Where Should You Live in Portugal?

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Thinking about moving to Portugal but not sure where to live?

Portugal may look small on a map, but the lifestyle can feel completely different depending on the region — from rainy, green cities in the north to sun-baked beach towns in the Algarve, and volcanic islands out in the Atlantic.

This guide breaks Portugal down by region and then by town, so you can quickly compare places based on lifestyle, location, and population — and click through to deeper guides on anywhere that catches your eye.

Northern Portugal

A vibrant street in Braga shows colorful buildings with varied facades, including red, blue, and brick. People walk along the cobblestone pavement, passing by shops, a yellow awning, and a café. The sky is clear blue, suggesting a sunny day. — Braga

Northern Portugal is where tradition, food, and everyday Portuguese life really come into focus.

Porto gives you a big-city cultural anchor, while towns like Braga, Guimarães, and Viana do Castelo offer history, space, and better value for money. Winters are cooler and wetter than the south, but you’ll also find lush landscapes, incredible food, and some of the most affordable living in the country.

At a glance:

🌧️ Cooler, wetter winters than central & southern Portugal

🌿 Green landscapes, rivers, vineyards, and mountains

💶 Generally cheaper than Lisbon & the Algarve

🍷 Strong food, wine, and café culture

🏙️ Big-city life in Porto, slower living elsewhere

Locations in Northern Portugal

Location	Type	Coast / Inland	Population (est)
Porto	Big city	Close to coast	231,962
Braga	Medium city	Close to coast	193,333
Guimarães	Medium city	Inland	151,496
Viana do Castelo	Town	Coastal	85,778
Vila do Conde	Town	Coastal	80,921
Barcelos	Town	Close to coast	113,344
Vila Real	Small city	Inland	49,571
Amarante	Town	Inland	52,350
Ponte de Lima	Town	Inland	41,164
Valença	Town	Inland (Spanish border)	13,623
Chaves	Town	Inland	41,243
Bragança	Small city	Inland	33,122
Mirandela	Town	Inland	11,144
Pinhão	Town	Inland (Douro Valley)	~620

Central Portugal

A historical town square with a central statue atop a tall pedestal surrounded by a circular garden with yellow flowers. The background features colorful multi-story buildings, outdoor café seating, and people walking under a bright blue sky.

Central Portugal sits right in the middle of the country and offers one of the widest lifestyle ranges anywhere in Portugal — from surf towns on the Silver Coast to historic university cities like Coimbra and deeply rural inland villages. It’s generally more affordable than Lisbon and the Algarve, while still offering good infrastructure, healthcare, and transport links.

Many expats choose Central Portugal for its balance of price, authenticity, and access to both coast and countryside.

At a glance:

🌊 Surf towns and wide Atlantic beaches on the Silver Coast

🌄 Quiet, traditional inland villages and mountain areas

💶 Lower costs than Lisbon & most of the Algarve

🚗 Car needed inland, optional in some cities and large towns

🏥 Good hospitals in Coimbra, Leiria & Castelo Branco

Locations in Central Portugal

Location	Type	Coast / Inland	Population (est)
Coimbra	Medium city	Inland	140,796
Aveiro	Medium city	Close to coast	80,880
Leiria	Medium city	Close to coast	128,640
Viseu	Medium city	Inland	99,274
Castelo Branco	Medium city	Inland	73,973
Guarda	Town	Inland (mountain region)	40,126
Caldas da Rainha	Town	Close to coast	51,729
Figueira da Foz	Town	Coastal	60,687
Nazaré	Town	Coastal	14,700
Peniche	Town	Coastal	27,000
Óbidos	Town	Close to coast	11,772
Tomar	Town	Inland	40,592
Batalha	Town	Inland	15,800
Belmonte	Town	Inland (mountain region)	6,185
Sertã	Town	Inland	15,894
Águeda	Town	Close to coast	47,729
Monsanto	Village	Inland	~1,000
Fátima	Town	Inland	13,212

Lisbon & Nearby

A vibrant blue building with ornate balconies, typical of Portugal's charming architecture, stands in the background. In front, there are bare trees and a few wooden benches on a cobblestone square. Several parked cars and a few pedestrians occupy the street. The sky is partly cloudy.

Lisbon and its surrounding towns give you one of the most flexible lifestyle options in Portugal — from dense urban living to surf towns, commuter suburbs, and historic UNESCO sites. This is Portugal’s economic and cultural centre, with the widest job market, biggest expat community, and best international connections. It’s also one of the most expensive parts of the country, especially close to the coast or Lisbon.

At a glance:

🏙️ Portugal’s biggest job market & startup hub

🌊 Easy access to beaches on both sides of the river and north to Ericeira

💶 Highest rents outside premium Algarve resorts

🚆 Excellent public transport & rail links

🌍 Large international & expat community

Locations in Lisbon & Nearby

Location	Type	Coast / Inland	Population (est)
Lisbon	Big city	Close to coast	545,923
Cascais	Town	Coastal	214,158
Sintra	Medium city	Close to coast	385,654
Setúbal	Medium city	Coastal	122,223
Ericeira	Town	Coastal	~11,000
Costa da Caparica	Town	Coastal	14,757
Santarém	Medium city	Inland	58,671

The Alentejo

The Alentejo is Portugal’s largest and least densely populated region, known for its slow pace of life, wide open landscapes, historic hill towns, and deeply traditional culture. It’s one of the cheapest places in Portugal to buy property, especially inland, while the coastal Alentejo has quietly become one of the country’s most desirable lifestyle regions. Summers are very hot, distances are long, and a car is almost always essential.

