When I started searching for new internship destinations for our Worldwide Internship participants, I thought to myself, “Why not Portugal?” I first visited in 2018 and learned that it is an AMAZING country. Since it’s a place I’d like to live, I thought it could be a great and hospitable destination for our internship participants. These are 5 reasons why I love Portugal (aka 5 reasons you should consider interning in Portugal):
- It’s cheap & safe: People consider the cost of living to be lower than most of the other countries in Europe in terms of grocery shopping, eating in restaurants, and rent prices. Also, it is considered one of the best countries for quality of life in the world, with climate, health care (#12 internationally as rated by the World Health Organization), and safety (#3 internationally as rated by the Global Peace Index) all ranked highly.
- Its Location: Portugal is very well-located, with great beaches and mountains all around the country. Not only that, but it’s very well-connected with the other countries in Europe (flights and train tickets are cheap). Also, the location (surrounded by coastline) is a recipe for perfect weather year-round.
- The food: If you are doing an internship in the food and beverage or culinary area, you will enjoy the food more than anywhere else – they have the best seafood of Europe. You can find “bacalao” (codfish) everywhere and cooked in different ways. Most of the dishes are based on meat, fish, or eggs. Traditional Portuguese desserts are usually sweet, and based around different combinations of egg, sugar, and cinnamon.
- The people: Portuguese are known as the sweetest and most hospitable people; they are always open to help you. You will be warmly received by the locals and after 2 days, everything is hugs and kisses!
- The language: You might think, “But Portuguese is only spoken in Portugal and Brazil!” Nevertheless, it’s the world’s sixth most spoken language (it’s also spoken in some African, Asian, and small-island nations).
I am 100% sure you won’t regret deciding to do an internship in Portugal. I hope you fall in love with this country just as I did!
