Carmel F. Says:
I plan to visit Portugal this year and would like some information about a place to stay for two or three weeks. I would like to stay in a residential area, where I can explore the possibility of moving there in the future.
IL Managing Editor Declan Aylward Says:
Hi Carmel,
Having been to Portugal on a scouting trip not too long ago, I think I have the ideal suggestion for you—a residential area in Porto.
Porto is the second-largest city in Portugal. It’s smaller and more walkable than its big sister, Lisbon, but a bit more active than the former capital and university town Coimbra.
The city sits on the Douro river and you’ll find its most historic and touristic districts along the river’s banks. From there, the city climbs steep hills to more residential and commercial neighborhoods. But even these keep a feel of history about them. There is very little of the glass-and-steel of modern cities about Porto. Buildings are built of brick, and stand four or five floors high at most.
Thanks to its status as a tourist destination, most people speak English and you don’t need Portuguese to get by here. Though of course a few words go a long way, and an “obrigado” (thanks) to your waiter gets a smile.
About a 35-minute walk from the river banks is an area I like a lot and would recommend you check out: Bonfim.
The Bonfim neighborhood feels much more Portuguese than the touristy center. It’s a purely residential district. The cafes and bars of the center give way to mom ‘n’ pop grocery stores, where bottles of cleaning detergent are displayed in windows like designer goods.
You can rent a basic studio in Bonfim from about €750 ($800) per month long-term, or pay up to €2,000 ($2,137) for something a bit fancier. One thing to note—apartments here may be smaller than you’re used to. But that’s just part of European living. Why spend time sitting in your apartment when you have all of Porto to enjoy?
For your scouting trip, you can find a number of Airbnb options in the Bonfim neighborhood starting from around €55 ($58) per night up to €173 ($184) per night. Prices may vary based on the dates you choose to visit.
Hope that helps, and enjoy your trip to Portugal!
Got a Question?
Send your thoughts to mailbag@internationalliving.com. We’ll post and respond to as many of your emails as we can right here in the e-letter.