Best place in Portugal to live as a cyclist??
vefoso
Posts: 5
Hi people,
I'm currently in Girona. The cycling is epic. I'm a road cyclist that loves climbing so I absolutely need a mountain on my doorstep and Girona has it. The problem is, I can only stay here 6 months and then I have to bite the bullet on Spanish tax, which is a financial disaster as a self employed small online entrepreneur and I also would like to buy a house and the house prices here are not cheap, sort of starting at 300k eur for anything half way decent.
Therefore, I am considering moving to Portugal instead because both property and taxes are more affordable and it makes much better financial sense, and the cycling is also supposed to be amazing. However I know NOTHING about Portugal. Does anyone know a place in Portugal which is remotely similar to Girona in the sense of:
- Epic cycling and multiple great climbs on your doorstep without good quality roads and low traffic
- Some kind of civilisation, IE an organic grocery shop in town
- Reasonable access to an airport using public transport
Does this exist in Portugal?
If such a place does not exist, I might consider committing financial suicide to continue living in Spain, because I like it here, or I might move to Tuscany which is equally disastrous for tax but cheaper house prices. But if there were such a place in Portugal, it would be the best of both worlds... epic cycling with more comfortable finances. Look forwards to any help, thanks!
I'm currently in Girona. The cycling is epic. I'm a road cyclist that loves climbing so I absolutely need a mountain on my doorstep and Girona has it. The problem is, I can only stay here 6 months and then I have to bite the bullet on Spanish tax, which is a financial disaster as a self employed small online entrepreneur and I also would like to buy a house and the house prices here are not cheap, sort of starting at 300k eur for anything half way decent.
Therefore, I am considering moving to Portugal instead because both property and taxes are more affordable and it makes much better financial sense, and the cycling is also supposed to be amazing. However I know NOTHING about Portugal. Does anyone know a place in Portugal which is remotely similar to Girona in the sense of:
- Epic cycling and multiple great climbs on your doorstep without good quality roads and low traffic
- Some kind of civilisation, IE an organic grocery shop in town
- Reasonable access to an airport using public transport
Does this exist in Portugal?
If such a place does not exist, I might consider committing financial suicide to continue living in Spain, because I like it here, or I might move to Tuscany which is equally disastrous for tax but cheaper house prices. But if there were such a place in Portugal, it would be the best of both worlds... epic cycling with more comfortable finances. Look forwards to any help, thanks!
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Wouldn't want to miss out on the soya latte....
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Parktools
No, it's difficult to live without hipster shite and places you can meet similarly minded luvvies who say things like "oh, you really must go, the aubergine starter I had was simply divine".
No idea about organic / vegan / vegetarian provision since I'm an omnivore...
Although I didn't realise that meat was a vegetable?
Auto correct works on all swear words. As used by children, and teenage trolls.
There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda
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Parktools
I resent that. Some of us are quite old trolls.
There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda
London Calling on Facebook
Parktools
Ah, it's an intestinal problem, it's a shame you have to go near these kinds of shops and are forced to mingle with the luvvies. A necessary evil I suppose.
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I would suggest you to have a look at Coimbra and Viseu. A very good balance between city and scenery with good routes on your doorstep and very cheap properties, probably not that cheap in Coimbra city center due to students but the area itself is pretty cheap.
Viseu is not far from the Serra da Estrela natural park, with the highest peak in Portugal (mainland) reaching just short of 2000m and at least 3 awesome routes to the top. It was recently voted as the city in Portugal with the highest quality of life.
Coimbra is probably the 3/4th biggest city in Portugal with some of the best universities in the country and hilly all around.
Distance to an airport could be an issue though...
There were some pretty epic climbs and views from memory
2010 Giant Defy Advanced
2016 Boardman Pro 29er
2016 Pinnacle Lithium 4
2017 Canondale Supersix Evo
Summer can be very hot 40+ winters cold and wet. Things like cars/petrol are ruinous to buy. Culturally it is very different to Spain, unless you go to the Algarve its still very Portuguese, far friendlier than the Spanish. Internet access is patchy, if you are in a town/village you might be lucky and get fibre optic, if not speeds are slow - I get less than 2mb.
Not sure you;re correct re taxes being low though. However, in many ways PT is still in the dark ages, particularly with things like organic shops. There are some for sure and will be in Coimbra. If you like mountains anywhere other than the Alentejo and parts of the west coast will suit.
With regards to taxes would be be thinking NHR maybe if his income is from the UK?