Portugal has become one of the most popular destinations in Europe for retirees from North America, and for good reason.
Boasting over 300 days of sunshine each year, affordable living and heath care, a large expat network, stunning scenery and beaches, an easy visa process and English is widely spoken.
Porto Portugal’s second largest city, three-hours north of Lisbon is Porto. Situated on the Douro River, this is the port wine making region of the country. Rich in culture and history this is another part of Portugal where English is common making it easy to fit in. From great shopping along Rua Santa Catarina to local cuisine, excellent healthcare, a large expat community, and cooler climate this could be the perfect place to call home.
Lagos A few hours south of Lisbon is the Algarve region with some of the warmest weather in the country. The town of Lagos has retained much of its charm with a tiled plaza in the old town and remnants of a fort perched along the waterfront. The coastline offers spectacular vistas of grottoes, rock formations and caves that can be explored by hiring a boat.
Now, let’s have a look at a few places where settling in as an expat may not be so easy and perhaps, should be avoided.