Scouting Portugal: Lisbon vs. Porto
When we finally stepped outside of Italy, we had our sights set on Portugal. At this point in our lives, we were considering moving abroad, and Portugal was a country many Americans consider due to its more accessible citizenship laws. I was looking at this trip through a completely different lens.
Right away, I noticed that everything felt incredibly safe. Neither my husband nor myself spoke a lick of Portuguese (hell, I can barely spell the word), but from our previous travels, we knew that wasn’t going to be an issue. We stayed at a 4-star hotel because it was super affordable during the off-season, and we booked right in the city center. This meant we could walk everywhere. The hotel also had an EPIC rooftop pool, that no one was ever at.
The Lisbon Vibe: California, But Better
Walking around Lisbon was like being in California. You have beautiful bay and sea views, tons of natural and man-made parks, and endless places to relax or teach your kids about nature right in the middle of the city. It was unexpected and incredibly citizen-friendly.
My husband and I were shocked by the infrastructure. There were dedicated bike lanes and little pull-off areas with free tools for anyone to fix their bike. There are water features everywhere—little drainage rivers running through the city with gorgeous, abstract mosaic designs at the bottom of them. We spent time exploring the Parque das Nações district, where you can take the Telecabine Lisboa gondola ride high above the city for 360-degree views, or visit the massive aquarium Oceanário right on the water. They even have a stunning college campus right along the coast!
The people and the food were exceptional. The locals are so friendly—and not just “this is my job” friendly, but genuinely happy. With 275 to 300 days of sunshine a year, I’d be happy as fuck too.
We eventually found some rentable electric scooters, hopped on the pathway, and headed downtown. It was a quick, beautiful 10-minute ride that literally cost us $2. Who the heck needs an Uber? The downtown area was alive with stores, people, street performers, and the Time Out Market—an epic indoor food hall where you can taste everything the city has to offer. We felt extremely comfortable walking around; the sun was shining, and there was a heavy sense of community in the air. We visited Castelo de São Jorge, which meant walking up SOOOOOOO many hills and climbing a lot of stairs. But every step of the way, the cityscape, the views, the intricate tiles, and the interesting shops made the climb worth it.
A Mid-Trip Reality Check: The European Laundromat
One major way we survive with just a carry-on is by absolutely planning to do laundry on our trip. I know, it sounds weird and maybe a little scary to waste vacation time on chores, but it’s actually very normal to use laundromats in Europe. A lot of European apartments don’t have washing machines or dryers—and if they do, they’re usually tiny 2-in-1 combo units that definitely can't handle a heavy load. Google Maps is your best friend here. We found a laundromat just a short 10-minute walk away. While it took us to the outskirts of town into more of an industrial area, I can say with 100% certainty that the vibes were wayyyy better than those found on E. 55th in Cleveland. Plus, it only cost us around 6 euros to wash and dry everything we had.
Porto: Good Energy, Hard on the Calves
After a few nights spent in lovely Lisbon, we boarded a train and headed to Porto.
Now, Portugal is famous for its Port wine, right? We are going to go against the grain here and say: it wasn’t for us. Even as a sweet wine drinker, it was super thick and just way too sweet. I’m pretty sure we both left our glasses half full and moved on.
Porto itself was beautiful, and uphill. Like, really uphill. If we planned to move here, we knew we would have legs of steel in no time! But beyond the physical workout, Porto was incredibly lively. There were noticeably more people here, and that dense, bustling crowd really added to the electric vibe of the city.
The city is built right along the edge of the Douro River, and the historic riverfront neighborhood—known as the Ribeira—is the absolute heartbeat of the area. It is actually a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and once you see it, you completely get why. You are basically wandering through a living postcard. The area is packed with tall, crazy colorful buildings, narrow medieval alleys that make you feel like you just stepped back in time, and incredibly lively restaurants. It is an absolute dream for just walking around and snapping pictures. We spent a lot of time just sitting outside by the water, enjoying the perfect weather with drinks and food, watching the traditional wooden boats glide by. The air was filled with all different kinds of music echoing through the streets from local performers.
Crossing the massive Dom Luís I Bridge to the other side of the river was an unforgettable experience. The views from up there are just everything. Looking down, we watched local kids jumping right off the edge of the river wall into the water. There were hundreds of tourists swarming all around them with cameras, but those kids couldn't have cared less—they were just out there living their absolute best lives.The Relocation Verdict
If we had to pack our bags and move tomorrow, where are we going? Porto.
While Lisbon is stunning and has that sunny, coastal ease, Porto has a pulse that just grabs you. My husband is a musician, and I have a deeply creative soul. The artistic energy, the diverse street music, and the lively, slightly grittier atmosphere of Porto just felt like home for us. Plus, as an added bonus for anyone else scouting a move: the cost of living in Porto is actually cheaper than in Lisbon!
Portugal is definitely on our list of places we need to return to, and thats a lot, coming from us, because we love Italy soooo, sooo much.!