What is culture? It’s one of the loosest and broadest concepts in existence. It can literally mean anything people decide it to be. Put the word “high” before culture, and people will think of philosophy, artworks, and literature. Put the word “pop” before culture, and it’s something completely different – it's cinema, music, festivals and festivities. Sometimes, definitions overlap, become intertwined and merge into one.
While it’s highly unlikely that there will be one, universal definition of culture – it becomes much more real when applied to a specific country. When someone wonders about Portuguese culture – it's all about the people, the customs, the traditions, how different it might from your own culture. Whether you’re here to find a little more about Portugal, to impress your Portuguese friends, or just to brush up for a trivia game about the Portuguese culture – you've come to the right place.
What is Portugal Famous for?
Even though Portugal is a country that, in our modern day and age, is extremely underrated, and often forgotten in comparison to other European countries – it still comes up in many people’s mind. Undoubtedly, many around the world will at least have heard the name of Portugal, if only because of two colossal figures in football: Cristiano Ronaldo, the player, and José Mourinho, the coach. While these two people, in particular, have absolutely been ambassadors of Portugal, elevating the country to international recognition, the legacy Portugal has built, and continues building, goes much beyond than football.
The most important achievement Portugal is known for is, perhaps, for kickstarting the Age of Discoveries in the 15th century. Brave Portuguese explorers set out to discover the rest of the world, and provided invaluable knowledge that paved the path toward the future.
Explorers like Vasco da Gama, who discovered the sea route to India; Pedro Álvares Cabral, who discovered the existence of Brazil; Bartolomeu Dias, the first explorer to pass through the Cape of Torment – thereafter renamed the Cape of Good Hope; Fernão Magalhães (you may know him better as Magellan), the first to circumnavigate the globe. All these figures, who set out to venture out and explore an uncharted world, are sources of pride for the Portuguese and are paramount figures of Portuguese culture.
On an entirely different subject, Portugal is also widely famous for its tiles – which even gained prominent representation in Portugal’s football team Away kit for the 2024/2025 season. Wherever you are in Portugal, you’re bound to find some. Used as an architectural feature, tiles are used to ornament buildings, the interiors and exteriors of houses, churches, palaces, castles – truly, whatever you can think of, there’s probably some form of tile adorning it. There even is an entire museum dedicated to it – the National Tile Museum.
Another prime instance of Portuguese culture, which have spread throughout the world, are Portuguese wines. Most notably, the sweet, delectable Port wine, which hails from the Northern Douro Valley region. However, there’s also the robust red wines from the Alentejo and Dão regions, while Vinho Verde (green wine) is a light and refreshing alternative from the Minho region. On a curious note, green wine is produced from younger grapes which have not quite yet matured, and is quite commonly used by the Portuguese, not only as a delicious refreshment, but also in cooking!
These are just some examples of Portugal’s international fame, but there’s so much more to uncover about Portuguese culture – more than it can ever be put in a single article, as it’s something you’ve got to, in the end, experience for yourself.
Portuguese Traditions & Customs
If you’re gearing up to visit Portugal, you might as well prepare yourself and continue reading on. While Portugal is a country completely within the Western civilization, following the values of democracy, freedom, justice and equality, its culture is completely different from what you might be used to – so don’t freak out too much if you end up feeling that cultural shock.
Pace of Life
Life in Portugal is slower. The Portuguese simply don’t take things as seriously as other cultures – not that they do not care at all, but it’s a simple, more relaxed approach to things. Social life, friends and family are the number one priority, and there is a higher balance with work. If you are used to a more fast-paced, hectic lifestyle, be warned: this is simply not the way in Portugal.
Social Interactions
If you come from a culture where physical touch is not as prevalent, don’t take the Portuguese the wrong way – they are not trying to invade your personal space. In informal contexts, they are simply more affectionate, and will greet you with either a hug, or two kisses on the cheek, one on each side, even if you’re meeting them for the first time. However, in formal contexts, especially in work, it’s expected to use certain titles and other forms of respect.
