Gap Year Programs in Portugal

In a country with so much to offer, it would be tempting to spend your entire gap year in Portugal traveling from city to city—especially visiting the most popular places like Porto, Lisbon, Braga, Coimbra, Sintra, and Madeira.

Porto is famous for its wine and exquisite architecture. Lisbon, where many Portugal gap years are spent, boasts the beautiful hand-painted tiles known as azulejos—and a vibrant nightlife. Braga, with its religious festivals, and Coimbra, known for its 500-year old university, are lesser-known but will stun you with their beauty and culture. There are wonderful things to see in every area of the country, but there are a few places you’ll definitely not want to miss!

Sintra. The resort town of Sintra is located near enough to Lisbon to be accessible as a weekend trip, but you’ll want to stay much longer than that once you make your way into the mountains for which the town is named. Poems have been written about the beauty of the Palace of Mafra’s Convent, while landmarks like the Pena Palace is an inspired example of the area’s Moorish influences. If you want to walk along the sea cliffs or hike in the foothills, you can do that, too. Sintra is truly a town with something for everyone—but especially for those seeking some outdoor adventure.

Madeira. The sweet, fortified wine that comes from Madeira is a prize for those who enjoy a good port, but that’s not all that this archipelago of four small islands off the coast has to offer. A mix of volcanic inlets, wild terrain, hiking trails, museums, and seaside communities, Madeira is a must-see for anyone who would enjoy scouting for lizards, eating fresh seafood, or listening to traditional music while surrounded by high cliffs and pebble beaches. And if scuba diving is your thing, why not consider spending your gap year in Portugal getting certified to work as a scuba instructor?

Equally important to deciding where you want to be during your gap year in Portugal, you’ll want to have some good plans for what you will do while there. You might choose one main focus, or several, but gap year programs in Portugal are best spent built around the kinds of activities that leverage your skill-sets and your surroundings. Here are a few options you might want to consider:

Teach Abroad. If you’ve got teaching experience, you’ll find placement opportunities for teaching positions at the equivalent level of American middle schools and high schools, in subjects ranging from English literature, to physics, biology, or chemistry. You’ll be making a longer-term commitment to a specific community by choosing to teach, but you’ll also be eligible for resident healthcare and the benefits of what is often referred to as the “slow life” in Portugal.

Work Exchange. When you sign up for work exchange, the idea is to trade your services, your skills, or your knowledge for things like lodging, food, and basic needs. If you’re participating in work exchange, you’re not likely to make any kind of real income— but if you plan well, and have your budgeted expenses set aside in advance, you might find that the work exchange program permits you the flexibility to travel more often, participate as a member of a household or community, and get to know the area as a live-in resident, not just as a visiting tourist.

Keep in mind that the sizeable expat community might also yield opportunities for work exchange jobs, but there are also plenty of placement agencies available to help you settle on something that will work well for you.

Volunteering. If doing good is one of the goals for your gap year in Portugal, you might want to consider any number of the service opportunities available to you. Whether you find yourself in a fishing village, or a medieval settlement, you’ll find opportunities to help deal with problems of food insecurity, housing renovation needs, or working with environmental causes and marine conservation. There’s no shortage of the things you can do to create meaningful travel experiences for yourself while also sharing your talents, time, and positive impact with the community.

Costs. So what will your gap year adventure cost you in a place like Portugal? Known as one of the lowest-cost countries in Western Europe, Portugal offers a very affordable option for those who want to spend their gap year here—whether working, volunteering, or doing something in between. Rent is affordable and food costs are generally low. Restaurants are plentiful but so are fresh markets. Additionally, due to plentiful levels of production, luxury items like wine and high quality olives (and olive oils) are super affordable—making it even easier to eat well without spending much. Transportation is also inexpensive, and best of all, the beaches and the beautiful views are free.

And when it comes to being smart about how to save for your time in this beautiful country, don’t forget options like Fund My Travel, which allows you to raise money for your trip in a social and creative way.

Accommodations. Affordable rent can mean different things to different people—but the rates are among the lowest for a European country. Thanks to a relatively mild climate, add-on costs like utilities and incidentals are also very low. In terms of housing amenities, you might not find that you have reliable broadband WIFI in your home, but there are typically DSL hookups in the apartments found in larger city areas. For gap year programs in Portugal, you will find plenty of free WIFI hotspots in cafés, restaurants, public parks, and sports arenas (including the free, government-sponsored WIFI program known as Espaco Internet) that are available to all. 

Visas. While no visa is required for short-term travel, Portugal gap years will require a visa that is appropriate to your type of travel and the length of your stay. Fortunately, whatever program is best for you, you’ll find the process fairly straightforward and relatively inexpensive. Make sure you check the Go Abroad embassy directory to learn more. 

Safety. Common sense should be your guide. Don’t go into any areas that feel shady, and be sure to stay away from groups that seem to be causing trouble. The biggest threats to public safety are crimes of opportunity like pickpocketing and other kinds of petty theft, which tend to be concentrated around tourist areas. As a bit of a pro-tip, seasoned travelers also suggest that you stay sober when out on the town, but if you’re careful, you should be fine.

The opportunity to take a gap year isn’t just for those who want something to do between high school and college—although that is a pretty great time to seize the opportunity! Gap years can be for anyone, at any age, or any stage of experience. It might be a refresh before your next career jump, or the first of many globe-trotting adventures that lie ahead; but the things you will experience and learn on a gap year will shape your worldview and give you opportunities for lifelong learning.

Doing your gap year in a place like Portugal means you can experience outdoor adventure or culinary indulgence. You can see modern museums, ancient architecture, exotic palaces, and impressive mountain ranges. You can travel to volcanic islands, walk cobblestone streets, or sip sweet wine on beautiful beaches. Whatever you choose, make sure you take advantage of opportunities to see the many parts of Portugal that make it such a special destination—from the Temple of Diana to the beaches of Lagos, when you make this world-renowned holiday destination your home for a year, you’ll be able to see, do, and experience things that will stay with you forever. 

It’s hard to think of a more perfect place than Portugal to spend some time learning, thinking, traveling, and working. It really is the gap year with a little bit of something for everyone—so all you need to do now is decide when you’re going to leave!

Interested in learning more? Check out this article on gap year prep made easy!