When my husband and I first decided to move abroad, we contemplated many options all over the world…
First, we thought of English-speaking countries. Australia came to mind. Then my husband reminded me of the many indigenous species of very large spiders and snakes, so that was off the table.
Then we thought of our dream retirement plan… Running a bed and breakfast on our favorite Thai island…
But that was halfway around the world and would make it hard to visit friends and family and for them to visit us.
In the end, we decided to move to the one place we agreed was our favorite place we had ever visited…
And that was that. We had decided where we wanted to move.
Portugal. The oldest country in Europe. The place that stole our hearts. And where we’ve called home for the last three years.
Located in the southwest corner of Europe, Portugal offers a unique blend of rich cultural heritage, stunning landscapes, and a strategic location that makes it an ideal base for exploring Europe and beyond.
Whether you’re a digital nomad, a frequent traveler, or someone looking to immerse themselves in diverse experiences, Portugal’s position on the continent opens up a world of possibilities.
So, what makes Portugal stand out as the perfect launchpad for your European adventures?
Strategic Geographic Location
As the westernmost country in mainland Europe, Portugal has a unique advantage.
It acts as a natural gateway to the rest of Europe and is just across the Atlantic from the east coast of the United States.
This allows for easy access to a wide array of European destinations, making it a convenient starting point.
As an American, this is also a plus for getting back to the States to see friends and family and enticing them to come meet us in Europe.
Fancy A Double Dip?
In addition to being a wonderful destination of its own, Portugal is a great place for a stopover, particularly for those elusive deals where you get to stay in a first location for a week or so before moving on to your final destination.
Portugal is the perfect place for that. And its national airline makes it super simple to do.
In fact, TAP’s stopover has been voted the best in the world by Global Traveler for the last six years running. TAP Air Portugal—the national airline—offers a stopover either in Porto or Lisbon. And, it’s one of the only airlines I’ve seen offer this on the way to or from your destination (but not both).
As if that wasn’t enticing enough, TAP recently extended the stopover maximum length to 10 days. Talk about a great 2-for-1 trip!
Particularly if you’re coming from the Americas, Lisbon makes for a wonderful first stop before jetting deeper into the continent and beyond.
Excellent Air Connectivity
Portugal boasts three major airports: Lisbon (in the middle), Porto (in the north), and Faro (in the south). So no matter where in the country you’re based, you’re never far from one.
They are well-connected to numerous European cities, providing fairly extensive direct flight options and plenty of connecting flights.
In addition, budget airlines like Ryanair, EasyJet, Vueling, and Transavia ensure that travel remains affordable, allowing for spontaneous weekend getaways or planned excursions to major European hubs like Paris, London, Rome, and more.
Lisbon boasts flights to 198 global airports by more than 55 different airlines.
Efficient Road Networks
For those who prefer traveling by car or bus, Portugal offers pristine toll roads throughout the country, leading to Spain.
These well-maintained highways facilitate easy road trips, while an extensive bus network offers economical options for traveling further afield.
You can drive from Lisbon to Porto in just about three hours. Lisbon to Faro in the Algarve in even less time. And Lisbon to Seville, Spain, in under five hours.
As someone who grew up in Texas, you could drive for five hours and still only be halfway through the state. So I’m grateful to be able to drive on incredibly clean, pothole-free, and smooth, flat toll roads throughout most of Portugal.
The smaller roads throughout Portugal are not as well-kept as the tollways, and can take much longer to traverse, although they may be more scenic.
Trains Within Portugal Are Nice And Easy
I’ve taken trains, buses, and cars from Lisbon to Porto, and the train is the easiest and most comfy. Especially if you snag business class tickets on one of the direct trains.
The regional trains make more stops and therefore take longer. If you’re headed straight to Porto, make sure you book the faster service.
That business seat on the faster train can run as little as 40 euros without any discounts and takes about three-and-a-half hours. If you book ahead and look for a sale, it could be even cheaper.
There are currently no direct connecting train routes to Spain… but they are coming. It will be a few more years before we can take advantage of these new networks, but in another decade, it should be much easier.
The high-speed train from Lisbon to Porto is slated to be completed in 2030, and from Lisbon to Madrid in 2034.
Proximity To Popular Destinations
Here, you’re just a short flight away from some of Europe’s most iconic cities and sights.
Whether you’re planning a romantic getaway in Paris, an ancient adventure in Rome, or a tapas tour in Barcelona, Portugal’s proximity to the playground of Europe makes it a very attractive launchpad.
Additionally, the nearby islands of the Azores and Madeira offer unique getaways without even having to leave Portuguese territory.
Some of the most consistently cheap flights I’ve seen in my three years of living in Portugal are to the Spanish islands (both Balearic Islands—Ibiza, Mallorca, Menorca—and the Canary Islands), Madrid, London, Toulouse, Lyon, Nice, and Milan.
Earlier this year, we flew direct to Toulouse, France, and rented a car. We were then able to drive to San Sebastian, Spain, and Biarritz, France, and end our trip back in the very cute and walkable town of Toulouse. It was an amazing spring break for the price of under 100 euros per person (for the flights).
I recently flew with my daughter to Milan to see Taylor Swift. We were only able to consider buying tickets at a location other than Lisbon because we knew we’d be able to fly on the cheap.
For Christmas, we visited Santa’s Village in the magical Lapland in Finland. That was not a cheap trip, but it was a heck of a lot cheaper because we were coming from Portugal.
I don’t share these things to brag…
The point is that Portugal’s lower cost of living compared to much of Western Europe, in addition to the relatively cheap travel options available, combine to make a whole host of opportunities more realistic than they would be if we were still living in the States.
European Adventures: Off-Season Options
The other big perk is the ability to easily visit major tourist destinations during non-touristy times.
Shorter and cheaper flights (compared to traveling from the States) mean you can choose more selectively when to visit certain hot spots.
A quick weekend in Paris with your bestie, a world tour date in Milan with your daughter, or a music festival in Copenhagen on a whim… Europe is your oyster.
Visa And Travel Flexibility
As a member of the Schengen Area, Portugal allows for seamless travel to other Schengen countries without the need for additional visas.
This ease of movement is a significant advantage for frequent travelers. Moreover, Portugal’s visa policies are traveler-friendly, making it easy to establish a home base here while exploring other parts of Europe.
Sincerely,
Allison Baxley
Contributor, Europe Uncovered
