Lisbon named one of the most attractive European cities to live in

When it comes to choosing a foreign country to live in, there are various aspects that count, from the climate, to safety, to leisure activities. And, weighing all these factors in the balance, Lisbon is considered by foreign citizens as one of the most attractive European cities to live in. The Portuguese capital is in tenth place in a list led by Edinburgh in Scotland.

The flexibility that working from home has brought to the working environment has generated a wave of digital nomads around the world. Many foreigners are migrating from their countries to embark on the experience of living across borders. But which cities in Europe are most attractive to future expats looking for the ideal place to live?

To answer this question, Holidu carried out a study based on phrases typically used in the search for new life experiences abroad. And the results are clear to see: Lisbon was considered the tenth most attractive city in Europe to live in by foreigners, accounting 2,500 average monthly searches around the globe, they reveal in a press release.

The mild climate, typical cuisine, safety, beaches, green landscapes and monuments of Lisbon can help explain these results. And a recent study by idealista corroborates: the municipality of Lisbon was the most sought after by foreigners to buy a house in Portugal in the second quarter of 2022. The demand for houses to buy in the capital is particularly expressive by families from the United States, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Germany and France, points out the same study published in July this year.

In addition to Lisbon, there are other urban centres that make up the top 10 cities in Europe that have most attracted foreigners to live, reveals the same study by Holidu:

1. Edinburgh, UK (20,600 average monthly global searches)
2. Dublin, Ireland (17,570)
3. Barcelona, Spain (12,000)
4. London, United Kingdom (10,650)
5. Berlin, Germany (5,150)
6. Paris, France (4,700)
7. Madrid, Spain (4,520)
8. Amsterdam, Netherlands (4,450)
9. Manchester, United Kingdom (3,200)
10. Lisbon, Portugal (2,500)

João Reguengos on Unsplash

Living abroad: these are the most desired cities in the world

In addition to a Europe-wide analysis, Holidu also sought to know which are the 10 most attractive cities in the world to live in from the point of view of foreign citizens. The study once again concluded that Edinburgh, Scotland, is "the most desired city to live abroad, not only in Europe, but in the world," they explain in the document. In this ranking, Dublin, in Ireland, is in second place, and Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, completes the top three.

This is the ranking of the world's cities that most attract expats, according to the same study:

1. Edinburgh, UK (20,600 average monthly global searches)
2. Dublin, Ireland (17,570)
3. Dubai, United Arab Emirates (13,200)
4. Barcelona, Spain (12,000)
5. London, United Kingdom (10,650)
6. Singapore, Singapore (8,700)
7. Miami, USA (7,800)
8. New York, USA (7,550)
9. Boston, US (6,200)
10. Hong Kong, Hong Kong (5,800)

Edinburgh, the best city in the world for expats Kate Bielinski on Unsplash