boardwalk that guides to gorgeous dunes and the Ria de Alvor Nature Reserve.
You can find a beautiful lagoon behind the beach, formed by the river of Alvor where you can enjoy some windsurfing, kayaking, and more. You will also find several restaurants close to the beach, as well as bathrooms, showers, and a lifeguard station.
Located in Tavira, Praia do Barril features a wooden path over the golden sand, which provides a gorgeous contrast with the dark blue waters. Due to the large size of the beach, you will rarely feel like it’s too busy, despite its popularity.
Praia do Odeceixe is located in Aljezur and is surrounded by the Ribeira de Seixe, a river that surrounds the 330-meter beach until it reaches the ocean. During low tide, many small lagoons appear in the sand, perfect for kids to play in. You will also find surf schools at the beach where you can rent a board or take some classes to get started.
Photo by Marlis Börger (Flickr)
3. Mini-golf in the Algarve
The Algarve is known for its amazing golf courses, including mini-golf courses for kids and adults to enjoy.
One of the most famous mini-golf courses is the Family Golf Park in Vilamoura. This includes two 18-hole courses, the Via Appia, devoted to the history of the Roman Empire, and the Via Lusitania, devoted to the Roman Empire’s occupation of the Iberian Peninsula.
You can even organize a mini-golf tournament, where they will take care of everything, including a welcome drink and the medal ceremony. The Family Golf Park also has a games room with different options, a restaurant, kids club, and a tourist train to explore Vilamoura.
Another great mini golf course is Golfland in Alvor, set within a tropical garden. Founded 8 years ago, this more recent golf course combines mini golf, street food, cocktails, and great hospitality for a unique experience. Along with the 18-hole mini golf course, there are indoor golf simulators, a playground, restaurants, a games room, and more.
4. Boat experiences
Many would say that the Algarve is best explored by sea. Luckily, there are a ton of boat tours for tourists wanting to explore the region, which are incredibly child-friendly.
For a trip along the Algarve coastline from Albufeira to Benangil, book this catamaran tour. You will be able to marvel at the rock formations and Benangil cave, as well as stop for a swim. This three-hour tour includes a live tour guide that speaks both Portuguese and English.
Alternatively, this 75-minute boat cruise from Lagos to Ponta da Piedade sails over beautiful turquoise waters with a live tour guide. It is a small tour with fewer than 9 participants and stops at secluded grottos and beaches such as D. Ana Beach and Camilo Beach.
If you want to really entertain your kids, what about some dolphin-watching? This 2.5-hour dolphin-watching tour not only allows you to spot the beautiful animals in their natural habitat but also allows you to see the Benagil Sea Cave. The tour includes a live tour guide, available in multiple languages, including Spanish, English, French, Portuguese, and Dutch. You can book the whole boat for a completely private tour!
5. Lagos Zoo
Opened in 2000, Zoo Lagos has over 140 animal species from five continents, including exotic animals, as well as goats, donkeys, and guinea pigs that your kids can pet!
The Zoo has an active role in the conservation of nature and participates in several captive breeding programs for endangered species. It also raises awareness among visitors through environmental campaigns, exhibitions, and more, providing great learning opportunities for kids.
6. Krazyworld
Krazyworld was first founded as a mini-golf 22 years ago, but it is not expanded into a fully licensed zoo. This place is home to a bunch of kid-friendly activities that will make the whole family happy. Krazyworld includes a petting farm, swimming pool, waterslides, inflatables, pedal karts, minigolf, high-ropes, and paintball!
The zoo is interactive, allowing your family to get close and pet a bunch of amazing animals, such as dwarf goats and deer. The zoo also includes one of the largest snakes in Europe!
7. Pirate ship cave cruise
If you’re in the Portimao area, we highly recommend this pirate ship cave cruise! Your kids will feel like tiny pirates sailing the Atlantic on an unforgettable cruise.
The ship sails through various iconic points, including the village of Ferragudo, medieval castles, and the famous rock formation of Algar Seco. You will also arrive at the lighthouse of Alfanzina, and there you will transfer to a small boat to visit the inside of the local caves.
On the return to the boat, you can take a swim in the ocean, as well as look out for dolphins on the ride home!
Dating looks different depending on where you are located on the globe. Cultural differences, views on romance, gender roles, and family are a few of the many factors that impact a country’s dating scene.
Dating in Portugal is not relatively different than in other Southern European countries but is vastly distinctive from dating in the United States, for example.
To better understand dating in Portugal, our guide will help you navigate this new dating scene. From how to find a date, marriage, dating etiquette, and more, this guide has everything you need to know to tackle your love life.
Finding a Date in Portugal
There are two main ways to approach dating and finding a date in Portugal. One is to meet someone through online dating, which is becoming more popular in Portugal. On the other hand, you can also meet people the old-fashioned way and more organically.
