VIANA DO CASTELO 🇵🇹 | What You Should Know Before You Go

[@chivas6715]

Viana do Castelo was recently considered the third most welcoming cities in the world. I would say it is clearly the most beautiful portuguese town. Simply marvellous.

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Woah, now there's an award! Thanks for sharing. - Josh & Kalie

[@josecorreadequeiros9062]

People indicative of the North of Portugal! Totally agree as a Northern person living in Porto. You feel our particular touch! 🎉😊

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

We definitely feel the warmth and hospitality up here. - Josh & Kalie

[@lucinda6816]

I have been leaning to Viana for a long time as we want a slower and smaller town for retirement. Living in the mid-Atlantic states we are used to rain and prefer to have it- and it’s warmer in Viana in the winter and more comfortable during the summer than our city. There are buses to Ponte de Lima, Etc, and train routes to Braga, Guimaraes, and Porto- and to Spain. I am leaning to Ponta Delgada, and Viana. The plus for Ponta Delgada is the water is 10 degrees warmer than mainland Portugal! Thank you for the great videos.

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Lucinda! What a cool comment. Thanks for your take. We're heading to São Miguel/Ponta Delgada and we'll be backing a city guide on it. 😁 - Josh & Kalie

[@LiveGPS]

I'm currently living in Florida and just bought a condo in Viana do Castelo last month. The condo is about 10 minutes away south from the city center by Amorosa Beach. My plan is to move there in about 10 or 11 years. Thanks for the video guys! Keep up the good work!

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Congratulations! Great job!! Are you renting out the condo? Thanks for watching and supporting. PS - If you. need help getting it rented or would like to rent it to people in the ExpatsEverywhere community, email us at [e-mail] - Josh & Kalie

[@LiveGPS]

@@ExpatsEverywhere Thank you! A friend of mine just helped me renting out the condo. The new tenants will be moving in by the end of the month.

[@vespazul]

Hope you know that's the windiest area around Viana, and quite dead in the non summer months...

[@mdp8022]

Very smart...Do you speak Portuguese....did friends help you find the condo?

[@LiveGPS]

​@vespazul I know about it. I have friends and family living in the area. I also visited Viana twice.

[@terrisokolow7796]

Another very informative video! Sounds like a place for the older folks! Always enjoy your perspective on the different locations you visit.

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Thanks 👍 Yea, it's probably a great option for sure unless they want sunshine 330 days out of the year. - Josh & Kalie

[@RouletteRog]

I loved my rest day in Viana do Castelo when I was walking the Camino de Santiago out of Portugal. It was the only rainy day on my walk. I'm looking forward to visiting again.

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Thanks for sharing your take, Roger! - Josh & Kalie

[@yumikosato591]

Perfect weather!!!!🤗

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

😊 - Josh & Kalie

[@stevehackman3159]

Why wife and I are looking at moving to Portugal and opening a small albergue for pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago. This got us very interested in Viana do Catelo. Thanks Josh & Kalie, your videos are so helpful

[@karadizon4299]

My husband and I love watching Kalie and Josh’s channel as it’s informative. We will be visiting PT next year with our kids to explore and embrace its culture and history. We find their channel so informative.

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Thank you very much for the positive feedback, Kara! We appreciate it. Keep us posted on your travel plans. - Josh & Kalie

Very close to Viana there’s a big spot for Kite Surfing. Not sure you know, but this part of the coast, all the way to Póvoa de Varzim is very popular for summer vacations for Portuguese, so it’s very local. Also the wealthiest families (specially older and traditional) all have their beach homes close by Viana and Esposende. Love that city. (And the bolas de Berlim from Natário!)

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Hi, Humberto! Long time no see! Thanks for watching and commenting. - Josh & Kalie

@@ExpatsEverywhere Hey guys! I've been watching your videos and going on some lives also. Hope everything is good! FYI: We need to arrange the visit to Vitoria stadium! Let's book a match!

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

@ Thank you! Yes, we should! We're season ticket holders to FC Porto. I haven't looked at the schedule but we'll likely need to do something when Cia turns 3 in January so we can take her. 😁- Josh

[@moward301]

Viana Do Castelo is one of the places I was considering! Thank you so much for covering this area. All the details you include is so pivotal in the decision making process. Very informative as usual. You guys rock! Thank you 😊!!!

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Glad you enjoyed it! People should definitely consider VdC! It's a really nice place. Thanks for the encouragement. Our new channel drops this week. Will we see you there? 😉 - Josh & Kalie

[@moward301]

@@ExpatsEverywhere Absolutely!

