Where to Live in Lisbon as a Digital Nomad

The heart of Lisbon. Cais do Sodré runs along the river with the Time Out Market, Second Home and the train to Cascais; Chiado above it is elegant and full of cafes and theatres; Bairro Alto on the hill above that is the city’s nightlife district, quiet by day and loud until late.

It is the most convenient and most touristy part of town, and rents are high. Pink Street in Cais do Sodré and Bairro Alto are noisy at night, so look at the street before you sign.

• Good for: first-timers, short stays, people who want everything walkable
• Work nearby: Second Home, Outsite Cowork Cafe, Heden Rossio, Impact Hub, Fábrica Coffee Roasters
• Watch out for: nightlife noise, tourist crowds and steep stairs

Príncipe Real is Lisbon’s most elegant neighbourhood: 19th-century mansions, a garden square with a giant cedar, concept stores and some of the best restaurants in the city. Below it, Avenida da Liberdade is the city’s grand boulevard.

It is expensive and a bit of a climb from the river, but calm, central and very pleasant to live in.

• Good for: comfort, food lovers, couples
• Work nearby: Copenhagen Coffee Lab, cafes around Rato, Second Home a downhill walk away
• Watch out for: high rents and hills in every direction

West of the centre, these neighbourhoods are residential and relaxed: the Estrela basilica and garden, the parliament at São Bento, design shops and galleries in Santos, and cafes like Hello, Kristof and The Folks. Tram 28 runs through, and the river and Santos train station are close.

It is many long-stayers’ favourite part of Lisbon: central without being touristy, with a strong local feel.

• Good for: long stays, people who want local life near the centre
• Work nearby: LACS Conde d’Óbidos, Village Underground, Hello Kristof, Wish Slow Cafe at LX Factory
• Watch out for: hills, and old buildings without lifts

North-east of the centre, along the green metro line, these neighbourhoods are the most multicultural in Lisbon, with Indian, Nepalese, Chinese, African and Brazilian restaurants, small bars, art spaces and a young crowd. Rents are among the lowest you will find this close to the centre, and the area is flatter than most.

It is rougher around the edges than Príncipe Real, especially around Intendente at night, but it is lively and real.

• Good for: value, food lovers, creatives, a young crowd
• Work nearby: LACS Anjos, Heden, cafes along Rua Morais Soares and Largo do Intendente
• Watch out for: some streets feel edgy late at night

Lisbon’s 20th-century business district, with wide avenues, offices, the Gulbenkian museum and gardens, and big apartment buildings with lifts, which are rare in the old centre. It is less charming but more practical: warmer flats, quiet streets and some of the best metro links in town.

• Good for: space, lifts, families, people who prefer function to charm
• Work nearby: Avila Spaces, IDEA Spaces, Heden Alvalade a few stops north
• Watch out for: a quieter evening scene

A flat grid of streets on a hilltop west of the centre, with a famous food market, independent shops and a strong neighbourhood feel. It is popular with Lisbon families and long-term expats, and the end of the line for tram 28.

It has no metro, so you will use buses, trams and Uber more, but day-to-day life is easy and pleasant.

• Good for: families, couples, long stays
• Work nearby: local cafes and the market, Estrela and Rato a short walk away
• Watch out for: no metro station

Built for Expo 98 on the river in the east, Parque das Nações is modern Lisbon: apartment towers, offices, the Oceanário, a riverside park and the Vasco da Gama shopping centre. The Oriente station has metro, trains and buses, and the airport is minutes away.

It lacks old-town character and is a 20-minute metro ride from the centre, but flats are modern, warm and spacious.

• Good for: modern flats, runners and cyclists, frequent flyers
• Work nearby: Avila Spaces Parque das Nações, IDEA Spaces
• Watch out for: feeling far from the historic centre

• Mid-term rentals of one to twelve months, furnished and with bills included, are what most nomads use. Platforms such as Flatio, Uniplaces, Spotahome and HousingAnywhere specialise in them.
• Long leases are cheaper per month, but landlords often ask for a Portuguese guarantor, a NIF and several months’ rent up front.
• Airbnb is easy for a first month but expensive, and Lisbon has restricted new short-term rental licences in many central parishes.
• Rooms in shared flats are the budget option and a good way to meet people.
• Coliving solves furniture, contracts and community in one go.

1. Book a month first and view places in person. Photos hide damp, noise and how many stairs there are.
2. Search the mid-term platforms (Flatio, Uniplaces, Spotahome) and the big property sites, Idealista and Imovirtual. Lisbon’s expat and nomad Facebook groups also post rentals.
3. Look for scams. Never pay a deposit for a flat you haven’t seen, and be wary of anyone who asks for money by wire before showing the property.
4. Check the essentials: heating or a heat pump for winter, damp and mould, the stairs and lift, street noise at night, the Wi-Fi speed, and whether bills are included.

• Deposit: usually one or two months’ rent. Long leases may also ask for several months up front or a guarantor.
• NIF: you need a Portuguese tax number for most leases.
• Bills: mid-term rentals usually include bills; long leases often don’t, and setting up electricity and internet in your name needs a NIF.
• Contracts: make sure your lease is registered with the tax office, especially if you need it as proof of address for a D8 or residence permit.
• Inventory: photograph everything on day one.