Castelo Sao Jorge overlooking Lisbon, Portugal

Retiring to Lisbon, Portugal is increasingly popular among many Western and Northern Europeans. In the eyes of many Portugal has become one of the best places to retire because it offers one of the lower costs of living in Europe, but is fairly modern and well connected into the global economy.

Lisbon, which is the political and economic seat of the country and the largest city, also carries a long and fascinating history for those with such interests. Some might argue, that it was here in Lisbon, that the early beginnings of globalization first emerged as the Portuguese began to open up the world with their technological advances.

International Living in Lisbon, Portugal: Location and Geography

Lisbon faces the Atlantic Ocean on Portugal’s west coast. Today, as in times past, Lisbon has had an orientation towards the sea. It lies at the mouth of the Tagus River, which also provides some connectivity into the country’s interior.

The capital city of Lisbon has a Mediterranean climate – a mild climate with warm summers, and mild/wet winters. Summer temperatures range from 17-23 degrees Centigrade (63-73 degrees F). Winter temperatures fall within the 11-15 degree Centigrade (53-59 degrees F) range. For many, the coastline combined with the very mild winters make Lisbon an attractive retirement destination for many Europeans.

International Living in Lisbon, Portugal: History and People

Evidence of human settlements on a hilltop overlooking Lisbon Harbor goes back to about 600 BC. This strategic vantage point was most likely inhabited by Celtic tribes in the earliest days as well as the Phoenician, Greek, and eventual fell under Roman rule during the first century BC.

The Roman Empire held dominance over the entire Iberian peninsula until about 700 AD, when Moors from North Africa and the Middle East invaded the region. Lisbon fell under this Muslim rule in 711 AD. Christian rule returned to the region during the Reconquista and in 1147, Lisbon was liberated from Moorish control. Almost a century later, Lisbon’s strategic location resulted in it becoming the capital of Portugal.

At its peak, Lisbon was the center of a large Portuguese empire that stretched from Brazil to India and to China. In the 1400’s, Prince Henry the Navigator promoted the advancement of navigation techniques and world exploration, leading to Vasco da Gama’s journey to the Indian subcontinent and Magellan’s journey around the world and the birth of a global Portuguese Empire. Lisbon grew rapidly during this time as the major trading center between Europe and Africa, India and the New World.

The golden age of Portugal was followed by a series of events that lead to the gradual decline of the country in world power. In 1755, a major earthquake and tsunami destroyed most of Lisbon. Then in 1807, Portugal was invaded by France and the Portugeuse royal family fled to Brazil. In 1820, a constitutional government was declared followed by the declaration of independence of Brazil in 1822. Natural disaster, emergence of a constitutional government and the loss of her empire removed Lisbon from the forefront of the world political stage.

Nevertheless, Lisbon thrives, but with a slightly different focus. Lisbon proper has a population of about 600,000, but Metropolitan Lisbon boasts a population of nearly 3.5 million people. Portugal as a whole has a population of nearly 11 million people. Today, this population is becoming increasingly cosmopolitan in nature (particularly in the Lisbon area) due to the continued in migration of people from around the world – many from former colonies. As a result, one will find younger Indians, Brazilians, Africans, and Chinese immigrating to the country in search of work and international living.
Add to that mix, an increasing number of Europeans who have chosen a Portugal retirement and you have an interesting blend of people broadening the base of Lisbon’s ethnic population. Large number of pensioners from the United Kingdom in particular have decided that Lisbon is one of the best places to retire abroad.

Most of the population are Roman Catholic, but a variety of smaller religious groups are being established as more people immigrate to the country. The official language of the country is Portugeuse.

International Living in Lisbon, Portugal: Lisbon Lifestyles

Cost of Living in Lisbon: Lisbon’s cost of living falls in the upper third of the 300 major cities in the world. Although it is in the higher end of the cost scale in global terms, it has the lowest cost of living among the major cities in Western Europe.

