Your property in Lisbon
Apartments in beautifully restored historic buildings and renovated palaces in trendy neighbourhoods are the most sought-after type of property in Lisbon.
On the outskirts of the city in areas including Setúbal, across the River Tejo, and Alenquer to the north, stunning villas, occasionally with vineyards and orchards, provide exceptional second homes.
Inside Lisbon
Lisbon is a city with it all: Jaw-dropping views from any of its defining seven hills; exquisite architecture seen in its historic churches, such as the Basílica da Estrela, and its luxurious plazas, including Praça do Comércio with its 18th Century arcades; and a fun, lively culture with areas such as Bairro Alto and Pink Street offering a mixture of bars, restaurants, taverns and nightclubs.
Luxury is at home in the city too, with the Avenida da Liberdade rivalling London’s Oxford Street and New Bond Street for high-end boutiques and designer shopping, and exceptional hotels and restaurants surrounding Parque Eduardo VII.
The city’s proximity to the water also make it a perfect location for countless water sports, including sailing, surfing, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding, while the Sintra-Cascais natural park, less than 30 minutes away, offers exceptional hiking and cycling routes.
Landscape
Lisbon is a very steep city and is known for the seven hills that surround the low-lying part of the city on the edge of the River Tejo.
These vantage points provide spectacular views across the city, the river and out to the Atlantic Ocean.
Lisbon is close to pristine natural beauty, including the Estuário do Tejo nature reserve and Sintra-Cascais natural park.
Education
Lisbon has more than 20 international schools making it an excellent location for families considering relocating here.
The options include International Preparatory School, St George’s School, St Julian’s School, and The British School Lisbon.
For further education, the city’s Catholic University of Portugal and the Nova University of Lisbon are among the country’s top institutions.
Activities and Entertainment
Taking in the city from one of its many viewpoints - sometimes with a bit of help from the trams that scale its steep streets – provides exceptional views of Lisbon and its captivating architecture.
The city’s history is defined by its 1755 earthquake, meaning sites that survived the dramatic tremors, such as Mosteiro de São Vicente de Fora and the Unesco World Heritage-listed Torre de Belém, are particularly treasured among its plentiful historical buildings.
Lisbon is regarded as being in the top 15 greenest European cities thanks to its plentiful parks and gardens, such as Jardim Garcia de Orta, which features various rare plants, while the city’s Avendia da Liberdade rivals the continent’s high-end shopping districts thanks to its scattering of luxury boutiques.
Art and Culture
Lisbon is an artistic and cultural heavyweight with an abundance of exceptional museums and galleries, including Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga and the Museu Nacional do Azulejo, which showcases the very best of the country’s hand-painted tiles.
The city has a lively market culture too, with the Mercado da Ribeira in Cais do Sodré selling everything from local fruit, vegetables, fish and flowers and also including the in-demand Time Out food court that serves a wide variety of exceptional cuisine.
Music regularly brings the city to life, with a vast array of music bars catering to all tastes, and major festivals, including Rock in Rio – Lisboa, one of the world’s largest music festivals, and Somersby Out Jazz, a free event spread across the city every Sunday through summer, being just some of its excellent events.
Food and Drink
Lisbon is renowned for various ubiquitous dishes, such as bacalhau à brás (shredded cod with fried potato, onion and scrambled eggs), frango no churrasco (barbecued chicken piri-piri) and grilled sardines but the city’s menu is deep and varied.
Its proximity to the coast means the city’s seafood offering spans from clams and octopus to tuna and monkfish, while Alentejan pork and beef are regularly marinated in delicious stews alongside various ingredients ranging from shellfish to vegetables. Various sweet treats are popular in Lisbon too, with the pastéis de nata custard tarts, o melhor bolo de chocolate mundo chocolate cake and travesseiros Sintra pastries filled with almond cream.
Lisbon has many superb independent and high-end restaurants, including nine that boast Michelin stars, such as Fifty Seconds and Belcanto.
The city resides in the Lisboa wine region, which features the prestigious Alenquer and Bucelas wines, as well as Colares.
Accessibility
Lisbon’s Portela Airport is just 15 minutes from the centre of the city and serves both domestic and international destinations.
The city is well-connected by train, with regular services to Porto and other cities and towns, while various autoroutes provide quick and easy access into and around the city.
For those arriving by boat, Lisbon’s port has 440 berths available.