In the last five years, more than 40,000 French people have come to Portugal. They decide to come because of tax breaks and a country that welcomes all foreigners with open arms. They decided to stay because of the sun, the sea, the food and the history.
Discover the French community in Portugal: the cities where they settle, the things they like to do and their favorite places.
The French community from north to south
Lisbon
The French Embassy estimates that about 18,000 French people live in Lisbon, and that number continues to rise. They are excited to arrive to a metropolis with a remarkable quality of life. For families seeking good schools, the Lycée Charles Lepierre should be high on your list of your choices.
The areas of Cascais and Estoril also have a strong French presence. It’s not unusual to see the French community in the region gathered at the Hotel Baía every Sunday evening. They have a drink, see the sea and talk about life.
Porto
This is one of the most fashionable European cities and has the most established French community in Portugal.
In recent years, about 12,000 French people have chosen this city at the mouth of the River Douro as their new home. Business opportunities in real estate and tourism have been one of the reasons why the French feel so attracted to this port city.
West Coast
This area to the north of Lisbon, between Torres Vedras and Nazareth, has been seeing an increasing number of French people. They enjoy the quiet life of the countryside by the sea, with the proximity to a big city. In addition to actively participating in everyday community life, the French organize evening parties and cultural sessions. Jokingly, some people refer to the French as the “the 13th civil parish in the municipality of Caldas da Rainha” (the city has 12 parishes).
The South Bank
Due to a heated property market, the South Bank of the Tagus is being looked at by French people. It is possible to buy a house in Azeitão, Comporta, Alcochete, Tróia or Palmela for half the price of a similar property in the city of Lisbon.
In addition to taking advantage of the many kilometers of excellent beaches within a stone’s throw away (and of course the proximity to the capital), the French community also appreciate strolls through the famous markets and fairs in the area.
Algarve
It is estimated that there are 6000 French people living in the Algarve. Although they are scattered throughout the region, the largest community lives in the city of Lagos. Even still, the interior, especially in the serra de Monchique, is becoming increasingly populated by the French. They like to purchase small farms and enjoy the rural way of life with the ocean in the background.
What the French community in Portugal like to do
Go to fairs and markets
The Portuguese have lost the habit of attending fairs and markets. Only in recent years have they re-discovered a fascination for street markets. The people setting foot in these open air and tradition markets are in fact the French.
They like buying meat, vegetables, fresh fruit and freshly caught fish. They can also go back to speaking French in these markets. One of the vendors in praça das Caldas da Rainha has an apron that reads: “Je m’appelle Patrick, je parle français.”
Learn the language
For a large part of the French community in Portugal, Portuguese is a difficult challenge to overcome. The solution is language courses. The Alliance Française has the most popular Portuguese courses for French people. Spread over the whole country, it has schools from Braga to the Algarve, including Porto, Viseu, Leiria, Lisbon, Setúbal and Beja.
In addition to learning services, they also have cultural offerings to promote Francophone ideals. It is a dynamic center of French community and a meeting point for French people in the region.
Enjoy all the culture on offer
The ballet, classical music and the opera are the top activates for the French community in Portugal. The language barrier is less a problem than in the theater and so these shows are more easily understood. It is common to find French residents in Portugal visiting museums and exhibitions. Given the extensive historical heritage of the country there is always a palace, monastery or church that need to be seen.
