Lisbon is like your first love: You’ll be starstruck the moment it happens, you’ll never want to leave, and you’ll remember it for years and years to come.
Having spent six of my own years in this mystifying place I now have the privilege of sharing my experience. So here are 10 reasons you should move to Lisbon, Portugal right now.
1. The Weather
Ah yes the weather, starting off strong! Very shortly, you’ll get the absolute best of both worlds, in what many people have described as “simply perfect”. A really great reason to move to Lisbon indeed.
Because of Lisbon’s proximity to the sea, summers are cool and light, and even on the hottest days you’ll always have some water or a beach nearby to balance things out. Nights are a bit colder, however, so it’s best not to leave home without something light to put on.
Winters are amongst the mildest in Europe, so there is not much to be afraid of here either. Days in winter are not as short as in the northern part of the continent, obviously and the amount of rain that falls year round is pretty average, with most of it occurring in the months of November, December and January.
To sum it up, a great deal of sunlight and coolness in summer, and not petrifyingly cold winters. Nothing is perfect, but the weather in Lisbon comes damn near close.
2. The Portuguese Speak Great English
I have a confession to make: It’ll be harder to get by in Lisbon if you only speak English, than in for example the nordic countries like Finland or Sweden. However the amount of people that do speak English in Lisbon, will give some other bigger countries and cities a real run for their money.
Lisbonites are very well known for this. They’re very smart, well educated and will be able to speak more than just portuguese for the most part. They’ll have no problems talking to you in English, so don’t be afraid to reach out!
A lot of them even know Spanish, because of how similar the languages are. You can always expect a Lisbonite to understand even some Spanish, whereas the reverse is not always true (in my experience, more often than not, it isn’t).
3. Their Traditional Food
Having the Sea within arm’s reach, really does open up the world to you, quite literally. From a culinary perspective there is no end to the array of traditional seafood based dishes you’ll have access to (and will likely not be able to avoid) in Lisbon.
From the famous “Bacalhau” cod fish you’ll find absolutely everywhere, and classic grilled sardines you’ll smell throughout the streets of the old city, to the Escargot, crabs, shrimp and octopus…there is something in there for everyone.
If you’re not a fan of “vitamin sea” don’t worry! Even though seafood is the “go to” choice, there is a plethora of other traditional dishes available. From soups to bean stews and other great meats, just go for a walk through the streets of Alfama, and see what’s on the menu. You’ll very likely find something too mouthwatering to pass!
4. A Place Of Historical Wealth
Getting demolished by an earthquake, engulfed by a tsunami and burnt to the ground by a fire, at pretty much the same moment in time (back in 1755, don’t worry), does make for some quite interesting stories…but that wouldn’t even come close to doing Lisbon justice.
Being the 2nd oldest European city after Athens, it changed hands viciously and continuously. From Roman to Barbarians, Vandals, Arabs and pretty much everyone in between, Lisbon was deemed a highly valuable asset for its strategic positioning and would later become a hub for European commerce and crucial in the Age of Discovery and the expeditions to India.
Knowing a bit of the history behind the city, will make you look at it from a completely different perspective. The irregularity of the streets, the painted tiles, the bricks on the stone walls…every little nuance will have more to show than what the naked eye can see, and it’ll make you feel proud to be there.
5. Its Unique Architecture
Romanesque, Gothic, Manueline, Baroque… Lisbon does not discriminate. From castles, towers, monasteries, aqueducts, palaces and churches and even mansions and shrines in the outskirts of the city, there is a real abundance of architecture that has been put on a pedestal for you, to pick and choose from.
In spite of it’s sophisticated and old-fashioned style, Lisbon can still pack a modern punch with more up-to-date and unique, newer looking buildings and monuments, the likes of the MAAT museum, the Pavilion, and the longest bridge in Europe, the Vasco Da Gama bridge.
This aspect, in my opinion, makes Lisbon a real “treat to the eye” and is what makes it truly amazing. A place so visually rich, that the contrast between the ages is indisputable and plain in sight…so to speak.
