When we moved to Portugal, there were a few items I unfortunately had to leave behind, even though I really didn’t want to. A lot of it comes down to power differences between the U.S. and Europe. Portugal uses 220 volts, while the U.S. runs on 110. You can use converters and adapters for some things. But items with heating elements or motors might not work properly, will eventually burn out, or worst case, can mess up the electricity in your home. I learned this the hard way as a teenager in Spain when I plugged in my blow dryer and knocked out the power in the entire guest house. Lesson learned. 😬 Read on for what items you can’t bring when you move to Portugal

Book your trip to Portugal here

Why Knowing What Items You Can’t Bring Matters

When you’re moving to Portugal, knowing what you can’t bring ahead of time can save you a lot of money, stress, and last-minute panic. It also saves space, which matters when you’re moving with limited luggage. Understanding all this before you pack helps you decide what’s worth selling, donating, or replacing once you arrive, and keeps your move smoother from start to finish.

Why Replacing Appliances Wasn’t a Bad Thing

One thing I didn’t expect is that some of the appliances I’ve bought in Portugal are actually better than the ones I had in the U.S. They’re often more energy efficient, smaller in a good way, and designed for how people really live here. I worried about replacing things at first, but in many cases, the European versions work better, last longer, and make more sense for apartment living. Letting go of a few familiar items ended up being less of a loss than I thought.

Here is a list of the kitchen items I left behind and the European model I replaced them with from Amazon

Blender

We had a really nice Blendtec that cost way more money than I ever expected to spend on a blender. Here they are almost double, so I’m not spending all that when mine is still in a box in the States. This AMZCHEF Blender looks really great and has a powerful motor; it can even grind meat! It is far less than my Blendtec was. There is also the Ninja Foodi Power Blender has great features and a powerful motor. In my opinion, blenders are one of the kitchen appliances that are worth spending more money on. I went through a few cheap ones that all died before we invested in the Blendtec. We had it for over 10 years, and it still worked great when we left it behind.

Sous vide-

Another kitchen item I had to leave behind because of the wattage. Sous vide machines are really cool, and you can make so much stuff with them. They seem intimidating, but once you learn how to use it, it’s really easy. This Anova Sous Vide is the same one I left behind. It has an app that connects to it, and there are tons of recipes and how-tos that are really easy to do.

KitchenAid stand mixer

I was really sad to leave this behind, especially because mine is pink. Here is a link for a EuropeanKitchenAid model. I actually want to buy this Bosch MUM5 Kitchen Robot because it will replace multiple appliances and it has over 10k reviews.

Coffee maker

We had a Keurig back in the U.S. that was great, but Keurig isn’t really a thing here. Nespresso machines are more popular, and I also like being able to use my own ground coffee. I found thisEspresso 4 in 1 Capsule Coffee Maker that can use multiple kinds of pods as well as grounds. It has great reviews, too.

Coffee Grinder-

I also got rid of my grinder, so I have to replace that too, because coffee is best with fresh grounds! This Bosch one is really affordable.

Ice maker-

Ok, so the American me is strong with this one, I love ice! Ice isn’t as big of a thing in Europe so most refrigerators don’t have ice makers. I use a lot of ice, and ice cube trays take forever. I had an ice maker in Vegas because our refrigerator’s ice maker broke, and I knew I would need one here, so I bought one here too. I love it. I can’t live without ice. This Ice Cube Machine has 2 sizes and makes ice pretty quickly.

Air fryer

Again, the wattage. I put this in my other post too, but I thought I would put it here again because it’s one of our most used appliances. This model has a large basket and works great.

Instant Pot

I can’t live without my Instant Pot. I also have been eyeing this Ninja Foodie because it does so much more, including air-fry!

Soda Stream

We had the electric SodaStream and left it behind. Here I have only been able to find the manualSodaStream Terra, but its still great to have our own sparkling water when we want it.

A street in Tavira

Final Thoughts Before You Pack

Moving to Portugal means letting go of a few things you’re used to, especially when it comes to what you can and can’t bring with you. While it can be frustrating at first, understanding the restrictions ahead of time makes the process much smoother. In the end, most of the things you leave behind are easy to replace, and some of them end up being upgrades. A little planning goes a long way in making your move less stressful and a lot more exciting. For more info about my moving process, check out these posts.

Follow Me

Follow me on Instagram @vegas.to.portugal for more about my life abroad. 💙