Portugal is a fantastic place for families. In fact, a recent study ranked Funchal in Madeira and Lisbon, the capital city, first and third as the top places to raise a family in the whole of Europe. Porto also made the list at 22. The study, which focused on factors like education, health and safety, and lifestyle and leisure, listed 30 cities around Europe and it’s just one of many studies that say Portugal is a great place to raise a family.
And it is. Portugal is an incredibly family-focused country, safety is excellent, and the quality of life that people living here have is second to none.
Your biggest challenge will be deciding where to live. This article is here to make that decision easier.
Lisbon
Lisbon is a capital city, but it’s relatively safe and has a slower pace of life than many other capital cities.
It’s home to 27 international schools, including the Carlucci American International School of Lisbon, which is the only school in Portugal recognised by the US Department of State. (Although technically outside of Lisbon, schools in places like Cascais, Sintra, and Estoril are often included under Lisbon.)
The majority of these schools focus on the British A-Levels system or the International Baccalaureate, but you’ll also find French-speaking schools, German-speaking schools, Christian schools, and Montessori schools.
Several Lisbon private schools rank in the top 20 secondary schools as well, according to Publico’s and Observador’s rankings for 2021.
With such a great choice of schools – and these are just the international options – it isn’t surprising that Lisbon is a popular choice for families. However, there are two reasons to not consider Lisbon. The first is if you’re looking for a slower pace of life than a capital city and the second is cost.
Lisbon, as mentioned, isn’t like London or New York, but it’s still a capital city and if you want your children to grow up in a non-city environment, this may not be the right choice. Or, at the very least, you may want to consider locations that aren’t right in the city centre – places like Cascais and Estoril are popular examples here.
Then there’s the cost. Rental and purchase prices have been steadily increasing in Lisbon for years, and finding an affordable family home can be quite challenging. Lisbon City Centre, Cascais, and Estoril are now all expensive places to rent.
Lisbon has an airport, Lisbon Airport, which offers flights to destinations all over the world. As this is the capital city, there are also buses and trains to most parts of the country.
The Algarve
With fantastic weather and some of the best beaches in the world, the Algarve is an incredibly popular destination for expats. In the past this was mainly retirees, but it has grown to include families, young professionals, and digital nomads as well.
The region is perfect for those that want a quieter life and also those that want to have plenty of other internationals nearby. The Algarve is particularly popular with British, Dutch, and German expats, but increasingly expats from the US and other parts of the world as well.
The Algarve is home to 13 international schools, most of which cater to British expat families, however, you will also find a German-speaking school, a Dutch-speaking school, and a Montessori school. There are several public and private schools here as well, however these do not feature within Publico’s or Observador’s top 20 positions.
The cost of property has increased in the Algarve. In the past, it was easier to find affordable properties away from the coast but with more and more people searching for bargains inland, property prices have increased here too. For many people, however, the quality of life you get in the Algarve makes up for the high costs.
The Algarve has an airport, Faro Airport, which mainly offers flights to the UK, Germany, Ireland, and other Northern European destinations. There is a train line that runs between the Algarve and Lisbon, but not all towns have a train station in the town centre.
Porto
Portugal’s second city is growing in popularity, particularly as the cost of living in Lisbon keeps increasing. And while it is popular with expats, it isn’t as popular as Lisbon so the city does have a bit more of an authentic Portuguese feel. You don’t necessarily have to live in Porto City Centre, you could also look at many of the towns nearby.
The biggest downside to living in Porto, or anywhere in the north, is the winters, which are often quite damp and grey. However, the summer months are very warm.
There are 5 international schools in Porto. Some focus on the British curriculum, others on the Portuguese, and some are in different languages like French and German. Several Porto private schools feature in Publico’s or Observador’s top 20 positions, and some public schools in the area feature in the top 100.
Porto’s airport offers a good number of flights within Europe and to international destinations. There are great bus and train connections to other parts of the country.
Palmela
Located just outside of Lisbon, and close to destinations like Setúbal, Sesimbra, and Costa da Caparica, lies the small town of Palmela. Despite its small size, Palmela is home to 3 nearby international schools.
Living here would be ideal for a family that wants to live close to Lisbon, but doesn’t want to live in the city centre. You would have access to the nearby beautiful beaches, the Serra de Arrábida national park, and amenities like supermarkets and shopping malls without needing to go into the city. However, if you did want more, Lisbon is just a short drive or train ride away.
Leiria
Leiria is a small city that’s situated on the Silver Coast around halfway between Lisbon and Coimbra. It’s ideal for those that want to be in the heart of the Silver Coast, close to coastal locations like Nazaré and Figueira da Foz, and also within driving distance of Lisbon.
Leiria is home to 2 international schools. It’s also home to some well-ranked public Portuguese schools.
Leiria doesn’t have an airport, but Lisbon Airport is just under an hour and a half by car. There is a train station but unfortunately, it is located outside of the city centre and the journey to Lisbon takes several hours. With a journey time of around 2 hours, the bus is normally the faster option.
Madeira
The island of Madeira is a popular destination for expats due to its beautiful scenery and year-round mild weather.
Madeira is home to 2 international schools, however these schools don’t offer schooling for older teens. There are also a number of public and private schools on the island.
In terms of accessibility, Madeira is obviously quite cut-off from mainland Portugal. The easiest way to get to and from the mainland is by plane, but be aware that the high winds around the island often make it difficult for flights to land and take off.
Braga
Situated around an hour from Porto, the small city of Braga offers many of the amenities of a small city without being as big, touristy, or expensive as Porto. And if you want to visit Porto, it’s just an hour’s train ride away.
Braga is home to 1 international school, The Braga International School. It’s also home to a number of private Portuguese schools, which rank extremely highly in Publico’s and Observador’s listings.
Braga does not have an airport, but Porto’s International Airport is around a 36 minute drive.
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