6. The Rest Of Portugal, Is “Close By”
Even though Lisbon is the capital city and most emblematic, there are some hidden gems that scatter throughout the country, that would be a real shame to miss out on. Luckily, Portugal is rather small and even Madrid in Spain is not too far away which makes Lisbon very practical.
Having other great options that are close to the city (and not a 8 hour bus ride or a whole plane flight away) like Setúbal, Cascais or the former capital of the country Coimbra, is indeed very nice and makes the country as a whole, super comfortable to live in.
In fact, the two most spectacularly stunning and breathtaking places that follow the capital, are really close to it! The cities of Porto and region of Algarve, are just 3 hours north of the capital and a little more than 2 hours south of it respectively. Gun to the head, i wouldn’t know which one I like more, they’re both amazing!
7. Lisbon Is Affordable
Lisbon is fairly affordable when it comes to food, transportation and other services. Although it has been creeping up in price in recent years as accommodation in particular is fairly pricey. You can expect to pay around 600 euros per month in rent for one bedroom apartments outside of the center even though the average net salary is around 900 euros.
Comparing it to Helsinki, for example, which is where i’m currently living in, the prices of food are anywhere from 20 to +60% cheaper across the board (restaurants or otherwise). Transportation is also cheaper, although utilities like water and internet are fairly similar in price.
Lisbon is one of the least expensive European capitals to live in, so if you can cover accommodation, and by keeping your eyes peeled and correctly surveying your options, you’ll make your money go the distance for sure. Maybe move in with some roomies to split the bill for a while? Hey, you got to be resourceful!
8. The People Are Down To Earth
People in Lisbon are great. They are however a bit more reserved than for example their neighbours in Spain or their Brazilian brothers.
Lisbonites feel and are a bit more relaxed and contained, being sometimes even compared to Norwegians and Fins, and you’ll notice their calmness right away after you start engaging in conversations.
As a result of being a maybe little bit more “introverted”, it can sometimes feel difficult to make a long-lasting connection with them. However i’d agree that those types of connections are what you’d want to seek to create, and what is good takes time, so give and you shall receive!
9. There Is Always Something Going On
From surfing the beaches of Carcavelos, to getting lost in the maze that are the streets of the old city and Bairro Alto, or having a relaxing nap at the Garden of Belem Tower to taking a refreshing break from the city through the forests of Monsanto…Lisbon leaves nothing to the imagination.
If you enjoy silence, you can sit down to have a read at the Estrela Park. If you prefer the nightlife, bring your friends down to the docks and have some drinks. Things are constantly going on in Lisbon, so it’ll be hard to get bored.
Additionally, music festivals and cultural events happen like clockwork so make sure to be well informed so you don’t miss out on the magic.
10. It’s Safe
Lisbon is really safe. But just like other cities, it does have it’s gray side and you shouldn’t keep your guard down. That’s common sense.
Personally, i got mugged exactly once in the six years I lived in Lisbon (and surroundings), and only because i willingly put myself in a bad spot, even though i knew i shouldn’t have. Don’t walk the dark lightless streets of Lisbon at night. But once again, that’s common sense.
So, aside from the occasional pickpocketing that might happen in more crowded places in the downtown area, (like in many other cities), Lisbon is a blast. You’ll feel safe and can walk around without a care in the world for the most part. I didn’t like walking, and then i explored the “ins and outs” of Lisbon. Try it out!
So there you have it folks. Those are my 10 reasons for why you should move to Lisbon.
I tried not to go overboard, while still being as descriptive as possible. But there are topics like my beloved former home of Algés district, the venitian-esque city of Aveiro, and the legendary “Pastéis de Belém” i feel like i have commited a crime not to have spoken about. Unfortunately (or fortunately) you’ll just have to discover those at your own pace.
Only there to visit?
In that case, you should check out my Top 7 Things To See In Lisbon Portugal post. There are some spicy things in there!
Did you know, one of those 7, is a building that they used to drown prisioners in (amongst other things)? It’s a must see!
Anyways, that has been all! Hope you enjoyed the read, and i’ll see you around!
Pablo. P