Why You Should Consider Living in Lisbon

Why You Should Consider Living in Lisbon

Why You Should Consider Living in Lisbon 2048 1362 Pablo Inconito

Lisbon.

The historic European city is in full transformation. Change is visible and actively rising above the steep obstacles of a recently failing economy. Lisbon is booming.

I feel it. Lisbonners feel it. Everyone is talking about it.

And if you come visit, you will too.

 

3 Reason Why You Should Consider Living in Lisbon

Amazing StartUp Scene

Lisbon is thriving with young, ambitious startups like Unbabel, Uniplaces and HomeIt. The city is making a name for itself as the new hub for technology and innovation in Western Europe. There is no need anymore to live in rainy London to be successful. When the world is your market, might as well play under the sun, enjoying the waves before work.

Web Summit 2016 – 2017

The web summit is an annual conference dedicated to internet companies. Its heterogeneous mix of CEO’s, VC’s, bloggers and influencers makes it an important place for all geeks and dreamers. The 2016 conference was here and so will the 2017 edition. You can reserve today at https://websummit.com/.

 

If you’re an entrepreneur you should definitely check out Incubators like Startup Lisbon. They give you access to a very large network of mentors, investors, offices and useful resources for you to succeed.

To contact the Incubator email geral@startuplisboa.com.

 

Surfing Lifestyle

 

In Portugal, surfing season starts in November and ends around May. Quality waves can be found outside the city with a short commute on the local train. Rather than living in Lisbon, I personally choose to live in Carcavelos to be close to the waves.

 

How to get to Carcavelos

The easiest way to get here is to take the train from Cais do Sodre heading towards Cascais and disembark at the Carcavelos station. Before getting on the train, make sure that it stops at this station because some trains do not. If you’re traveling and want to prioritize surfing then I definitely recommend staying at the Carcavelos Surf Hostel. It has a super laid back atmosphere and an adorable dog named Chico.

 

It is invaluable to have the possibility to surf in the morning before starting your work. It brings tranquility and focus to the day. In which other major European city can you do this?

 

Authenticity of the city

Lisbon feels like it is set back in time. People still live with a slow pace, that of the early 90’s. As you walk in the city’s oldest neighborhood, Alfama, you obverse old ladies talking from balconies or iconic “Pastelerias” unchanged in decades. You turn a corner and see a breathtaking view of the Tejo, with orange trees growing, right there. The authenticity is palpable.

It feels like people have more time to talk and get to know each other. If you live in London you might be accustomed to meeting somebody interesting, exchanging Facebook and never having the time to meet up again. It’s the unfortunate reality of modern cities.

But not here.

 

Low Cost of Living

From an “Expat” point of view, living in Lisbon is still very affordable. A room in the city ranges from 250 to 400 euros for a decent apartment downtown. If you chose to live outside the city you can expect to pay a little less. Keep in mind that salaries are lower in Lisbon, so although you won’t be living like a king, you can live a more comfortable life with much less than in other major cities across Europe.
Apart from cheap rent and good food, what continues to amaze me is the price of beer. If you go to Barrio Alto for a night out you can pay as low as 1,50 euros for a pint! And if you are looking to party with the university crew, make sure you stop by the Erasmus Lisbon Life for information on parties and where to go. You will soon find yourself in a completely new network of friends, parties, and long nights on the beachfront.

 

 

Until Next Time,

 

The Alternative Ways

 

 

13 Comments
  • Kevin’s Travel Diary February 22, 2017 at 4:09 pm

    Yep, you had me as soon as you said surfing! What a great post, sounds like good enough reasons to me ????

  • Bridget @ Antics of a Nutty Hiker March 1, 2017 at 1:08 pm

    I have always wanted to visit Europe and hopefully I will soon. Lisbon looks amazing!

  • At the moment I’m working freelance and have been sort of tentatively branching out into the “digital nomad” style of life. I’ve actually been looking into European destinations which have a) a lot of sun and b) low cost of living which could be used as a potential “home base” for a few months at a time. Lisbon has kept cropping up time and time again, and this post has given me a good bit of extra food for thought! I love “authentic” places and, as you said, Lisbon seems to be full to the brim with authenticity.

  • These are very good reasons to consider living in Lisbon. I had no idea rent was so inexpensive. It’s also nice to know that entrepreneurship is thriving there and the city is growing. I have only visited once but really enjoyed it and now can’t wait to return.

  • Tony (tonyandkimoutdooradventures) March 1, 2017 at 7:29 pm

    Lis bon was once on our radar, but we only made to Barcelona and Madrid. Portugal is a stop on a cruise we are currently looking at. Some nice photos.

  • The start-ups are usually an indication of reliable power, internet, and other infrastructure. I had no idea Lisbon was so inexpensive! That might be worth another look for relocation.

  • Lisbon seems to be a very affordable city, the monthly room rate is very favorable. From a single males point of view, the Portuguese women are very beautiful too. When I start making more money from blogging I should consider this option!

  • Christie Sultemeier March 2, 2017 at 6:26 pm

    I had no idea there was such a strong tech scene in Lisbon!! Good to know about Startup Lisbon. I loved Lisbon SO MUCH but never thought about actually living there.. This is making me give it some thought! Thanks for sharing.

    • As a young entrepreneur myself, I am always drawn to cities with strong Tech scenes. I was also surprised to learn Lisbon is one of them.

  • Stephanie Frias March 3, 2017 at 1:43 pm

    I must say that I never really thought of Lisbon as a place to surf! We are normally not really drawn to cities, but this city does seem different. Sounds like a wonderful place to live as an expat!

  • We love Portugal. The country has a very welcoming and laid-back vibe to it, from the cities to the countryside. We’ve been looking at relocating to another European country (as a family) and Portugal seems to a place where we could easily feel at home. I’ve been specializing in a specific area of digital marketing recently and so the thriving local start-up community is music to the ears of this geek. Thanks for sharing!

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