For many expats, living in Algarve is a dream come true. It is our nature to seek comfort in the familiar, but we also enjoy discovering new possibilities and embarking on thrilling new adventures. When you've moved to a new country, one of the greatest ways to reconcile these two aspirations is to find local expats who can help you feel more at ease and at home in your new surroundings.
Your job can sometimes be an excellent location to look, and for many people who have actually moved to Algarve, this is a good place to start. However, there are a variety of alternative ways to locate expats in similar situations who may be more than eager to assist you in adjusting to your new surroundings and the Portuguese lifestyle.
We aim to help you find your feet and find local expats here in the Algarve who will assist you in adapting to your new surroundings, no matter if you are traveling solo or you are enjoying the family expat life. We've compiled a list of some of the finest ways to find local expats who can aid you in properly assimilating into your new home in Algarve.
1) Join the Algarve Care community and events
We have been doing our best to create a supportive and friendly community here in the Algarve and our regular events might be a great starting point for you to get to know other expats here in the Algarve and make a few friends. Keep an eye on our Events Page and our Facebook page where we will keep you updated on our most recent events
2) Go to expat bars and have a good time.
You can never be too far away from an English-speaking pub or expat hangout, no matter where you are in the world and Algarve is no exception. These bars are sometimes owned by English-speaking locals who aim to assist foreigners in settling there. They are, however, almost always run by other foreigners who have already succeeded in blending into the local population. Not only are they a draw for other expats, but they can also provide you with familiar cuisine or drink from back home that you may be missing in your new home.
3) Use your children to track down expats.
While moving to another country with children can be stressful for parents, children frequently integrate far more successfully than their parents. This is especially prevalent when children attend a local expat school or an international school where many of the students' families have relocated from another country. If your children are meeting new people, take advantage of the opportunity to meet the parents of their new English-speaking friends, who are likely to be in the same situation as you and may be able to provide some local knowledge.
4) Look for expat groups in your area.
There will be an expat group that meets on a regular basis in many regions, whether large or small. These get-togethers might be especially useful for people living in remote areas of the world when casual communication with other expats is limited. Expat groups are also a great opportunity to meet locals who are already friends with expats, and many of them are glad to offer cultural information and advice.
5) Get to know your expat community.
Larger cities and towns frequently feature expat-friendly districts, which can quickly develop into established expat communities. Such communities can serve as a meeting point for foreigners who want to meet and live with other expats after leaving the UK, making them feel more at ease. Meetup points such as expat pubs, expat-run eateries, and other venues where foreigners are warmly welcomed are common in these communities.
6) Look for English-speaking clubs in your area.
There are typically English-speaking groups accessible to join, whether you reside in the center of an expat community or in the middle of a huge metropolis where expats are few and far between. Take some time to look into the local clubs and groups in your area to see if there is something that interests you. You may be looking for an English choir, a gym that offers multilingual exercise sessions, or even a club that shows English movies. Whatever your favorite activity is, there will be something you can find which will help you feel more at ease. Algarve is quite a great place for outdoor activities so you will easily find a spots related club to network.
7) Enroll in a language class.
It's likely that as an expat in Algarve, you'll need to sharpen up on your language abilities, and you're not alone. Many expats devote time and money to learning the Portuguese language. As a result, language classes or courses are an excellent opportunity to meet other expats in similar situations. If it is possible, enroll in more participatory lessons where you will have the opportunity to speak directly with other group members, allowing you to break the ice. Some courses may even involve field trips to local monuments or other cities, which can be a great way to meet other expats attending the same program.
8) Become a member of a sports team
While a local sports team may not be appealing to expats, there are numerous towns in Algarve that will host English sports clubs and teams. For expats, these are frequently a much more appealing prospect than for natives, with the former looking for a familiar sport that will help them feel more at ease. Find out what clubs are accessible to local community centers or sports facilities and see if any sporting organizations would accept expats looking for similar people.
9) Look around at your workplace.
There's a strong possibility you're not alone in your company, whether it's all British or just a few expatriates working with locals in an international office. Try to find out whether anyone else in your department is in a similar situation or ask your coworkers if they know of some other expats who work for the company. Expats who work at the same company generally find it easier to discover common interests, so these individuals could be excellent to connect with while you try to adjust to your new life in a foreign country.
10) Don't forget about social media.
Although it may not seem like the most obvious approach to meet up with local expats, online social networking can be a great way to find out about any possibilities for expat interaction that are happening near your new home. Not only that, but expat groups can give you fast access to a reliable information source, as many expat forums encourage everyone in the area to contribute their experiences and local connections.
There are quite a few Facebook groups for Expats in the Algarve and here are a few for you:
- Algarve Expats
- Expats in the Algarve
- Vilamoura & Algarve Internationals
- Lagos Digital Nomads
- Algarve Digital Nomads
Never forget to keep going.
It's crucial to realize that no matter which way of connecting with people is best for you, you won't succeed until you put in some time and effort. Make time to investigate new chances whenever possible so that you can meet as many people as possible in your new surroundings.
The Algarve is an expat friendly destination and you will be feeling at home in no time.