Auburngrad82
1/29/2017 08:29 EST
My wife and I have been investigating retiring to Portugal for months now, and we're planning a trip to visit places we're interested in. We're focusing on the Silver coast from just north of Lisbon to Viana do Castelo.. Does anyone have any input on the following cities/towns? Obidos, Nazare, Caldas da Rainha, Coimbra, Leiria, Braga, Guimaraes, Porto and Viana do Castelo.
We want to be relatively close to the coast and have access to amenities such as decent groceries and hospitals.
We've ruled out Lisbon and Cascais as too expensive and the Algarve because it just doesn't appeal to us.
Any input on the cities we're looking at would be appreciated.
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craigandmicki
1/29/2017 08:41 EST
To Auburngrad82's post about areas in the Silver Coast...you're smart to rule out the Algarve and have lots of options in your preferred zone. Check out the blog by Julie Dawn Fox for insights on the towns in your focus area; she travels, photographs and writes about them all. The further north you go, the more you'll be exposed to cooler and wetter winters (altho weather patterns aren't that consistent any more), but you'll also find less costly housing. Shops, stores, restaurants, beaches and great people are all easily accessible by foot in the towns along the coastline. Coimbra, on the interior, is full of life due to the University and Braga and Guimares are stunning. Obidos is primarily a tourist spot. You'll find good local public transit (buses) and bus/train routes running north and south for easy, relaxing and inexpensive transit to other towns and Lisbon.
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Auburngrad82
1/29/2017 09:02 EST
Thanks. I've actually compared climates to where we currently live (Raleigh, NC) and it's really not so different in the north. For instance, Raleigh gets 52 inches of precipitation per year compared to 59 in Braga. Raleigh has a lot more days below freezing and Braga has virtually no days over 90 degrees (Raleigh has 17 per year). Below Braga and Porto the climate is better than Raleigh. I think we can handle the climate.
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ruirox
2/18/2017 11:55 EST
Hi
You will be very welcome in Portugal!
It is a good option to see more of the North because it has a special charm and you have better accessibility and proximity between several good cities and the sea.
I live in Porto which is a fantastic city. A beautiful architecture, excellent gastronomy, has good people, is small and has sea and is 50 minutes, in good and cheap transport, (train) Braga, Guimarães, Aveiro, Viana do Castelo. In summer, you can take a boat ride along the river Douro to see the vineyards, and you will find an unknown paradise! We have excellent medical services. My English spoken is not very good, but when they come I can try to give you more information. I rent apartments for tourists and I have some real estate for sale.
If I can help you, I'll be happy.
You'll love coming here!
Cheers
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Diego56
2/18/2017 17:37 EST
Thank you for your response to Auburngrad82. I find the feedback and advise on Expat Exchange very helpful. We are also planning a trip to Portugal to explore our options where to retire. We love the architecture of Lisbon and the vibe of an urban center. However, we are also avid tennis players and looking for friendly people who would like to play tennis. I am not necessarily seeking to live in an area where there are lots of expats. However, I am worried about the ability to make Portuguese friends as my Portuguese is not strong enough for communication and to make friendships (I am studying Portuguese now but it could be a years before I am fluent). Thus, I do not want to be too isolated. My question are two fold: 1) If my Portuguese is weak, will I feel left out and lonely even though many Portuguese speak English? Thus, should I abandon my desire to live in Lisbon and consider living in a bigger expat area such as Cascais and the Algarves (particularly Faro and Carvoeiro) which has good tennis)? My second question is there a city or town in Portugal that has good tennis and quaint cobble stone streets? I know this is probably the Algarves, but I am not a partier. Instead, I enjoy wandering through streets, culture and people. Thus, the Algarves may not be for me as the beach is not of primary importance and I am not looking for the next Cancun, Mexico or Miami Beach. Any suggestions to find the right fit would be great. Obrigado!! Diego
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CascaisPortugal
2/18/2017 23:32 EST
I would say Cascais is the best of both worlds. Within half an hour you can be in Lisbon or Sintra for the old charm and there are plenty of likeminded people in Cascais to make friends with. I dont find it easy to make friends with the Portuguese even if you master the language. It's about sharing the same interests whether it's a foreigner or a local. Good luck with your search !
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Michefra
2/21/2017 03:07 EST
Hello Auburngrad82,
Whilst not one of the towns you mentioned, you might consider Ericeira as being worth a thought. It is approximately 30 mins by car from the airport, has good bus links to other towns and cities, it has a health centre with the nearest hospital being in Mafra. It does not suffer from fog as affects towns further to the north, occasionally it is windy but nearly always sunny. It is well served by larger shops (continente, aldi, lidi, mini preco) but has retained its village charm with lots of interesting restaurants, ice cream shops, little boutiques etc. Best of all are the beaches! Water sports are very popular here, but there is ample opportunity to just sit, relax and enjoy the views. You can get a tosta and coffee for 2.2o in some of the cafes, so living here does not break the bank!
Good luck in your search,
Michele
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kombutz
3/9/2017 16:45 EST
Where would I find Julie Dawn Fox's blog? Interested in reading her posts about the towns mentioned. Thank you.
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