I've been living in Lisbon and moved to Porto (because it stole my heart hehe plus, the feeling of "o-ou, it's more beautiful here for me" was just overwhelming). Gonna add some of my thoughts about what you've mentioned: Size: Porto's metropolitan area has still a population of 1,7 mln. For me, the center of Lisbon was as walkable as Porto's. You'd still need public transportation in both cities to commute to more remote places, like universities or Gulbenkian/Serralves. And this thing about exploring new places every day - yeah, I still have it in Porto, after living here for 3 years. It’s a really dense and surprising city. Weather: you're right, it's some kind of difference but it's also not a gigantic one. What is worth mentioning is the fog! Porto has amazing fog in the winter, which gives +1000 to the atmosphere :D Sometimes you can see it entering from the ocean through the river, aaaaah! Vibe: I just love the Porto colors and architecture more. Lisbon has a lot of bright yellows, faded pinks and oranges, while the color palette of Porto is deeper - burgundy, dark green and mustard. Porto was always a bourgeoisie city, there was a strict law against the monarchy. Which means more lavish merchant townhouses and mansions vs. palaces, like in Lisbon. Parks: The center of Porto is very condensed, but there are still two nice parks in the historical center: Palacio de Cristal (which you showed in the video) and Parque das Virtudes (never seen something like this, this park is vertical, located on like 14 terraces). Apart from those parks, which are more romantic, planned-style, you have some others, like Serralves, Covelo, São Roque and the huge Parque da Cidade, which is well, more like its name, a "city” park :D The fun part is that you can go from it straight to the ocean. For me, it’s somehow comparable to Monsanto in Lisbon, but it has more life happening. Attractions: I’d say you have a lot more outside of the center of Porto. I don’t think you’ll have the full image of the city after being here for two days. Any time my friends come for such a short time, we manage to show them like 20% of the city we know and it’s veery rushed. You also have amazing day trips. The same way you have Cascais, you can go to Foz. The proximity of Sintra (which is just a dream) is amazing, but the same day trip you can do to Guimarães, the birthplace of Portugal and it’s charming af. Transportation: I had so many transportation frustrations in Lisbon, for real. All the trams which never arrived, all the delayed buses, the overcrowded metro. Everything just felt a bit chaotic, they seem to cope worst with the tourist overload and just feels outdated. I don’t use public transportation a lot in Porto, I either walk or go by car, but every time I do, it seems more up-to-date, organized and just less clunky. Airport: For sure Lisbon has more connections! Since I used both couple of times, I can say, that in terms of the airport experience, I prefer Porto - the same feeling as about public transportation I guess :) It’s newer and neater. Beaches: Apart from freezing water (which is just a bit warmer in Lisbon, but I still needed a lot of boldness to enjoy it :D) beaches of Porto are more fun for me. First of all, they’re really close and integrated into the city. I already mentioned Foz, it’s also a posh neighborhood by the ocean like Cascais. There’s a super nice walk by the river to the Foz seaside (an attraction on its own, since it has great views), while to Cascais or any beach close to Lisbon you always need to take a train or go by car. Apart from Foz, you have Matosinhos (comparable with Carcavelos I guess) - a more modern, surfer vibe with a wide beach with Parque da Cidade nearby. I had some amazingly warm swims there this season (or I’m just starting to be inured). By car/train, you can go to Miramar (the epic chapel on the rocks), or Praia de São Paio. Around Lisbon, you have Sintra-Cascais National Park and there are incredible places like Praia do Magoito or glorious Praia da Ursa (demanding hike, but so worth it!!!) Entertainment: You’re right, there’s not much difference. Most of the artists just go to both places anyway. Or just to Porto. There are a lot of great venues here. What makes a difference is having Casa da Musica with great programming. There are cool initiatives and festivals in both places, but from my perspective, I’d say Lisbon has more commercial-style events, while Porto has it more interesting and community-based. Food: As a vegetarian, I feel Lisbon is blooming more in therms of vege places. There’s a lot of them in Porto as well, but seriously, so many new places opened since I was living there! And you’re right, in Porto, it’s more that you pick your fav pizza place, fav Indian place etc., and stick to it. But at least you’re remembered there and have a nice, personal chat every time you show up :D I see from the photo that you went to Farinha for pizza, great choice! I’m unfortunately addicted to the neapolitana you had, for real. Plus the guys there are amazing and they make everyone feel extremely welcomed and seen. But you for sure experienced that on your own skin ;) Shopping: What I’m lacking both in Porto and in Lisbon: smaller designer stores, from like younger designers (but not like the top crazy price. A bit more expensive than Zara, but still affordable). It seems like here it’s either Inditex group shops or t-shirt-for-100euro style, without the middle ground. Or I’m just too lazy and didn’t search enough!! More conscious shopping is what I’m still trying to figure out here. There are some cute second-hand shops though!

