For the Love of Lisbon
Why you will absolutely fall in Love with Portugal's coastal capital
Have you always fantasized about living in a place that has a wonderful climate, is affordable, has a friendly population, and has some of the most breathtaking views? Well, there is a great news for you because living in Lisbon is a possibility you must explore to achieve all this and much more for a happy and fulfilling life.
But what exactly is it about Portugal's coastal capital that makes it so popular for expats from America and several other countries worldwide? Are you curious to find out?
HomeLovers has prepared this guide to help you learn everything you need to know to understand why a move to Lisbon, Portugal, can be the best decision you can make for your family and yourself
Excellent Weather all Year Round
European countries are typically not know for having a great climate. With milder temperatures compare to most other European countries, Portugal's climate is one of the top reasons moving to Lisbon can be the perfect decision.
If your reservation about a move to Europe is the cold weather, most of Portugal offers some of the best climates all year round. July is the hottest month in places like Algarve with an average temperature of 24ºC (74ºF).
December can get pretty wet in most of Portugal, but the weather in Lisbon remains pleasant in the winter due to its coastal climate, typically with temperatures between 15ºC (59ºF) and 16ºC(60ºF).
Whether you love heading to the beach, cycling, jogging, or other outdoor activities, living in Lisbon means you can do them throughout the year while enjoying the fantastic weather and climate.
Mesmerizing Beaches in Lisbon
If you love the water and spending time on the beach is something you would like to do, few places in the world offer you beaches that even come close to the breathtaking beaches in Algarve.
Portugal's southernmost region, Algarve, is the coastline of Portugal and the most popular tourist destination in the country. Located just three-hour drive from Lisbon, it features remarkable views you cannot get elsewhere.
Lisbon´s close proximity to beautiful beaches is not given enough credit. Many expats who move to Lisbon realize that living here gives gives them everything a modern city has to offer, with the ease of enjoying relaxing beach days along its coastlines.
Easy to reach using public transport, the beaches in Lisbon are plentiful and diverse, from wild surfing beaches to calm and family oriented beaches with charming resorts towns. You can never get enough of the beach as a Lisbon resident.
Amazing and Unique Culture
Portugal is rich with a colorful history, boasting a strong and vibrant, friendly, progressive culture. Portuguese might not be the easiest language to learn, but it is fun. The real key is to practice the language actively. Fortunately, you will get plenty of opportunities. The people in Lisbon are incredibly friendly, and you can use practicing your Portuguese as an excuse to socialize.
The country has a lot of cultural wealth, with each region featuring unique characteristics, culture, festivals, food, wine, and architecture that will make you fall in love with the country and the people. If you are a music lover, you will be delighted to learn that you will hear a mix of traditional and modern music everywhere in Lisbon, including the beautiful tradition of Fado music, recognized by UNESCO as a valuable and important music genre symbolic of Lisbon.
The Portuguese have a deep-rooted appreciation for art. You will find plenty of museums in Lisbon and other major cities in the country. Even smaller municipalities have their own collections and designated areas for local art exhibitions. Soccer, or futebol as the locals call it, is the most popular sport in the country. The home country of a living soccer legend, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lisbon is home to Benfica and Sporting, two of the biggest soccer clubs in the country.
Festivals, Holidays, and Cuisine in Portugal
Whether you live in a town, village, or major city, you will find plenty of cultural activity to explore. A fan of trying the local cuisine? Well, most cultural activity in Portugal revolves around their delicious food. There are festivals celebrating bread, wine, olive oil, cheese and several others. Groups perform traditional dances and songs on the holidays. Several public holidays mark political events from the country's rich history, and there are events honoring Mary, the mother of Jesus.
The Portuguese are well-known for celebrating Carnaval, with parades filling the streets as people sing, dance, and toss confetti. J-une of each year sees several activities dedicated to St. Anthony (June 12 and 13), St. John(June 23 and 24) and St.Peter(June 28 and 29). You will find people grilling sardines in the streets, people enjoying a traditional potato and collard greens soup called caldo verde that´s topped with courico.
You also get to experience various Lisboa live events throughout the year besides the food festivals, including art exhibitions, concerts, soccer matches and much more. The CCB hosts a grand concert to celebrate the New Year every year, art lovers will enjoy Arte Lisboa, the contemporary art fair held in Portugal's capital each November.
