Emma Donaldson

Originally from Northern Ireland, I studied French and Spanish at Queen’s University Belfast before relocating to the Iberian Peninsula nearly 10 years ago. As an SEO expert and translator, I specialise in providing helpful information for foreigners moving to Portugal, covering everything from practical advice to cultural insights to make settling in easier.

Zara heiress’s luxury beach hotel in Portugal opens on 1 May 2027

A luxury hotel backed by Sandra Ortega, heiress to the Inditex fashion empire behind Zara, will open its doors on the Portuguese coast on 1 May 2027, more than 15 years after the project was first conceived.Na Praia sits on the Tróia peninsula, a strip of beaches and dunes across the Sado estuary, r

30/10/2026

Luxury

Why sport has become the new luxury selling point in Portugal’s property market

From Comporta to the world’s most exclusive residential destinations, developers are moving beyond selling homes to offering a way of life. Today, that is one of the most valuable propositions in luxury real estate.

20 properties with negotiable prices in Portugal

Property prices in Portugal are still negotiable in 2026, especially with motivated sellers, long-listed properties and in areas outside Lisbon and Porto.

Take a trip to Portugal's scariest destinations

The most haunted places in Portugal

Portugal’s ghost stories tend to sit close to real history: forbidden love, difficult building projects, lost fortunes, religious ideas about death and places left behind by changing times.

Portugal ranks among the world’s best retirement destinations again

Portugal has again been named one of the best countries for retirement abroad, taking fourth place in International Living’s Annual Global Retirement Index 2026. The result puts the country ahead of Spain, Italy, France and Ireland, with northern Portugal gaining particular attention among people planning a move.