Moving to Lisbon: 9 Things You Should Realistically Know

Lisbon is getting a lot of buzz lately, thanks to its economic revival and its growing creative and startup scene. The city has risen rapidly in various Quality of Life indices such as those by The Economist and Monocle. Understandably, there’s a lot of interest in the city.

I moved to Lisbon a year ago and it’s been fantastic, though I also think some of the information out there can be a bit hyped up or neglecting to tell both sides.

Since someone recently commented on my Lisbon city guide asking for tips on actually moving there, I took this as my cue to share some advice for anyone thinking of doing so.

1. It’s hard to find a place!

Lisbon has loads of houses for sale, but very few places to rent (at least for the medium or long-term). Competition is huge, so make sure you schedule ample time for research, calls, and going on viewings.

Some articles about Lisbon from a couple of years ago paint a picture similar to that of Berlin from a decade or two ago — when…