As the country´s capital, Lisbon is the perfect place to enjoy traditional Portuguese cuisine from all corners of the country. Considering the number of festivals Portugal has to celebrate food, you must realize they take their food seriously. Lisbon is a city where you can dine at various cafes and snack bars for some amazing food within a few euros or visit high-end Michelin-starred restaurants for a luxury fine-dining experience. From its world-famous Pastéis de Nata to freshly grilled sardines, seafood, Piri Piri chicken, chourico (especially when paired with bread aka pão), and so much more, your options for exciting cuisine are virtually endless if you move to Lisbon.
Lisbon Neighborhoods | The Best Locations to Live in Lisbon, Portugal
Many expats considering a move to Lisbon often wonder about the best location to live in Lisbon. Also called the City of Seven Hills, Lisbon has a variety of neighbordhoods, each with unique characterisitics that make for compelling reasons to live in this wonderful city. For those who want to live near the heart of the city, Restauradores, Alfama, Graca an Chiado are some of the best for you to consider. This city also offers plenty of quieter neighborhoods suited to people who love some peace and tranquility, with the likes of campo de Ourique, Parque das Nacoes and Estrela being some excellent neighborhoods to live in.
Here's a quick overview of some of the neighborhoods in Lisbon that are most popular among expats and why that's so:
Alfama
The oldest part of Lisbon, Alfama is a charming neighborhood with an almost medieval-esque aesthetic about it. From the stunning view of the Tagus river to colorful houses exhibiting the best of Lisbon's architectural history. Cozy and charming, it is the perfect place to live if you want to be close to the vibrant history of this remarkable city.
Bairro Alto
Living in Lisbon has plenty to offer for those into an outgoing and vibrant lifestyle. The center of nightlife in Lisbon, Bairro Alto is the high district with a uniquely bohemian feel. Lined with the countless restaurants, bars, exceptional street art, and plenty of attractions, Bairro Alto is a neighborhood you will fall in love with.
Avenida da Liberdade
If you prefer the pricier neighbordhoods, Avenida da Liberdade could be the perfect neighborhood for you. Featuring most of the embassies, it is the commercial hub in the city with designer shops, and some of the most expensive real estate in a stunning location that this city has to offer. Avenida da Liberdade is a mile-long strip close to most of the city's popular attractions, making it the perfect place to live if you love to frequent the wonderful sights Lisbon offers.
Campo de Ourique
Another Lisbon neighborhood located in the heart of the city, Baixa is a popular destination for local residents, expats, and foreign tourists alike. It is located close to the best tourist attractions in Lisbon, has a vibrant culture of cafes, and features plenty of restaurants and shopping districts for you to enjoy.
Baixa
Another Lisbon neighborhood located in the heart of the city, Baixa is a popular destination for local residents, expats, and foreign tourists alike. It is located close to the best tourist attractions in Lisbon, has a vibrant culture of cafes, and features plenty of restaurants and shopping districts for you to enjoy.
Is it Safe to Live in Lisbon, Portugal?
All that nice weather throughout the year and amazing beaches cannot count for a lot unless you know whether it is safe to live in Lisbon, right? Well, you´re going to be delighted.
The global peace index report published in 2020 ranked Portugal as the third-safest country worldwide. It´s the second-safest country worldwide. It's the second-safest in Europe, losing the stop to Iceland.
It means that not only can you enjoy stunning views in a city close to the beach and experience its remarkable culture. You can also enjoy the tranquility of living in a safe place.
Crime rates are exceptionally low in Lisbon, and most crimes reported are non-violent. Gun crimes are almost non-existent because owning a firearm is not permissible.
Lisbon Features Amazing Schools
If you are planning to move to Lisbon with your family, you will be happy to learn that the city offers a wealth of excellent schools you can enroll your children in when you relocate to Lisbon. Featuring several international schools, there are plenty of options for you to explore to get the best education for your children. As a legal resident of Lisbon, you may also enroll your children in public schools free of cost.
Free Public Healthcare
Portugal's healthcare system is excellent, comprising three coexisting systems that work in unison to deliver top-notch healthcare for people throughout the country. Anybody living in Lisbon gets access to public healthcare through the Serviço Nacional de Saúde (SNS), Portugal's National Health Service. There are also several private hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities you can consider if you have cash or want to seek care through your health insurance.
Are you Ready to Move to the City of Seven Hills and call it Your New Home?
Lisbon offers a relaxed and peaceful lifestyle, wonderful weather all year, features amazing food, plenty of festivals and holidays, and it is one of the safest cities in the world. With no shortage of breathtaking views, an affordable cost of living, a great mixture of contemporary and traditional architecture, Lisbon has become a popular destination for expats from the US and all over the world to call their new home. If you are ready to make the move to Lisbon, HomeLovers is the perfect business to partner with to realize your dream of living in this beautiful city.