Mealtimes and Food Culture
Whether visiting or moving to Portugal, and you’re used to eating sooner rather than later, you may be in for a shock. Lunch and dinnertime are typically between 12-1PM and 8-9PM respectively. The Portuguese, specifically, are used to long lunches, as these are often used as an opportunity to socialise and hang out.
There is also an entire culture around coffee, or rather, the espresso. The two are synonymous. If you go to any Portuguese bakery or café, and order just a coffee, you’ll be served an espresso. It won’t be that uncommon to find Portuguese people drinking their third or fourth espresso of the day.
Public Transportation Culture
While there are countless cars in Portugal, walkable cities like Lisbon and Porto are less car-centric. Reliable public transportation methods exist, and thousands of people commute every day, in and out of the cities, via train, subway network, bus, and even boat. The yellow Trams, so iconic and intrinsically part of the Lisbon scenery, are also a nice way to get around the city, especially when climbing those pesky hills. That’s not to say you can’t drive in Lisbon or Porto – you can. Just be prepared for admittedly narrower streets and multiple roundabouts.
Bureaucracy and Services
No country has it all, and even Portugal has its downsides. Unfortunately, bureaucracy exists. It may be complicated to book an appointment, to get a car part fixed, or setting up utilities. Admittedly, it may require some patience to deal with Portuguese bureaucracies. Though there’s been an effort in recent years for a digital push, some parts of the country still resist – e.g. some shops might not accept card as a payment.
Vacations
This one may apply to Europe as a whole, and not exclusively to Portugal, but most Portuguese simply do not work during the summer. Fine, that may be an overstatement, but a great deal of people take an extended vacation during the summer months, especially in the last 14 days of July, and the first 14 days of August. It coincides with children’s summer vacation, and is normally a time for family, friends and fun.
Speaking of vacations, the Portuguese are entitled to 22 business days of vacation to spend at will (in most cases) throughout the entire year, reflecting the work-life balance as a priority.
Art
Art is yet another word with such a broad meaning that it can be anything; as long as it elicits a feeling from someone. This topic, however, will broach the more traditional meaning: must-see artworks by masters, that have helped define and redefine the multiple meanings of Portuguese art.
It is important to understand there is no fixed style of art, but that is rather an expression of Portuguese culture, that is woven onto the artworks, and they, in turn, become part of the culture, creating a perpetual cycle of awe-inspiring, jaw-dropping beauty that becomes impossible to predict.
A paramount name in Portuguese art, especially in the neoclassicism movement, is Domingos Sequeira. A master painter, this Portuguese artist contributed to the definition of Portuguese art in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. His work features detailed compositions, expert use of light and shadow, all mixed in to create paintings with deep, historical, religious and even mythological meanings.
His magnus opus is a series of four remarkable, religious artworks which the Portuguese master painted in the latter years of his life in Rome, Italy – including Adoração dos Magos, Descida da Cruz, Ascenção, and Juízo Final – all related to the life of Christ, from the moment he was first born, to when he was removed from the cross, to his ascent to heaven, and Judgment Day, when humanity is either saved or damned for eternity. Most of his work is available for the public eye, in the National Art Museum of Ancient Art.
Vieira da Silva, another Portuguese artist and master, comes up as a major reference in the world of modern art. In fact, Vieira da Silva is believed to be, by many, the greatest contemporary Portuguese artist. Her works fit into the abstractionist movement, and mostly explore the deconstruction of space, and how the multiple dimensions of existence can fit onto the canvas, which is only two dimensions, expressed in urban environments and landscapes destroyed in the aftermath of war.
Some of her works are currently displayed in the most renowned museums worldwide, including the New York Museum of Modern Art, the Tate Modern in London, and the Guggenheim Museum in New York. You can also visit her work next time you’re in Portugal by going to the National Museum of Contemporary Art in Lisbon.
Another timeless, distinguished Portuguese artist is Paula Rego, who dabbled in both paintings and prints. Rego’s work is massively influenced from the time she lived, when the Portuguese dictatorship, Estado Novo, ruled Portugal. Her pieces explored themes like the role of women in society and their rights, or lack thereof, especially under an oppressive context, and criticised such matters of the time, including the colonial wars Portugal had in the African continent.
