The pandemic has given many of us cause to question our lifestyle, how we live and where we live, and as travel restrictions begin to ease people are starting to look at the possibility of life in a new location. Though, post-Brexit, moving to Europe is more complicated than it was, around 300,000 Brits continue to move abroad each year. Increasingly, Portugal has become the British destination of choice: 13,000 U.K. citizens were granted residency permits last year and more than 46,000 Brits have made Portugal their home. Part of the attraction may be ease of access, Lisbon is under three hours by plane from London and its airport serves 120 European destinations, and part of it may be down to a desire to recapture some of that holiday magic. Here are six more reasons why the Brits are choosing Portugal as their relocation destination.

Expat friendly

Surprising to us as it may seem, the Portuguese government goes out of its way to welcome foreign settlers to its country, partly through its generous ‘golden visa scheme’ but also through well-developed infrastructure designed to make settling in as simple as possible. In a recent survey by ‘Internations’, Lisbon was rated the third best city in the world in which to relocate.

World-class beaches

Portugal has 1,000 miles of coastline and some of the best beaches in the world. Surfers head for the record-breaking Atlantic waves of Nazare, but of course, it’s the golden sands of the Algarve which attract the most visitors. So rich is the variety of Portugal’s beaches that it would take a lifetime to explore them all.

Pace of life

Perhaps it’s down to the 300 days of sunshine which the inhabitants of Lisbon enjoy or perhaps it’s just a different mindset, but the people of Portugal take time to enjoy the simple pleasures of life: a leisurely conversation, a leisurely lunch, a leisurely lifestyle.

Family-friendly

The family is at the heart of Portuguese life, even to the extent that giving a job to a family member is seen as a good thing, rather than nepotism. Restaurants are family-friendly and the presence of children in public places is seen as natural, not an encumbrance. There’s no shortage of sporting and leisure activities for children and the outdoor lifestyle is wonderful for children’s health and development. Portugal’s health and education services are of a high order and Portugal is rated as the third safest country in the world.

Low cost of living

Portugal has one of the lowest costs of living in Europe, around 33% cheaper than that of the U.K. Although property prices in Lisbon and the Algarve have risen in recent years, they still represent some of the cheapest inner-city accommodation in Europe. If you’re looking for a real bargain, try renting a property in one of the less well-known areas, such as the beautiful ancient city of Beja in the Alentejo region.

A rich culture

If your holiday visit to Portugal took you no further than the beach, then you are missing out on Portugal’s wonderfully rich cultural heritage. This is a country of castles, cathedrals, ancient cities, ancient customs and rich tradition, with its own unique heritage of art and architecture.

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