Stories

Real lives, written by the people living them.

Long reads, short notes, and field reports from across Portugal — moderated by the community, written by anyone.

Storyteller of the week

The apartment I love is the eighteenth one I saw. The seventeen before it taught me how to ask better questions.

MA

Mira Aaltonen

Graça, Lisbon · in Portugal since 2022

Housing8 min read

Finding a long-term rental in Lisbon without losing your mind

Six months of viewings, four scams dodged, one apartment with a view of the river. Here's what I'd tell my past self before stepping off the plane.

About MiraFinnish translator, three cats, one balcony that finally gets afternoon sun.

8 more stories

The D7 visa, calmly
Visas 12 min read

The D7 visa, calmly explained from the inside

A walk-through of what the paperwork actually asks of you, what AIMA expects in person, and how to stop refreshing the email.

HS

Henrique Sá

Setúbal · since born here

412 88
Why Alfama still hums
Culture 6 min read

Why Alfama still hums at 2am — and what it teaches outsiders

Notes from a year of late evenings spent listening, not asking. On fado, neighbors, and the patience of a city that has seen everyone.

JP

June Park

Alfama, Lisbon · since 2023

187 22
A week of pastéis,
Food & Drink 5 min read

A week of pastéis, ranked by the lady at the counter

She has opinions. They are correct. A short and warmly biased tour through five of Lisbon's quieter pastelarias.

TB

Tom Beier

Campo de Ourique · since 2019

322 56
Freelancing from Porto: the
Work & Life 10 min read

Freelancing from Porto: the math, the mood, the mistakes

Two years invoicing in euros from a sunlit kitchen. What the spreadsheets say, and what they don't.

SL

Sara Lindqvist

Foz, Porto · since 2023

154 19
The slow train to
Travel 7 min read

The slow train to Évora is the right train to Évora

A weekend in the Alentejo, by way of the windows. Cork oaks, sleepy stations, and one perfect glass of red.

DM

Diego Marques

Évora · since 2021

98 12
How a neighborhood WhatsApp
Community 4 min read

How a neighborhood WhatsApp group taught me Portuguese

Less Duolingo, more dog-walking schedules. Notes on the most useful language teacher I never paid.

AV

Anya Volkov

Arroios, Lisbon · since 2024

211 34
Eleven small things nobody
Tips 3 min read

Eleven small things nobody tells you about NIF day

Bring the second photocopy. Bring the third one too. A bullet list written from a Finanças waiting room.

RD

Ralph Duin

Cascais · since 2024

76 9
A conversation with a
Interviews 9 min read

A conversation with a Lisbon midwife about moving with kids

On SNS appointments, school choices, and the things parents only ask when nobody else is listening.

IC

Inês Costa

Benfica, Lisbon · since born here

143 27