The 5 Best Neighborhoods to Buy or Rent in Lisbon, Portugal

Ever since we moved to Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal, we’ve been bombarded with questions about where we live. And not just that - lots of people want to know what we consider to be the best neighborhoods in the entire city.

So today I’m going to cover our favorite neighborhoods in Lisbon based on a few things: housing quality, costs to buy/rent, transportation, and more.

Saldana

First off we have Saldana, the commercial center of the capital! This neighborhood feels more modern than most, with wide streets and contemporary buildings. It has quite a sophisticated vibe, with tons of shops and great restaurants.

It’s also pet-friendly, with lots of young families and very few tourists.

● Housing: Some of the highest quality housing can be found here, but also the most expensive. Studios and one-bedrooms start at around EUR15,000, and can go as high as 3 million Euro! Your options will be restricted to apartments rather than a house or duplex, but you can find a great 2 or 3-bedroom apartment in the EURO400-500,000 range.

● Rent: Relative to the rest of Lisbon, rent is expensive. But you can still find some great places for EUR2,000 or less.

● Vibe: Saldana is a super vibrant neighborhood, and has some of the friendliest people in the city. It’s also very diverse - some of the richest people in Lisbon live alongside many working-class people. It’s also clean and well-maintained.

● Amenities: There seems to be a grocery store on every corner, as well as doctors, dentists, and amazing restaurants (some of the best in Lisbon!)

● Transport: There are connections to several metro lines, and the airport and freeway are easy to access by car, so it’s very easy to get around.

● Walkability: Saldana is very flat with wide sidewalks, so it’s easy enough to get around.

● Highlights: Organic grocery stores, tons of shopping, lovely beer and wine kiosks on the streets.

Campo de Ourique

Campo de Ourique is located in the historic center of the city, just north of Estrella. It definitely has a historic vibe but also has some very trendy areas. It’s one of the most family-friendly neighborhoods in the city. Some people call it “the city within the city.”

● Housing: Most of the housing here is apartments. Some are very old, but it has its share of modern renovated apartments. They also tend to be bigger than normal, with beautiful tall ceilings. Prices vary, and you can find apartments anywhere between EUR100,000 - 3,000,000! In general, expect to find a nice 1-3 bedroom apartment for under 200,000.

● Rent: Here you can find a 1 bedroom for 800 or less, or a 3 bedroom for 1500 or less. It’s a touristy area, so most homes are long-term rentals.

● Vibe: As I mentioned, Campo de Ourique is super kid and family-friendly. It’s a great place to live for young families who want to integrate their kids into the neighborhood and meet new friends!

● Amenities: This neighborhood has everything you need, enough said.

● Transport: There are two tram lines that go through the neighborhood, but it isn’t very close to the metro line. Living here you will need to use the tram, bus, or car. The lack of a metro station is one of the big drawbacks of the area.

● Walkability: It’s a very flat neighborhood, so it’s super walkable.

Principal Real

This area is something of a “postcard” neighborhood for Lisbon. Amazing views, stunning 19th-century architecture, and quite an affluent, upmarket district. It’s one of the oldest neighborhoods in Lisbon, but there’s been a lot of renovations done due to its popularity.

● Housing: To be honest, real estate prices in Principal Real are all over the place. For example, you can purchase a studio for under 100,000, and also buy a mansion for 6,000,000! The range is huge. But you can definitely find a nice place for EUR500,000.

● Rent: Generally, you can find a nice place for under 2,000 a month.

● Vibe: Principal Real is trendy, chic, and there aren’t many kids or families that we’ve seen. It’s definitely more of a single professional/ex-pat vibe.

● Amenities: This neighborhood is fantastic amenities-wise. Tons of bars, cafes, and restaurants, and lots of open space.

● Transport: Here you’ll have to get sound by bus or car. The metro isn’t super far, but it’s also not that close. Parking isn’t that easy to find either.

● Walkability: Sidewalks are really small here, and the area is also very hilly. You do have to be in good shape to get around on foot.

Arroios

Arroios is BIG, so I’m going to focus on the part of the neighborhood that borders Saldana. Despite how close the two are, they couldn’t be more different. Arroios is super diverse: both ethnically and income-wise. There are also universities here, so there are a lot of young people, but still a fair amount of families.

● Housing: housing starts at around EUR107,000, and can go as high as 3,000,000. There aren’t many single-family homes here, but you can find a great place for around 300,000.

● Rent: Prices are coming down lately, and you can rent a studio or 1bdr for EUR650 a month. A nice 2-3bdr place will cost less than 1,000.

● Vibe: Arroios is exceptionally cool. Really. It’s considered one of the coolest neighborhoods in the world. There are tons of amenities, lots of good food places, and great open spaces.

● Transport: Transportation is one of the highlights of this neighborhood. There are plenty of metro stations, and it’s so easy to get around on foot, as everywhere is flat and the sidewalks are wide.

● Walkability: See above.

Lapa

This hilly neighborhood is old, traditional, and beautiful. It’s one of the most charming neighborhoods in Lisbon, but it’s also one of the hilliest. If you’re planning to wander the streets, bring your walking shoes.

● Housing: Housing here is old, and there are a surprising amount of abandoned buildings. You can buy a studio here for 100,000ish, but property ranges as high as 5,000,000. Generally, you can find a nice place for around 400-500,000.

● Rent: The wide price range means you can find a rental anywhere between 600-3000, but 1700 is around the average price.

● Vibe: Of all the neighborhoods we mentioned, Lapa has the “slowest” vibe by far. It’s a very relaxing place to stay, and you tend to feel that sense of relaxation while you’re here.

● Amenities: Amenities are similar to other places, with lots of shops, cafes, and restaurants, and lots of big open spaces.

● Transportation: Transportation can be tricky. Parking is hard to find, but there are a lot of bus lines and a trolley that runs through the neighborhood. The metro line is a lot further out, so you’re going to have to walk quite far if you ever need to travel by metro.

● Walkability: Lapa is the least walkable of these five neighborhoods. There are so many hills and narrow streets that make it hard to maneuver through the place.

These are my and Amon’s favorite neighborhoods in Lisbon. We didn’t mention some of the more popular neighborhoods, but that’s because we consider these five to be the most liveable, with a good balance of all the best qualities you want in the area you live. Hopefully, I’ve given you some good food for thought if you’re considering a move to Lisbon, Portugal.