Where to live in Portugal

The region of Alentejo sits in south‑central Portugal, reaching the Algarve in the south, the Atlantic on the west and Spain to the east.

Alentejo spans a vast swathe of southern Portugal, with rolling cork oak estates, olive groves, and whitewashed towns.

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.

According to Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection’s 2026 traveller safety survey, Lisbon is in the top ten safest cities in the world.

Olhão is a low-key fishing town in the Algarve with flat-roofed “cubist” houses, working boats in the marina and ferries sliding out to Ilha da Armona. Living in Olhão means you get proper year-round town living here rather than a manicured resort.

This town in Alentejo, less than two hours from Lisbon, feels like sun on whitewashed walls, cool church interiors, and cork‑oak country rolling to the horizon.

Lisbon is friendly and largely low‑risk, thanks to it being the capital of one of the safest countries in the world.

Portugal still hides pockets of real value away from the big‑ticket coasts. Across the country, there are municipalities where the average asking price is under €700 per square meter, with some edging close to €500.

The Algarve, located on Portugal's south coast, is a proper picture-postcard spot, with gorgeous beaches and a wonderfully laid-back atmosphere. But if you’re thinking about living in the Algarve, there's so much more to it than just the lovely holiday vibes you see in the brochures.

Just a short drive across the 25 de Abril Bridge from Lisbon lies Costa da Caparica, a coastal city with a distinct, relaxed identity.

Tomar feels as if it’s been plucked from a medieval epic and set down gently on the banks of the Nabão River.

As the largest and most populated island in the Azores, this speck of Portugal in the middle of the Atlantic offers a life quite unlike any on the mainland. It’s not hard to see why it earned the nickname ‘Green Island’.

Just a short drive up the coast from Lisbon lies Ericeira, a traditional fishing town that has earned its place on the global map. As Europe’s only World Surfing Reserve, it's a spot where cobbled streets and blue-and-white houses meet a deeply ingrained, laid-back surf culture.

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.

Remote work in Portugal has truly taken off in recent years, and it’s easy to see why so many people are choosing the country as their base.

Right up in the green corner of Northern Portugal, where the wide Minho River meets the Atlantic, sits the market town of Caminha. With one foot on the coast and the other practically in Spain, this scenic spot offers a unique slice of Portuguese life.

When you picture the Douro Valley, your mind likely goes straight to the terraced vineyards and world-famous Port wine. But to get to grips with this part of Northern Portugal means looking beyond the bottle on the shelf.

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.

Tucked away in Portugal's eastern Algarve, Tavira has managed to keep its authentic charm whilst quietly becoming one of the region's most desirable places to live.

Perched along Portugal's stunning Algarve coast, Portimão has grown from a traditional fishing port into one of the region's most appealing year-round destinations.

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.

Madeira, off Portugal, is often dubbed an oasis in the Atlantic. Positioned southwest of the Portuguese coast, this island provides a lifestyle that's hard to beat.