Making a new Start in Portimão

With around 55,000 residents Portimão on the banks of the Arade River is a great place to start looking for affordable property and begin a new life in Portugal. Although property prices have gone up in recent years, it is still possible to find Portimão apartments that range in price from 77,000 to 81,000 euros. Portimão town centre has pedestrianised shopping area and all the amenities for your daily requirements.

The old fishing docks have been transformed, now offering a selection of cafés, restaurants and bars, which line a beautiful promenade that runs all the way to the Praca de Bivar.

Famous Praia da Rocha is a mere three kilometres away. It is a modern town with hotels, bars, restaurants and tourist amenities, so a good place to start looking for work, although much of it is seasonal, so you'll need to find a niche that will provide you with a year-round income. Jobs on offer are mostly in the tourism sector, including food and beverage specialists, hotel management and pool attendants for example.

One of the most important skills to bring to a new life on the Algarve coast is the ability to speak Portuguese. Jobs that require English language skills are more likely to be found in Porto and Lisbon, where finance and technology sectors offer great opportunities to specialists. In a comparatively small place like Portimão it will be important to arrive with Portuguese language skills of at least intermediate level. Online courses are a good first step, but signing up with a language school where you can practice speaking the language is essential, if you are planning to work in Portugal. A selection of language schools are based in Portimão that offer private tuition as well as classes covering all levels of competence.