Regions for purchasing real estate in Portugal

The capital of Portugal and the largest city in the country is, like Porto, located on the Atlantic coast. In contrast to Porto, Lisbon is a much more lively metropolis. Here you can find a combination of tradition, modernity, and liberal thinking just like in other European cities. Lisbons unpretentious charm and cosmopolitan character make it increasingly popular among foreign investors.

The city has no internationally known figurehead like the Berlin Wall or the Eiffel Tower. Nevertheless, it convinces with its great variety of different attractions, cultural offerings, and infrastructure. It also offers ideal excursions to nearby destinations such as Sintra, Cascais, Mafra, Obidos, or Sesimbra. The beautiful beaches at the Tejo estuary can be reached within 30 minutes from the center of Lisbon. The demand for apartments and houses has increased significantly in recent years. In particular, the rental to tourists by private individuals has increased so much that even politicians are concerned with the effects this might have on the city. In some parts of it, renting as an Alojamento Local has been suspended. This means that no more licenses are issued. Old permits remain valid. An overview of the city of Lisbon about the districts without new licenses can be found here.

If you want to buy real estate in Lisbon, you should take a close look at the location within the city. Realtors are not always the best source of information for purchasing a property in Lisbon. At Pearls of Portugal, we always ask the city directly whether an apartment is affected by the license restriction or not. In the middle and upper price segments, however, the range of real estate is still very diverse, the performance is stable, and the prices are still below the European average. Even in the very trendy suburbs of Sintra, Cascais, and Sesimbra, you can buy affordable houses and villas. Feel free to contact us

The port city of Porto is Portugal's second-largest city after Lisbon. It is located at the mouth of the Douro River, which defines the picturesque setting of Porto. The region is famous for the production of port wine. The labyrinth of narrow streets of the Ribeira district is charismatic for the city. You can easily get lost in one of the countless cafes or restaurants and spend a few lovely hours.

The entire center is characterized by antique houses, narrow cobbled streets, and many street vendors. The flourishing cultural scene, in particular, is valued by many visitors and residents, as well as the vast range of shopping opportunities. In addition to the fixed "Bolhão" market hall, there are several other weekly markets and shopping centers where you can buy local food as well as international fashion. Porto has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world in recent years. The city has been recognized several times as the best tourist city in Europe.

Many tourists visit Porto for a city trip or use the location as a starting point to visit other cities in northern Portugal, such as Braga, Guimarães, or Coimbra. Day trips to the neighboring wine region or the Espinho or Matosinhos beaches in the Porto area are also popular. A few years ago, it was still possible to buy dream properties in the center of Porto for less than €1000 per square meter. Prices have gone up over the last few years, but are still significantly lower than in other European cities or in Lisbon.

In general, it is advisable to buy an apartment if you want to move to the city center. The best areas for touristic rentals are the districts of Cedofeita, Santo Ildefonso, Sé, Miragaia, São Nicolau, and Vitória, as visitors usually first look for accommodation in the city center. Gaia still offers low prices for Porto and also has excellent connections to the metro. Although this area also has beautiful beaches, locals tend to buy properties north of the Douro. For personal use, it is still possible to get good bargains here. As in Lisbon, there was a high demand for tourist rental licenses. In some districts of the city, the license reissue has also been suspended. You can find an overview here. We would be happy to advise you!

The Algarve is the southernmost region of Portugal and is known for its beaches, cliff landscapes, and bubbling tourist centers. The coastal region is densely populated with an alternation of charming fishing villages and small towns. The area is also known for its excellent golf courses, which attract many international players every year and which offer corresponding hotel facilities.

The Algarve has the most sunny days throughout Europe, which makes properties especially attractive for permanent use, even in winter. Summers are hot and dry, and winters are very mild. The temperatures rarely drop below 10 degrees in this season and can sometimes reach up to 20 degrees. The best and most famous beaches in Portugal are in the Algarve. There are over 15 big beaches that can be reached quickly and easily by car. The beach Odeceixe is lined with imposing cliffs, with the sea on one side and the river on the other. It is ideal for families or grandparents with grandchildren, as the younger children can enjoy the peaceful river while the adults can enjoy the sea. The Algarve is very popular amongst tourists. Therefore, the region has an extensive range of restaurants, cafés, bars, shopping, and leisure offers. The densely populated coastal strip "Litoral" forms the tourist center of the Algarve.

Renting a property is particularly attractive in summer. Popular places to buy property are Tavira, Monte Gordo, Vale de Lobo, Vilamoura, Albufeira, Carvoeiro, and Ferragudo. Properties in the Algarve lie in the middle to upper price segment for Portugal. Above all, we are looking for detached houses with a pool for personal use. If you rent and only want to use the property yourself occasionally, an apartment in the small towns can also be attractive. We are happy to provide you with further information.

