Are you tempted to move to southern Lisbon?

February 11, 2020

You’re all familiar with the city of Lisbon, the Portuguese capital that has been in the spotlight for the past few years, and with good reason: it’s a magnificent city!(in all objectivity) The Portuguese capital is often chosen as a destination by people wishing to settle in Portugal, but these same people are sometimes surprised to see that real estate prices in the capital are now quite high. Indeed, in recent years, property prices have soared in the face of strong demand. But what we sometimes forget is that in the surrounding areas, property prices remain more affordable, and you can still enjoy the benefits of living close to a capital city. Today, I’m going to talk to you about Lisbon’s southern region, commonly known as “la margem sul” or “Lisbon south”.

This Monday, February 10, 2020, the Lisbon City Council presented its program for tourism until 2020, and the mayor of Lisbon wants Lisbon South to be at the heart of tourism development in the coming years. Find out more here.

1. What is Lisbon South?

The Lisbon metropolitan region comprises 18 municipalities divided into 2 sub-regions:

greater Lisbon: comprising 9 municipalities, including the city of Lisbon itself,
the Setúbal peninsula (“Lisbon south” or “Margem sul”): also comprising 9 municipalities.

The list of the 18 communes of the Lisbon metropolitan region.

These two sub-regions are easy to distinguish on a map, as they are separated by the famous Tagus River(Tejo in Portuguese)

Above the line: Greater Lisbon.Below the line: the Setúbal peninsula

2. Five assets of southern Lisbon

Lisbon South has become increasingly popular in recent years. It has to be said that this area offers many advantages for both living and investing. South Lisbon is closer to the beaches than Lisbon, “quieter” than Lisbon, less expensive than Lisbon, and all this while still being able to enjoy all the activities, infrastructure and services of the capital, which is very close by. Let’s take a look at some of these advantages.

1. Proximity and easy access to the capital

An undeniable advantage of Lisbon South is its proximity to the Portuguese capital and the extensive public transport network that exists. So you have several options for getting to Lisbon from Lisbon South:

by car: two bridges separate Lisbon from Lisbon South: the famous April 25th bridge (the one with the Cristo Rei) and the Vasco de Gama bridge (Europe’s longest). Without traffic, it takes between 15 and 40 minutes to get from Lisbon to the south Lisbon city (depending on which south Lisbon city you’re in). At peak times, traffic jams are to be expected, especially on the April 25th bridge.

transtejo: 5 ferry lines available between Lisbon and Lisbon South,

the Fertagus: 1 train line serving much of southern Lisbon. It goes as far as Setúbal,

the MTS : 3 streetcar lines serve the municipality of Almada,

tST: buses (non-exhaustive list): the 755 and 562(to Setubal), the 431 (to Montijo), the 161 (to costa da caparica), the 207(to Sesimbra) ..

taxi-boats: according to a NIT article published on January 8, 2020, a taxi-boat service should be introduced linking several ports on the Lisbon side to several ports on the south Lisbon side.

2. A wide choice of real estate

Depending on the type of accommodation you’re looking for: apartment, house, private residence, with or without exterior, with or without parking, with garden and swimming pool… choosing Lisbon South could be the right option.

With a few exceptions, the city of Lisbon offers apartments in apartment buildings, often without elevators, with few exteriors and little parking. This is not a general rule, but the majority of properties in Lisbon itself are like this.

So, if you’re looking for outdoor space, a garden, a house, parking, or you want to live in a residence with a private pool or a shared pool, etc., you’ll find it much easier to find the right property. It’s much easier to find property of this type outside the city of Lisbon itself, and the south of Lisbon offers a wide choice. Here you’ll find traditional houses, modern homes, apartments, private residences(known in Portugal as “condominium fechado”), and more.

3. More affordable real estate

Let’s face it, Lisbon is the most expensive region for real estate in Portugal. Nevertheless, it’s cheaper to live in the south of Lisbon than in Lisbon itself. As you can imagine, property prices, whether to rent or to buy, are lower if you go outside the Portuguese capital.

According to an article in Diario de noticias, in 2018, property prices in southern Lisbon are at least 50% cheaper than in Lisbon itself. So yes, within Lisbon South itself there are also disparities, with some areas more expensive than others, but prices are still well below those in the capital.

Below, for your information, I’ve listed the prices per m2 in some towns in southern Lisbon(these prices are averages, per square metre, and obviously vary according to the property, its condition, surface area, characteristics and sources). However, this graph can give you an idea of the differences between Lisbon and several towns in southern Lisbon.

Average property price per m2 Lisbon and southern Lisbon cities.

4. Close to beaches

“Seaside” is one of your first answers when asked what you’re looking for in Portugal. Yes, the sea air attracts many of you. In fact, the proximity of beaches is one of Lisbon South’s major assets. It’s also a popular area for rental investment, as many holidaymakers want to stay here in high season. Lisbon South’s beaches include:

the beaches of the Serra da Arrábida, considered to be the most beautiful in Europe(no less!),
the beaches of costa da caparica, from fonte da telha to Meco , offering large stretches of sand.

