Bruno Arcos

It isn't easy to move to another country, be it alone or as a couple. Although no one makes such a life-changing decision light-heartedly, it can be challenging to meet different people and make friends when you are in a new city without mastering the language. Luckily, we have a few tips to get you out and about in Lisbon and interacting with natives and other expats in no time.

Lisbon attracts hundreds of expats every year, be it for studying or working in one of the sunniest capitals in Europe. As a solo expat, it might be challenging to start mingling with other professionals — especially for those digital nomads and freelance expats out there. But worry not: we have a couple of tips for you.

Whether you're traveling solo, with your partner or with an extended group of family/friends, there are plenty of things to do in Porto catering to all types of visitors. Just stay tuned and find out what sort of activities suit you the best!

While walking through the streets, interacting with the people, and visiting local museums, restaurants and concert halls, there are details that will forever shape your experience in Porto, as this is a city that, if you search hard enough, truly allows you to dive deep into its core. That being said, there are plenty of activities for you to choose from, depending on your mood and – of course – company.

Cultural, religious and political differences can be felt while traveling within most countries, which is even more relevant if you are a foreigner coming to a city or country for the first time! To avoid potentially awkward situations when networking and trying to conduct business, it is better to get a heads-up on the do's and don'ts in Porto.   

Make no mistake – food is a big part of people's identity in Northern Portugal, which means you'll necessarily spend a lot of time around the dinner table if you want to mingle with the locals! As such, and after spending some time stuffing your face with egg-custard-based sweets, pork, cod and the infamous Francesinha (not to mention all the wine), your body will surely start begging for some physical activity. Luckily, there are plenty of activities and facilities in Porto to help you get back in shape after spending a while here!

A magnificent way of getting acquainted with a city's culture is to taste its food! We recommend you be open-minded about Porto's traditional dishes since some of them may sound a bit too heavy and odd at first. However, once you give them a chance, you will understand what all the fuss is about, so be prepared for a lot of fun during your culinary adventures in Porto!

The process of choosing a city to live in is not easy. We understand the responsibility inherent in such a choice, and therefore, we want to share some relevant information about Porto to help you make an informed decision. Are you a people person? Do you love sunny days? Are you keen on living downtown? Be sure to inform yourself about the city before you take this huge step, and you can start right away by managing your expectations with our help.

Like in many other places, you will need to take part in Porto's events and interact with those around you in your daily routines in order to meet new people and make some friends. However, the locals here are generally very laid-back and easy-going – friendly by nature – which is why building your social circle should not be as daunting of a task as it sounds!

To build a professional network in a foreign city, especially one such as Porto, which keeps growing and changing at a frantic pace, you will need to be one step ahead at all times. Be sure to create a LinkedIn profile if you haven't got one yet, or update your info as soon as possible before venturing into this new terrain.

If you want to truly embrace Porto's culture, then getting acquainted with the locals is a must! Once you're up for it, making new friends will be rather easy, as people in the northern districts (such as Porto) are famous for being the nicest, most welcoming, and most genuine in the country. Don't be shy; put yourself out there, and people will give you a proper welcome!

Most people visiting Porto for the first time spend most of their time exploring the downtown, and the same thing goes for expats looking for a home here. This means most of the remaining areas in the city are still quite under the radar. Fear not, since this article will clue you in. Take a special look at Baixa, Foz do Douro, Matosinhos, Vila Nova de Gaia and Boavista when looking for the perfect place for you to live.

As a relatively big and well-developed city, you will find all kinds of companies when looking for a job in Porto. Depending on whether you are part of a very small, family-owned business or integrated into a multinational company based in Porto, the best way to properly fit in your new company is to be very upfront and verbal about what you expect from your job and how far you are willing to go to contribute to the company's growth. As long as you keep things out in the open, everything should work out just fine.

In the past few years, the labor market in Porto has suffered a considerable boom. There are far more opportunities now that the 2011-2015 crisis is apparently water under the bridge, with new businesses and new companies growing as days go by. Be that as it may, you should definitely do some research about the specific area of work you are looking for, as the Portuguese economy is famous for running on low wages, making it increasingly difficult for the average Portuguese worker to afford to live in the big cities.

Over the past few years, rent prices in Porto have been soaring. As the city's popularity grows among tourists and more and more digital nomads escape Lisbon's cost of living crisis, finding a decent, affordable place to rent in Porto is getting increasingly difficult.