Retire to Portugal

Portugal is fast becoming the top retirement destination for Irish citizens—and it’s easy to see why.

Portugal is often considered one of the best places to retire, offering a relaxed lifestyle and great value for money. In 2025, many retirees are choosing Portugal as a haven from global challenges like the pension crisis, Brexit, and rising living costs.

When moving to a new country, whether to study on Erasmus, retire or even with a family, one of the first questions asked is about the people, in this case, the people of Portugal. What are Portuguese people like? What are the Portuguese known for? Are Portuguese people welcoming?

Retirement is a stage of life when many people decide it's time for a change. This often means looking for a new country to live in, somewhere with a good climate, low cost of living, good property, opportunities, entertainment and good healthcare.

The arrival of retirement is an important moment for people who have spent many long years working, and it is also a time when many decide to move abroad for a lifestyle change.

Portugal was chosen as the world's best retirement destination in 2020 by International Living magazine and is a popular destination for expats wishing to retire abroad.

The Portuguese parliament has approved a measure which will limit the issuance of what are known as ‘golden visas’ for real estate investments made across the Portuguese coastline, including in Lisbon and Porto.

Besides plans to end golden visas in Lisbon and Porto, the ruling Socialist Party in Portugal has introduced an amendment to this year's state budget which will levy a 10% income tax (known in Portuguese as IRS) on the foreign revenue of foreign pensioners who move to Portugal.

Launched in 2009, the regime for non-habitual residents in Portugal adds up to more than 27,000 beneficiaries and has been a strong driver of property investment in Portugal, especially in recent years.

Portugal attracts a lot of foreigners thanks to its mild climate, beautiful coastlines and very cost-efficient real estate market. There’s also great variety when it comes to location since you can live in a small village, in a big city or by the sea.

If you’ve already lived in Portugal for a while, you’ll know what we mean. If you’re getting ready to go there, be warned about what you might find – Portuguese people are really lovely but have some strange customs. Here, we run down the 10 strangest habits of the Portuguese. 1.

Retirement age is finally here, and you have big plans – moving to Portugal. And we salute you for your wise decision. With 3000 hours of sunshine per year, some of Europe’s most stunning beaches, beautiful cities and friendly people, Portugal sounds like the right choice.