Choosing where to live in Portugal
If you had never been to Portugal, how did you choose an area to live?
Our original plan was simple: spend 30 days in the Algarve, 30 days in Lisbon, and 30 days in Porto to get a sense of each region before deciding where we wanted to settle more permanently. At the time, that approach was perfectly acceptable when applying for residency - short-term accommodation was enough to demonstrate our intentions. So we began researching rentals that would allow us to experience the country slowly before committing to a long-term lease.
Then, in early 2020, the landscape shifted. Requirements became stricter, and longer leases were increasingly expected. What had felt like a flexible, exploratory process suddenly carried more risk. At the same time, COVID made travel impossible, removing any chance of visiting Portugal in advance to explore neighborhoods or view properties in person.
Paul and I found ourselves at a crossroads: either move forward remotely, securing housing and practical arrangements from the United States, or pause our plans indefinitely. There were many sleepless nights as we weighed the uncertainty against our desire to begin this new chapter. At times, it felt as if each step forward was met with another obstacle, and we briefly wondered if the timing simply wasn’t right.
In the end, we chose not to wait. We kept returning to a simple truth: there is rarely a “perfect” moment to make a life change. With the help of trusted contacts, patience, and more than a little luck, we eventually secured what we needed and moved ahead with the journey.
Looking back now, choosing where to live in Portugal wasn’t about finding the perfect place from afar, it was about trusting the process and allowing the experience to unfold one decision at a time.
Until next time…
Obrigada!
Carol.