Best cities in Portugal for holiday and life
Different cities in Portugal have very different atmospheres, property markets, and attractions. Find out, what will be your favourite place in Portugal!
Portugal occupies the western strip of the Iberian peninsula - its climates range from misty north to sunburned south, its culture includes a big dose of Moorish influence, and its people speak a language that derives from Latin.
Many property buyers are most interested in is the coast - from the Silver Coast north of Lisbon to the popular Algarve. While the Algarve has been quite highly developed with a number of exclusive resorts, gold courses, and major hotels, other areas of the coasts are less built-up and in some cases still quite wild. Inland, Portugal has some marvellous landscapes including the rugged hills and wine country of the north, and gentler hills in the south scattered with olive groves and fig trees.
Portugal also includes two island enclaves, Madeira and the Azores, with their own microclimates and quite distinct property markets.
Different nationalities tend to have slightly different preferences when it comes to property. A lot of Brits buy on the Algarve, though there's a big minority buying rustic properties. The French tend to head for Porto, while German buyers are well represented in Faro and Lisbon.
Chinese buyers have been particularly interested in the 'golden visa' opportunity that Portugal offers, giving access to the EU; Portugal is the fifth biggest destination for Chinese real estate purchasers. Making up 80% of purchasers under this scheme, they have typically bought managed apartments in Lisbon as pure investments. Russian buyers, on the other hand, have tended to look to Cascais and Estoril. Lots of millennials are also moving to Lisbon, which has a thriving start-up scene.
Where to search a property? What's the total price of buying? What about communication? And how not to be fooled? We've got you covered in the guide.