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Image by Markus Spiske

LIVING IN LISBON 

shopping

As a long term student in Portugal, you will typically be eligible to access subsidized state healthcare. The Portuguese healthcare system incorporates both public and private healthcare services and the standard of healthcare in Portugal is high.

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Eligibility for the Portuguese healthcare system is based on being a legal resident. This means that healthcare in Portugal for expats is available for those who are legal residents of Portugal.

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Image by Maria Lin Kim

groceries 

In Portugal the word for supermarket is simply supermercado, while a typical grocery store is called a mercearia, and you’ll find plenty of both.

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Some of the most popular ones currently operating in Lisbon are: ​

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  • Continente: The biggest and most widespread of the supermarket chains. They have stores ranging from hypermarkets, to convenience stores. They also have widest delivery network for their online shopping covering the entire mainland.

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  • Minipreço: The second most widespread. However, the majority are smaller convenience type stores. They’re currently owned by the Spanish Dia chain of supermarkets, and many of their home-brand products are Dia.

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  • Pingo Doce: The second largest of the more traditional supermarkets operating. In most of these stores you’ll find the full supermarket experience, with a butcher, fish counter, bakery and deli available.

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  • Lidl: A discount chain of supermarkets from Germany. Less focused on customer service and experience, and more focused on their products and prices. Although they do have bakeries, you won’t find extras like butchers or fish counters here. 

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As well as the general supermarkets, you’ll also find a variety of mini-markets in Portugal. These tend to be in smaller towns, or smaller shops in city centres. 

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household 

For blankets, towels, heaters, kitchen gear and all the like try the larger Continente shops, Lidl, Tiger and Ikea. 

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Also, you have what is called a Loja Chinês, a Chinese-run emporium selling everything under the sun. In many ways, they fulfil the same function as a “pound” or “dollar” shop, selling basic household items really cheaply – if you need two-dozen toilet rolls, a set of tupperware, fifty wine glasses or a washing-up bowl, this is where you come.

MARKETS 

Lisbon has plenty of markets for all sort of goods. Perhaps the most famous is Feira da Landra, next to Panteão Nacional (Alfama), where people sell all kind of objects for their houses. 

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Besides that you can also find markets happening regularly in Principe Real (artisan products and food), Praça da Alegria (arts) and Anjos70 (vintage cloths). As well as the popular market in LXFactory. 

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