Are you wondering where to spend Christmas in Portugal? Whether you’re looking for twinkling city lights, a cosy countryside escape, or a sun-soaked coastal getaway, Portugal offers a magical holiday experience.
Living in Faro means easing into the laid‑back capital of the Algarve, where a compact old town meets the lagoon. With a population of around 60,000, life feels refreshingly local.
If you’re weighing up the best place to spend New Year’s Eve in Portugal, picture Passagem de Ano as sociable and outdoorsy: twelve raisins at midnight (doze passas), a toast with espumante, and a slice of bolo‑rei the next day.
Winter slips into Portugal with misty valleys, fire‑warm taverns and the scent of street‑roasted chestnuts. Snow does arrive on higher ground while the coast stays mild and moody.
Winter in Portugal suits a quieter city break with mild days, good-value stays and proper comfort food, especially if you’re plotting the best Portuguese cities to visit in winter.
December in Portugal has a lovely winter rhythm: crisp mornings in the mountains, cosy evenings by the fire, and cities that glow once the lights go on.
Changes to tax regimes, growing geopolitical tensions and evolving visa landscapes have accelerated the migration of wealth, with Europe emerging as the preferred destination thanks to its political stability, lifestyle and good governance — with Lisbon leading the list of most sought-after cities.T
Lisbon’s magic hides in its bairros; for secret places in Lisbon, it’s the backstreets and hilltops where everyday life hums. Stumble across pocket miradouros, shrine‑tucked alleys and family‑run tascas. The focus here is on non-touristy things to do in Lisbon.
Albufeira is a coastal city in the Algarve, southern Portugal, that has grown from a quiet fishing village into one of the area's most popular resorts.
Located between Atlantic waves and green hills, Funchal is Madeira’s easy-going capital with a distinctly local flavour. Life unfolds at a comfortable pace, with daily routines shaped by the sea, mountain air, and a city centre full of markets and friendly faces.
Thinking about life as a digital nomad in Portugal? While Lisbon and Porto often top lists of the best places in Portugal for digital nomads—with all the perks and some rapidly rising rents—they’re far from your only options.
According to the Mapping the World's Prices 2025 report, produced by the Deutsche Bank Research Institute, Luxembourg, Copenhagen and Amsterdam are the three cities with the highest quality of life in 2025.
Tucked away in the heart of central Portugal, Águeda is a lively riverside town best known for its colourful umbrellas and forward-thinking community spirit.
Situated in the rolling hills of northern Portugal, Guimarães isn’t just any old town—it’s often called the cradle of the nation. You’ll find it a short train ride from Porto, in the Minho region. Locals take pride in their vinho verde and leafy landscapes.
Dreaming of a life by the ocean? Portugal offers some of the best places to live by the sea, combining natural beauty, a relaxed lifestyle, and vibrant local culture.
Aveiro, often dubbed the “Venice of Portugal”, sits on the west coast halfway between Porto and Coimbra. The city is famed for its network of pretty canals, brightly painted moliceiro boats gliding by, and a pinch of Art Nouveau architecture dotted throughout its centre.