Porto-our city! We just moved here 12 weeks ago from Asia. We absolutely love it here and the vibe is definitely more aligned with our lifestyle. When you do go to the Douro Valley, have lunch at DOC by Chef Rui Paula. It’s right on the river-great views and we’ve always had excellent meals there. DOP in Porto you can give a miss. Your video was great.

Saw you two with Expats Everywhere on my block in Porto. My husband laughed as I giddily pointed you all out. Glad you enjoyed Porto, we love it here (we moved from Cali just last month). I’m a city girl my husband not so much so Porto felt like a nice in between. Can’t wait to venture down to Lisbon. Thanks for your awesome insights 😀

Porto always. Lisbon has a brilliant shine, probably better weather and many options, but at the end of day, I do prefer to take a short walk to get what I want, being in a lovely city, great people and fantastic food ( Porto is years ahead in gastronomy) 😊 thanks for the video, and feel always super welcome when visiting one of the most charm cities in the world. Ps: I love Porto fog during winter, specially when looking to the bridges 😊

This is a comment on how culturally diverse Portugal can be, even though it's a tiny country. I've lived in Lisbon, in Palmela (near Setúbal, 50 km south of Lisbon), and presently live near Torres Vedras (50 km north of Lisbon). Within that small 100 km radius I feel it's like living in three very different countries. It might only be fully noticeable if you speak Portuguese and understand local people's mindsets though. It would require a very long explanation, but I'll just leave you with two anecdotes, for a brief glimpse into what I'm trying to say. Story number one: When I was living near Setúbal, there was some construction works near my home and one of my neighbours commented: 'We need to be very careful while these construction workers are here, make sure you lock everything and don't leave the kids' bikes lying around, or stuff will start to disappear' Some years later I moved to a village near Torres Vedras (less than 100 km away) and again there was some construction works going on on my street. One of my neighbours commented 'It's great these construction workers are here. As long as they're here the street isn't deserted during the day and we don't need to worry about thefts and burglaries' After my Setúbal years and knowing the way construction workers are seen there I laughed wholeheartedly inwards but I didn't let it show, and just nodded approvingly. Story number two: After moving to Torres Vedras I had some decoration work done in the house I bought. After more than two weeks, a nagging doubt started creeping into my mind. Had I payed the shop? I couldn't remember paying but it seemed impossible I hadn't. I phoned them and they calmly answered I hadn't yet payed for the curtains and other stuff that they had installed at my home. I dutifully went there to settle the bill, amazed at how different things were here. In Setúbal either you pay BEFORE or they don't deliver the service or product, no way! Basically, south of the Tagus is one country, north of the Tagus is another country. And Lisbon is a country all of it's own.

No one did as good of a job in comparison of both cities like you did in this video. Excellent job! Keep up the good work! This is exactly what I needed. Thank you 🙏

We just purchased a condo North of Oporto. My husband is Portuguese-American. He knew the culture, language, lay of the land… and is a sommelier. So, there was never any question! We had to live in wine country in the Douro Valley. His best friend in Spain is just across the border where the same river is called the Duero. The compact size of Oporto keeps it cozy for us. We love walking everywhere! Lisbon is gorgeous… so we visit often. Obrigado!

The most frustrating aspect of Lisbon is the connectivity from neighborhoods outside of reach from the Metro. Lets say Ajuda, Belem or Alcantra... traveling out of those areas via public transit to go to other parts of the city can be a pain

Fantastic video. Thanks for sharing your observations and opinions. Both cities are wonderful and I know my wife and I would be happy living in either. But Porto captured our hearts -- we both had goofy smiles on our faces from the moment we stepped off the train at Sao Bento until we left.

