BEST PLACES to Live in PORTUGAL | Retire to the Algarve

So where are the best places to live in Portugal? We have traveled through many areas of Portugal and fell in love with the Algarve. It has so much to offer, especially for those looking for a perfect place to retire or spend extended periods. Exploring from the east to the west coast we got a pretty good feel for what each city had to offer. We will discuss what we liked best about each location and the things we would consider negative. In the end, we will share with you our top three choices of where we could see living.

Websites Mentioned:

► Stay Connected

👇🏻 Ways to Support our Channel
Any support we receive is directly used to keep bringing you videos from around the world. Thank you!!

Some links below are affiliate links. By using them there is no additional cost to you. This helps us continue bringing you videos from around the world! If you do choose to use them - Thank you!!

👇🏻Our DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT Travel Essentials:

TRAVEL INSURANCE

[michaelthatcher]

Guys, I have lived permanently in the Algarve for 17 years now and I would congratulate you on producing a really great, and comprehensive coverage of where its at here. Good trip home and we'll see you back soon!

[billwagstaff]

Hi guys I'm an English man living in Tavira for 37 yrs, best thing I ever did coming to Portugal, lo my life here. I am a painter and sculpter . . I created a semy tropical garden over a few years and it's my little paradise

[guineveregruntle]

My family and I visited Lagos in July 2022. We really enjoyed the beaches, the restaurants, the towns and people. The Algarve is an outdoor paradise. ❤

[AA-kfuf]

I am in the Argarve right now....I love it here....I love the west coast as well...the waves...just amazing.

[shesaknitter]

I spent 10 days in Portugal this summer with my daughter and grandson. I'll be emigrating there next summer and have had relocation consultants working on my plan for about 6 months now. I loved Portimão and that museum (located in a former sardine cannery) is definitely not to be missed. We also went to Coimbra, Peniche, Ericeira, Lagos, Loulé, and Lisbon. I enjoyed everywhere we went! I am inclined toward the Algarve because it is warmer and I tend to be cold-natured.

Thanks so much for this video. You have given me some ideas because I am not sure yet where I want to move first. I'll check out some of your other videos now that I have discovered your channel.

[bertzethof]

We are a retired couple that rented an apartment in Lagos for the past year. I'd have to agree, that for us, Lagos is a bit too quiet in the winter. Many restaurants are closed for the season and there are far fewer people around. We have recently moved to the Tomar area and we'll see what life will be like here in the coming months and hopefully years.

[cristinafrancisco]

This was such an informative and enjoyable video. I’m a Canadian of Portuguese decent and currently living in The Netherlands. I have visited Portugal and the Algarve many times. My husband and I plan to spend part of the winter in the Algarve when we retire in a few years. Deciding where to stay is the big question! Some of our favourite places are Villamoura, Loule and Tavira.

[dailydose]

Hello guys, nice!!, thank you for all of your great content, it would be interesting to see a video comparing Portugal and Spain for retiring, specially the south if Spain where you guys have spent some time, thanks again, you guys look great!

[chuckmurray]

We stayed in Albufeira in September and loved it. It was busy but not crazy like it is in June, July and August. I also liked Lagos. I wish I'd had more time to check out Loule and Silves as I heard good things about both. We rented a car which made the day trips very easy. The boat tour of the caves and coast is a must do!

[colincraig]

Guys,

Great video and some spot on observations. And love the fact that, as Americans, you don't mind walking and taking public transport. Good on you!

My other half and I moved to the Algarve just before COVID in 2019 with our cat Roxy, from Sydney.

After being a bit disillusioned with the suburbs of Lisbon, we first moved to Lagos, which as you say get incredibly busy over summer and dies right back in winter with only a few establishments like the expat pubs at all busy. Got a bit sick of taking the single track, diesel train to explore the rest of the coast. It does get expensive and there is a huge gap in the timetable during the middle of the day. Coach depot is at least in town but suffers from the same uneven timetable. And patrons love sitting in seats that aren't allocated to them. Recommend buying a car if you intend to be there long term (electric would be good hear are petrol prices are astronomical). Totally agree, it felt a bit like you were at the out limits of the country. Sagres is stunning but I wouldn't be going to the rugged beaches to the west every day (especially without our own transport). Only major town north is Sines, which we found a bit of an industrial port). Bus and train to Lisbon are both about 4 hours which seems slow for the distance.

