French Community in Portugal: From North to South

The French Community from North to South

📍 Lisbon

The French Embassy estimates that around 18,000 French citizens live in Lisbon, and this number continues to grow. Families are drawn to the city’s quality of life and seek good schools, with the Lycée Charles Lepierre at the top of their preferences. The areas of Cascais and Estoril also host a strong French presence. It is common to see the community gathering at the Hotel Baía every Sunday evening, enjoying a drink, watching the sea, and discussing everyday matters.

📍 Porto

Porto has become one of the most fashionable European cities, and the French community has taken notice. In recent years, about 12,000 French citizens have chosen Porto as their new home. Opportunities in real estate and tourism are among the main reasons why the French are so attracted to the city at the mouth of the Douro River.

📍 The West Region

The area north of Lisbon, between Torres Vedras and Nazaré, has welcomed a growing number of French residents. They combine a calm lifestyle in a rural landscape with proximity to the capital, while still enjoying the ocean view. The French actively participate in local communities, organizing cultural evenings and events. In a humorous tone, some locals refer to them as the “13th parish of Caldas da Rainha” (the municipality has 12 parishes).

📍 The South Bank of the Tagus

Due to a booming real estate market, the South Bank of the Tagus has been discovered by the French. It is possible to buy a house in Azeitão, Comporta, Alcochete, Tróia, or Palmela for half the price of a similar property in Lisbon. In addition to enjoying kilometers of excellent beaches and proximity to the capital, the French community appreciates strolling through the region’s famous markets and fairs.

📍 Algarve

It is estimated that around 6,000 French citizens live in the Algarve. While spread across the region, the largest community is in Lagos. The inland areas, especially the Monchique mountains, are increasingly popular. Many French families buy small properties and enjoy a bucolic lifestyle framed by the ocean.

🎭 What the French Community Enjoys in Portugal

🛍️ Markets and Fairs

While many Portuguese had abandoned traditional markets, the French never stopped frequenting them. They enjoy buying fresh meat, vegetables, fruit, and freshly caught fish. In some markets, French has even become the common language. At the Caldas da Rainha market, one vendor wears an apron that reads: “Je m’appelle Patrick, je parle français.”

📚 Learning the Language

For much of the French community, Portuguese is a challenging language. The solution is to attend courses, with the Alliance Française offering the most sought-after Portuguese classes. With branches from Braga to the Algarve, including Porto, Viseu, Leiria, Lisbon, Setúbal, and Beja, the Alliance Française also promotes cultural activities related to francophonie. It has become both a cultural hub and a meeting point for French residents across Portugal.

✨ In summary, the French community in Portugal is thriving from north to south, blending into local life while maintaining strong cultural ties, and reinforcing its role as one of the largest foreign communities in the country.