What are the most English-friendly cities in Portugal?

 

In general, English speakers can be found most often in larger cities and tourist destinations. Somewhere between a quarter and a third of Portuguese people speak English and the younger they are, the more likely it is they will speak the lingua franca. However, if you find yourself unable to get by without some Portuguese, then you’ll be joining 240 million Portuguese speakers in the world.

 

 

 

You might think that the city with the highest English proficiency would be the state capital, Lisbon, but it is actually Porto. It even managed to rank high among the 100 countries and regions researched by the EF EPI at 9th place. This isn’t just bragging rights for Porto. The report connects high English proficiency with better openness and tolerance to people from other countries. Lisbon actually isn’t even second, but ends up fourth, right after Coimbra and Braga at second and third ranks respectively.

 

 

But language isn’t everything. What also matters is how large and open a city is to networking and coworking. With its tech sector booming and with many co-working hubs in Portugal springing around the city, Lisbon is probably the best place you can move to right now. Even the current pandemic might be strangely in your favor, as many job opportunities expect their employees to work from home. Add the fact that Lisbon is one of the more affordable capitals in Europe and you have a perfect recipe for a great work experience.

 

 

While this title could be easily given to Porto as well, it would be a shame to overlook the advantages that Braga brings to the table. While it is not the most international city in Portugal, you might be pleasantly surprised by the affordability of furnished rentals as well as the rest of the city.

 

Braga is also perfectly situated near the coastline and close to mountains giving your family an endless supply of weekend trips. And finally, it is home to high-quality educational institutions of all kinds.

 

 

 

The best bet for a student is obvious: Coimbra. Having once been a capital itself, Coimbra is home to amazing architecture as well as the oldest university in Portugal.

 

However, because it is no longer the capital, it is far more affordable, so if you’re searching for a mid-term rental in Portugal for your Erasmus stay, Coimbra is the city for you.