Portimao is an interesting town. It's kinda in four parts. The north which has a shopping centre and huge hypermarkets. The old town in the middle, which like you say doesn't have quite so much charm or history (read as - everything was built in the 70s). The DMZ as I call it which the stretch of sand dunes and scrub between the town and the beach which is also a good 30 min brisk walk. And the beach Praia da Rocha which is a kinda dated promenade in front of some old holiday high rise apartments, casino and marina (which is painted in vivid 80s orange, yellow and red). Like you say the train station is massively out of town and the bus station is only slightly closer, also one of the most desolate locations in Portugal. If you need to dump a body, this is the place.

Albufeira, we found was full of bright red Brits, en masse, on footy trips watching UK Premier League on 80" TVs whilst drinking pints of two Euro Carling Black Label (oh you found the cheap lager, didn't you!). Ferreira is the station you have to change at to get to Lisbon is travelling from the west. Both train and bus station are fairly inconveniently located a taxi ride away from the old town/resort. Praia dos Pescadores is one of the best beaches on the Algarve.

Loved Tavira and stayed there a while. Does really die off in winter though. It does have its own SEF/AIMA office if you need one, so you don't have to go to Faro (if you can get an appointment). The shopping centre to the east doesn't feel like it's doing well but does have a big Continente. Oceanside beaches are nice but are exposed and as this is the Atlantic not the Med the water is nearly always cold. Agree, catching the ferry gets a bit tedious. Hinterland is full of orange orchards and little Quintas, well worth a bike ride. Bar and restaurants around the river are charming. There are a lot of salt paddies producing sea salt and stunning flamingos. And proximity to Faro and Spain are a definite bonus.

[subarume]

I have to say your comment about the grocery stores is spot on. We have been to several of the countries you have been to over the past few months and found the same thing. We like one stop shopping.

[craigmckinlay]

Really appreciate your Portugal series. Sad you are moving on. Thank you both

[graceclermont]

Yes my family home town Lagis is one of the best area's in the Algarve ❤❤

[joec]

Thanks for the info on "walkability " of the Algarve. I have mobility issues so the helps a lot. Lisbons nickname is the city of seven hills. So ... hilly.

[MindfulMidLifeTravel]

Nice video info on Algarve! We enjoyed 6days in Albufeira in April before finishing our trip in Lisbon. We took a Bolt car to Caviero boardwalk & walked back towards our Apt along the coast & got another Bolt car the rest of the way back, stopping in Albufeira old town for lunch. Would Love to see more travels on Silver coast or Porto. Probably our next trip.

[garykembel]

Our cab driver in Lisbon said, "my home town is Villa Real. You should go there." So we did and we loved it. Beautifully planned historic centre.

[beththomas]

Thanks for this very helpful, comprehensive video! I have the impression from other videos I've seen elsewhere that Vila Real de Santo António has a fairly sizeable year-round expat population so the businesses don't shut down in winter like some other smaller towns may do. But I haven't been there in winter and could be mistaken.

[raulcabral]

I have been spending time in Lagos for the last 20 years and now I own a home in Meia Pria I love it

[christopherpapagni]

I thought your video was well-done and very informative. As a year-round Faro resident I thought your comment that the city was not beautiful was spot on. There are so many great things about living in Faro: location, affordability, dining, but there are prettier places to live. I guess like so many other things in life, it's a trade-off.

[elizabethbosch]

We did a bike tour from Vila Real de Santo Antônio to Sagres and absolutely love it! We are going back to spend some time in Praia da Rocha in Portimao. But your video inspired me to go more places in the Algarve and explore even more. Thank you!