It’s important to note that dating does not look the same all over the country. There will be some areas where finding a suitable date is more difficult as the dating pool is smaller, particularly for the LGBT+ community.
However, in cities like Porto and Lisbon, meeting a partner is a lot easier, both in person and online.
Online Dating
If you had asked us five years ago, online dating in Portugal was not very common. Many single people did not have profiles on dating apps. There was a stigma surrounding apps like Tinder, and many looked down upon those who had these dating apps.
However, in recent years, online dating has become more socially acceptable, and most single people will have some sort of app downloaded on their phone.
While the numbers might not be as large as in cities like Berlin and London, it’s common for those in Lisbon and Porto to date online.
This is the case for many Portuguese cities, but again, the online dating pool in rural areas might be tiny.
You will also find many internationals on dating apps, as well as digital nomads and tourists.
Photo by Pratik Gupta (Unsplash)
Here are the most popular dating apps in Portugal:
Tinder: Tinder is probably the most popular dating app in Portugal.
Bumble: Bumble is a great alternative where it’s up to women to start the conversation within 24 hours.
Hinge: Less popular but on the rise, Hinge focuses on getting people to connect in person.
Meeting People in Portugal
If your dream of finding the right person is to do so organically, this is still popular in Portugal. However, while the Portuguese are friendly people, if you wish to meet someone at a coffee shop, this is not that likely.
The Portuguese do not often come up to you like that and ask you out in a flirtatious matter. Unfortunately, harassment in Lisbon and Porto is prevalent, but we do not consider that to be on the topic of flirting and dating here.
You are more likely to meet someone or get a date if you are a part of your Portuguese city’s nightlife, like heading to a bar or club.
If this isn’t the right environment for you to find a partner, don’t despair. Join an activity like yoga, surfing, or another sport. Alternatively, find local meet-ups for expats which might be hosting events.
Photo by Louis Hansel (Unsplash)
Dating Etiquette in Portugal
The most common date scenario in Portugal is going out for a coffee This tends to be a first date scenario, and then you move on to other activities such as going to bars, restaurants, beaches, or parks. This is not always the case but tends to be a pattern.
Here are a few tips for your next date in Portugal:
Be punctual: Forget the assumption that the Portuguese are late, you must be on time for a date
Learn the greetings: Men and women kiss on the cheek, and men and men tend to handshake but also give hugs. Do what feels best, but learn the etiquette so that you know what to expect.
Dress according to the dating scenario: You might be overdressing if you are in heels or underdressing if you are in shorts and sandals.
Splitting the bill: It is common for people to split the bill, regardless of gender. If someone offers to pay, the other will usually take care of the bill next time. However, older men tend to want to pay the bill.
Ask questions about your date, monologues are frowned upon
Photo by René Ranisch (Unsplash)
Dating a Portuguese Person
Dating a Portuguese person does not look a specific way, as everyone is different. The Portuguese are not a monolith. However, you might find that there are different social and cultural norms when it comes to dating a Portuguese person.
It is said that Portuguese men are not very romantic, particularly when it comes to gift-giving and celebrating holidays like Valentine’s Day. Family is very important to them, and you are likely to meet them. Many argue that Portuguese men are “mama’s boys.”
Portuguese women tend to be very independent. This doesn’t mean, however, that they are not romantic. On the contrary, they are passionate and have been taught to show their emotions.
Again, take these with a grain of salt, as everyone is different.
Dating in Portugal: The Importance of Family
As you may have noticed, family is very important in Portugal. If you are in a serious relationship with a Portuguese person, in a way, you are also “dating” their family. It’s commonplace for families to have a meal together every week. You will be included in these events and made to be part of the family.
If a family member needs help, particularly a grandparent, as a partner, you are also expected to be there for them. Your in-laws are very important. You are expected to always show them respect and develop a close relationship with them.
Marriage and Children
In 2021, the average age of marriage in Portugal was 34.3 years of age for males and 32.9 years of age for females. While in the United States, it’s common for people to get married at 28 or even earlier, the Portuguese tend to get married later. Still, there will be cases of younger marriages, particularly in more religious communities.
Unfortunately, Portugal has the second highest divorce rate in Europe, with 58.7 divorces per 100 marriages.
When it comes to having children, Portugal has one of the lowest birth rates in the EU, standing at 7.7% in 2021. The birth rate has been decreasing exponentially since the 1950s. The average age that a mother has her first child in Portugal is 29.9 years old, a number that has been rising.
Photo by Jeremy Wong Weddings (Unsplash)
Proposals in Portugal
Proposals in Portugal are different than in other countries, such as the US and the UK. Proposals tend not to be as grand and romantic, with thousands of euros spent for the occasion.
