Deciding on the best city to live in Portugal is not easy. This is because the country has excellent options spread throughout its territory, and each municipality has its peculiar characteristics. Some are cheaper, while others offer an above-average quality of life. And the reasons for so many doubts still include the cost of living, location, professional opportunities, public transport, health, safety, and leisure. But, in the end, this indecisiveness in choosing the ideal place to live is positive. To help you decide, we have made a list of the ten best cities to live in Portugal to help identify which one suits you the most.
Lisbon
Let's start with the Portuguese capital. You’ll fall in love with Lisbon. It has beautiful landscapes, charming viewpoints, many sights, and leisure spaces, such as parks and gardens. Its streets are lovely, and many are home to palaces and monuments. Cultural life is hectic and lively.
The weather is excellent! The average annual temperature is approximately 18 °C. Winters are short, while summers are long and hot. Lisbon is one of the safest capitals in the whole of Europe. Public transport serves the population well with subways, buses, electric trams, funiculars, and boats. And the best universities in the country are also located in the city. Like many other capitals globally, Lisbon has some disadvantages compared to other locations: the high cost of living. Because it received many migrants in the last few years and increased tourism, the metropolis started to have costly rents. The same goes for those who want to buy a residence in any neighborhood.
Porto
Porto is considered one of the best cities to live in Portugal on practically all lists about this subject. And there are plenty of reasons for that.
The municipality is one of the most beautiful and cheerful in the country. It offers a good diversity of cultural and leisure attractions, places for walking and jogging, and amazing beaches. A perfect combo to get excellent quality of life.
Despite being one of the most populated cities in Portugal and the second more important, Porto has less than 300 thousand inhabitants. The city is home to many big companies, making it one of the best places for job opportunities in the north of the country.
The same disadvantage of Lisbon affects Porto too. Housing prices are high. Another issue for some people is the traffic during peak hours, especially in the summer, when thousands of tourists come to the city.
Coimbra
Coimbra is known for its excellent quality of life and attracts students from all over the world. The respected University of Coimbra, one of the oldest in the world, with more than 700 years, is a very known institution among students. Another great advantage is that Coimbra has some of Portugal's best hospitals. Public transport serves the population well, but it's easy to walk to the main interest points. What can weigh unfavorably for a small town like Coimbra is the lack of job opportunities. However, the local cost of living is much lower than the main Portuguese cities. Besides, traffic is quiet, the culture is vibrating, there are many historical monuments and places to visit, so Coimbra is one of the best cities to live in Portugal.
Braga
Braga breathes history and is one of the oldest municipalities in the country. Its 192 thousand inhabitants enjoy countless churches, palaces, castles, prehistoric and Middle Ages ruins, museums, theaters, and gardens. Although millennial, Braga has a young spirit, as it also accommodates an important educational institution, the University of Minho. The organization offers undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral courses in several areas. The location is quiet, inexpensive to live in, and delivers wonderful life to its residents. However, the labor supply in companies is scarce. Another point to be emphasized is that the winter is more rigorous than in other places, and on some days, the temperatures recorded are even harmful. That can be good for those who do not like higher temperatures.
Guimarães
Guimarães is also an ancient and medieval city, and its historical center has been considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Most of the area's buildings were restored to maintain their architectural treasures. The municipality has around 160 thousand inhabitants, a desirable quality of life, and an affordable living cost. Safety, cleanliness, and organization are other positive factors. There is no need for public transport to circulate in the central region is another great advantage that makes Guimarães one of the best cities to live in Portugal. The weak points of Guimarães are due to the low offer of jobs and rentals.
Aveiro
Aveiro was nicknamed “Portuguese Venice” because of its navigable canals and moliceiro boats, which resemble the famous Italian city's gondolas. The town offers a population of approximately 80 thousand inhabitants with, excellent quality of life. The peaceful city is home to the University of Aveiro, which offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional technical courses. This is another respected institution in Portugal that receives many students annually. The cost of living is low, and the city has a good offer of properties for rent and purchase. The disadvantage is the low job offer in other small cities in Portugal. Many people work in nearby towns between 20 and 40 km away.
Sintra
Considered one of the best cities to live in Portugal, Sintra maintains a hinterland center's characteristics even though it has more than 350 thousand inhabitants. The town is only 30 km from Lisbon, about 40 minutes by train. As it likes to be classified, the medieval village is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its territory hosts several palaces and castles that enchant those passionate about architecture, history, and culture. What guarantees year-round heated tourism. Sintra also offers safety, natural beauty, great restaurants, hotel, commercial infrastructure, and the most beautiful beaches in Portugal. Some of the famous sights have free entry for residents on Sundays. Being close to the capital is a significant advantage in many aspects, including the chance to work there. Despite not offering affordable housing, buying or renting a Sintra property is still lower than in Lisbon. That’s also the case for the cost of living in general. Tourism creates many job opportunities, but it might be a disadvantage for those who expect to live in a quieter region.
Portimão
The city of Portimão is one of a kind. Located in the Algarve region, the town has paradisiacal crystal-clear beaches protected by immense cliffs. The sun shines most days, and the climate is pleasant all year round, with hot, long summers and a short, mild winter. It is a critical nautical sports centers in the Algarve. Golf courses are also part of the local scene. Another attraction is the campus of the University of Algarve. Among the most popular touristic destinations in the country, the most common jobs in Portimão are hotels, restaurants, and companies that provide touristic services. Portimão offers an excellent quality of life, attracting foreigners who choose the city as their new home. So it is common to see Swedes, English, and Germans through the city's streets. The location is a paradise for retirees looking for rest and peace. The rent can be 50% less than the prices found in Lisbon, but not in the summer. During the hottest season of the year, the supply goes down, and the values go up.
Cascais
Another coastal pearl is Cascais, which is among the best cities to live in Portugal. The municipality is only 30 km away from Lisbon and has 210 thousand inhabitants. Cascais received the “Portuguese Riviera” nickname for having beautiful landscapes and crystal-clear beaches. The excellent quality of life is one of Cascais' most striking characteristics, which makes famous, foreign investors and retirees feel attracted to acquire real estate there. The city also offers hiking trails and many outdoor spaces. The local climate is pleasant all year round, with an average of 260 days without rain and a high incidence of sunny days. The cost of living is lower than in Lisbon, but that does not mean that it is cheap to live in Cascais. The price of renting a house can be compared to that of the capital in many cases. The biggest offers are between the tourism and service sectors when it comes to employment. The other areas suffer from a lack of opportunities. The alternative of working in Lisbon and living in Cascais is a good idea for young people also because public transport works very well in the region.
Viseu
Viseu is known to be one of the Portuguese cities with the best life quality. It has even appeared in international rankings a few times in this regard. The municipality has about 100 thousand inhabitants and excels in tranquility and safety.
The cost of living places Viseu among the cheapest places in Portugal. To give you an idea, the value of a two-bedroom apartment is even lower than a one-bedroom property in Lisbon.
It is a city with many green spaces and a preserved historical center. Its economy is based on the service sector and industry, especially textiles and industrial machinery. However, for many, Viseu's weakness is the lack of employment precisely in these more qualified sectors.
Suppose you enjoyed getting to know the best cities to live in. Could you share your comments with us in Portugal? If you have another location to insert into the list, do not hesitate to help this article be even more complete.
