13 Best Places To Live In Portugal

Portugal is located on the Iberian Peninsula, in Southwestern Europe, and is becoming an increasingly popular choice with expats due to its outstanding landscape, delicious cuisine and rich culture.

We’ll be discussing the best places to live in Portugal for work, immigrants, families and more.

Let’s start by taking a look at the best places to live in Portugal.

Sections

Best Places To Live In Portugal

City	Reason
Lisbon	Best for work
Castelo Branco	Best for affordability
Lisbon, Estrela	Best for families
Porto	Best for immigrants
Aveiro	Best for retirement
Porto, Ribeira	Best for young adults
Coimbra	Best for students
Porto and Lagos	Best for food and nightlife
Braga	Best for singles
Lisbon, Arroios	Best for the LGBT+ community
The Algarve	Best for weather
Cascais	Best for beaches
Funchal	Best for mountains

Best Places To Live In Portugal for Work

Lisbon is the capital city of Portugal and is a popular destination with expats, leading to a thriving expat community. English is widely spoken in the city and it’s known for having a very cosmopolitan atmosphere with plenty of historic and culturally significant sites.

The main work industries in Lisbon are finance, commerce, fashion, international trade, education and tourism. The service sector dominates a lot of the Portuguese economy and there are plenty of jobs available in the tourism sector, in particular.

For those with more creative aspirations, Porto is the best city for job opportunities in the fashion, footwear, furniture, and jewellery sectors. The coastal city is located in northwest Portugal and is known for offering an authentic Portuguese experience.

Cheapest Places To Live In Portugal

Portugal is considered one of the cheapest countries in Western Europe and is reportedly fifty per cent less expensive than the United States, making it a fantastic option for expats who are hoping to relocate with a smaller budget.

Castelo Branco is located in Central Portugal and is one of the most affordable cities in Portugal, with reports claiming it’s almost forty per cent more affordable than living in the capital, Lisbon. There are plenty of markets, as well as shops, making the cost of living very affordable.

The city is very quiet with little traffic and is an ideal place for those hoping for peaceful city living.

Santarém is a city and municipality in Portugal that is also notable for being one of the cheaper places to live in the country. The city is known for farming and bullfighting and has a charming atmosphere.

Best Places To Live In Portugal for Families

Lisbon is one of the best options for expats hoping to relocate to Portugal with family in tow. The city has all the modern conveniences one would expect for a developed city, with plenty of shops, eateries, cafes and bars.

The cost of living and housing costs in Lisbon are higher than in other cities in the country, but the benefit of living in Lisbon is that the city is safe and well-maintained. There are also plenty of job opportunities in Lisbon, and English is widely spoken.

Estrela is a wonderful neighbourhood that is popular with many expat families due to the surrounding green spaces, peaceful atmosphere and blend of modern and classic culture and architecture.

Braga is another good family-friendly city that is a great option for expats hoping to relocate to a well-established city with a safe reputation and good amenities.

Best Places To Live In Portugal for Immigrants

With its iconic Douro Riverfront, Porto is a beautifully charming city with a historic centre that has been named a UNESCO World Heritage site. Porto is a wonderful choice for immigrants and has a large and diverse expat community.

English is widely spoken throughout Porto and there are plenty of different neighbourhoods to choose from when it comes to housing options. Ribeira is one of the most popular neighbourhoods in Porto and immigrants who choose to live in the city are likely to have a more authentic Portuguese experience.

As the capital city, Lisbon is another good option for immigrants, though do keep in mind that the cost of living and cost of housing will be more expensive in Lisbon than any other city in Portugal.

Best Places To Live In Portugal for Retirement

Portugal is an extremely popular choice when it comes to retirement – the affordable cost of living, gorgeous weather and beautiful cities make the country a natural choice for many expats. The city of Aveiro is a very common choice for many retirees.

Aveiro is located on the west coast of Portugal and is set along a lagoon called Ria de Aveiro. It has many canals with brightly coloured boats and is known for its relaxed pace of life.

It’s quintessentially Portuguese and ideal for those who want an authentic experience. English is spoken less widely here, however.

Coimbra is another city that is very popular with retirees. There are plenty of affordable housing options in Coimbra and there is a distinct and rich culture within the city.

Best Places To Live In Portugal for Young Adults

Porto is one of the best cities in Portugal for young adults who want to strike a balance between experiencing the classic culture and lifestyle of the country with the modern amenities of a well-developed city.

Porto is known for its good quality of life, excellent nightlife and affordable cost of living and housing, making it a great option for young adults who may be striking out alone for the first time or who are hoping to find a new community.

There’s a large expat community in Porto and English is widely spoken in the city. Popular neighbourhoods with expats are Ribeira and Boavista.