Portuguese proposals tend to be more intimate and simple. Surprise proposals are also less rare. Let’s say that you might not be so surprised you are getting proposed to. Conversations around marriage will happen for a while before a proposal.
However, if you are planning a romantic proposal in Portugal, the country has a lot to offer. From beautiful cliffs in the Algarve and beaches to the Douro valley, Portuguese landscapes will make a dramatic landscape to this important moment.
Legal Marriage vs. Domestic Partnership
Getting legally married is not your only option. Many couples opt for a domestic partnership instead. A domestic partnership, known as A De Factor Partnership, is not a marital status but a recognition that has similar effects to marriage.
Domestic Partnership in Portugal
A domestic partnership is applicable to couples living in the same house together for at least two years. They must show they are a couple who share a life together in the same house. The main difference is that in a domestic partnership, unmarried couples are not heirs to each other.
A non-martial partnership ends when one of the partners dies, one of the partners gets married, or by the will of either of the partners. Keep in mind that this partnership is not a valid condition for a foreign person to apply for Portuguese nationality.
What are the advantages of a domestic partnership?
Submit a joint personal income tax with the same rights as married people
Protection of the home they live in. If a partner who owns the house dies, the other person is allowed to live in the home where they lived prior with the deceased. They are allowed to live in the house for five years after the death or for as many years as the partnership lasted if the partnership was over five years old.
Widow allowance if the partner dies
Other benefits similar to married people in regard to absences, leaves, and holidays.
Marriage in Portugal
In Portugal, a marriage is a contract between two people who want to share their lives. The contract includes the rights and duties of both partners. It only ends with divorce or the death of one of the persons.
People over the age of 18 who are not first-degree relatives can get married. You can get married from the age of 16 with the permission of a legal guardian.
There are different types of marriage, including a civil, catholic, or civil under a religious form marriage.
In Portugal, married couples are entitled to 15 days of marriage leave, taken consecutively from the date on which the wedding takes place.
Property Schemes: Prenups in Portugal
When a couple gets married, they can choose whether they share common assets or separate these. They must select a property scheme which is a set of rules stating what belongs to the couple and what belongs to each person in the case of divorce.
If you do not want to choose one, the Communion of Acquired Property is automatically applied. In this scenario, all assets that the couple acquired after the marriage are owned by both people. This does not include inheritances, donations, and salaries, as well as assets acquired prior to the marriage. For example, if, after getting married, one of the individuals buys a house, it belongs to the couple.
There is a scheme called the General Communion of Property that says that all assets belong to the couple. This includes assets acquired before and after the marriage. This does not include inheritances, donations, and personal objects.
Another scheme is the Separation of Property. In this scheme, there are no assets that automatically belong to the couple. Each person keeps the assets acquired before or after the marriage. To own assets together, they would need to buy them in co-ownership.
However, this scheme does not apply to inheritances. If one of the persons dies, the widowed is always entitled to the part of the inheritance they are legally owed. This scheme is compulsory for spouses over 60 years of age.
Alternatively, couples can create their own property schemes through a prenuptial agreement, choosing the characteristics of the schemes they prefer. Their own scheme needs to respect the law.
Having a Child in Portugal
The Portuguese are having fewer children and choosing to start a family later in life. Is Portugal still a good place to have a baby?
Yes. Portugal has a strong public health care system which makes it essentially free to have a child (if you are a resident).
The quality education system, public parks, and sunny weather make Portugal one of the best countries in Europe to start a family.
The Portuguese government is also planning to implement measures to fight the decline in the birth rate. Along with free childcare, the government will provide fiscal deductions for families with children, as well as free textbooks and free computers.
Being pregnant in a country where you are granted basic rights and protections fosters a positive experience. Pregnant women have health and employment rights in Portugal, many of which are inexistent in the US and UK, unfortunately. Both parents have a right to parental leave.
Will my baby get Portuguese citizenship?
If, as a foreigner, you have a baby in Portugal, your child might be eligible for Portuguese citizenship. The child will receive citizenship automatically if one of the parents was born in Portugal or if they don’t have any other nationality through their parents.
They can also get automatic citizenship if at least one parent has lived in Portugal for five years at the time of birth. You must prove this when registering the birth of your child.
Alternatively, a child can apply for citizenship if they have lived in the country for six years. However, they must take a Portuguese language test and not have been convicted of a crime with a sentence of over three years.
The day had yet to begin for anyone, neither for the sun still sleeping nor the entire neighborhood. Were it not for the sound of the television interrupting all this early morning silence, this would be a typical quiet fall morning.
From the TV, the news alarmed us about the rainy and windy weather forest for that day. Notwithstanding our possible displeasure about a gray sky, rain is welcome, especially in such a tremendous year of drought in Portugal and all Iberian Peninsula.
It was not yet six in the morning, but an alarm had already sounded, reminding me that I had to get up earlier than usual. There, I struggled with the cold and a certain laziness in the morning.