While clearly more expensive than cities in Central America or Southeast Asia, Portugal is a developed country and offer retirees an affordable international lifestyle if one prefers a retirement in a developed country.

Healthcare in Lisbon: with respect to healthcare, costs tend to be relatively low. Residents who have paid into their social security system can expect free or minimal cost medical care. For those who have not paid into the system, medical insurance is required for international living in Portugal – since the retiree will most likely be using the private hospitals for major healthcare needs.

Housing and Social Amernities in Lisbon: there is a wide range of properties available for rent in and around Lisbon. For those with a large pocketbook, one can choose from fancy beachside villas for international living. On the other hand, rental bargains can be found in the city and surrounding rural areas that will fit a more modest budget. Typical prices range from around $500/month to $1,500/month and up.

As a developed country and a member of the European Union, the infrastructure in the country is fairly modern and in decent condition. Electricity, water, and sewage systems are generally in good condition. Postal, fire, and police services also function well for Lisbon and Portugal as a whole.

Shopping in Lisbon: Lisbon boasts a fair number of large malls for shopping. Colombo Mall is perhaps the largest mall with a wide variety of stores. For those wanting to break away from the malls, downtown Lisbon offers a wide range of small shops and markets that offer everything from high fashion items to fresh produce.

Transportation and Communication in Lisbon: Getting around in Lisbon is relatively easy with a wide variety of transportation systems available for those retiring in Lisbon. This includes taxis, buses, trams, and subway systems.

There is no shortage of television, radio, cable and internet services for a Lisbon retirement. The telecommunications is not quite as developed as in the wealthier European countries, but certainly more than adequate for an international living lifestyle.

International Living in Lisbon, Portugal: Things to Do

Cultural Activities in Lisbon: the rich history of Portugal produces a wide range of cultural activities for anyone who has decided to retire abroad in Lisbon. There are many museums and cultural tours available showcasing many aspects of Lisbon’s history, architecture, and culture. A wide range of theaters provide an interesting array of various performing arts.

For those with an interest in history, there are churches, forts, and statues to visit. For the more socially minded, a wide range of neighborhood tours are available for shopping, looking at the influence of different civilizations from the past (Muslim, Roman, etc.). Retirees will discover that Lisbon is a major cultural center in Europe.

Dining Out in Lisbon: if clubbing is your evening sport, Lisbon will not disappoint with an array of cafes and restaurants to being the night, followed by an endless array of bars and nightclubs. For more high brow tastes, a large number of theaters offer a wide range of plays, operas, and more modern performing arts.

Outdoor Activities in Lisbon:  International living in Lisbon comes with a wide range of possibilities with respect to outdoor activities. There are many large parks to explore, a world class oceanarium, bicycle tours, a major zoo, botanical gardens, and walking tours for an active retirement South of Lisbon, there are the beaches for ocean activities – whether it be sailing, diving, swimming or fishing.

International Living in Lisbon, Portugal: Summary

Strengths of a Lisbon Retirement: Lisbon offers the lowest cost of living for cities in a developed country. Combined with a mild Mediterranean climate, Portugal is becoming a popular retirement destination among Europeans. The city has a modern infrastructure and is rich in cultural activities.

Weaknesses of a Lisbon Retirement: although the cost of living may be lowest among Western European cities, it is still more expensive than the major retirement cities in Central America and Southeast Asia. The more popular location for a retirement abroad in Portugal might be the Agarve resort area which offers a broad coastline with world class beaches.

Analysis of a Lisbon Retirement: if one prefers to retire abroad in an urban setting and in a developed country, a Lisbon retirement may be the best choice. When taking all possible amenities into account, Lisbon, Portugal may be one of the best places in the world to retire

(Photos: Bernt Rostad)

References and Bibliography:

History of Portugal, History World

Lisbon, Britannica Online Encyclopedia

Lisbon, New World Encyclopedia

Portugal, Official Tourism Website