Moving to Portugal: What I Didn’t Need to Pack

When we were planning our move, one of the biggest questions was what not to pack when moving to Portugal. What should we bring? What could we bring? What would actually fit? And what wouldn’t we be able to find once we arrived? We scoured Facebook groups and blog posts, but it still felt overwhelming.

We were downsizing from a four-bedroom, 2,400 square foot house to a one or two-bedroom apartment, which meant we had to be ruthless. On top of that, there were voltage differences to consider, furniture sizing issues, and the constant fear of bringing things we didn’t actually need. It was frustrating and stressful at times.

If you’re planning a move to Portugal, this post will hopefully save you space, money, and a few packing regrets.

Things I Regret Bringing

When we were packing, I was convinced we were being smart and strategic. We measured, we researched, we rationalized.

Looking back, there are a few things I absolutely did not need to ship across an ocean.

Clothes. So. Many. Clothes.

We had no idea where we would end up. We hoped for the Algarve but were open to anywhere, which made packing for the climate feel impossible. It was September and hot when we arrived, but our shipment would not show up for three months, in winter. So I packed like I was preparing for every season at once.

I had also read all the warnings about sizing and was told to bring what you need. For reference, I wear a women’s medium to large. There are plenty of stores in Tavira and throughout the Algarve for all budgets. I could have left at least half my clothes behind.

In Las Vegas, I had an entire bedroom as a closet. Now I have a fraction of that space and rotate clothes by season, vacuum sealing the rest.

I brought eight pairs of jeans. I wear three.
Multiple jackets and two nice coats
Pieces I have not touched in years.

Meanwhile, I have bought things here that I actually wear.

Living in Tavira simplified my wardrobe fast. Summer dresses when it is warm. Jeans and sweaters when it is cold. That is it.

If you fit standard sizing, you will have no problem finding clothes in Portugal. You do not need to ship your entire fashion history across the ocean.

What I would do differently: Bring your favorite staples and the pieces you truly love. Leave the “just in case” clothes behind. You can always buy what you need once you’re here.

Shoes. A Slightly Unhinged Quantity.

Yes, I also brought too many pairs of shoes.

This one is half regret and half victory.

Let’s start with the victory. I brought almost 20 pairs of Converse, and I do not regret that decision at all. They are my everyday shoes. I wear them running errands, walking around town, and to the gym. I have different colors, textures, and even three custom pairs.

They are harder to find here and significantly more expensive. In the US, I used to buy most of mine at the outlet or in the kids’ section and paid around $25 a pair. Here, styles are limited, and they are about €75. So bringing my collection actually saved me money.

Now for the questionable choices.

I brought two pairs of heels and one pair of wedges. Tavira is charming and historic and covered in cobblestones. I have yet to wear any of them. To be fair, I suspected that might happen, but I packed them for the “just in case” scenario.

I also brought a few pairs of shoes with very little grip. Big mistake. Cobblestones can be extremely slippery, especially when wet, and falling on stone is not an experience I recommend.

There are plenty of places to buy shoes here. The only issue I’ve run into is that I have a wide foot, which makes some styles harder to find. If you wear standard sizes, you likely won’t have any problems.

What I would do differently: Bring the shoes you wear constantly, and that are hard to replace or significantly cheaper at home. Skip the impractical pairs and anything you only wear once a year. Portugal will humble your shoe choices quickly.

Fluffy Towels. The Betrayal.

When we first arrived, I was very glad I had packed them. After traveling and unpacking and existing in pure relocation chaos, all I wanted was a hot shower and a familiar, fluffy towel.

In that moment, they felt worth it.

Long term? Not so much.

We line-dry everything here, and thick towels do not thrive in that environment. They take forever to dry, they dry stiff, and if you are not careful, they can start to smell like mildew. Not exactly the spa experience I had envisioned.

Eventually, we bought quick-dry towels here, and they have been so much better. They dry fast, stay soft even without fabric softener, and do not hold onto moisture the same way.

What I would do differently: Skip the bulky, fluffy towels and buy quick-dry ones once you arrive. They are better suited for line drying and will save you space in your shipment.

Handbags. Former Main Character Energy.

I only brought a few of my nicer handbags. I sold most of them before we moved and left a few in storage, thinking I was being selective and responsible.

Turns out, I could have been even more ruthless.

In my day-to-day life here, I use a canvas tote almost every day. I bought a mini backpack after we arrived and a small crossbody that I rotate in sometimes. Beyond that, I have used maybe two of my nicer bags a handful of times.

I have not carried a true “nice handbag” since we moved.

The ones I brought mostly sit in my tiny closet, quietly taking up space and reminding me of a version of my life that required structured bags and coordinated outfits.

Life here is more casual. Cobblestones, outdoor cafés, walking everywhere. A practical bag wins every time.

What I would do differently: Bring one nice handbag if it makes you happy. Leave the rest behind. Your everyday life might be much more relaxed than you expect.

Random Kitchen and Home Items. The “Just In Case” Box.

I packed a handful of random kitchen and household items that I use regularly because I wasn’t sure what we would be able to find here.

Things like a digital scale, ice cube trays, and random utensils. To be fair, I do love the ice cube tray I brought with the attached bin, but I bought this ice maker, so I don’t even use it.

But honestly? You can find just about everything here.

There are plenty of stores that sell kitchen and home goods at all price points. And since the apartment we rented was furnished with a fully stocked kitchen, we really did not need most of what we brought.

Now those extra items are just taking up valuable storage space in a much smaller home.

When you go from 2400 square feet to an apartment, every drawer matters.

What I would do differently: If you are moving into a furnished rental, wait and see what you actually need before shipping small kitchen items. Most things are easy to replace locally, and you may find you do not need them at all.

Why We Overpacked

When you move to another country, you are not just packing objects. You are packing security, familiarity. and a backup plan.

We brought too much because we were afraid of not being able to replace things. Afraid of different sizing, voltage differences, and afraid of showing up and realizing we forgot something essential.

So we packed for every possible version of our future life.

The irony is that once you arrive, your life becomes simpler. Your routines change, your style shifts, your space shrinks. And most of the “just in case” items quietly become clutter.

Moving abroad teaches you very quickly what you actually need.

Final Thoughts Before You Pack

Of course, what is worth bringing is completely personal. What felt essential to me might not matter to you at all.

It is also important to remember that the style here is different from the US. Life in Portugal, especially in the Algarve, leans much more relaxed, casual, and comfortable. The version of me that needed multiple “nice” handbags and piles of outfit options just does not exist in the same way here.

You also have to factor in cost. If I had brought less, I would have saved a significant amount on checked bags and shipping. And honestly, I probably would not have needed to replace much once we arrived.

If you are planning your move, especially if you are downsizing as drastically as we did, be realistic about your space. We still have too much in this apartment, and I am already decluttering again.

That said, trading extra stuff for this life has been more than worth it. I would choose a smaller closet and fewer cabinets every time if it means living here.

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