If you plan to live in Portugal and are in doubt about which city to choose, then today we will help you decide. In this article we have the top 10 best cities to live in Portugal.
Did you know that Portugal is a charming country full of natural beauty?
The European country has beaches that are considered the most beautiful in the world, mountains, sierras and cities with a high quality of life, in other words, it is a country for all tastes. With a population of just over 10 million inhabitants. The cities of Portugal are welcoming and very quiet to live. If you like this article, consider subscribing to our list so you don’t miss any content from now on and let’s get to content.
10. Viseu
What sums up the city of Viseu is quality of life. In fact, the city of almost 100,000 inhabitants, in the centre of northern Portugal, was considered in 2012 the Portuguese city with the best quality of life in one of the best cities in Portugal. In Viseu you can find everything you need and still have an economy based on services, 83%, and industry, especially textiles, and industrial machinery and equipment.
If you are looking for tranquillity, Viseu should appear on your radar as a possibility in Portugal. Put Viseu on the list of the best cities to live in Portugal.
Here are some advantages of living in Viseu.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Quality of life | Very cold in winter |
| Low cost of living | No train |
| Cheapest rentals | Lack of cultural offer |
| Larger supply of properties for rent | |
| Leisure spaces | |
| Security |
9. Matosinhos
Matosinhos is located to the north of the city of Porto and entered the list of the best cities in Portugal to live in because it has cheaper rents than Porto and offers its inhabitants a good quality of life, along with excellent infrastructure for living and having fun.
In Matosinhos you have one of the most important points of Portugal, very good shopping malls, good beaches for both swimmers and practitioners of Water Sports and Surf and excellent restaurants. Living in Matosinhos is a great idea also for those who want to live in the surroundings of Porto and therefore deserves to be on our list of the best cities to live in Portugal.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Good schools | Few job offers |
| Good beaches | It is a little far from some universities |
| Good restaurants | It’s a bit far from the nightlife |
| Leisure options | |
| Transport | |
| Location | |
| Quality of life |
8. Cascais
Another town located in the greater Lisbon area, Cascais is one of the best towns in Portugal and an excellent option for those who want quality of life and some tranquillity. Even though it is right next to Lisbon, there is a kind of imaginary line that prevents the problems of a big metropolis from reaching Cascais. An oasis right next to the capital. It’s a paradisiacal place, with marvellous beaches, no wonder it’s considered the Portuguese Rivera. Can you imagine living in a place like this? And the best of all is that it still has a mild climate throughout the year.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| 260 days of the year without rain | Few off-season job offers |
| Location (near Lisbon and the airport) | Relatively high cost of living |
| Rentals cheaper than Lisbon (but still expensive compared to the rest of the country) | Low supply of properties for rent |
| Beautiful landscapes | |
| Practising water sports and surfing | |
| Quality of life | |
| Places for outdoor walks | |
| Security |
7. Vila Nova de Gaia
Vila Nova de Gaia is the city you see from Ribeira, in the city of Porto, northwestern Portugal. A city that has grown a lot, it is just across the bridge from Porto. It has shopping malls, markets, beach, good schools and several tourist spots. It is there that the Port Wine Cellars are open to visitation. Gaia is among the best cities in Portugal to live mainly because of the cost of living, which is much lower than Porto and ended up making Gaia a place to sleep for those who work in Porto.
If the city was not in your plans put it on the horizon, because you will be surprised to live in Gaia.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Location | A little further from the universities in the centre of the country |
| Good infrastructure | Rentals a bit expensive, but cheaper than the port |
| Job vacancies | |
| Leisure offers | |
| Incredible beaches | |
| Larger supply of properties for rent | |
| Lower cost of living compared to Porto, next door |
6. Sintra
One of the most populous cities in Portugal, but still retaining its status as a town, it has the ability to enchant anyone who visits. It is considered World Heritage Site by UNESCO, has Palaces and Castles and enchanting, parks, mountains and beaches all in the same city. It also has a modern part with Shopping Mall, cinema, markets, that is, we do not need anything else. Sintra is definitely one of the best cities in Portugal to live in, and you want to know the best thing? Sintra is very close to Lisbon. That’s why many people choose to live in Sintra and work in Lisbon, enjoying the best of the city.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| You are near Lisbon | It has fewer job opportunities compared to Lisbon |
| Close to the beach, mountains and parks | Large influx of tourists (it depends) |
| It has very good restaurants | |
| Cheapest rentals than Lisbon | |
| Good infrastructure | |
| Good schools | |
| Quality of life |
5. Guimarães
The city where Portugal was born. It was elected one of the best cities in Portugal to live in because it is extremely clean, organized, safe and perfect for families looking for peace and quiet in a typical country town. With a beautiful architecture and many trees and flowers, the city is beautiful especially in springtime. There is a campus of the University of Minho and many students live there.
