Working in Lisbon and finding love: Max’s experience moving to Portugal
Leandra
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3 minutes reading time
A few months ago, my life in Germany looked completely different. After a breakup, everything felt heavy in a way I couldn’t ignore. The same streets. The same cafés. The same routines. I didn’t just feel stuck in a place, I felt stuck in a version of myself that no longer fit. I had been talking for months about wanting to work in Portugal. Something about Lisbon pulled me in. The idea of building a new routine in a completely different place. It wasn’t just about finding a job in Portugal. It was about starting over somewhere that felt open and full of possibility. At some point, staying became harder than leaving. So I started looking for a German speaking job in Lisbon. Not because I had a detailed five-year plan. Not because I was chasing a dream career. I just needed space. A reset.
When people search for jobs in Portugal or compare the cost of living in Lisbon, they usually start with practical questions. Can you find a German speaking job in Lisbon? Is rent expensive? What is life abroad in Portugal really like? For Max, the decision to go came first; the practical questions came later.
From Germany to Lisbon: why I chose Portugal
Portugal had always felt different to me. The culture is open, warm and relaxed. When I started researching working in Lisbon as a German speaker, it simply felt right. Lisbon has a strong international job market, especially in marketing, tech and customer support. Many companies actively hire multilingual candidates, including German speakers. The application process was fast. Within weeks, my contract was signed, relocation support was arranged and even my apartment was organised.
“I was most afraid of being alone abroad, but that disappeared the moment I arrived and met my first friend”
Before leaving Germany, my biggest fear was being alone. On the airport transfer arranged by my employer, I sat next to a girl who was also starting her new job in Portugal that week. We both held the same welcome envelope, both pretending we weren’t nervous. We started talking about moving abroad, starting over and leaving things behind. The conversation felt easy. Natural. It helped to sit next to someone who understood exactly what this moment meant, beginning a new life in Lisbon. When we arrived at the company-provided accommodation in Lisbon, we said goodbye and went to our separate apartments. I didn’t ask for her number. I assumed we’d probably run into each other during our first week working in Lisbon anyway. A few days later, while walking through Lisbon’s city centre after work, I saw her again. She was standing in line at a café, laughing while trying to order in Portuguese. I almost kept walking. But I didn’t move to Portugal for a job abroad to stay inside my comfort zone.
“Airport shuttle, right?”
She smiled. Coffee turned into a walk through Alfama. The walk turned into watching the sunset from a miradouro overlooking Lisbon. What started as a shared transfer organised by our employer turned into something neither of us expected, the beginning of my current relationship while living and working in Portugal. 👫
Living and working in Lisbon as an expat
Working abroad in Lisbon means being part of an international environment where everyone is building something new. The work atmosphere is relaxed but professional. Since working abroad in Portugal, I’ve improved my communication skills, strengthened my marketing expertise and gained more confidence. But the growth wasn’t only professional. Making friends happened naturally. When everyone is new in a city, people are open. After work, we explore neighbourhoods or take the train to the coast. Surfing near Carcavelos gives me a sense of freedom. Visiting Sintra and watching the sunset near Pena Palace with my girlfriend is still one of my favourite memories since moving abroad. I haven’t felt homesick.
What moving to Portugal taught me
The biggest change wasn’t my career. It was my mindset. Living and working in Lisbon pushed me outside my comfort zone every day, and somewhere in that process, I became more open, to conversations, to risks, to connection. Finding love here felt natural. And I don’t think it would have happened if I had stayed where everything reminded me of the past. And remember this:
“You can always go back.”
If you’re curious what your move could look like, explore the current vacancies in Lisbon and see which roles match your language and experience. Whether you’re looking for a German speaking job in Portugal or simply researching your options, your fresh start might be closer than you think. 🧡