This information is intended to help coeliacs visiting Portugal and is based on our experience in responding to inquiries.

We hope it will prove helpful for you and, if you think of other useful information to include, please let us know. Thank you all! We have a nationwide network of health shops (Ervanárias\Dietéticas) and pharmacies (Farmácias) that sell GF products. Some outlets have a limited stock on hand for immediate purchase, while others will have to order for you.
You will find more items readily available in the Lisbon area than elsewhere. The complete and up to date list is here.

Click here for a list of GF brands sold in Portugal. We are working on a comprehensive listing of products in the Portuguese market with and without gluten. Some companies have provided their GF lists and we appreciate their cooperation and support. For the up-to-date list of GF products, click here. The list includes the date of the most recent information.

Click here for a list of our traditional dishes. Keep in mind that you should always ask about the composition and preparation of these dishes. This list is only a guide and should not be used as an absolute guarantee that the dishes are gluten-free. We do not currently have a listing of GF restaurants, hotels, or other food and lodging providers that we can recommend, but because of the increasing demand for this type of information, we will try to develop a listing for your future use. Click here for what we already have.

The usual GF dining rules should apply when eating out in Portugal. Be careful with fried food (the oil may be contaminated by other food). Eat fish and meat (which is good and abundant in Portugal). Of course, you may eat rice, potatoes (be careful with commercial ones), vegetables, and fruits. Portuguese restaurants serve several grilled meats and fish along with boiled potatoes, vegetables, and rice, so it should not be difficult to find suitable food. To be sure of what you are eating, inform the waiter that you cannot eat certain grains. Don’t bother to name the disease. Simply state that for health reasons (and not because of a fitness diet), you cannot eat trigo, cevada, aveia e centeio. State that you can eat "milho, farinha maizena, farinha de arroz ou fecula de batata." At the bottom of this page is an explanation of acceptable and unacceptable grains and their derivatives that you can print out and show waiters, chefs and anyone else who may be involved in preparing your foods. In restaurants, insist that the waiter ask in the kitchen how the foods are prepared. Do not accept the waiter’s immediate answer that the foods are OK. The statement below should be useful in communicating your needs. If you would feel more comfortable bringing your own GF foods to Portugal, you may do so. We have no information to indicate that this would be a problem as you enter the country. If you experience a problem bringing food into Portugal, please let us know. If you need assistance regarding gluten-free products, you may call our mobile number on +351 91 921 34 96, or our office number +351 21 753 01 93, during office hours. We hope you enjoy your stay in Portugal.

Please feel free to use this statement to explain what you can and cannot eat: "Por questões de saúde eu não posso comer nada que contenha glúten na sua composição, nomeadamente farinha de trigo, centeio, cevada e aveia. O meu corpo não tolera este tipo de farináceos (MESMO EM QUANTIDADES MINIMAS TAIS COMO MIGALHAS), como tal, não me sirva comida que contenha estas farinhas ou seus derivados. Na prática NÃO POSSO COMER NADA frito em oleos que estejam contaminados com outras comidas que tenham estas farinhas, que contenha pão, pão ralado, bolachas, batatas fritas congeladas, massas, comida frita nestas farinhas, tais como panados e pataniscas. Não posso comer molhos que sejam confecionados com farinha de trigo, cerveja e\ou mostarda. POSSO COMER farinha de milho, maizena, arroz, tapioca, batatas, soja, carne e peixe, fruta fresca e vegetais ou enlatadas e comida grelhada. Obrigado por ter em atenção as minhas necessidades de saúde e por me informar e preparar comida que eu posso tolerar."