But that doesn’t mean that the city stops being peaceful, nor does it mean that living in Guimarães is no longer a good choice.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Tranquillity | Away from the airport |
| Low cost of living | Few employment options |
| Low house rental value | Poor public transport timetables |
| Security | |
| Cleaning | |
| Rich cultural agenda | |
| Preserved heritage | |
| Excellent quality of life |
4. Coimbra
One of the most important cities in Portugal, Coimbra is known as the city of students. The University of Coimbra is over 727 years old and is one of the oldest in the world and still functioning.
The beautiful city was the seat of the romantic story of Inês and Dom Pedro I of Portugal and today has 143,000 inhabitants. It is a romantic city with an exceptional quality of life and a reasonable cost of living. It is two hours from Lisbon Airport and one hour from Oporto Airport. It is also 3 hours from Salamanca in Spain. Is it or is it not an excellent location?
The city is one of the preferred destinations for Brazilians to study in Portugal, precisely because of the fame and quality of the teaching of the prestigious University of Coimbra.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Young environment | City very dependent on students |
| You can do everything on foot/without a car | On Sundays public transport does not work properly |
| Good infrastructure | On Sunday most cafés and restaurants are closed |
| Good location | Very steep city, with ups and downs |
| Nightlife | Confusing public transport |
| Security | Despite being the largest city in the central region, it has a small-town day-to-day life (for those who like it, it becomes an advantage) |
| Quality of life | |
| Good health system | |
| Low vehicle traffic | |
| Reasonable cost of living |
3. Braga
Braga is a charming city located further north of the country, entering the list of the best cities in Portugal to live in for those who like tranquillity and quality of life. It has a beautiful architecture, several places to visit and annual events not to be missed. In addition, Braga has about 180 thousand inhabitants, being many elderly and retired people who seek the quality of life offered by the city.
The municipality of Braga receives hundreds of students from all over the world who choose the University of Minho to start or continue their studies. The institution receives Erasmus students from many countries and is prepared to receive foreigners.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Quality of life | Not many job vacancies |
| Tranquillity | Not many events |
| Low cost of living | Too much noise coming from the bars |
| Easier to find housing | Many tourists |
| It is very close to Porto |
2. Porto
One of the most beautiful cities of Portugal, for those who like to have fun at night, Porto enters the ranking of the best cities of Portugal to live, because it has a busy nightlife, with very lively bars and clubs. The city of Porto was voted 3 times the best European tourist destination, so you can imagine the amount of tourists who frequent the city daily.
A little less modern than Lisbon, the city enchants with its architecture, its landscapes and gastronomy, let’s not forget the Port Wine.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Close to the beach | Very expensive rents |
| A lot of fun and nightlife | Difficult to find houses/apartments to rent |
| Public transport that works | Heavy vehicle traffic |
| International airport with flights to all over the world | Many tourists (depends) |
| International transport network (trains and buses going to other countries) | Crowded transport at peak times |
| Quality of life | |
| Security |
1. Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital of the country and excellent for those who want to live in a Metropolis. The Portuguese city balances the historical and the modern, and has great international shows, music festivals like Rock in Rio, nightlife and many gastronomic options. Lisbon is located in the centre-south coast of Portugal and has very pleasant temperatures almost all year round.
The best job opportunities in the country are there. The Portuguese capital is also home to the country’s best universities, such as the University of Lisbon. The metropolitan area has around 3 million people.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Modern city | Very high cost of living |
| Public transport that works | Difficult to find housing |
| International airport with flights to all over the world | Very full of tourists (depends if you like it) |
| International transport network (train and bus to other countries) | Some confusions, fights and problems |
| Close to beaches and parks | Public transport too crowded at peak times |
| Many national and international events | Heavy traffic and gridlock |
| Excellent restaurants | |
| More job possibilities |
Now all that remains is for you to choose which city is best for you to live in.
Which one best suits your lifestyle, customs, habits and objectives?