[@mcp2112]

Great job with this video, lots of good footage and informative discussion. VDC is so pretty, and a ton of open green space (not to mention one of my favorites beaches). :)

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Thank you, Tom. Please mention your favorite beach! - Josh & Kalie

[@mcp2112]

@@ExpatsEverywhere Praia do Cabadelo :)

[@regallioness2183]

Kalie and Josh, Thanks so very much for all of your informative videos. I was just approved on Thursday for my D7 visa I'm now waiting for the embassy send my passport back to me with my visa. Thanks so much I can't wait to meet you both at a meet up. Keep up the great work you're helping many individuals.

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Thank you very much for the lovely feedback. Massive congratulations and we look forward to you joining a meetup. - Josh & Kalie

[@regallioness2183]

@@ExpatsEverywhere I as well see you soon

[@ladyloquitavida148]

Viana do Castelo will definitely be on our list of places to visit! 👍❣ We are about to celebrate 4 months of living in a tiny village near Mastrinho, about 25 minutes from Águeda... Yesterday, we spent all day in Porto. Ended our day by shopping at the big Continente on the outskirts of town. Everytime we drive up to Porto, we think of you all. Hopefully someday we can finally enjoy a meal together, seems like we still owe you one! 😉🙃😁 Thanks for this excellent & informative video! Hope your weekend is superb! ❣

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Thank you very much. Thanks for watching and let us know when you're in town. Also, we have our Porto meetup on October 5th at 6 PM if you can make it. We hope you have a great weekend too. - Josh & Kalie

[@ladyloquitavida148]

@@ExpatsEverywhere Gary and I would love to see everyone at the next meetup! 👍👍 Where can I find the deets? Brightest blessings to you always!! ❣

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Just posted it on the community tab.

[@ladyloquitavida148]

@@ExpatsEverywhere Muito obrigado Josh! Looking forward to seeing you all!! ✌😁😁😁🇵🇹

[@emilywilson3752]

We just visited last month and thought it was fantastic. It might be a little out there in the way you said of more going on in Porto. We were talking about how it would be such a lovely place to have a summer home ( if a person were to be so lucky)

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Totally agree! Thanks for the input, Emily. For our stage of life, it's Porto 100%. - Josh & Kalie

[@jshanks]

Another northern place to consider. You're making me excited to schedule my first scouting trip.

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

You definitely should. It's a really nice place. Enjoy your first trip. - Josh & Kalie

[@SirJackOcean]

Thanks!

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Thank you! We really appreciate the support as always. - Josh & Kalie

[@75jmd]

Many thanks for this. Viana do Castelo has been at the top of my list of places I am seriously considering. Great job.

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Glad you enjoyed it! It's a great town. - Josh & Kalie

[@Yasin_Affandi]

Thanks for sharing this wonderful video.

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Thank you for watching. - Josh & Kalie

[@Yasin_Affandi]

@@ExpatsEverywhere 😁

[@GeraldFigal]

For my wife Sara, the colder and rainier the better. This is a point where we have divergent preferences-and why if we retire to Portugal it will be in the north….

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Make a stop there, Gerald! 😊 The north is great. 💪 - Josh & Kalie

[@josecorreadequeiros9062]

Kalie you are the more beautiful expat showing the Portugal cities. Prosit!❤

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Kalie is more beautiful than Josh? - Josh & Kalie

[@rudystar711]

I’m not looking to move anytime soon but I still watch your videos because your personalities are refreshing! Keep up the good work. 👍🏽

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Thank you very much. That's really, really nice to hear. 💪 This is a major encouragement especially since launching our 2nd channel and knowing we have to build that one from the ground up 😅 - Josh & Kalie

[@lickedcat]

Its a nice place. But even in the summer pack a windbreaker or light coat if the wind is blowing in from the sea. But 20 minutes drive into the interior will feel like a different climate, much warmer.

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Very true, Tony. Thanks for the comment. - Josh & Kalie

[@People_of_the_Mouse]

But, that whole train system is getting a huge upgrade. Porto will be high speed to Lisbon in 75 mins. Braga and Vigo Spain will both be linked in the european high speed network. So think a few hours to Madrid a half day to Paris. Also, for $15 you can train almost all the way to africa for sun.

[@kathyw9439]

Thank you for covering that area and all of the elements of livability that you took into consideration. Very helpful information!

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Glad it was helpful! We're trying to get better at serving our whole audience with our content or at least the best we can. - Josh & Kalie

[@JenShea]

Thanks for this one! (Ok, all of your videos) but this was an excellent look at this Northern city. A friend who moved, originally to the Silver Coast area (SMP) moved on to VC, and she LOVES it! She posts amazing photos all the time! One of the things about moving to Portugal, for me, is the warmer climate. I absolutely HATE the cold in 🇨🇦… so for me my choice is the Silver Coast, but I can see visiting VC in the summer months, for sure! Kaley is absolutely correct, of course… cold is all relative, and to me winter on the Silver coast is downright balmy most days… but it is as cold as I am willing to get!

