Greater Lisbon — living and buying a home in Lisbon, Cascais, Sintra and Ericeira
NUTS II region · Capital and Atlantic Greater Lisbon The capital, the Estoril coast, the Sintra hills and Ericeira. City, hills and beach in a single day.
The Essence
Greater Lisbon is the capital and the surrounding municipalities on the north bank of the Tagus: Cascais, Oeiras, Sintra, Mafra, Loures, Odivelas, Amadora and Vila Franca de Xira.
It is the region with the most jobs, international schools and flight connections in the country. Minutes from the centre there are beaches, hills and towns like Ericeira.
Why Live Here
The capital
Jobs, culture, hospitals and the country's main airport.
The Estoril line
Oeiras, Carcavelos, Estoril and Cascais, with beaches all along the train line.
Sintra
Hills, palaces and a UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape.
Ericeira
A World Surfing Reserve and a fishing town with a life of its own.
International schools
The widest choice of international education in the country.
International community
The region where most foreigners in Portugal live.
Culture & Festivals
June, Lisbon
Santo António
Popular parades on Avenida da Liberdade, street parties and sardines in the historic quarters.
August, Cascais
Festas do Mar
Concerts and fireworks over Cascais bay.
June–July, Sintra
Sintra Festival
Music and dance in the palaces and gardens of the hills.
Regional Calendar
The cuisine of Greater Lisbon
Grilled Sardines
The smell of the June festivals, on bread or with pepper salad.
Pastel de Nata
Puff pastry and custard, with cinnamon on top.
Queijadas and Travesseiros
Sintra's pastries.
Bifana
Pork in a bread roll, a tavern classic.
Greater Lisbon on the map
Map © OpenStreetMap
Areas of Greater Lisbon
Price/m²: median value of home sales over the last 12 months in the municipality shown (INE, Q2 2026). Time to the airport: by car, without traffic (OSRM and OpenStreetMap, measured on 24/10/2026). These are references, not valuations.
What You Need to Know
What does Greater Lisbon include?
It is one of Portugal's 9 official regions (NUTS 2024). It includes Lisbon, Amadora, Cascais, Loures, Mafra, Odivelas, Oeiras, Sintra and Vila Franca de Xira.
Is the south bank part of Greater Lisbon?
No. Since 2024, Almada, Seixal, Setúbal and the other south-bank municipalities form the Setúbal Peninsula.
Where do most foreign families live?
Mainly in Cascais, Oeiras and Lisbon, because of the international schools.
Other Regions You May Like
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FOZ VILLA · Greater Lisbon
The Portugal that is Worth Living
We know this region well. Let us show you the homes you will not find on the property portals.