Thanks for sharing your experiences. I’m visiting Porto now to consider moving here. Portuguese people are very welcoming and friends I’ve made through my first stay via Airbnb are fabulous. Been to both cities but I’m still undecided about Portugal. The port wine is enough reason to consider Porto. The city is charming and has great vistas. City apartments are tiny (emphasis added) by US standards and buildings in both cities are pretty run-down. Not much curb appeal but that’s a cultural thing you’ll find in many parts of Europe. Depending on your stage of life you might overlook some of these but for me it’s been hard giving up on the space I’m use to in the states. A place outside the city may make more sense.

I'd love to hear a 2023 update.

Loved the video, lots of great insights! A couple of observations from my experiences: 1) The streets in Lisbon are much wider, and therefore easier to navigate. As a result, I feel less claustrophobic than in Porto, which, though smaller, feels more crowded. 2) The vibe in Lisbon definitely feels more laid back. Porto feels more aggressive to me. More honking, more speeding, less patience in Porto from my experience. Lisbon, ironically, feels more relaxing whereas Porto feels more anxious. 3) Lisbon feels much more culturally diverse and international and Porto feels more homogeneous. 4) Porto, and Northern Portugal in general, is much greener and prettier imo, and so nature lovers will probably lean toward Porto (and of course you have Peneda-Geres NP, perhaps the most beautiful place in PT). 5) Porto is closer to Spain, so day trips to Santiago de Compostela, for example, are a possibility.

Every city in Portugal have local food, that's exclusively from each region.

It's not that Lisbon is more modern or less old buildings! We had a big earthquake in 1755. Porto wasn't affected! That's why there's an huge difference!

Omigoodness You Two! How wonderful and informative was this video?! Thank you so much! We are moving to Porto in September for a few reasons.....we have acquaintances that have just moved there, we've lived n big Cities all our lives and wanted something different, Porto is walkable on a smaller scale, the prices are less, and we are closer to Vila Real (my maiden name is Villarreal). We will be exploring so much on Day and Weekend trips that honestly where we store our things for a year doesn't really matter. Once we're moved in and have had an opportunity to assimilate then we will think more on where we want to settle.....but that's still a ways away for us. We're ancy and always on the move. What we DO know, however....is that Portugal is our new home, that we want to retire as EU citizens, and so establishing ourselves there now felt like a smart idea while we're still in the thick of our working years.

We spent four days in Lisbon followed by five days in Porto a few years ago and absolutely hands down loved Porto more despite it being smaller (I've spent 18 years living in Chicago and Manhattan). Porto is less overrun with tourists, has more old world charm, and I just felt more at home there. I could care less about the slightly colder weather. We are now plotting how we can make our future home in Porto.

I love your video a ton. Very clarifying

This is an encouraging vid, I'm getting ready to do the same thing in November and Porto is my first stop, never been there. Got my fingers crossed, did the same in the 70's when I was in my early twenties and never left. Right now I am beside myself with anticipation and glee. The most exciting part is that this time I have money.👍

We visited both Lisbon and Porto for a week each 5 years ago. Loved both, but have decide to make our retirement home, at least for the first year, in Porto. Thanks for this video and confirmation of our ideas.

I prefer Porto. Im going back tomorrow for my eleventh visit. I've been to Lisbon once for four days. I prefer the smaller size. I didnt like having to get a metro multiple times a day to get where I wanted to go. I can walk around porto and hardly ever have to get public transport. I also love the run down feel it has. I also find it very charming and romantic. The main reason I prefer it is the people. I've made a few friends over the years and I like to go and see them. I will go back to Lisbon though probably next year because I feel I hardly scratched the surface. I did really enjoy Lisbon of course but I had to use maps and plan my day a lot more in Lisbon. In Porto I just wandered around to find things.

I love how you organized the video, and I can't wait to visit Porto, Portugal soon! Awesome video! :)

Great information guys, thank you so much for providing so much content for people like me that are considering a move.

