Lisbon may no longer be the most sought after destination for foreigners looking to purchase property in Portugal
According to data from online estate agency Imovirtual and based on searches on its website, Porto is leading international searches on the portal in 2026, while Braga (pictured) has risen to second place, significantly altering the map of international demand in the Portuguese real estate market.
In 2025, Lisbon led with 4.6% of searches carried out by international users, followed by Porto (4.4%) and Braga (3.4%).
In 2026, the scenario has been changing: Porto takes the lead with 5.4%, Braga rises to 4.3% and Lisbon falls to 3.0%.
What is clear is that this trend is not limited to these three main destinations. Aveiro (2.1%), Viana do Castelo (0.8%) and Coimbra (1.1%) are also gaining popularity among the most sought-after markets, suggesting an international demand that is increasingly distributed throughout Portugal.
“There has been a shift in how foreigners view Portugal. Lisbon remains an international benchmark, but it no longer attracts the same attention as in the past.
The growth of Porto, Braga, and other cities shows that foreigners are increasingly exploring different regions of the country, seeking a balance between quality of life, accessibility, and potential for appreciation,” says Sylvia Bozzo, Marketing Manager of Imovirtual.
This geographical shift in demand occurs in a context where Europeans continue to dominate interest in the Portuguese market. France reinforces its leadership, representing 20.7% of international searches in 2026, up from 18.9% in 2025.
The main change occurs in second place, where Switzerland rises from 15.8% to 18.8%, surpassing Brazil, which falls from 14.4% to 11.2% of international demand.
While France and Switzerland reinforce their weight in international demand, Brazil loses relative relevance compared to 2025, signaling a growing predominance of European markets in the interest in Portuguese real estate.
The data also shows a significant change in the intentions of foreign users. In 2026, 72.6% of searches are associated with the intention to buy, above the 68.4% recorded in 2025. Conversely, the demand for rentals decreases from 31.6% to 27.4%.
This evolution suggests an increasingly international demand oriented towards property acquisition, whether for permanent residence, second home, or long-term investment.
Regarding property types, two-bedroom apartments (T2) remain the preferred choice for foreign buyers, accounting for 31.0% of searches. These are followed by three-bedroom apartments (T3) with 24.6%, and one-bedroom apartments (T1) with 19.5%.
Although they continue to represent a smaller share of demand, studio apartments (T0) increased from 7.2% to 10.1%, while four-bedroom apartments (T4) rose from 3.5% to 5.4%, demonstrating a greater diversity of profiles and needs among international buyers.
In terms of property type, apartments continue to dominate preferences, representing 47.9% of searches, up from 46.9% in 2025. Houses maintain a robust and stable demand, with 37.4% of searches, while land loses relevance, falling from 8.6% to 7.4%, signaling a growing preference for ready-to-live-in solutions.
The data shows that Portugal continues to attract strong international interest, but the geography of this demand is changing. While Lisbon concentrated much of the attention of foreign buyers for years, today interest is distributed across a wider range of cities, reflecting a more diversified view of the Portuguese real estate market and the opportunities available in different regions of the country.
Source: Imovirtual
