Why portugal
Portugal is world renowned for the quality of life enjoyed by its inhabitants. Safety, development, health, education, and its unique geography (climate, as well as cultural, natural and urban diversity), are the main factors that make Portugal a unique paradise in Europe. Whether you acquire a real estate for investment purposes or to enjoy fabulous vacations, you can rest assured that Portugal is the right option for you. If the real estate was bought as a financial investment, there are several opportunities in the current Portuguese market to accrue returns on a five-year investment.
Alternatively, if your intention is to enjoy vacation or life in Europe, the following section will show you why Portugal is the ideal country for you.
housing
Portugal’s cities offer several investment opportunities in real estate. This southern European country is a popular destination for many Europeans who choose to regularly spend their holidays or retirements there. Large projects of holiday housing featuring private beaches and golf resorts are very common in the south.
Compared to the past five years, right now is the best time to invest in the Portuguese real estate market.
education
Thanks to a large community of foreigners, many options of international schools are available – American, British, French, German and Spanish schools to name a few. The most popular international schools are St. Julian’s School, St. Dominic’s, International School of Torres Vedras, Carlucci American International School of Lisbon and Lycée Français Charles Lepierre.
Portugal also has world-class recognized universities, welcoming students and staff from around the world. The two top Portuguese universities in international rankings are Universidade Nova de Lisboa and Universidade Católica Portuguesa.
healthcare
Portuguese healthcare is free, comprehensive and universal. It is available to any legal foreign residents who have registered with their local health center. Some of the best European hospitals are situated in Portugal.
Culture
For city lovers, there are many to choose from, such as Lisbon, Porto and Faro, to explore during the day as well as during the night. Avenida da Liberdade, for example, is Lisbon’s answer to New York City’s Fifth Avenue. Full of history, style and glamour, the avenue hosts numerous luxury brands like Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, etc.
As tourism plays an important role in Portugal’s economy, the country has many wonderful museums, palaces, wineries and luxury hotels spread out all over the country. There are also eleven casinos located in the main tourist areas. The biggest one (in Europe!) is Estoril Casino, owned by no other than the famous Hong Kong and Macanese Chinese business magnate, Stanley Ho Hung Sun.
Cuisine
The diversity of Portuguese cuisine, as well as its origins, derive mainly from the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, made clear by the strong presence of fish and seafood, bread, wine and olive oil. The produce is always fresh whether you buy it in a supermarket or outdoor market. Thanks to its temperate climate, Portugal is able to grow all of its fruits and vegetables domestically. Portugal is also the fourth largest olive oil producer in the European Union. Olive oil represents 5% of its total food and beverage volume of exports.
In regards to wine, Portugal possesses the oldest demarcated region in the world. The demarcated region of Douro produces some of the finest and most exclusive wines in the world. Two of its wine regions are protected by UNESCO as world patrimony.
sports and leisure
Portugal has 850 kilometers of spectacular beaches along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts. Locals and foreigners alike enjoy sunbathing, surfing, windsurfing, kite surfing and sailing along these shores.
Portugal’s mild climate welcomes visitors to discover what many consider to be a golfer’s paradise. With more than 70 golf courses (10 of which are in the top 100 of Continental Europe) from north to south, golfers are able to play by the sea shore amidst grass-covered sand dunes, make their way through some elegant parkland areas flanked by trees, and delight in some magnificent views.
Many international sports events take place in Portugal, such as Estoril Open, international show jumping competitions, Madeira Islands Open, Rip Curl Pro Portugal, and Portugal Masters.
Climate
Regardless of the region and time of year that you visit, Portugal enjoys plenty of sunshine, making it an ideal destination for a holiday break or for settling down permanently. In fact, Portugal boasts the most sun hours in Europe (300 days per year!). It has a temperate maritime climate with warm summers and wet winters, affected by the Atlantic, Continental and Mediterranean influences. Lisbon and the Alentejo and Algarve regions have long, warm summers with pleasant temperatures.
The Portuguese winter is one of the mildest to be found in Europe. Average season temperatures are the following around Lisbon coast: January to March 17° C; April to June 22° C; July to September 26° C; and October to December 17° C.
safety
Portugal is a peaceful country with one of the lowest crime rates in the world. Public transportation is considered safe and reliable. According to the Global Peace Index 2017, Portugal is the 3rd most peaceful country in the world.
Geography and Nature
Portugal prides itself in possessing the oldest borders in Europe, with an exceptional range of different landscapes ranging from breathtaking beaches to beautiful inland fields and valleys. With its unique cultural heritage, tradition and modernity blend together in perfect harmony. Situated in the very south-west of Europe, just a few hours from the other European capitals, Portugal attracts visitors and foreign residents from all over the world.
Whether you find yourself in an urban or rural area, the environment is exceptionally clean – with fresh air, pristine ocean, sea and beaches, green countryside and potable tap water.
ECONOMY
Following the trend of its European partners, over the last decades one of the most important characteristics of the structure of the Portuguese economy is the increase in the services sector.
In the last decade, apart from a greater focus and diversification of services within the economic activity, there was, in the transformation industry in Portugal a significant change in its specialization. Coming from a dependence on traditional industrial activities to a situation where new sectors, with a larger amount of technology, have gained importance and significant growth, sectors such as the automotive and components sector, electronics, energy, pharmaceutical sector and industries related to new technologies of information and telecommunications.
Moreover, Portugal’s geographic position also impacts on the growth of the services sector. The mild Mediterranean climate, regulated by the influence of the Atlantic, together with its extensive coastline, are significant factors driving the growth of the tourism industry.