I live in the world's most liveable city for expats - here's why it's worth every bit of the hype

Lisbon is described as a city that draws people in through its distinctive calçadas pavements, inviting slower walking, and its simple, delicious tascas meals paired with wine. The climate is presented as a major attraction, with frequent sunshine, low air pollution, and constant blue skies influenced by the Atlantic Ocean. After visiting in November 2022, the writer returns repeatedly, using Schengen travel limits to spend extended time in the city. In Lisbon, connections form through co-working spaces and community events like a weekly writing hour at an English language bookshop. The people encountered are portrayed as lifestyle-oriented rather than focused on nightlife or job prospects, helping newcomers feel they fit in.

"When I visited Lisbon in November 2022, I expected nothing more than a sunny place to work remotely for a month. Certainly, I had no idea that I would be lured in irrevocably by the charms of what was recently named the world's most liveable city."

"I loved everything about Lisbon. The distinctive pavements which are covered in calçadas, or Post-it sized hand-cut stones, their polished surface forcing you to slow your pace or else risk flying horizontal. The paper tableclothed tascas, where you could eat simple, delicious bife de atum (tuna steak) with jugs of wine. And, of course, the climate: a study last year found that Lisbon is one of Europe's sunniest capitals - and due to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and low air pollution, it has a constant blue sky."

"When I landed back on the tarmac at Luton, my heart sank. I knew then that Lisbon was more than just a holiday destination. I began travelling back-and-forth between Lisbon and London, stretching my Schengen limit to the max on my British passport. I established a community here, meeting international friends through a co-working space and through attending a weekly writing hour at English language bookshop, Salted Books."

"Lisbon is not famous for its party culture, nor its excellent job opportunities. The people I met were united by their passion for a good (and fairly wholesome) lifestyle, more than anything else. I found myself more likely to know a new friend's hobbies than what they did for a living. "I felt like I really fit in and found my people - we had a similar mindset," says Sarah, who moved here in summer 2022."

Read at CN Traveller