You can find Rego’s work spread throughout the entire world – in the United Kingdom, in the National Gallery and the Tate Gallery in London; in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in New York, and the Berardo Collection Museum in Belém, and the Casa das Histórias Paula Rego, in Cascais, both in Portugal.
In the realm of street art, two Portuguese artists stand out: Vhils and Bordalo II. The former, Vhils, the artistic name of Alexandre Farto, is a more recognisable artist, who works with the urban environment across a series of different expressions – in graffiti, and for imprinting faces – memories – onto surfaces.
His work is forever etched in the streets of Lisbon, where he perfectly recreated the face of one of Portugal’s most beloved artists - Amália, the fado singer – in the iconic Portuguese calçada, further immortalising and elevating Amália’s importance to Portuguese culture.
Bordalo II, the artistic name of Artur Bordalo, works his magic with multiple installations spread throughout the country. The installations, large in size, are often made from recycled contents, often carrying an ironic message to transmit to the world.
Today, the best places to experience Portuguese art in Portugal are the Berardo Collection Museum in Lisbon, the Gulbenkian Museum – which also host an impressive array of modern and contemporary international artists – the Soares dos Reis National Musuem in Porto, the National Museum of Ancient Art and the National Contemporary Art Museum, both in Lisbon.
Language & Literature
Portuguese is one of the world’s most spoken languages in the world, with around 255 million speaking it, both from native and second language learners. Though Brazil, a former Portuguese colony, is responsible for the largest part of the numbers, Portugal has nonetheless produced iconic works of literature, which not only have been translated to other languages, but also elevated Portugal’s international standing.
Portugal has produced multiple authors that have defined Portuguese literature – truly, too many to enumerate, but a few have stood out among the best.
The first is Luís de Camões, the Portuguese poet behind the creation of the epic Os Lusíadas - a must for any interested in reading Portuguese literature, and a poem detailing and celebrating Vasco da Game and the brave Portuguese explorers during the Age of Discoveries. Wherever you are in Portugal, it won’t take you too long to find, no matter how small – a reference to this poet, even if just it’s a street’s name. Camões truly put Portugal on the map in terms of literature, and his importance to Portuguese culture cannot be understated. After all, there is a reason why the 10th of June – the Day of Portugal, is also known as the Camões Day – it was the death day of the poet, and the day to celebrate everything there is about Portuguese culture.
In the 20th century, another poet – Fernando Pessoa – entered the Portuguese literary hall of fame. Known best for his iconic magnus opus, Mensagem, Pessoa had an enigmatic approach to poetry, which he exerted under different heteronyms – personas that each explored different themes in his writings: identity, existence, the nature of reality. Pessoa is also best known for his ardent love for the city of Lisbon, and you may yet stumble upon him while strolling about the city. The poet has contributed so heavily to Portuguese culture, that he is eternally immortalised in the Baixa quarter of Lisbon – with a statue in front of the café shop A Brasileira, where Pessoa spent many of his days, writing.
Completing the trifecta of Portuguese literary masters is José Saramago – Portugal's only Nobel laureate in Literature, achieved in 1998. Saramago is widely celebrated across Portuguese culture and literature, and several of his works, including O Memorial do Convento and Evangelho segundo Jesus Cristo blend historical fiction and magical realism.
You may even be already familiar with his work and not even be aware of it. One of his novels, Ensaio sobre a Cegueira (Blindness) was adapted to the big screen and released as a feature film in 2008, starring big Hollywood stars like Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo.
The José Saramago Foundation – focused on promoting Portuguese culture and universal human rights - occupies the iconic Casa dos Bicos in Lisbon, facing the Tagus River, has a permanent exposition dedicated to the iconic Portuguese author.
Music & Festivals
You’ve probably heard of Fado time and again, correct? But really, what is it? It is nothing more, nothing less than raw feeling incarnate in song and music. Right – that may be overselling it a bit, but fado really is the most soulful expression of Portuguese culture.
It’s often characterised by deep, melancholic tunes, and lyrics reflecting a deep sense of longing – often associated with the Portuguese word saudade - of the past, of life’s issues, often carrying a sense of resignation. Though Fado is a unique example of Portuguese culture, it is perhaps most felt and lived in Lisbon – believed to be its place of origin. The Fado Museum can be found at the entrance of the Alfama neighbourhood. You won’t miss out on references to Amália - Portugal’s number 1 Fado reference – whenever you stroll about Lisbon.