In red, the beaches from costa da Caparica to Meco. In green, the beaches of the Serra da Arrábida.

The beauty of the beaches in the Serra da Arrábida protected area is breathtaking. Most of these beaches are coves, accessible via steep paths. They are sparsely developed and the ocean is calm and transparent. The contrast between turquoise water and white sand is so intense that these beaches are so beautiful you could almost mistake them for Thai beaches.

Beaches of the Serra da Arrábida.

From Costa da Caparica to Meco, via Fonta da Telha, the beaches offer a different landscape. They are spacious and wild, and the ocean undulates to the rhythm of the waves, which vary in size from day to day. The sunsets are magical. Several beaches on this coast are equipped with deckchairs, bars and restaurants.

Costa da Caparica beach.

5. Easy access to airports

Living abroad is, at least for me, a wonderful experience, but it’s true that sometimes you just want to see your loved ones or be present at important events in their lives. And, at such times, living close to an airport is rather “nice”. If you live in Lisbon South, access to Humberto Delgado International Airport is quick, taking between 20 and 45 minutes depending on where you live in Lisbon South.

Since 2016, in response to the explosion in tourism in the Lisbon region, Humberto Delgado airport has exceeded its passenger capacity threshold. So, in order to relieve congestion at the current airport, a second airport will be built. The new airport will be located in Montijo(south Lisbon), and will complement the existing Lisbon airport. In principle, long-haul and some medium-haul flights will be handled by the existing airport, while medium-haul flights will be handled by the new airport. The new airport will be built on the existing Montijo air base. The project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2022.

3. South Lisbon cities

1. Almada, Seixal, Barreiro:

Almada, Seixal and Barreiro are among the southern Lisbon towns closest to the Portuguese capital(around 10km). These towns are located on the banks of the Tagus, facing Lisbon. They offer views of the capital and are well served by public transport(train, streetcar, bus, ferry). These towns are therefore an ideal choice for those who work in Lisbon or have children attending theCharles Lepierre French school in Lisbon(just 10km away). Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado international airport is also close to these towns, being just 20km away.

The Cristo Rei facing the Tagus and Lisbon, one of Almada’s symbols.

2. Alcochete, Montijo:

Alcochete and Montijo are also on the banks of the Tagus, facing Lisbon via the other bridge. Both towns can be reached from Lisbon via the Vasco de Gama bridge. It takes around twenty kilometers to reach Lisbon. Ideal for those working on the Parque das Nações/Oriente side. Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado international airport and the main Oriente train station are close by(25km). Lisbon’s second airport is to be built at Montijo and should be in service by the end of 2022.

The small town of Alcochete on the banks of the Tagus (photo credit: camara Alcochete)

3. Costa da Caparica, Charneca de Caparica, Aroeira:

If you want to be close to Lisbon but also close to the ocean, these towns have it all! Costa da Caparica, Charneca de Caparica and Aroeira face the ocean and are part of the “Costa da Caparica”, a long stretch of beaches some twenty kilometers from Lisbon. Ideal for those who want to live by the sea, but also for golf enthusiasts, since the pretty Golf d’Aroeira is located in the “Herdade” of Aroeira (see our article about the best golf courses in Portugal).

The beaches of Costa da Caparica.

4. Sesimbra and Setúbal:

This is the southernmost part of the Setúbal peninsula(the one I’ve been calling Lisbon South since the beginning of this article). This seaside area is just under 40km from Lisbon. This area is famous for its natural park, the Serra da Arrábida: a protected park offering magnificent landscapes between sea and mountains. The two main towns in the area are Sesimbra and Setúbal. The area is best known for CapEspichel, 168 metres above sea level to the west of Sesimbra; the Fortaleza de Santiago, which separates Califórnia do Ouro beach from Sesimbra Bay; and the magnificent beaches I mentioned earlier. An ideal area for nature lovers.

The magnificent Cape Espichel.

5. Azeitaõ, Palmela, Quinta do Conde, Quinta do Anjo, Pinhal Novo, :

This area is still in the southernmost part of the Setúbal peninsula, but a little further inland than the towns of Sesimbra and Setúbal. The quality of life here is pleasant and the purchase prices attractive. These towns may be a good option for those seeking an international education for their children, as there are two international schools : St Peter’s international school in Palmela, and the International school of Palmela in Quinta do Anjo. Golf enthusiasts can also indulge their passion at the Quinta do peru golf course in Quinta do Conde.

Palmela Castle (photo credit: lifecooler.com)

In conclusion

Moving to the south of Lisbon can be an attractive option for those who want to enjoy the advantages of the capital while limiting its disadvantages. You benefit from the tranquility of the outskirts, the beaches and lower property prices, while remaining just a few kilometers from frenetic Lisbon.

If you have any questions about moving to the Lisbon South area, please don’t hesitate to contact Villa Feria by email info@villaferia.com – by phone: 07 66 18 85 55.

To find out more about this subject, please read the article: 5 reasons to move to the Lisbon area

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