Who's Lisbon for? The 7 Types of People who should Move to Lisbon

It is with great excitement that we can announce that Spotahome has now landed in Lisbon!
The quirky and edgy capital of Portugal was on our list for a long time and finally we can offer you some incredible long-term rentals and give you yet another European city at your feet along with Paris, London, Madrid, Milan and Berlin.

But who really should move to Lisbon this year?

From the moment you land, you’ll notice that Lisbon is a city of contrasts: the old part of the city with its grungy buildings decked out in tiles on cobblestone streets is completely different to new Lisbon with its modern architecture and funky art scene. If you, like me, are an old-doors-obsessed, then you will definitely go into a insta-snapping-overdose here.

Here are the 6 types of people who should move to Lisbon

1. Street / Urban Artists (and Graffiti Fans)

Photo by Picoas on Matador Network

The streets of Lisbon are an open-air street art museum. All over the city you will find really cool urban art and graffiti. The best thing about Lisbon's street art is that you don't have to go far or to the suburbs of the city: there are authentic pieces of art right in the middle of the historical city center.

In recent years, two important initiatives boosted local urban art: in 2008 the fundation of GAU (Urban Art Gallery) in 2008 aimed to regenerate the Bairro Alto, and in 2010 the establishment of the CRONO project where some of the best international artists came to Lisbon to paint their way around the city, including Momo, Blu, Sam3, Os Gemeos, and Vhils.
(if you live in Germany and love street art, we've got you sorted with 3 road trip ideas to explore the best that Urban art has to offer).

2. Coffee (Lovers) Addicts

Photo by Cyril Saulnier on Unsplash

Lisbon is the perfect place for coffee junkies like me - especially for those who love small, cute independent cafes versus large, international chains. Lisbon, in fact, is filled with these little gems and even if you lived there for a few years, you wouldn't be able to visit them all.

If you love coffee as much as I do, make sure to get around as much as you can. I know it's easy to fall in love with one or two favourites, but make sure to keep scouting for more: you will be amazed by the quality (and quantity) of incredible coffee shops in Lisbon. If you work remotely or are a digital nomad like me, then you will also be pleased to know that on top of prime quality beans, several cafes feature free high-speed internet (let us know if you would like to get a guide on this in the comments below!).

3. Hungry Foodies

Photo bt Martha Dominguez on Unsplash

In Lisbon, it's impossible to get hungry, or better: it's impossible to stay hungry for more than 16 seconds since you'll find one amazing restaurant next to the other. Whether you feel like having typical Portuguese, Mexican, Indian or a good pizza, you will definitely find something to fill your belly and satisfy your buds. Mercado da Ribeira has an incredible atmosphere and you can try lots of different dishes including juicy burgers, seafood and steak sandwiches. And for dessert (breakfast or as an afternoon snack), you must try the Pasteis de Nata, which are Lisbon's yummiest gift to world's confectionary. The Antiga Confeitaria de Belem has been selling the little custard-filled tarts since 1837 and they are well worth the queue.

4. Waves' Riders

Photo by Marcus Dall Col on Unsplash

Lisbon and Barcelona are the only two big cities in Europe where you can actually surf. In Lisbon, you have several spots to choose from where you can find the perfect wave: Carcavelos, Bafureira, Praia do Guincho and Praia de Poca. I was told that the best conditionas are found around Ericeira and Peniche a bit further away from Lisbon. The plus point is that you can easily reach them all by train.

South of Lisbon, there are also good waves at the Costa da Caparica, which is a long sandy beach only 20 minutes from the city center.

5. Explorers

Photo by Elson Castro on Unsplash

Lisbon is extremely well connected to the rest of the country and beyond and for us, incurable explorers, there are lots of interesting day trips.
It takes only 43 minutes to get to Sintra which is one of the most romantic cities in Portugal. It inspired writers, royal families and travellers for centuries and today there are lots of amazing landmarks to visit and some tasty treats too! Only half an hour away from the capital city, Cascais is one of the most charming villages in Portugal. This fishermen’s village became a noble gathering, home to all the exiled kings or even their vacation residences but today Cascais is a summer magnet, famous for its gorgeous beaches, the sailing communities and dozens of great restaurants. If you want to head a bit further, Porto, the city that gave the name to the entire country, is well known for its historical centre and it’s also the second largest and most important city in the country. This is the perfect destination for a weekend trip, with so much to see and do.

6. Nerd, Historians, Cultured peeps

Photo by Samuel Zeller on Unsplash

In Lisbon, you can literally overdose on the art, history, music, literature and architecture: from Sao Carlos Opera House, to the fabulous art in the Gulbenkian Museum and Berardo Collection, to endless open-air music festivals through the summer. And if you are an architecture lover, make sure to visit the UNESCO Belem Tower, Águas Livres Aqueduct and the Portugal Pavilion.

In other words, Lisbon is the perfect place for any and everybody who loves great temperatures all year round, awesome food, cultural sights and the ocean. The city is the perfect size to get lost on foot (especially in the older part of town), pastries and food in general are amazing, the beaches are perfect to work on your suntan and the people are super friendly.

I'm moving to Lisbon, meet me there?

Taking the plunge? Check out the properties available on Spotahome!