7 Best Ways To Find Accommodation in Portugal
How to avoid disappointment while traveling or moving
I love traveling. It is the best university, and I can not imagine life without exploring different areas of the world. I have lived in a couple of different countries and continents.
I moved to Portugal and am learning much about the culture and people. It’s been a fascinating journey, but not all are flawless, naturally.One of the enormous challenges is finding decent accommodation. Although Portugal is considered one of the cheapest European countries it’s not that cheap anymore.
You can probably find some bargains in the countryside, but it won’t be easy to communicate if you don’t speak Portuguese. Even in larger cities, like Porto and Lisbon, most landlords do not speak English, and finding your new place can be very frustrating.
That is why I prepared this practical guide, which will help you to find accommodation in Portugal but also elsewhere. Some of those rules or websites are applicable, regardless of location.
1. Ask your friends
If you have friends who live or visit Portugal (or another country of your destination ), ask them directly. People who have experience of living or even visiting another country have a completely different insight on the topic.
Even if they don’t help you, they may give you some valuable tips or at least on what to avoid. It can be priceless.
2. Join Facebook group/community
There are so many Facebook groups & communities based around living in a specific area. Once when you decide where you want to go, join them.
The downside of this method is getting spam, unfortunately. You will get lots of people messaging you directly with some questionable offers, but if you keep your eyes open, you may find something interesting.
Create a post in the group to find the right type of accommodation for you. Always follow the group/community rules. Introduce yourself and be very specific about what you are looking for. Attach a nice, smiley picture of yourself, some funny gif or visual to stand out and draw attention.
3. BQuarto www.bquarto.pt
From my experience, this must be one of the best platforms for finding longer-term accommodation in Portugal. You have to register yourself. Include your picture and provide relevant information. It will help to find the right match for your needs.
Some offers are in English; however, most are in Portuguese. It would be best to use Google Translate or similar to understand what they write. The good news is that most people who use this platform are students. So, there is a good chance you will find someone who speaks your language.
The bad news is that some of them may not be the cleanest places on Earth. But this could be an excellent solution if you don’t mind living in a bit unclean environment and want to save money.
4. CustoJusto — www.custojusto.pt
That is another excellent choice for a medium to long-term stay in Portugal. I used it when I arrived in Lisbon. You can find anything on this website, starting from clothes to cars.
You will also find people selling various stuff they don’t need anymore and looking for new tenants. It is essential here not to be fooled by low prices. Try to get as much information about the place as possible before making any decisions.
Look at the photos, read the description carefully, and see if there is anything that doesn’t look right. The best would be to visit the place before you make any commitments.
Another thing to remember is that some people who use this website may not speak English. If that is the case, try to find someone who can or ask your Portuguese friends for help.
5. OLX Portugal — www.olx.pt
This is a general advertising platform, and you will also find accommodation offers. There are different types of places to rent all around Portugal, but the most significant number of offers are located in and around Lisbon, Porto, and other larger cities.
The best part of OLX is that you can use it in any country, not only Portugal. So, if you are moving to another country, it may be worth checking OLX in that area too.
The downside of OLX is that some of the offers may not be real. That is why you must be careful and try to get as much information about the place as possible before making any decisions.
6. Idealista — www.idealista.pt
This is a popular website in Portugal for searching for apartments, houses, and other types of properties.
The offers are genuine, and you will find some good deals if you dig deep enough. The only downside is that most people advertising here do not speak English. But I was lucky to come across some people who speak excellent English.
7. Airbnb — www.airbnb.com
This website became famous worldwide, and it would be strange not to use it when looking for accommodation.
Airbnb is good for emergencies or short terms, especially at the beginning. The prices are very high in Portugal for Airbnb, and sometimes it is tough to find anything.
I managed to stay longer and negotiate better prices with the hosts. And I made some local friends and connections that way. Living at Airbnb, I met some local business owners and a lawyer ( providing free legal advice ). Network wherever you can.
A massive advantage of renting Airbnb is getting lots of valuable information from the host. They know the local area and can even help you find something different or for a longer term.
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