Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon has become a prominent destination for expatriates and digital nomads. One expatriate wrote about the popular Portuguese city:

"Lisbon is a vibrant and exciting city that offers a unique blend of culture, history, and modern amenities. The city is known for its mild climate, stunning architecture, and beautiful beaches. Expats are drawn to Lisbon for its low cost of living, excellent public transportation, and diverse cultural attractions. The city is also home to a thriving expat community, making it easy to make friends and find support. With its vibrant nightlife, delicious cuisine, and stunning natural beauty, Lisbon is an ideal destination for expats looking for a new home."

Where are the Best Places to Live in Lisbon?

Our article, 11 Best Neighborhoods Lisbon, highlights some of the best places to live based upon the recommendations of our members. One expat recommended expat "find three or four agents at reputable agencies (ReMax, Coldwell Banker, and local ones that look good), some sites specify which agents speak English, in case you don't speak Portuguese. Tell them what you're looking for. Lots of nice areas, there should be more qualification than that though, like transportation, parking (if you need it), supermarkets nearby, jet noise ( a problem in some nice areas), accessibility to airport, if you think you will be traveling a lot. If you don't need to be in Lisbon proper, look at some of the areas around it, like along the Cascais rail line and across the river."

An expat with a lot of experience in different parts of Portugal recommended:

If you need to get a feel for the various (48) neighborhoods of Lisbon, go to www.homehunting.pt/en. Their neighborhood section details safety, public transportation, access to cafes and shops, etc. For general apartment info, try 'idealista' and 'Re/Max' realestate listings. Privately owned and really ideal for a short term lease that qualifies for your visa application are the fun, clean and well-priced apartments thru Feeling Lisbon Apartments.

An expat in Lisbon advised:

"Some of it will be very cost-dependent, there are some nice but very expensive areas, like Lapa.

I love Avenidas Novas and the area around Campo Pequeno (bullring) but the prices have been high. But good transportation and quiet streets.

Alvalade is very nice, terrific mercado, lots of shops, and great if you will be making a lot of trips to the airport.

Alcantara doesn't have as good transportation but has some quiet areas (and some noisy ones) and lots of shopping, it was becoming the nomadic-hipster-work from a cafe area but now is a little less like that. A bit longer to the airport.

Many people like Campo de Ourique. It's flat, unlike almost everywhere else in Lisbon, has acceptable bus transit but will have the Metro in two Portuguese years (that translates to three to ten calendar years), it's very relaxed and self-contained but has jet noise.

Other neighborhoods worth looking at are Areeiro, Graca and Estrela, which is hilly and isn't close to the Metro. It's not clear what things will look like when tourists start coming back, some neighborhoods, like the Alfama, are very nice right now but unbearable when tourists are crawling all over it. But there are so many neighborhoods and not a big city in layout.

What is Healthcare like in Lisbon?

The availability of healthcare for expats in Lisbon is one of the most important aspects of preparing to move there, as it is for all expats.

Health Care in Portugal is provided by three components:

• the National Health System (Servico Nacional de Saude)
• Health subsystems for certain professions
• Private Health Insurance

"Yes, as a foreigner living in Lisbon, you will have access to public healthcare. Portugal has a universal healthcare system, which means that all citizens and legal residents are entitled to free healthcare. The public healthcare system in Portugal is generally of a high quality, with a wide range of services available. The Portuguese government also provides subsidies for certain medical treatments, such as dental care and prescription drugs. In addition, there are a number of private healthcare providers in Portugal, which offer more specialized services at a cost," remarked one expat living in Lisbon.

In our article, Healthcare in Lisbon, you'll hear more about the healthcare system and quality of healthcare from expats and digital nomads in Lisbon.

What is the Cost of Living in Lisbon?

When asked if her expat experience had met the expectations she dreamed about before she moved abroad, an expat in Lisbon responded: "Absolutely. My monthly cost of living in Lisbon is half of New York's and the quality of life has tripled."

"The cost of a private plan is half or less than charged in the US. Health insurance can be purchased through banks or a few organizations, such as the Automobile Club of Portugal or 'afpop'. These offer even better group rates than the bank rates," explained one expat living in Lisbon, Portugal.

Our article, Cost of Living in Lisbon, offers more insight into this topic.

How well do I need to speak Portuguese in Lisbon? Do People Speak English in Lisbon?

One of the benefits for expats in Lisbon is that there are quite a native-Portuguese speakers who are able to speak English and willing to help others as they learn the language.

An expat in Lisbon reported:

"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. For my part, I have not made any attempts to join expat communities. Instead, a little humility and lots of hard work trying to learn the language has opened doors to friends and families in the local community. All this began by trying to frequent the cafes and restaurants that had employees and clients who were willing to communicate."

That being said, another expat in Lisbon shared: "I would tell them to meet as many local people as possible and to learn some Portuguese to get situated quickly. Even though most people speak English, knowledge of the language would help them get settled and find good accommodation deals that otherwise would be hard to find."

What is Public Transportation in Lisbon like?

There are a number of ways expats can choose to get around Lisbon. One expat in Lisbon wrote that "public transportation is a must in this city."

The Lisbon Metro official site provides information in English.

Here is information about the buses Lisbon from operator Carris. There is information about schedules, tickets, locations and more.

There are also Funiculars in Lisbon. While they're not always the most convenient, how can you not love funiculars? These include:

• Ascensor da Gloria and it connects the Pombaline downtown (at the Restauradores Square) with the Bairro Alto (Garden/ Overlook of São Pedro de Alcântara).
• Ascensor da Bica -connects the Rua de Sao Paulo with Calcada do Combro/Rua do Loreto
• Elevador do Lavra connects Largo da Anunciada to Rua Camara Pestana in the parishes of Santo Antonio and Arroios.

What are the best International and Bilingual Schools in Lisbon?

There are a lot of options for international schools in or near Lisbon. Here are a few to consider.

The Carlucci American International School of Lisbon is located in Linho, which is an upscale suburb of Lisbon. It is about 20 minutes to get to the city center in light traffic. Here is more information on CAISL on Wikipedia.

St. Julian's School is the largest and oldest British international school in Portugal. It's located in Carcavelos (Cascais) and takes a bit longer to get to Lisbon - about 30 minutes in light traffic.

The International Preparatory School is located in Alcabideche, which is in Cascais. This is also about 25 minutes from downtown Lisbon.

What is the Social Scene like for Expats and Digital Nomads in Lisbon?

"There's a little bit of everything in Lisboa (Lisbon). Public transportation is a must in this city. There are a number of outdoor cafes where you can enjoy a coffee and people-watch. However, sports is the priority in Lisbon. Futebol (Soccer) is king here. Sporting and Benfica are the top soccer teams in the city. Be careful about wearing green (Sporting colors) in the Benfica neighborhood," commented an expat living in Lisbon. Lisbon also offers plenty of recreational activities for visitors and locals alike. Popular activities include surfing at Carcavelos Beach, hiking in the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, and golfing at the Estoril Golf Club. Other popular activities include kayaking on the Tagus River, sailing in the harbor, and exploring the city’s many parks and gardens.

For more about the social scene in Lisbon, read our article, Discovering the Best of Lisbon.