Wow, 46 seconds in and I’m afraid to watch the rest of the video 🤣. I subscribed to your channel and have watched quite a few of your videos before visiting Lisbon at the end of August and never heard the mention that you moved there without visiting. You both are so bold! I visited for 5 days and have already made up my mind to live there for at least 3 months next summer. People think I’m crazy for wanting to live there for some time, just after 5 days, but I truly fell in love with the country, which wasn’t even in my radar to visit any time soon. Okay, lemme finish seeing what you have to say, although I think Lisbon it is for me!

Love Porto!! Close to Port cellars and Douro (yes i like to drink)...if you ever have chance, go to Pacheco and sleep in a Wine Barrel.. Fantastic experience! Enjoy!

Just wonder if houses and buildings are better built in Porto? Lisbon was built “cheaply” after the big earthquake...heard from lot of people complaining about noise and poor insulation except for new construction. As a bigger city, Lisbon probably has a lot more street noise. Your sensitivity stands out amongst expat bloggers on Portugal. Your discerning nuanced observations are really appreciated!!

Super good and honest appraisal, without posturing. thanks.

The only places you are going to get warmer sea water is at the Algarve or Madeira. Elsewhere is going to be ice cold.

You guys should do a streetart tour of Lisbon to understand what’s really behind it. Happy to offer you a free tour with us if you feel like it.

The first minute had us like. 😁 - Josh & Kalie

Both cities are beautiful!! Cannot wait to see the next video!!!!! Personally, Lisbon is a little bit more warmer, specially because its geography.

My 2 cents.. crime - I’ve never felt unsafe in Porto, walkability - Porto is not just smaller and more compact but the hills in Lisbon were way worse - (OK i’m almost 60 but if you’re moving there it’s a dailly grind.) I do agree about direct flights but the hop to other EU hubs from Porto is cheap and easy.

Loving your videos! Thanks so much! I'm going for the first time next week, with my boyfriend, who as been there twice and wants to move! Excited, and a bit nervous. Hence, your videos are just the BEST! Thanks.

Finally a good comparison, thank you guys

thanks for this review ) I'm planning to visit Portugal in August, so I've found your video very helpful with a choose ))

Great video, guys! Good to see it, as I'm strongly considering moving to Porto. :-)

What a thorough video! It sounds like you can’t go wrong with either one. I’ll be interested to see if you stay in your apartment at the end of your lease or try a different city like Porto.

I prefer walkable cities like Porto to live than larger cities. However, European cities have, as you say, lots of places to discover within their neighborhoods. Restaurants can be better than in touristy places because they cater to locals who know good food. The whole thing is that once you stop being a tourist and become a local, everything is just normal. The ambiance makes a huge difference in terms of quality of life though and that can be found just around your own neighborhood whether it’s a large or small city. The bakery at the corner… who can beat that ? :)

Another great content! Keeping going! Waiting for the Porto trip video

I was shook when you said it’s 5 to 10 deg difference between Lisbon and Porto and then I realised you’re talking in Fahrenheit. I was originally thinking, how far away are they 😂 Great video, I’m visiting both on a cruise in two weeks

What did we miss? If you moved to one of these two cities, which did you choose and why?

This video is fabulous! One of the best y'all have produced so far! Very comprehensive and honest. 👍🏻Also very timely, since many restrictions will be lifted on Oct 1, 2021--we might squeeze in a trip to PT this year after all! Whoo-hoo 🎉 The only thing I didn't hear was your take on the hills in both cities. I have some feedback but would like to know what you've observed. Obrigado. 🙏🏻

I've visited Lisbon 2x and Porto 1x, Still need to check out Algarve. But the biggest difference for me was that Lisbon is INSANELY hilly. I'm not a fan of the hills there. If I had to pick it would be easy, Porto. The weather is still extremely mild for winter for what I grew up dealing with. The airbnb I stayed at was in Estrela which had a hill every time I had to get back which was kind of annoying to deal with, I couldn't imagine dealing with that for the rest of my daily life. Porto felt a lot more "homey" if ya know what I mean. Anyways still gotta check out Algarve, if you got any good insights on that I'd love to hear it!

I've been watching your fun videos since expats everywhere interviewed you. Finally subscribed ❤️

Perfect description of both cities... The only thing I don't agree is the Shopping comments... You can find the same stores in both cities... Primark, FNAC, C&A, etc. The only thing you're not gonna find in Porto... the upscale stores like Louis Vuitton, Prada, D&G, etc. But if you want quality and good prices I think both have the same options...