Usually, the Portuguese don’t get up so early, contrasting with Nordic or Central European countries where the culture of going to bed and waking up early prevails.
Therefore, it would be strange to see the cause for such an early wake-up. However, there is a good reason to do so, even if it costs us to get out of bed early.
You wake up early to go to the local health center to get an appointment with your GP, also known as a family doctor. In Portugal, health centers open at eight in the morning, but still, it’s better to get on the road earlier and arrive there one or two hours before.
And when you arrive at about six thirty AM, one or two people are already queuing up. You ask who arrived first, ask about your turn and the doctor’s name for whom you are waiting. When you hear someone say a doctor’s name other than your own, you sigh in relief because you can catch a vacancy to meet your GP.
And if the reader by now might be pretty confused by all this, I will explain further how everything proceeds typically. This method of waking up early, going to the health center, and staying there to be able to make an appointment with your doctor isn’t new.
In fact, it is obsolete, but it is still in effect, especially in smaller towns where it is difficult for people to get an appointment with their family doctor.
The appointment booking systems have changed over the years but don’t seem to progress, making the bureaucratic machine more complex instead of simplified. Recently, when I wanted an appointment for any day, I was told that I would have to come back the next day to be able to make an appointment for about a month and a half later.
If I wanted to meet with my doctor on the day, I would have to come as soon as possible and make an appointment quickly, right in the morning, since the doctor will always have one or another vacancy available. So, that’s what I did on that particular fall morning.
My reason for going to the doctor was, among other minor things, to present the results of some medical tests that he had prescribed me.
I arrived at the health center, and just as I predicted, an old man was sitting on some old, makeshift wooden benches. He was already there because everyone knows that people arrive early, and we all want a spot with the doctor.
And then everyone stays there, with the cold, the rain that falls, and only three small benches that don’t fit everyone. Still, nobody in charge wants to make it official because that would be admitting the system’s flaws.
We chatted while the sun was slightly rising. People were arriving slowly, sleepy, some sicker than others. People then complained about the same things, mainly the lack of proper facilities.
The gentleman who was already there wondered why they didn’t build a kind of marquee where they could protect themselves from the cold. Meanwhile, the two benches were not enough for everyone, and I gave my seat to older people. And, of course, there is always someone who tries to cut in line, thinking they are more clever than the others.
All this is how a decades-old tradition is maintained. So are the difficulties of getting close contact with the doctor. And I also complain, but I do it, nonetheless, as they say here, “with a full belly,” privileged because I should be grateful simply for the fact that I have a family doctor.
A friend of mine is not so lucky. He had the same family doctor for years until the doctor retired. Meanwhile, in his even smaller health center, young doctors appear as fast as they disappear.
They go, they stay, and when they realize the lack of a career progression and the enormous stagnation of the Portuguese interior, at the slightest opportunity, they flee to a more cosmopolitan environment that can provide them with a more pleasant life. I don’t condemn them. I understand them perfectly, and even I constantly have this urge.
But while one is young and can go from one place to another, the same cannot be said about the elderly population from these areas. And it’s our senior citizens who need medical care more than anyone else.
And in the midst of them, some resilient young people can also be found who may even be thinking about starting a family. And when anyone thinks about something like this, or when one makes this decision, they sure need prenatal medical care.
But how can you ask a young couple to embark on this adventure when it’s so hard to get a simple routine consultation? And if a woman decides to become a mother, the news is not very encouraging.
Many maternity hospitals have closed in Portugal, creating more insecurity for those who choose to be mothers. Along with this, stories of pregnant women from distant areas of big cities who could not get the proper assistance also keep popping up in the news, making us all consider this option.
It is easy to ask the population for an increase in birth rates in a country like Portugal with such an aging population. Still, as long as the conditions for access to primary health care are not created, the country will undoubtedly continue to see its population decline.
Wednesday night’s heavy rain led to 450 incidents all over the country. The most affected areas were Lisbon, Sintra, and Oeiras. In Alges, a 55-year-old woman died in a flooded basement. Her husband, who was also in the basement, was rescued.
In Lisbon alone, there were 379 incidents, making it the most affected area, with Setubal (39) and Faro (10) following.
The heavy rain hit several buildings, including Sao Francisco Xavier Hospital in Lisbon, where floors remain flooded, and a roof even collapsed. The Alcantra and Campolide metro stations were also highly flooded.
Parts of Lisbon airport were flooded, leading to two flights being diverted. Luckily, the airport is now operational.
Those living in low-lying areas were asked to seek shelter, and the Lisbon mayor urged everyone to remain indoors.
Mayor Carlos Moedas visited flooded areas last night and said that works to build a five-kilometer drainage tunnel should start soon. He highlighted the importance of tackling climate change and that this should not be “politicized.”
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