Moving to or living in Portugal may sound simple on paper… but once you get there, you quickly realise a few apps can make life so much easier ! Mobile apps have become truly essential, whether you’re looking for a place to rent or buy, doing your grocery shopping, managing admin tasks or exploring the country’s main cities, they’ll simplify your daily life and save you a lot of time.

Here’s a roundup of the must-have apps for living in Portugal ; tested, approved, and even recommended by the most organised expats!

Finding a Home and Great Deals

Portugal’s housing market can be pretty competitive, and there’s no price regulation, especially in big cities like Lisbon, Porto or Faro. To find a place, several apps are essential, but let’s be honest: Idealista is THE go-to platform for searching apartments or houses to rent or buy.

If you’re hunting for furniture, appliances or second-hand items, OLX is your best friend! (and warning, it’s addictive). You’ll find everything from sofas to bikes to kitchen gear. Another great option is Custo Justo, with a simple interface and often fewer listings to scroll through. These apps are perfect for settling in quickly, buying what you need, and even selling a few things when you move out.

Getting Around Easily

Getting around Portugal is easy once you know the right apps! For city travel, Bolt and Uber are must-haves. They’re fast, reliable and usually cheaper than taxis, a real lifesaver if you’re still figuring out local transport. (Personally, I prefer Bolt, it’s cheaper and super user-friendly… and no, this isn’t a sponsored post !)

For longer trips, CP Comboios de Portugal and Carris de Portugal, the official train apps, are your best allies. You can check timetables, book tickets and even manage loyalty cards. For intercity buses, Rede Expressos is ideal. With just a few taps, you can plan trips anywhere in the country, stress-free !

If you’re driving, don’t skip the Via Verde app. It lets you pay for private parking and tolls automatically. You can also track your transactions, invoices and alerts in real time, super handy for anyone who spends a lot of time on the road.

Handling Administrative Tasks

Living in Portugal often means dealing with paperwork (and trust me, it’s not always smooth sailing!). Luckily, some apps make the process much simpler.

SNS24, the official app of Portugal’s national health system, allows you to book appointments, check your medical records and even get advice online. To find an open pharmacy anytime, Farmácias de Serviço is a must (and you’ll thank it when you need meds on a Sunday night!).

For administrative and tax matters, SIGA lets you book appointments with public services (IMT, Finanças, IEFP, IRN…) and track your requests. And for managing and organising your receipts for the IRS, e-Fatura is a massive time-saver. (Pro tip : don’t be like me, sort them before February to make sure they’re counted for your taxes !)

Shopping, Finding Deals and Enjoying the Beach

Portuguese supermarkets usually have loyalty cards and exclusive offers through their apps. Continente, Pingo Doce, Auchan, Lidl… all have apps where you can check promotions, browse catalogues and even order online or via click & collect.

For beach lovers, Meo Beach is the perfect app : it lists Portugal’s beaches, their features and shows live weather and swimming conditions (thanks to Livecams). An absolute must for planning your beach days without any surprises !

Discovering Culture and Heritage

To explore cities and learn about Portuguese heritage, a few apps are incredibly useful. Visit Lisboa and Porto and Norte offer walking routes, historical info and even free audio guides to discover monuments and iconic neighbourhoods. They turn any walk into a mini guided tour!

Connecting and Exchanging with the Community

Facebook is still a key tool in Portugal, especially thanks to local expat groups. Facebook Marketplace also works really well for buying, selling or swapping items (sometimes even better than OLX!).

These groups are great for asking questions, getting advice, sharing tips and talking about everything, from restaurants to bureaucracy to local life… a real treasure trove for newcomers.

An App You Should Have, Especially in Summer

Fogo.pt is an app you really need to know about. It tracks wildfires in real time, unfortunately a recurring issue in some regions. It shows active fires near you, danger zones to avoid and updates on firefighting efforts. It’s an essential safety tool and a great help when planning nature trips or hikes.

In a Nutshell

Whether you’re an expat, student, long-term traveller or just curious, these apps will completely transform your experience in Portugal.

They help you manage daily life, discover the country, stay connected and make the most of all that Portuguese life has to offer.

From OLX and Leboncoin for deals, Bolt for transport, Idealista for housing, SNS24 and Farmácias de Serviço for health, Via Verde for the road and Visit Lisboa for culture, these apps cover it all !

With these tools in hand, living in Portugal becomes simpler, smoother and honestly, way more fun. All that’s left to do is download them, explore them, and enjoy everything this wonderful country has to offer !