Coimbra is another good choice for young adults – as a university city Coimbra has a large student population and is known to be a safe city.

Best Places To Live In Portugal for Students

Coimbra is located between Lisbon and Porto and is one of the best cities in Portugal for international students considering relocating to Portugal. The quality of life in Coimbra is high and there is a large expat community comprised of both students and digital nomads.

Some of the main universities based in Coimbra are the University of Coimbra (Portugal’s oldest and most prestigious university), the Polytechnical Institute of Coimbra and the Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Coimbra.

Lisbon, the capital city, is another good option for international students. The city is home to universities such as the University of Lisbon, the New University of Lisbon and the Lusófona Catholic University of Portugal.

Best Places To Live In Portugal for Food and Nightlife

Porto is an ideal city for food lovers. Though most famous for its wide range of Port, fortified wine produced in the Douro Valley, the city is also a haven for foodies.

Portuguese cuisine includes ingredients such as meat, seafood, vegetables and spices. It’s also strongly influenced by French and Mediterranean cuisine. Portugal’s national dish is Bacalhau – dried and salted cod – and can be found in many restaurants in Porto.

Lagos is ideal for those hoping to move somewhere with excellent nightlife. The city is located in Portugal’s southern Algarve region and is renowned for having outstanding nightlife with a variety of bars and clubs.

Best Places To Live In Portugal for Singles

Portugal is a great option for singles hoping to move to a country where they can experience a high quality of life while on a budget. Many of Portugal’s cities are affordable, and Braga is no exception.

Braga is the third oldest city in Portugal and is one of the best options for singles moving to Portugal. There are good housing options in Braga and the city is very family-friendly and safe. Those hoping to save on costs can consider relocating to the Northern Quarter of the city.

Porto is a good option for those hoping to enjoy the best of authentic Portuguese culture and isn’t as expensive as Lisbon. There is a large expat community based in Porto which is great for those hoping to make new community and connections.

Best Places To Live In Portugal for the LGBT+ Community

Lisbon is known for being one of the most welcoming cities in Portugal for the LGBT+ community. The city has some of the most well-known inclusive neighbourhoods in the country, Arroios and Misericórdia, and hosts an annual Pride event.

Principle Real is traditionally known as one of the oldest gay neighbourhoods in the city and is where the annual Pride march begins, which brings in many tourists each year. Downtown is where many of the city’s gay bars are located.

Cascais is also known to be a gay-friendly city, with a diverse and active LGBT+ community. The city is most well-known for its range of stunning beaches, relaxed lifestyle and impressive cultural scene.

Best Places To Live In Portugal for the Weather

Portugal has a Mediterranean climate that doesn’t experience a huge amount of dramatic changes throughout the year, though the weather does vary considerably from region to region.

To experience the best weather Portugal has to offer, it is highly recommended you consider relocating to the south of the country. The Algarve is Portugal’s southernmost region and is known for its outstanding resorts, beaches and golf courses.

The Algarve’s warm climate stretches through the entire year with the coldest month being January, when temperatures are around seventeen to twenty degrees Celsius.

Faro is the capital of the Algarve region and is another great option for those who intend to relocate to Portugal with good weather in mind.

Best Places To Live In Portugal Near Beaches

Portugal has several outstanding beaches and with such a fantastic climate, expats are spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing a city to relocate to. Cascais is located just west of Lisbon (around a half-hour train ride from Lisbon) and is a great choice for beach lovers.

It’s considered one of the best beach towns in Cascais and has a variety of exceptional beaches to choose from, with plenty of eateries in the cobbled surrounding town. Cascais is a popular choice with expats hoping to relocate to a city with a laidback atmosphere and easy access to a range of water sports activities.

Aveiro is another great option. The city is located along the Ria de Aveiro lagoon and has several intersecting canals that create a charming atmosphere with a nearby selection of Silver Coast beaches.

Best Places To Live In Portugal Near Mountains

There are several mountains in Portugal as the geography of the land offers dramatic coastlines and cliffs around the mainland of Portugal. Funchal is the capital city of the island of Madeira and is a fantastic option for those who are hoping to relocate to a city with easy access to hiking trails.

Funchal is a great choice for nature lovers as there is a range of flora and fauna on the island that people can get up close and personal with the several botanical gardens Funchal is home to. There is also a thriving cultural scene on the island with museums such as the Christiano Ronaldo CR7 Museum (Museu CR7) to the Sacred Art Museum of Funchal (Museu de Arte Sacra do Funchal).

Braga, Portugal’s most northern city, is another good option for those hoping to relocate near the mountains. The city is just 36 km (22 mi) away from Peneda-Gerês National Park which is home to a huge range of hills, nature and wildlife.