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Meeting People and Making Friends in Portugal

Researched and written with AI tools from official sources. How we make our guides

Practical ways to build a social life in Portugal: free Portuguese classes, volunteering, local associations, parish activities, and help settling in.

The Portugal Brief 6 min read

Meeting People and Making Friends in Portugal

Last verified: October 2026.

Who this is for

  • You have just arrived, EU or non-EU, and know few people in Portugal.
  • You work remotely, are retired, or have children, and want groups that fit your week.
  • You have lived here a while and want more Portuguese friends, not only other foreigners.

Not for you if: you mainly want Portuguese lessons and exams. Read Learning Portuguese in Portugal instead.

Friendships in a new country rarely come from one perfect group. They come from a few activities you attend every week, with the same people. In Portugal, the most reliable ones are often free or cheap and run by public bodies: the free state Portuguese course, your council's volunteering programme, your parish council's activities, and the local recreational association. Expect to meet people quickly and to build real friendships over months, not weeks.

Start with a free Portuguese class

A Portuguese class is one of the best places to meet people, because you see the same faces every week. The state runs free courses called Portuguese as a Host Language (Português Língua de Acolhimento, or PLA).

You can join if you are 16 or over, your first language is not Portuguese, and you have one of these:

  • a residence permit;
  • proof that you have applied for a residence permit, a renewal, or an extension of stay;
  • proof that you have applied for international or temporary protection;
  • a Social Security number (NISS);
  • a seasonal work, temporary stay, or residence visa.

Courses run at public schools, public employment service (IEFP) training centres, and Qualifica adult learning centres. Groups normally have 15 to 20 learners. At some schools, such as one in Braga, classes run on two weekday evenings through the school year. The group becomes a weekly fixture.

A certificate at A2 or above also counts as proof of Portuguese for permanent residence and citizenship. For how to enrol, read Free Portuguese Courses for Foreigners in Portugal (PLA).

Volunteer

Volunteering puts you next to Portuguese neighbours doing something useful. Some roles need basic Portuguese, and many do not.

How to find a role:

  1. Ask your council. Many councils run a local volunteer bank (Banco Local de Voluntariado). It matches people who want to help with local organisations that need them. Braga's council, for example, runs a municipal volunteering structure and publishes current volunteering offers.
  2. Use the national platform. Portugal Voluntário, run by CASES, the state-backed social economy body, lets you register as a volunteer and find accredited organisations.
  3. Ask your parish council (junta de freguesia). Many run activities for older residents, local events, and community projects that need help.
  4. Try a one-off first. Food collection weekends, beach clean-ups, and animal shelter open days are easy ways to start. Then commit to one regular slot.

Join a local association

Nearly every town and parish has a recreational association (associação recreativa or coletividade). These run choirs, folk dance groups, sports teams, and the local festas. They are very Portuguese and welcome people who turn up more than once. Ask at your parish council or check the council's list of local associations.

Other weekly options:

  • Sport. Councils run public pools and sports halls, and many have group classes. A team or class that meets weekly turns acquaintances into friends.
  • Walking. Many councils and parish councils organise walks, and the local festivals calendar is full of events to join.
  • Your council library (biblioteca municipal). Libraries host reading clubs, talks, and children's activities.
  • The June festivals. Neighbourhood street parties (arraiais) are the easiest way to meet your neighbours. See June Saints' Festivals in Portugal (Santos Populares).

Language exchanges

A language exchange is an easy way to meet Portuguese people and foreigners at the same time. You sit with a partner, speak Portuguese for half the time and your language for the other half, then swap.

To find one:

  1. Ask your Portuguese class or teacher. Classmates often start their own.
  2. In university towns, ask at the university or the students' union about exchanges and international student events.
  3. Ask at your council library or youth centre.
  4. If nothing exists, start one. A weekly table in a café fills up quickly.

Groups for parents and retirees

Parents. Your child's school is your biggest social network. Join the parents' association (associação de pais) and go to school events. Parents who volunteer for school activities get to know each other fast.

Retirees. Senior universities and academies (universidades seniores) offer classes, trips, and clubs for older adults. Many are run by councils, parish councils, or local associations. Braga's council, for example, runs its own Academia Sénior. Ask your council or parish council what exists locally. Classes usually follow the school year, from autumn to early summer.

Get official help settling in

Local migrant integration support centres (Centros Locais de Apoio à Integração de Migrantes, or CLAIM) are local offices that help migrants with information and support. They cover topics such as residence paperwork, nationality, family reunification, housing, work, social security, health, education, and community associations. They usually work with the council or a local association, and they know what is happening locally.

To find one, check the CLAIM page on gov.pt or AIMA's website, or ask your council.

Online groups

Online groups for your town are useful for questions and event listings. Use them to find things to do in person, not as a replacement.

  • Search for your town's name with words like "international", "newcomers", or "English speakers".
  • Look for groups with active moderators and a pinned files section.
  • Search old posts before you ask a question.
  • Check the date of the last event before you join a group. Many go quiet.

Your council and parish council websites and social media pages also list local events.

What works, and what does not

What works:

  • Going every week. The same group, the same day. Familiarity turns into friendship.
  • Learning Portuguese. Even basic effort changes how people treat you.
  • Mixing. Spend time with Portuguese people and other nationalities, not only people from home.
  • Saying yes. In your first year, accept every invitation you can.
  • Organising. If nothing exists, start it. A Saturday walk or a book club will fill up.

What does not:

  • Expecting quick closeness. Friendships often take time to deepen. Keep showing up.
  • Acting as if you are leaving. If you treat your stay as temporary, people invest less in you.
  • Complaining online. Constructive questions get help. Endless complaints get ignored.

If loneliness does not lift

For most people, loneliness eases as routines form. If it lasts, or affects your sleep, work, or mood, get help early.

  • SNS 24 (808 24 24 24) has a psychological counselling service, in Portuguese and English.
  • Your family doctor at the health centre can refer you to psychology services.

See Mental Health Support in Portugal and Healthcare in Portugal for more options.

What it costs

  • Free Portuguese courses (PLA): free.
  • Volunteering: free.
  • Parish and council activities: often free or low cost.
  • Language exchanges: free, apart from your coffee.
  • Senior universities, sports classes, and associations: a membership or class fee set by each organisation.

This guide is general information, not legal or medical advice. Check your council's website for current local programmes.

Sources

This guide is written from official sources and, where relevant, organisations' own websites.

Last verified October 2026. Rules and fees change; check the official source before acting.

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