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Expat Exchange - 5 Tips for Living in Lisbon, Portugal
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Along the Tagus Waterfront in Lisbon


5 Tips for Living in Lisbon, Portugal

By Joshua Wood, LPC

Portugal Residency Advisors
Portugal Residency Advisors

Expats living in Lisbon, Portugal enjoy a historic cross-roads that has become an economic hub in Western Europe. Expats from all over the world enjoy the Mediterranean climate and diversity of people and culture.

Expats in Lisbon enjoy a historic city that is a major European economic center. It has a growing financial sector and is a major container port. It also boasts impressive entertainment, media and tourism industries, among others. Lisbon is one of the best places to retire in Portugal.

Basics For Moving to Lisbon

Lisbon is the oldest city in Western Europe. It is located on the Atlantic Ocean and the Tagus River, which is the largest river on the Iberian Peninsula. The Iberian Peninsula is mostly comprised of Portugal and Spain, but also Andorra and Gibraltar.

Lisbon has a Mediterranean climate, and it is has the highest temperatures in the winter when compared to all of the other major European cities.

Lisbon has a wide variety of neighborhoods to choose from.

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Portugal Residency Advisors is a full-service consulting firm dedicated to providing personalized services to individuals and families seeking to relocate to Portugal. With a team of experienced professionals and strategic partnerships, we are well-positioned to assist clients with all aspects of the relocation process.
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Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.

Living in Lisbon

One expat living in Lisbon reported that "In my experience, restaurants and cafes afforded me the opportunity to meet new people, develop friendships, and practice speaking the language. At nearly every turn, I was able to find people willing to speak English with me and to offer useful help in developing the ability to speak Portuguese." Another expat agreed, writing that "I recently moved to Lisbon. I am [a] single retired lady. I'm finding it very easy to meet people and while just beginning to learn Portuguese I find most people in this part of country speak English."

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William Russell's private medical insurance will cover you and your family wherever you may be. Whether you need primary care or complex surgery, you'll have access to the best hospitals & doctors available. Unlike some insurers, we also include medical evacuation and mental health cover in our plans (except SilverLite). Get a quote from our partner, William Russell.

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William Russell's private medical insurance will cover you and your family wherever you may be. Whether you need primary care or complex surgery, you'll have access to the best hospitals & doctors available. Unlike some insurers, we also include medical evacuation and mental health cover in our plans (except SilverLite). Get a quote from our partner, William Russell.

Jobs Information For Expats

An expat in Lisbon wrote that "the Lisbon area serves a great number of industries. Tourism and service tend to be areas of extreme importance at present. Technological industries and research in science and medicine also play important roles for many.

The expat added, however, that "In fact, many young people graduating from universities are finding their opportunities outside of Portugal. Having a clear plan and perhaps prearranged employment behooves the would-be expat."

Finally, he added "Work is a little hard to find right now, but the quality of life and the warmth of the Portuguese people means that if you have enough to get by, you just might feel richer than living a money driven life."

Another expat living in Lisbon added a slightly different take, writing that "Job employment agencies are the best way to go for looking for work. However, most require fluency in Portuguese. If you come from the United States, the UK, or any other English-speaking country, your best bet is to look for companies from your home country that are specifically looking for English-speakers."

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Relocating abroad soon? Make your move with AGS! AGS Worldwide Movers is a leader in the international moving industry. Our experience and expertise allows us to guarantee our clients the best quality moving services.
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Lisbon Has Expats From All Over The World

One expat living in Lisbon reported that "Lisbon is very diverse. While the vast majority of the population are Iberian (Portuguese and Spanish), there are immigrants from all over the globe (former Portuguese colonies in Africa, Brasil) Ukrainians make up the largest immigrant group (after Brasilians). While certain groups tend to stick to themselves, people appear accepting of everyone here.

Another expat in Portugal reported that "English is spoken more readily in the Lisbon, Porto and Algarve areas, but also in Coimbra...and your fellow expats are located in these areas, also."

Things For Expats to Do in Lisbon

There are plenty of things to do in Lisbon for expats seeking to explore the Culture of Lisbon.

One of the latest editions to Lisbon is the Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (MAAT), as described by Newsweek, pushes the barriers of art, architecture and light.

The best restaurants in Lisbon offer exactly what you would expect from a major international city: great local Portuguese food and a unique take on other international cuisines.

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Get Quote

William Russell's private medical insurance will cover you and your family wherever you may be. Whether you need primary care or complex surgery, you'll have access to the best hospitals & doctors available. Unlike some insurers, we also include medical evacuation and mental health cover in our plans (except SilverLite). Get a quote from our partner, William Russell.

William RussellWilliam Russell

William Russell's private medical insurance will cover you and your family wherever you may be. Whether you need primary care or complex surgery, you'll have access to the best hospitals & doctors available. Unlike some insurers, we also include medical evacuation and mental health cover in our plans (except SilverLite). Get a quote from our partner, William Russell.
Get Quote

About the Author

Joshua Wood Joshua Wood, LPC joined Expat Exchange in 2000 and serves as one of its Co-Presidents. He is also one of the Founders of Digital Nomad Exchange. Prior to Expat Exchange, Joshua worked for NBC Cable (MSNBC and CNBC Primetime). Joshua has a BA from Syracuse and a Master's in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Mr. Wood is also a licensed counselor and psychotherapist.

Some of Joshua's articles include Pros and Cons of Living in Portugal, 10 Best Places to Live in Ireland and Pros and Cons of Living in Uruguay. Connect with Joshua on LinkedIn.


Portugal Residency Advisors
Portugal Residency Advisors

Portugal Residency Advisors
Portugal Residency Advisors

Along the Tagus Waterfront in Lisbon

William Russell
William Russell

Get a quote for international health insurance from our partner, William Russell.
Get Quote

William RussellWilliam Russell

Get a quote for international health insurance from our partner, William Russell.
Get Quote

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