Portugal's Atlantic coast stretches almost 700 kilometers on the entire west side of the country. The coast offers a wide variety of landscapes, cities, and cultures. Each region on the coast has a distinctive character and attracts tourists with cliffs, sandy beaches, and lots of nature. In the past, the area was primarily shaped by summer guests from Portugal.

Despite the cooler sea temperatures, many people enjoy the great weather on the famous main beaches in summer. Meanwhile, however, many international tourists have discovered the region for themselves. This primarily includes visitors with interests in surfing, fishing, or hiking. But you will not find any mass tourism, like in the Algarve. In addition to smaller villages, many small maritime towns stretch along the coast, the visit of which entails a short journey through time into a significantly decelerated world. Here are a few examples. An internationally undiscovered city is Esposende in the north of Portugal. The city is also often compared to Lagos in the Algarve due to the beautiful sea channels. In terms of landscape, the region is similar to the Baltic Sea but has a significantly warmer climate. Investors are drawn to the region because the summers are not quite as hot as in the south of Portugal but nature is as strong as in northern Europe.

The city of Aveiro is about half an hour south of Porto and is also called the Venice of Portugal. If you are looking for a city with lots of water and traditional architecture, this is the place for you. In the suburbs of the small town near the beach, modern properties can be purchased for less than €200.000. The beach town of Nazaré is known worldwide for its extraordinary surfing conditions. Many world records have been set here, and its fishing traditions fundamentally shaped the place itself. The long, crescent-shaped beach is known for its beauty and pure white sand beach.

A little town further south is the town of Sines. It has a historic old town with a castle and a large port facility. The city's most famous son is the seafarer Vasco da Gama. Due to the strong refinery facilities, the town was previously avoided by investors. Due to the very sustainable politics in the last decade, the environmental conditions around the city have normalized significantly. This brings the beautiful and traditional character of it back to life. These are just three examples of attractive towns on the Portuguese Atlantic coast.

Alentejo is a large region in Portugal, which is located above the Algarve and extends to the capital Lisbon from the coast to the Spanish border. The landscapes and villages are correspondingly diverse. But they all have one thing in common. If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of cities and tourist centers, Alentejo is the place for you.

On the coast there are many fishing villages and small towns that have remained natural. The coastal landscape from Tróia to Zambujeira do Mar has even been incorporated into the Southeast Alentejo Natural Park. The interior of the region is known as the main cultivation area of cork oaks, which also characterize many landscapes with their charismatic form. The beautiful landscapes are compared by many travelers with Italian Tuscany.

One of the most important cities of Elvas has been classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. There you can visit the Temple of Diana and see how culture and spirituality have a unique character.

Tourism is the region is not developed, but this in turn makes the attraction of the region. Land prices in the region are very low and real estate is reasonably priced. If you would like to purchase real estate with a lot of land, you will be able to invest successfully in this region even with smaller budgets.

For between 100.000 and 200.000 EUR you can already buy very beautiful houses with land. Many interested investors also opt for the renovation of an older property such as a farmhouses. The prices for such houses are usually with land between 10,000 and 30,000 EUR. The low labor costs for craftsmen make this an interesting option, not just for artisanal buyers.

The more up north you go within Portugal, the more you immerse yourself in the Portuguese society. Nature is much denser than in the south, and here you can still find many spots that social trends of acceleration and digitization have so far overlooked. Contrary to some rumors, the north is not cold but in comparison colder than the south.

In the north, you will find many small towns that have retained their charm and, in whose restaurants you will in vain, ask for an English menu. Cities with such a character include Ponte de Lima, Vila Verde, Braga, Arcos de Valdevez, Guimarães or Viana do Castelo. At the same time, the cities have a good infrastructure. Here you can find the best hospitals in the north of Portugal. Due to the not very touristy infrastructure and the beautiful landscapes, the north or in particular the Peneda-Gerês National Park has developed as a popular holiday area for hikers and nature lovers.

Thanks to the mild climate, the region offers ideal conditions for extended tours all year round. In addition to shady forest trails, the circular walks also offer challenging mountain trails and impressive panoramic views. The complex mountainous landscape is a habitat for many wild animals such as wolves, wild cats, or wild horses. In the valleys, there is lush vegetation and forests, especially oak, Prunus, and the globally protected tree species Albergaria and Cabril.

Regarding real estate, you can still find reasonable offers for houses and especially land in Northern Portugal. When choosing the region, a distinction should be made between personal use and rental to tourists. Hiking tourism takes place in the national park, and accordingly, the right real estate can be found here. If you don't want to rent, you can find absolute dream properties in the north for excellent price conditions.