Fado is also heavily associated with the Portuguese saudade – a word which has no translation to any other language, but that anyone, no matter their background, has experienced. A deep feeling of longing for those who have departed, of nostalgia from the past, believed to have originated from when the Portuguese set out to explore the seas, not knowing if they’d ever return.
Despite Fado being best known for its hauntingly beautiful melodies, there has been a shift in recent years, where young and upcoming artists take Fado and add their own spin to it – introducing new beats and changing the lyrics, which still reflect on the Portuguese life, but are rather more hopeful.
However, the musical scene in Portugal is far from being all about Fado. There’s Portuguese music from all genres to be enjoyed, from the rock & rollers Xutos & Pontapés, to rapper Slow-J, or even jazz and soul musician Salvador Sobral, who won Portugal’s first victory in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2017. There are far too many renowned Portuguese musicians to count them – and you’ll certainly find something in line with your taste.
During summertime, the entirety of Portugal comes alive with music. Evenly spread throughout the summer months, with some in June, others in July and August – there are music festivals bringing world-famous bands to Portugal. Some of the most iconic festivals are NOS Alive, usually in July, Rock in Rio, which comes to Lisbon every 2 years or so in June, Super Bock Super Rock, also in July.
Portuguese music also plays a key role in the Santos Populares Festivities in June - though not exactly maybe the kind you’d expect. During the festivities honouring the Saints, Portuguese pimba – which can be considered kitsch – reigns, filling every street and corner.
Cuisine & Gastronomy
Portugal’s cuisine may not often be the first thing to come to mind when talking about Portuguese culture – unlike Italy and its gastronomy, and honestly, no blame here, kudos to Italy. Italian cuisine is simply top-notch, and deservedly recognised as the best by many. Who doesn’t love pizza and pasta, after all?
TasteAtlas, an outlier which ranks countries’ cuisines from all over the world, placed Portugal’s gastronomy at number 4, just behind Greece, Japan, and yes – you guessed it: Italy.
However! You know what to expect from Italian cuisine. Nothing too surprising there, but you may find that Portuguese cuisine might yet blow your mind away with its rich, varied selection of typical dishes – a true feast for the senses that will leave your mouth watering for more.
Portuguese cuisine is, perhaps, better-known for its wide selection of seafood dishes –which makes sense, since Portugal’s coast is entirely bathed by the Atlantic. Bacalhau (salted codfish), cooked À Brás, com Natas, à Gomes de Sá, or in any other typical Portuguese way is arguably the one meal that defines Portuguese gastronomy. There’s never a wrong time to try bacalhau – just make sure you have enough of an appetite first!
If your belly isn’t rumbling just yet, but you feel like you could eat, why not try out some Portuguese petiscos? These smaller-scaled snacks are the perfect way to keep your stomach happy while not overindulging on a bigger meal in the afternoon.
However, if you’re a meat lover, no reason to scrunch your nose. Portuguese bitoques – beef or pork steaks served with an egg, traditional sauces, a side of crisps (or fries for our American friends) and rice – are a staple of Portuguese culture. Unless you’re going to a seafood restaurant, almost every other restaurant will serve you a bitoque. If that isn’t enough for you, we recommend trying a Francesinha – a task not for the faint of heart. Imagine all kinds of meat cuts - linguiça, sausage, ham, beef – all bundled up in a molten cheese sandwich, perfectly paired up with the typical, spicy piri-piri sauce.
Got a sweet tooth? Portugal’s got you covered – just go to any café or bakery in Lisbon and you’ll understand what we mean. When you come up to the counter, you’ll spot them right away, behind the glass case – dozens of little, sweet pastries that will leave your mouthwatering. Each Portuguese region has its own traditional sweet, with many of them having origins in convents – a Portuguese culture legacy that has withstood the test of time. The title of King of Pastries undeniably goes to the Pastel de Nata – these little custard tarts are, as the Portuguese say – de comer e chorar por mais – to eat and cry for more of it!