At a glance:

🌾 Huge landscapes, vineyards, cork forests & whitewashed towns

🌊 Wild Atlantic beaches on the coastal Alentejo

💶 Among the lowest property prices in Portugal (inland)

🚗 Car essential for everyday life

☀️ Very hot summers, especially away from the coast

Locations in the Alentejo

Location	Type	Coast / Inland	Population (est)
Évora	Medium city	Inland	56,596
Beja	Medium city	Inland	31,233
Elvas	Town	Inland (Spanish border)	22,126
Borba	Town	Inland	6,258
Vila Viçosa	Town	Inland	8,057
Castelo de Vide	Town	Inland	3,407
Marvão	Village/Town	Inland (mountain border)	3,049
Serpa	Town	Inland	15,638
Comporta	Village	Coastal	~1,500

The Algarve

The Algarve is Portugal’s most famous expat and holiday region, known for its sunshine, beaches, golf resorts, and relaxed coastal lifestyle. It attracts retirees, remote workers, and second-home buyers from all over the world, but prices vary hugely depending on whether you’re on the coast, in a resort area, or inland in the hills. Summers are hot and busy; winters are mild and quiet.

Check out our pros and cons guide.

At a glance:

☀️ Over 300 days of sunshine per year

🌊 Dozens of beaches, surf spots & marinas

💶 Big price gaps between resorts, towns & inland villages

🚗 Car strongly recommended almost everywhere

🧓 Very international population, especially on the coast

Locations in the Algarve

Location	Type	Coast / Inland	Population (est)
Faro	Medium city	Coastal	67,650
Portimão	Medium city	Coastal	60,000
Lagos	Town	Coastal	33,000
Albufeira	Town	Coastal	44,000
Loulé	Medium city	Inland	70,622
Silves	Town	Inland	37,518
Tavira	Town	Coastal	26,167
Olhão	Town	Coastal	45,396
Vila Real de Santo António	Town	Coastal	19,156
Monchique	Town	Inland (mountain)	5,924
Sagres	Town	Coastal	~1,900
Aljezur	Town	Coastal	5,884
Salema	Village	Coastal	~1,000
Carvoeiro	Town	Coastal	~3,000
Ferragudo	Village	Coastal	~1,900
Armação de Pêra	Town	Coastal	~5,600
Praia da Rocha	Resort district	Coastal	~6,000
Porches	Town	Coastal	~2,100
Guia	Town	Close to coast	~4,000
Alte	Town	Inland	~2,300
Messines	Town	Inland	~8,000
Raposeira	Village	Inland	~1,200
Vila do Bispo	Town	Coastal	5,312
Castro Marim	Town	Inland (near coast)	6,747
Monte Gordo	Resort town	Coastal	~3,200
Quarteira	Town	Coastal	24,875
Vilamoura	Resort town	Coastal	~22,000
Quinta do Lago	Luxury resort	Coastal	~1,000
Vale do Lobo	Luxury resort	Coastal	~1,200
Almancil	Town	Close to coast	~15,000
Lagoa	Town	Close to coast	22,975
Alvor	Town	Coastal	~6,000

Madeira

Madeira is a subtropical Atlantic island known for its year-round mild climate, dramatic landscapes, and outdoor-focused lifestyle. It offers a unique blend of modern city living in Funchal alongside quiet hillside villages, rugged coastlines, and world-class hiking. It’s especially popular with digital nomads and retirees looking for warm winters, safety, and a slower pace of life — without feeling cut off from Europe.

At a glance:

🌸 “Eternal spring” climate all year

🏞️ Mountains, levada walks, waterfalls & cliffs

💻 Strong digital nomad scene

✈️ Direct flights to mainland Europe

🚗 Steep terrain — car very useful outside central Funchal

Locations in Madeira

Location	Type	Coast / Inland	Population (est)
Funchal	Medium city	Coastal	105,795

The Azores

A scenic landscape in Portugal features a clear blue lake surrounded by lush green hills and mountains under a bright blue sky with a few scattered white clouds. The serene water mirrors the surrounding greenery, creating a tranquil natural scene.

The Azores are a remote Atlantic archipelago of nine volcanic islands, best suited to people who crave nature, space, and a slower, more self-sufficient lifestyle. Life here revolves around the ocean, farming, hiking, and small communities, with São Miguel acting as the main economic and transport hub. It’s dramatically beautiful, but also more isolated, wetter, and quieter than mainland Portugal.

At a glance:

🌋 Volcanic landscapes, crater lakes & hot springs

🌧️ Mild but wet and changeable weather

🐄 Rural, agricultural, and nature-first lifestyle

✈️ Direct flights to mainland Portugal & North America (main islands)

🧭 Feels remote — even by island standards

Islands in the Azores

Location	Population (est)
São Miguel	137,699
Terceira	53,311
Faial	14,643
Pico	14,806
São Jorge	8,373
Santa Maria	5,552
Graciosa	4,203
Flores	3,381
Corvo	384

There’s No “Best” Place — Only the Right One for You

Portugal doesn’t have one perfect place to live — it has dozens of great options depending on what you value most. Some people thrive in the energy of Lisbon or Porto. Others want sea air and sunshine in the Algarve. And plenty are happiest in quieter inland towns, the rolling plains of the Alentejo, or even on a volcanic island in the Azores.

The key is matching your lifestyle — not just your budget — to the right region.

Use the tables and guides above as your starting point. Click through to the places that catch your eye. Compare a few very different options. And don’t be afraid to change your mind as you learn more — almost everyone does.

Portugalist has been helping people move to Portugal since 2016, and we’ve lived across the country ourselves — from big cities to quiet coastal towns. If you’re feeling stuck between a few options or want a second opinion, you can always explore our in-depth location guides or get in touch to talk through what might suit you best.

Your place in Portugal is out there — this page is just the beginning of finding it.