This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service via our links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This does not affect our recommendations — we only include brands we believe are genuinely useful for expat families in Portugal.
One of the practical questions families ask when researching a move to Portugal is: what brands and services will I actually encounter day to day? Which supermarkets, banks, insurers, mobile operators, and online services are dominant? This guide covers the major brands across every category that matters for relocating families — and where relevant, includes links to services with affiliate programmes that we’ve assessed as genuinely useful.
Supermarkets and Grocery Shopping
Portugal’s supermarket landscape is dominated by a handful of chains, all of which are well-stocked and reasonably priced by Western European standards.
Continente — the largest supermarket chain in Portugal, owned by Sonae. Comprehensive range, good own-brand products, reliable quality. Most families use Continente as their main shop. Good online delivery service. continente.pt
Pingo Doce — the second largest, owned by Jerónimo Martins. Similar range to Continente, slightly more premium feel in some locations. Good prepared food section — popular for lunch. pingodoce.pt
Lidl — the German discount supermarket is well-established in Portugal with a strong following. Excellent value on basics, good fresh produce, reliable weekly specials. Most expat families use Lidl alongside one of the Portuguese chains. lidl.pt
Aldi — similar to Lidl, growing presence. Good for basics and value. aldi.pt
El Corte Inglés — Spanish-owned department store with locations in Lisbon and Porto. Has a supermarket section with a wider range of international products — useful for specific ingredients families miss from home. Premium pricing. elcorteingles.pt
Banking
Millennium BCP — the most commonly used bank among expat families in Portugal. English-language online banking, solid ATM network, generally accommodating to new residents. Branch staff in Foz do Doure and Boavista in Porto are experienced with expat clients. millenniumbcp.pt
Caixa Geral de Depósitos (CGD) — Portugal’s state bank. Widely used, good for long-term integration and property transactions. cgd.pt
Banco Best — online-first bank with competitive savings rates and clean digital interface. No branch network but popular with remote-working expat families. bancobest.pt
Wise — not a Portuguese bank but essential for expat finances. Multi-currency account, mid-market exchange rates, used by almost every expat family for converting foreign income to euros. wise.com — see our full guide to sending money to Portugal.
N26 — German digital bank operating across the EU. Good for families who want a lightweight EU bank account without branch visits. n26.com
Mobile and Internet Providers
Portugal has excellent fibre broadband coverage in urban areas, and competitive mobile networks.
NOS — one of the three main operators, good coverage, competitive family plan pricing. Bundles home broadband, TV, and mobile. nos.pt
MEO (Altice Portugal) — the largest operator by infrastructure, good coverage across Portugal including rural areas. meo.pt
Vodafone Portugal — strong network, good international roaming options for families who travel frequently. vodafone.pt
All three offer competitive family bundles. Walk into any store with your NIF and passport to sign up. Prepaid (pré-pago) SIMs are available immediately without a contract — useful for the first few weeks before you’re fully settled.
Health Insurance
Médis — the most widely used private health insurer among expat families in Portugal. Good network of hospitals including Hospital da Luz, CUF, and Lusíadas. English-speaking customer support. medis.pt
Multicare (Fidelidade) — competitive pricing, broad network, popular second choice. multicare.pt
AdvanceCare — network-based insurer, good coverage in Porto. advancecare.pt
Cigna Global — international expat health insurance for families who want coverage beyond Portugal. cignahealthbenefits.com
William Russell — UK-based international insurer popular with British expat families. Good maternity and paediatric cover. william-russell.com
See our full guide to private health insurance in Portugal.
Property and Rentals
Idealista — the dominant property portal in Portugal. Most landlords and estate agents list here. Good for both sales and rentals. idealista.pt
Imovirtual — second largest property portal, worth checking alongside Idealista. imovirtual.com
Uniplaces / Spotahome — furnished apartment rental platforms popular for short-term arrivals. Useful for the first 1–3 months before committing to a long-term lease.
ERA Portugal — major estate agency network with English-speaking agents in Porto and Lisbon. era.pt
Engel & Völkers — premium estate agency, good for higher-budget family properties in Foz do Douro and similar areas. engelvoelkers.com/pt
Language Learning
italki — the most practical platform for finding Portuguese tutors for children and adults. Community tutors start from €10–€15/hour. italki.com
Babbel — European Portuguese-specific course, good for structured adult learning. babbel.com
Pimsleur — audio-based learning in European Portuguese. Good for commutes. pimsleur.com
See our full guide to Portuguese language apps and tutors.
Money Transfers
Wise — mid-market rates, transparent fees, multi-currency account. The standard tool for most expat families. wise.com
OFX — better for larger, less frequent transfers. Forward contracts available. ofx.com
CurrencyFair — peer-to-peer exchange, very competitive for GBP/EUR. currencyfair.com
See our full guide to sending money to Portugal.
Immigration and Legal Services
Global Citizen Solutions — full-service immigration consultancy for D7, D8, and other visa routes. globalcitizensolutions.com
Lexidy — boutique immigration firm popular with digital nomad families. lexidy.com
Anchor — technology-forward immigration service. anchor.pt
See our full guide to Portuguese immigration lawyers.
Travel Insurance
SafetyWing — flexible monthly subscription travel insurance popular with expat families. safetywing.com
World Nomads — good for adventure-oriented families, solid medical coverage. worldnomads.com
Heymondo — annual multi-trip plans, good family pricing. heymondo.com
Removal Companies
Anglo Pacific — UK-origin families, strong Portugal experience. anglopacific.co.uk
PSS International Removals — shared container options available. pssremovals.com
Sirelo — comparison platform for removal quotes. sirelo.co.uk
Utilities and Energy
EDP (Energias de Portugal) — the dominant electricity provider. Most rental properties are already on EDP — you update the account to your name on arrival. edp.pt
Galp — major fuel and energy company. Petrol stations are the most common sight on Portuguese roads. galp.com
Aguas do Porto — water services in Porto specifically. Registration happens through your landlord or estate agent when you move in. aguasdoporto.pt
Some links in this article are affiliate links. If you use a service via our link, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This doesn’t affect which brands we include or how we describe them.
Planning your move to Portugal? Our free family relocation checklist covers visas, schools, healthcare, and everything you need for the first 30 days.