Is Portugal safe and welcoming for international families?

More and more international families are choosing to relocate or buy property in Portugal, whether as a permanent home or a holiday home, attracted by our country’s family-friendly lifestyle, welcoming communities and quality of life for all ages.

With the possibility of working remotely, many families have made the important decision to move to Portugal with their children in search of a better quality of life.

Living in Portugal with children

Portugal offers a stunning coastline, pristine beaches and a wonderfully mild climate, making it an ideal place for families who want to live close to the ocean and enjoy the outdoors all year round.

From surfing and horse riding to cycling and countless other outdoor activities, there’s always something for the whole family to enjoy. Children also have plenty of opportunities to stay active and make new friends, with many Portuguese municipalities and public schools offering several activities and extracurricular programmes.

In larger towns, families can also choose from some of Portugal’s best international schools, offering recognised foreign curricula in languages.

›› Find out more about schools in Portugal

Adults are equally welcome to come to school and participate in Portuguese classes that some public schools have created especially for expats! And this is just one example of the welcoming atmosphere Portugal has always encouraged towards foreigners.

The Portuguese's genuine hospitality is visible in the simplest of gestures, from speaking English to anyone who doesn’t understand the language to helping newcomers feel welcome in their neighbourhoods. Don’t be surprised if a neighbour offers you fresh fruits and vegetables from their garden or introduces you to the town baker who delivers fresh bread door-to-door every morning!

Where international families become part of the community

As more international families make Portugal their home, communities are becoming even more diverse, creating new opportunities for genuine connections between Portuguese and international families. Children often make those connections first, at school, in the playground or through local sports, and parents soon follow.

Caldas Rugby Club, on Portugal’s Silver Coast, is a wonderful example of this community spirit in action.

On the rugby field, Portuguese and international children play side by side, with different languages and cultures coming together around a shared love of sport. On the sidelines, their families meet, talk and cheer together, forming friendships that extend well beyond the game.

It’s this mix of cultures, languages and experiences that makes family life in Portugal so special. Local clubs and activities aren’t simply places for children to spend their free time; they can become places where newcomers feel included, families get to know one another, and everyone comes together to celebrate a genuine sense of community.

Portugal - A safe and happy place to grow up

The Portuguese not only have a strong sense of community but are also very family-oriented. This is a country that loves children, and it’s very common to see how protective the people are towards the well-being of future generations.

This culture is seen in national environmental policies to prevent climate change and preserve natural habitats. But it’s also very present in local initiatives aimed at promoting a healthier and happier lifestyle. Every town has leisure areas designed specifically for children, such as skate parks, tennis courts, soccer fields, or playgrounds, which are common even in private residential areas.

Because Portugal is such a safe country, with very low crime rates, Portuguese children still enjoy a childhood not too different from that of their parents, where there's no shortage of tattered knees and lots of vitamin D! And don’t be surprised to see children at the beach playing in the water with friends or riding their bikes until late in the afternoon!

Not too far from Portugal’s most popular towns and beaches, you’ll find villages where many children eat the fruit directly from the trees and spend less and less time looking at screens and more time looking at the stars. The Wi-Fi signal may be excellent throughout the country, but a greater awareness of the pleasures of a simple life is driving many Portuguese families to put the brakes on technology and reclaim what makes the country so special.

But you don’t have to live permanently in Portugal to enjoy everything this beautiful country offers families! 

A family home in Portugal, even if you’re not ready to relocate

Portugal isn’t only an attractive destination for families planning a permanent move. For many international buyers, owning a holiday home here offers another way to make Portugal part of their family’s life.

A home in Portugal can become the place you return to year after year: for summer holidays by the sea, Christmas together, long weekends in the sunshine or simply time away from the rush of everyday life. As children grow and families change, it can become a familiar place filled with memories and traditions that are passed from one generation to the next.

And because Portugal has so much to offer different generations, a family property can evolve with you. What begins as a place for young children to spend their holidays outdoors can later become a gathering place for teenagers, grown-up children and, one day, grandchildren.

For families also considering the financial side of buying abroad, property in Portugal offers something particularly appealing: the possibility of combining a lifestyle purchase with a long-term property investment. Instead of choosing between a home to enjoy and an asset for the future, families can consider a property that has the potential to offer both.

Places such as the popular Silver Coast of Portugal are especially attractive for family holidays, combining beautiful beaches with countless things to see and do, including water parks, dolphin-watching boat tours and sea inflatables.

›› The Silver Coast - Top 8 Activities for Children