And, to top it off – wine. We couldn’t finish this section without mentioning the obligatory Port wine, which famously hails from the Douro Valley region, in Northern Portugal. Wine enthusiasts will already be familiar with this sweet, flavourful wine, and it truly lives up to the hype. It’s quite common for wine to be present around every meal at a Portuguese table, and popular sayings say that a glass a day is healthy. Portuguese culture also has its own expression of wine – the previously mentioned green wine – cultivated from younger, greener grapes – and that are a delightful addition to the Portuguese repertoire.
Sports & Other Activities
Football, or soccer in the United States, is the number one sport in Portugal, virtually like every other European country. Every little child dreams of becoming a football player, of scoring the decisive goal for their country in the final minute and being hailed as a national hero.
People typically support one of the “Big 3” football teams in Portugal – SL Benfica, FC Porto, or Sporting CP, while also rooting for their own hometown club. When rival clubs like SL Benfica and FC Porto play against each other, the country stops, and the Northern and Southern Portugal briefly go to “war” with each other.
Football is more than a simple game in Portugal. For supporters and sympathisers alike, it’s a weekly community event, where people can come together, relax, sit down, enjoy a beer together, talk over their lives, while cheering for their favourite team. When the national team plays, the entire country stops to watch. Hearts race when a possible goal is missed, and everyone explodes in happiness when Portugal wins.
While no other sport elicits the people’s love quite like football, there are others where Portugal stands out, particularly in international competitions - athletics – for instance, kayaking and futsal. Since Portugal has an extensive coastline hugging the Atlantic, surfing is also a sport beloved by many, especially in Peniche and Nazaré with its giant waves.
Individually, the Portuguese love to run, workout and practice all kinds of sports – football, volleyball, basketball outdoors, whether it’s at parks and gardens, or alongside the river or the ocean. No matter where you are, you might stumble onto a Portuguese native enjoying their time outside by the sun.
People and Family
Human beings are inherently social creatures, and the Portuguese are no different. Family and friendships are the cornerstone of Portuguese culture – the essential block from which social relationships are founded.
For instance, if you’re lost in the streets of Lisbon, and you don’t know quite where you are, or where to go – just try and ask a local Portuguese person. Even if their knowledge is limited, they’ll most likely go to hell and back to make sure you reach your intended destination.
It is common for extended families to live in close proximity of one another, maintaining strong bonds. Due to Portugal’s Catholic background, Sundays are usually reserved for family time, where grandparents, parents and children come together for lunch and enjoy time with each other. Though the Church does not play an active role in the daily life of many Portuguese, this cultural heritage has remained.
While the Portuguese are a warm, friendly people, it may prove slightly difficult to forge a genuine connection with them. It’s quite common for Portuguese to keep the same social circle, with most people having friends established as far as back as early school years. It’s not impossible to achieve it – it's just that while the Portuguese are always up for welcoming foreign people, show them around, spend time with them, they are more retracted when it comes to creating long-lasting relationships.
Moving to Portugal
There’s only so much that can be said and read about Portuguese culture, but at the end of the day, the only true way of knowing Portuguese culture is by living and experiencing it for yourself. You might get a glimpse of it if, for instance, you swing by a Little Portugal neighbourhood in your city – if you have one - but that’ll never be enough. The only, real way is by moving and living in Portugal.
Now, should Portuguese culture be the sole factor weighing in what could very well be a life-changing decision? Honestly – maybe. For its many flaws, Portugal is undoubtedly one of the best countries on Earth to live in, and Portuguese culture plays a key role in it. With such a vast array of cultural topics to lose yourself in, plus so many other factors driving up the quality of life, e.g.: sunny weather, low cost of living, excellent schools and universities, great, affordable healthcare services - who wouldn’t want to live in Portugal? It’s not going to be for everyone, but it might be for you.
At Portugal Homes, we make it happen. We are the #1 Real Estate & Residency by Investment company, based in Lisbon, the capital, and with offices in the Algarve, in Loulé. We offer streamlined solutions meant to bring you to Portugal as soon as possible with our Residency services and our properties for sale. Contact us today to find out more!
