Lisbon, Portugal, ZIP Code: 1100-533
I moved to Lisbon in 2017 with my husband who works for a multinational company. It was like a dream come true for me to live in the beautiful capital of Portugal. I discovered that Lisbon is a great place for digital nomads. When the pandemic hit and remote work became more common, there were even more digital nomads coming here from different countries. Recently, there has been an increase in Americans choosing Lisbon as their new home.
The beautiful view of Lisbon
It was easy for me to adapt to life in the city because language wasn’t much of a problem. Most Portuguese, especially the younger generation, speak English well because it’s taught in schools, and many people here deal with tourists regularly, so they can communicate in English well. That made it easier for me to integrate in the new place.
I live in Alfama, a typical neighbourhood where you can see older people looking out of their windows and musicians playing traditional fado music of the country – an ambience that feels somewhat similar to the historic cities in India. Many Indian expats live here because the cost of living is reasonable. There are cinemas that regularly show popular Indian films, and Bollywood dances are quite popular too. I love the bright trams running down the beautiful lanes.
Botanical Garden, Lisbon
Nearby, there are attractions like Sé Cathedral and the National Tile Museum that I enjoy wandering around. Another place we often visit is a botanical garden, one of the oldest gardens of Portugal that was inaugurated in 1878. It underwent renovations in 2018 and is now a stunning garden with around 1,500 plant species from all over the world. One of the highlights is the pine cones from the Bunya tree, which can weigh up to 10 kg each.
During weekends, we often go to Praça do Comércio, Lisbon’s central square, which used to be the harbour and administrative center for Portugal’s trade with its colonies.
Passage To India – a restaurant in Lisbon
There’s a restaurant called Passage to India in Lisbon that we frequent. Also there are several yoga studios, Indian restaurants, dance schools, museums, and art galleries in Lisbon that have sections dedicated to India.
Lisbon is breathtakingly beautiful but for the Indian expats used to the busy life in Indian cities, adapting to the more relaxed pace of life here can sometimes seem boring. The laid-back Portuguese lifestyle encourages taking things slower, giving time for reflection and enjoying life’s simple pleasures. This adjustment brings its own enriching experience. Portugal’s love for festivals like India is what I love most.
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