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