Subscribe to International Living Australia Magazine now and up to save 35%ILA Magazine: The World’s Best Places to Retire Overseas Subscribe Now and Save 35% about subscribing to International Living Magazine Rocky, rugged Atlantic coasts where salt spray mists the air…green hills and winding country roads…medieval towns perched above deep river gorges…graceful cities of broad boulevards and bustling cafés…
Portugal, continental Europe’s westernmost country, lies quietly in the shadow of the larger, more boisterous Spain. With a sliver of coastline and an interior that can take you back centuries in time, Portugal in many ways still belongs to an earlier era. People are friendly and courteous, with an almost courtly manner. People know their neighbours and local shopkeepers. Ancient buildings look worn and lived-in and quiet, cobbled lanes wind through seaside villages.
This is Europe as it used to be. And though modernity is overtaking Portugal quickly, you can still enjoy an old-style, Old-World life here.
Though its coast is the Atlantic, Portugal is typically Mediterranean. The sea, which forms the country’s western border, still plays a strong role in Portuguese life and diet: You’ll find fish and seafood on menus throughout the country.
Like countries around the Mediterranean, Portugal also produces good food, wine and olive oil, at inexpensive prices. Try its slightly fizzy vinho verde or its port, the fortified wine that took its name from Portugal’s second city, Porto. Shop in modern supermarkets, or—as many Portuguese do—in the traditional markets found in cities throughout the country.
Overall, Portugal is one of Western Europe’s most affordable countries. Even in the capital, Lisbon—one of Europe’s most charming and underrated cities—a couple can live comfortably from about $2,800 a month in residential neighbourhoods just a half-hour’s walk from Lisbon’s central, most tourist-driven areas. (And you’ll leave the tourists behind.) In Portugal’s smaller cities and in the country’s interior, a couple’s budget can run from $2,250 a month.
Enjoy all this…and yet have First-World amenities at hand, including excellent roads, high-speed internet, world-class museums and concert halls, chic restaurants, cafés, bars and much more. Portugal has extensive bus and metro services in cities like Lisbon and Porto. Long distance bus and train services carry you throughout Portugal and beyond, so you don’t need a car here. And modern airports can take you throughout Europe (including on low-cost discount carriers like Ryanair.com and Easyjet.com).
I love being able to travel wherever and whenever I like, for as long as I like. And these days I can, thanks to copywriting. Put simply, I write compelling stories and articles for businesses. It’s flexible and fun and it’s been paying the way for my overseas adventures for years now...
Love Europe but think you can’t afford it? Think again. I recently spent some time in Portugal and was wowed by the low prices. In Portugal, you can enjoy a low cost of living similar to that in Latin America’s more developed countries…with all the benefits of European life thrown in.
My life changed completely when I became a travel blogger. Last year, I spent about 70% of my time travelling. That might sound like a bit much to some people but I love adventure…and it helped that I was able to do it without worrying about money...
Rich in history, culture and romance, Europe has long had a strong appeal for Australian retirees. But many people who would love to retire to the Old World fret that it’s beyond their budget. And while Europe on the whole is more expensive than Asia or Latin America, that’s not to say that there aren’t countries here where a more affordable retirement can be found—without sacrificing the Old-World romance you crave.
In Porto, a mild climate complements a history-rich heart and a sparkling café scene making this—Portugal’s second city—one of my new favourite destinations. I was there along Portugal’s northern coast this past spring and was wowed by the mellow weather and the city’s beautiful historic centre, rich with grand, domed, granite structures.
Little villages of colourful houses sit among the rocky, green hills of the island. Small farms, which grow fresh fruits and vegetables for the locals, spread out from the top of the hills on down to the sea shore creating a natural patchwork effect.
I’m going to be completely honest: I’m a little hesitant to write this. I’ve discovered a gem of a destination that has completely captured my soul…and I’m not sure I want to share it with the world. But my experience here has been too incredible to keep a secret. So I’m going to let you in on the spellbinding European country of Portugal—and, more specifically, its second-largest city, Porto.
It’s evening on the waterfront quay. The lights from the many cafes cast a golden glow into the night. Lights gleam golden, too, across the broad expanse of the bridge spanning the river, whose waters shine black in the darkness.
Portugal’s Atlantic coast is often overlooked in favour of its neighbour’s more famous stretches of coastline. But one town in particular along Portugal’s coast charmed my family and I when we spent some time there.
Warm, clear blue-green sea lapping long, sandy beaches… Families eating and laughing together over slow, relaxed dinners with good food and even better wine… Markets packed full of fresh-caught fish, locally made cheeses and a rainbow of delicious produce… When you live by the beach in Europe, life is simpler, happier and healthier.