The first thing that comes to mind upon the mention of Portugal is the Algarve. As it is well known, the Algarve is one of the most scintillating places in all of Europe. It’s plentiful beaches, great accommodations and myriad of attractions makes the Algarve a truly popular tourist destination. Since it is the most well known, it is no wonder that most of the investments have been focused on developing the locale to the exclusion of the other areas in Portugal.
The Algarve, ever since its “rediscovery” in the 1960s, has been experiencing a construction boom. This boom has been fuelled not only by governmental money, but more of private investors seeking to cash in on the tourist trade. These investments include the building of private resorts, apartment complexes and hotels in the area. Also, there has been great real estate development, such as water parks, golf courses as well as gated communities in the many towns in the Algarve region. Together with this are the many enterprises and businesses that serve the tourist trade as well as the local economy. The volume of investments in the many commercial opportunities in the area has made the Algarve one of the richest regions in Portugal.
This has also produced a drawback to others. Many others seeking to invest in the area find that the market is already too crowded and this leads to a lowering of the probable return on investment. The returns, together with the steep cost of living have made the Algarve a victim of its own success. All though is not lost for those who seek to spend their money in a commercial enterprise in Portugal. There are still many investment opportunities outside the Algarve.
One of the most valued investment areas is the Douro region. You can enjoy a day trip on the Rio Douro as well as going backpacking and nature tripping in the area. There are also many places to enjoy traditional Portuguese cuisine prepared the old fashioned way. You can also enjoy nature’s bounty at its freshest, be it wine or the catch of the day. This slow paced and pristine environ still has been able to conserve its surroundings providing both a relaxing getaway as well as a great investment area where your money can also flourish like the natural surroundings at the Douro region.
Another area that is well worth looking into for commercial as well as investment opportunities is located on the south central region called Alentejo. This region is just next door to the Algarve. It has the many of the beautiful surroundings that the Algarve has, without the packed beaches filled with summertime’s tourists and their families. The Alentejo region also has much more affordable property rates compared to its more illustrious neighbour. There is also so much more that the Alentejo offers, such as a town that provides the slow pace of the traditional Portuguese locale with the offerings of what the modern Portugal has in store. It provides the reclusive area far from the tourist lines and crowds with the same beautiful beaches and places to go to.
One of the little known but spectacularly beautiful locales in Portugal is the Silver Coast. The area is easily accessible from Lisbon, much like the Algarve, and has become a haven for property developers geared specifically for homeowners both local and foreign. As of the past few years, there has been a gold rush of development in the Silver Coast, as the land near the famed beaches have been lapped up by investors and have turned the once sleepy fishing village to become a hub of oceanfront properties that are available for the future homeowners of the Silver Coast. There are also many amenities in the area, such as golf courses and historic sites that provide all sorts of activities for individuals of all ages.
If you really want to be quite far from the tourist scene, then you can go on over to the western Atlantic Coast, particularly the Costa Verde region. This area is a treasure of natural beauty. The area is dotted with many small beachfront resorts that have become a staple to many beachcombers dream getaways. From the beach, the inland of the area is a step back in time, with many traditional rural homes, many of which are in a state of dilapidation and disrepair. This makes the area a prime location for investments in the restoration of traditional homes from their shabby state to habitable homes with many modern amenities. If you don’t want the hassle of the renovation, you also have options of purchasing ready to occupy apartment complexes or restored villas available in the market. Since this is a burgeoning locale, the investment opportunities abound, as rich as the natural environs in the area, be it in real estate or commerce for the many locals and visitors to the area.
Another forgotten place for investment, yet rife with opportunity is the Madeira. The archipelago of Madeira is a wonderful location boasting of the best sceneries in all of Portugal. Despite already being developed as a holiday destination, the investments have come few and far between. Maybe it is because of the 600-meter cliffs that the islands of the Madeira have together with nearly 70% of the island has been declared as protected wildlife area. The weather of the archipelago is temperate all year round, with a climate of cool breeziness with vistas of great mountain views and natural beauty. The developed area provides great accommodations and even greater shopping offerings that can sure to provide high returns for its investors.
As you can see, the Algarve is but a small portion of the truly resplendent allure of Portugal. There are many more areas that opportunities abound in Portugal, such as the Douro region, the Alentejo, the Silver Coast, the Costa Verde Region and the Madeiras archipelago. These areas are but some of the most beautiful areas in Portugal, as well as destination where your hard earned investment can earn for you, outside of the Algarve region.