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Hi expats - hoping you can help us decide where we might want to live when we arrive November. We ideally would like to live in a small house (2 bedroom) in a small village (countryside) within an hour or so by public transport north to north-east of Lisbon as we won’t have a car for a few months. We don’t mind being close to neighbours, just no high rise apartments. Can anyone share any villages that might appeal or match our wants? Thanks in advance. 🙏
Hi there! This is the million dollar question isn't it!! We are looking for something very similar to what you are looking for... we need a small yard for our doggies. We are coming for a scouting trip on June 5-23. I will report back what we find and I will be watching here for others' replies.
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Just follow the train from Lisbon to Sintra and Cascais. You will want to branch off from those two lines. We travel them quite frequently and have friends living off of each one.
If you're talking north/north-east, then follow the main railway line parallel with the Tagus - the Sintra and Cascais lines both run west of Lisbon, and are effectively entirely suburban (with minor, patchy exceptions). As the map previously shared shows, there is a branch off the Sintra line which also runs north from that point, theoretically through to Coimbra via Caldas and Leiria - it may also be worth considering, although the services are notably less good than those on any of the other lines mentioned.
@thomasribatejo This area is so skinny, I think 50km wide? It is hard for me to discern compass directions between Alverca do Ribatejo and Ericeira. Thay are so close. I just say Atlantic or Tagus.
@thomasribatejo I have a question about the train service in Santarem. I know that the station is near the river. If arriving in Santarem on one of the late-night trains from Lisbon, arriving around 11 or 12 PM, will there be taxis available at the station to get up the hill? Is there [free] public parking available at the station for private cars?
@jeanne I have always seen taxis in the rank outside the station when arriving, regardless of the hour. (In the gaps between trains, they may not hang around.) That said, I would advise hastening towards them on leaving the train, in case demand outstrips supply. I'd also have the numbers for the 2-3 main companies with you, as many of their journeys will be short, but they might not immediately return if there isn't another train for a while, unless they know there's another client waiting. A taxi currently costs under €5 to the cathedral or municipal market.
(You didn't ask about buses, perhaps predicting the answer that they are not well timed to be useful with trains, and especially trains outside of school traffic times, sadly. This is clearly an issue the city should resolve.)
There are three parking options: a small, paid car park right next to the station; street parking on the city side, along the road in both directions for some distance; and a large, free car park across the tracks and over a footbridge from the station buildings. I would not recommend the latter - I've used it a few times without incident, but have noted glass on the ground. It's completely out of sight and earshot of people, and has no security.
Worst case, from the city (historic) centre, it's a 10-15 minute downhill walk; or 15-20 minute uphill walk to get back up. It's a pleasant walk unless raining, and safe, but it is somewhat steep, and not to be advised with luggage.
To clarify what I think we're talking about, Santarem is an hour or so out by train, on the Tagus route. To me, though, it seems like the odds of finding a nice little rental house an hour from Lisbon on that train are not too good.
The mass of residential seems to be the area I think JonesDN2020 is talking about, to the west, and you might also consider south, in the north part of the Setúbal district.
@donn I would also look in the Mafra area. It must be popular since the population has been growing but I did read the traffic is becoming a nightmare. The size of the home and budget are factors to look at. I see a T3 5 minutes from Mafra with 135 sq meters going for 1750 on idealista.
If money is no object, then I see a gorgeous T4 in Sobreiro going for 3250 per month with a very large yard.
