Portugal Forum

ANameNotTaken
Joined 2020
Posts: 5

3 years ago

Living in rural northern Portugal?

3 years ago

My wife and I are considering retirement to Portugal, and are looking at more rural northern parts. I would like to learn more about conditions there. I was sobered by the "22 Downsides to Living in Portugal," but that applies mostly to more southern and urban areas. What's it like out in the country?
We currently live in a broad mountain valley in rural western Colorado and like the area very much, but are severely disenchanted with the local politics and hardening shifts in attitudes that get thrust in our faces--we would like more civility and respect for each other. I could write lots more on other reasons, if it would help.
We are quite active with biking, hiking, and cross-country skiing (not in PT!). We greatly value quiet and enough land for a big vegetable garden and some buffer (probably more than 1000 m2). We have always lived in rural areas and like that atmosphere. We're not big socialites. We looked in depth at Switzerland, which is wonderful in many ways, but it won't work for housing and living costs, difficulty of getting permanent residence, and lack of houses on plots of land due to zoning. Portugal checks almost all of our boxes. We can manage a golden visa, if need be. I've looked on idealista and there are great houses available.
We like seasons, but damp is not so good. We'd like close access to scenic hiking and nice road biking. The areas that look good are the inland Minho (nearish to the Peneda-Geres park) and around the Serra de Estrela. Looks like damp winters in the Minho and scary fires in the past around the Estrela, but otherwise great. We'd appreciate any input or other ideas.
Any words of experience about living in more rural areas? How are services?--are houses on reliable wells or water systems?--internet availability?--local attitudes toward foreigners who will try to blend?--and so on. We'll try to learn the language. Are we missing something?
Thanks so much for any responses--it's not so easy to find out about the rural northern areas.

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Help others in Portugal by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Portugal.