Do you mind sharing the name of the Pizza restaurant in Porto with the 4.9 stars review? Obrigado!

I also came to portugal without visiting first. I live in Tavira. 3 years!

My son lived in Alveiro which is about half way between the two cities. He played pro basketball for their team. We visited. Would love to live on the beach there

Thank you for all your insight!

Very interesting. Your comments on shopping were somewhat unexpected. Looking forward to our scouting trip in November.

I can’t wait to visit!!

Next time visit Minho (litoral north) Viana do Castelo and Ponte de Lima... This is just some places you can discover.

I'm here with my popcorn ready to watch the war unfold in the comment section between Portuguese people 😄😄😄

super helpful! thank you!

i love the size of porto, you can walk to alot of places and public transport is nice, i hate the old public transport of lisbon, but driving is really terrible ( but i guess that always happens in a city)

Porto! No doubts!!

Infelizmente Lisboa por ter muito turismo e sobretudo pessoas das ex colonias de África a residir lá e nos arredores eles aos poucos mudaram aquela cultura portuguesa que ainda se encontra no porto aí ainda se nota Portugal mas ainda se encontra o verdadeiro Portugal fora das grandes cidades esse povo vocês vão adorar e a calma paz não tem igual sejam felizes

Nice video! I enjoyed hearing the difference ls from your perspective. You were there a week, did you visit Gaia? How about Duoro? Day trips to Braga, Coimbra, Aveiro, so many places. Another plus about Porto, it’s not quite as hilly.

Well done! Enjoyed your perspective.

We just did a whole video series on Lisbon, looking forward to visiting Porto when we get a chance this year and have been looking to move to Lisbon. We love pets (okay by we I mean Ti) so it seems that the Porto area would be a bit better for that? But we haven't gotten the chance to fully explore Lisbon, so much to see and do there, especially going West to the Calcias or South of lisbon.

Both are different 😊 And Beautiful 💚

Oh man! Porto caught you by suprise i guess. I understand your dilemma

Thaanks

Excellent video. Would you share the neighborhood in which you live. The parks are very appealing.

Lisbon has Monsanto ,it is a Big forest area ,they are the lungs of Lisbon

I love you guys, You're best of the best ❤️ keep going please

Go live in Porto for a month in the middle of winter and then the next month in Lisbon, like January and February or December and January , and then lets talk about cold and rain .... ok ?

Porto always, Lisbon = Size, Porto = "More user(visitant) friendly", but Gaia = Center of the World!!!

We visited Porto for the first time this week, having moved to Lisbon 3 months ago. I wanted to validate our decision to move to Lisbon…but now we are torn! Porto is so much cleaner and has old world charm, and feels more manageable. We love the food scene in Lisbon, but Porto is equally as good. DOGS: One thing we noticed was that there are very few people walking dogs or taking dogs to parks in Porto. We have a golden retriever whom we take everywhere on the metro and trains, which was easier in Porto due to less crowds and MUCH nicer metro stations and trains. PARKS: We love to stop by the many many quiosques in Lisbon, which seem to be everywhere, and get a beer for €2. But that’s not really a thing in Porto, you’d have to go to an actual restaurant. LGBT: Lisbon has a very significant LGBT community, and will be hosting Europride 2025. We’ve made several friends easily in Lisbon, but only a couple of people in Porto. We’re not club people at all, but something to consider. Porto is surprisingly beautiful and seductive. Our lease in Lisbon ends January 31, so we will definitely be back to Porto to make a decision. Or not…maybe we’ll just go between these two gems…such a first world problem!

You mentioned Indian food in another video too, so you must be fans. How does it compare - Lisbon vs Porto? A Californian with roots in India and thinking about options to spend long periods of time (and may be even retire) in Portugal. Wish one of the youtubers interviewed people from different nationalities who have moveed there. Definitely want to learn about Portuguese culture, people and lifestyle, but we also have some unique interests and concerns due to our background.

As we say in Porto, Porto is a nation!

Good video, keep it up guys

The weather is a big difference: Porto has around 60% more precipitation.

