After living in both Portugal and Greece, I noticed something curious: despite Portugal’s high English rankings, I had a much easier time using English in Greece — especially in daily life. Here’s what I found, region by region.
When you Google “Which European countries speak the best English?”, Portugal always shows up near the top. And fair enough — their English proficiency ranking is consistently high in surveys. But here’s the thing: after living in both Portugal and Greece, I can’t help but feel that on the ground, the average Greek person is more ready — and willing — to speak English in everyday life.
I’m not talking about test scores, university students, or people on LinkedIn. I’m talking about the people you bump into every day — the bakery lady, the guy at the kiosk, the plumber, your neighbors. And in that real-world, day-to-day context, Greece has the edge.
Greeks Speak More — Even If It’s Not Perfect
In Greece, it’s hard to go anywhere without hearing at least some English. Whether you’re on a remote island or in a suburb of Athens, odds are high that the person you’re talking to speaks enough English to help you out — and importantly, they’re not shy about it. Even when their English is far from perfect, Greeks tend to just go for it. I’ve had full conversations with supermarket staff in charmingly broken English that somehow got the job done.
Portuguese People Understand More — But Speak Less
Now don’t get me wrong — Portuguese people do speak English, often quite well, especially in bigger cities. But there’s a noticeable hesitancy in casual situations. It’s not uncommon to meet someone who clearly understands everything you’re saying, but still responds in Portuguese, maybe out of shyness or cultural habit.
It almost feels like Portugal’s high English proficiency is hiding in the shadows — there, but not always accessible when you need it.
Regional Differences in Portugal
Another layer here is how much the experience varies depending on where in Portugal you are:
- Lisbon: Easily the most English-friendly city. In touristy areas, you can get by with zero Portuguese. Many locals, especially younger ones, speak English fluently. But move just a few metro stops away from the center, and the drop-off is real.
- Porto: Slightly less English overall compared to Lisbon, especially among older generations. Still, in cafes and stores around the center, you’ll usually find someone who can help. It feels a bit more “Portuguese-first” than Lisbon though.
- Algarve: Now this one’s interesting. Because of the huge expat population and tourism, English is everywhere — menus, signs, even radio stations. In fact, sometimes it feels like more English is spoken here than in parts of the UK (and the weather’s definitely better). But there’s a catch: much of the English here is from Brits, Dutch, and Germans — not necessarily the local Portuguese, who often default to English because they have to, not because they want to.
Immigration and Who You Meet Day-to-Day
There’s another factor that shapes the day-to-day English experience in both countries — immigration.
In Portugal, especially in cities like Lisbon and Porto, you’ll meet a lot of immigrants working in delivery, cleaning, cafes, construction, supermarkets, and customer-facing roles. A significant portion of them come from Brazil — which makes sense, given the shared language and historical ties.
But here’s the catch: while Brazilian Portuguese speakers can integrate quickly in terms of language, their English skills are often quite limited. So in practice, many of the people you interact with every day — the ones ringing up your groceries, fixing your plumbing, or working in restaurants — may not speak English at all, even if they’re friendly and eager to help.
In Greece, the immigrant landscape is different. You’ll still find workers from countries like Albania, Georgia, Pakistan, and the Philippines — but many of them have picked up functional English, especially in urban areas or tourism-heavy regions. It’s not perfect, but it often means you can have a basic exchange without too much struggle.
So, Who Wins?
If we’re scoring based on official stats, Portugal wins.
If we’re scoring based on real-world experience in cafes, street corners, and corner stores — I’d give the trophy to Greece.
In the end, both countries are very manageable for English speakers. But if you’re the type who likes to dive into local life without relying too heavily on Google Translate, you might find Greece just a touch more frictionless.
Turns Out, I’m Not Alone
After writing this, I wondered — was it just me? Did I somehow have an unusual experience in Portugal and Greece?
Turns out, not really. After browsing forums, Reddit threads, and talking to other nomads and expats, I found a lot of people had the same impression:
- “I expected Portugal to be easier with English, but Greece felt more spontaneous and open.”
- “In Greece, they’ll talk to you in broken English and smile through it. In Portugal, they often just switch back to Portuguese unless you insist.”
- “Lisbon is super international, but walk 15 minutes into a neighborhood and you’re back to full-on Portuguese mode.”
- “Greek people just talk to you more. English or not, they try.”
So while I know this isn’t a scientific study, it’s comforting (and kind of amusing) to know others felt the same way. Maybe language experience isn’t just about proficiency — maybe it’s also about willingness.
What about you? Did you have a different experience? Feel free to drop a comment — I’d love to hear more real-world stories.