When we decide to buy a house, it is worth checking whether the chosen country is considered safe. When we decide where we want to buy a house to live, one of the first questions that come to mind is “will it be a safe place?”. We want to live in complete safety, knowing that we can lead a relaxed and fearless life, without constantly looking over our shoulder thinking that someone is following us on the street. Or when we return home in the early hours of the morning, after a night of partying, with the keys in hand in case self-defence is needed.

Lagoa’s Seven Hanging Valleys Trail (Sete Vales Suspensos) has been named the ‘best hiking destination in Europe’ by online portal European Best Destinations. The ranking, based on votes from over 28,000 travellers from 153 countries, is led by Lagoa’s stunning coastal trail, which is described as “breathtaking, unforgettable and one of the most beautiful hikes in Europe”. “Lagoa is certainly the most beautiful municipality of the Algarve,” the online portal says.

Climate, social life, low crime rate and relatively affordable cost of living, in addition to visas for digital nomads are seen as some of the top factors for choosing Portugal.

The Algarve region has been considered by the Post Office UK as the most affordable destination for British tourists for this summer's 2022 holidays in the Eurozone. The Post Office looked at a total of 36 destinations around the world and the Algarve came out in third place.

If you have lived in Portugal for less than 5 years, and you have an EU certificate from the town hall (CREU), the expiry date on your new Withdrawal Agreement residence card may not be the date on which you will have been resident in Portugal for 5 years in total, therefore on which you are eligible for permanent resident status.