I hope you do visit Madeira Island and Porto Santo one of this days, would be nice to know your reaction and thoughts, about one of the most fantastic places, not only in Portugal, but around the World to, mind you, 99.9% of visitors fall in love with it.

My vote goes to Lisbon as is just as charming as Porto and just feels more "developed"!

Which is the most cycling friendly city? I'm not bothered about hills, l'm more concerned with levels of traffic and obstacles such as tram lines. Thanks.

Porto is the clear answer. I stayed for a week in Porto and a week in Lisbon - both were good but Porto was so much better in terms of transportation infrastructure and how warm the locals were. Lisbon is good too - just not as good as Porto. ;)

This is a great video. I’m heading to Portugal later this year and never realized that the beaches in Porto were that close to the city. I was looking at settling in Lisbon if I move there but I’m thinking Porto is the better choice. I might consider Figueira De Foz or some small city in between the two as like a compromise lol

I live at Lisbon but love Porto! The best city!

You missed park da cidade half way from av boavista straight to the ocean unique in the world!

This video now has me so confused! Could you do a Porto v Coimbra video? I know I want a smaller city than Lisbon and I was leaning toward Coimbra because of the weather but if it isn't that much different I want to look at Porto.

Love the honest comparison! I feel like one of the hardest parts is actually deciding where you want to land. I feel like I’d want to tour the cities myself before deciding. Is that something you guys would have done if there hadn’t been lockdowns?

Great job! Thanks

Hi there...What’s the live music scene like in Lisbon & Porto ? I’m a professional musician and I’d like to hook up with local musicians.....Thanks..great channel.

Another awesome video Thanks 👍

We love Portugal and have been to several cities including Porto and Lisbon. Loved both but thought Porto was easier to manage size wise. We are also planning on moving to Portugal (possibly Porto) in the next few years. Wondering - what are your thoughts on living in Cascais? (It's close to Lisbon but more beach vibe). If you are looking for gloves, I bought a pair from Lluvaria Ulisses (it's in a touristy part of town) but the leather is super soft, and great for fall weather.

Congratulations. Good job

Hi! I am in the process of learning Portugese, but how common is English being spoken in each area?

good to know

Well ...Porto and Lisbon comparison. Humm... In fact, we can't compare both cities just in it's inner population. In fact, Porto cannot bem seen as a 250.000 inhabitants city. In fact, Porto it's like a 1.7 million city and Lisbon as a 2.8 million city, because that's the way it is. Of course, in legal terms, Porto only has 220.000 inhabitants and Lisbon, 550.000. But, in practical terms, both city's are much, much bigger. There are a bunch of city's that are intrinsically together with Porto and Lisbon. Porto it's like a core of it's Metropolitan area, as well as Lisbon. That's it... But, comparing Porto and Lisbon, it's like when you're in Porto, you're at your cousin's home. When you are in Lisbon, you are at your best friend's neighbor, but still a neighbor. Do you get the idea ? 😉 Everybody's choice is with our family...

it's a dream of mine to live in Lisbon, but i definitely have a very healthy love affair with Porto ;) some of my favorite Porto spots: MXM Art Center - the restaurant portion has one of the best acai bowls i've ever eaten (bonus fact: the owner, Max, is a prominent name in the breaking/bboy scene) Armazém - converted warehouse (armazém) full of amazing things, plus an awesome outdoor patio + cafe/bar Dedicated - grafitti/art store Kuri Kuri - amazing Japanese-centric independent shop (the loveliest owner!) Taberna Cais das Pedras

First domt have beatch Portp do, Cascais is 20Km from Lisbon, around Porto you can find a lot, Miramar, Vila do Conde, Vale do Sousa, Entre-os-rios,... Theres Algarva, but near Porto Have Douro Valle , Gerez Park. Lisbon Old Town Was reconstruted after the earhtquake, Porto Have more History

Can some speak a bit about housing? I hear mold is an issue -

🔥🔥🔥

You made .my mine up…great vício…

Do you guys work remotely just wonder about job options.

Hi. Great vid... I'm a Professional Musician what's the music scene like in Porto & Lisbon ?

Thanks!!

What was the pizze place in Porto? Pleeeeze!

English spoken in Porto vs Lisbon?

"lisbon vs porto, wich city is better" that's a question you don't ask in a dinner with people from lisbon and porto.