The Algarve still tops the list, but new registration data from the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce in the UK shows that people planning a move to Portugal are casting their nets far wider than before. Interest in Madeira among London-based registrants jumped from 11.1% in March 2026 to 16.7% by September, while Central Portugal edged up from 23.1% to 25.4% over the same period.
The classics aren't losing their grip. In September 2026, the Algarve was picked by 54.8% of respondents — almost unchanged from March — with Greater Lisbon on 41.7% and Porto and Northern Portugal at 28.5%. Because respondents could choose multiple regions, the numbers measure breadth of interest rather than a single favourite. The takeaway: rather than abandoning the established hotspots, prospective movers are adding lesser-known regions to their shortlists as they learn more about what the country offers.
That widening search makes practical sense. Choosing where to live in Portugal involves trade-offs that a holiday brochure rarely covers — international transport links versus coastal calm, property availability, healthcare, education, taxation and day-to-day costs all shape the decision. A quieter town in Central Portugal or an Atlantic island like Madeira can deliver a very different lifestyle (and price tag) compared with Lisbon or the Algarve coast.
Christina Hippisley, the Chamber's General Manager, put it simply: each region offers its own mix of lifestyle, community and property, and people's priorities often shift once they understand what different areas can provide.
For anyone weighing up a move, there's a chance to compare regions in one place. The Chamber's next Moving to Portugal Show runs all day on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at the Pestana Chelsea Bridge Hotel in London. It's free to attend, but you'll need to register in advance at MTP-London-October.eventbrite.co.uk. Visitors can sit in on expert-led seminars and put questions directly to Portuguese businesses and advisers covering property, legal matters, residency, taxation, pensions and investment — useful whether you're at the daydreaming stage or already drafting plans.
The broader picture is that Portugal's appeal isn't confined to three or four famous names any more. Central Portugal's river valleys, Madeira's year-round mild climate and the north's quieter pace are all drawing fresh attention from British movers who might once have defaulted to a villa near Faro. If you're exploring a permanent or long-term base in Portugal, it's worth looking at more of the map before committing — the data suggests you'd be in good company.