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Love the comment, Jen! Thanks for watching and showing your personality with the comment. We really need to meet up at some point. Any plans on coming to Porto for a visit? 😁 - Josh & Kalie

[@JenShea]

@@ExpatsEverywhere One day! Actually, the late father of a a good friend of mine (in Canada) is from the Porto area and so we've been talking about her visiting from Toronto and meeting up in Porto, so that might happen this winter.

[@CGsYTChannel]

That festival in August is one of the biggest in Portugal. They "paint" the roads with salt art.

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

We hope to catch it next year. This year we weren't in town. - Josh & Kalie

[@davidramstad1213]

That was a great video. The information was very helpful

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Awesome. Thanks for the feedback! - Josh & Kalie

[@OurContinuingAdventure]

We’re here RIGHT NOW in VdC. Great job, guys!!!!!!!!! We’re enjoying it immensely.

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Awesome. It is a cool town. We hope to visit again soon. Thank you very much. We appreciate the feedback. ❤️ - Josh & Kalie

[@Elsabud]

I think you should visit these places at different times of year to know for sure since iin my opinion you can lay on any beach in Portugal in summer.. it is hot!! You seem to be traveling in colder seasons but even then it js not really that cold relative to actual cold countries

[@ricktoews1145]

I heard,"Beware for those of you who do not like cool weather," and my ears immediately perked. My favorite weather is overcast, mid-60s. Also, I love being near a large body of water, but I'm NOT a "soak up the sun on the beach" guy. (I live in Seattle, and not far from the waterfront. The weather is usually lovely. However, I believe I'm due for a change of scenery.) I've been thinking to try living in Portugal, but I've been a little concerned about it getting too warm for me. (Not a health thing: just that warm weather--mid-80s and up--tends to dampen my spirits.) Yet it sounds as though there are places in the north where it might actually be doable for me. E eu estou aprendido portugues. ... OK, I got that wrong. Eu estou aprendendo português. E vou viajar a Lisboâ esta semana. Porto na próxima semana.

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

That's awesome that you like it, Rick! Definitely stay north but also consider traveling in July and August. 😁 - Josh & Kalie

[@lorenagonzalezvillegas8480]

Have you done one on Villa do Conde/Figuera da Foz? Would you xpat there! Would be very helpful to know. Congrats!

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Hi Lorena, thanks for the questions. We haven't done a video yet but they're both on the list and we'll get to them soon! Thanks for writing. 😁 - Josh & Kalie

[@lorenagonzalezvillegas8480]

Thx!

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

@@lorenagonzalezvillegas8480 You're welcome.

[@MrBswede]

Viana is a nice, relatively quiet city with all the things you need. I was going to mention the train is easy from there to Porto or even up into Spain (Vigo at least).

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

😁 Thanks for watching. Yep, it's one of our major pluses for VdC. - Josh & Kalie

[@clarissaanaferreirasieiro2127]

I live in the UK but Viana do Castelo is the city where i grow up and where my dad's house is. Is such a beautiful city , for surfing is just perfect , with Cabedelo beach on the other side of the city/bridge , winter is great for surfing. The food is really great and always fresh , seafood and fish just amazing . Is a very clean city and quiet but i agree the night life is almost none. Woust to be great in the 80's, 90's and early 2000's, the night life was amazing great night clubs and discos at the time , people from Spain and other cities nearby they woust come to Viana do Castelo to enjoy the weekends mostly night discotheque. But the Internet, PlayStation 's and similar consoles they really have shaped an unexpected consequence to the night life on the city . I remember been surfing with my brother and friends at the weekends and camping in the beach , all night dancing and eating roast chicken roasted by ourselves in the beach . There existed the other side the city the disco Luziamar , it was just amazing ! Today Luziamar i believe still just an abandoned site ! That city was full of life , and music one could ear everywhere. Unfortunately apart from video games and Internet the consumption of drugs was the most tragic that happened to that city ! and the corrupt investments that were only to bring profits to few business families in the city. I haven’t been back for more than 10 years now but this city really is beautiful , l all it needs is the right investment from the government and local authorities , to bring to life , what was once the most vibrant city in the Minho region .

[@mathebatech]

Welcome to our beloved city!

[@alexgray1905]

Nice place ... thanks!

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Thanks for watching. 😁 - Josh & Kalie

[@retrofuturistic8]

I am looking for a six-week to three-month "expat" experience to immerse myself in Portuguese culture and develop my Portuguese language skills, which I would rate as "OK for a tourist." I've not been there, but my research seems to be pointing me toward Viana Do Castelo. That's why I watched this video. Aveiro and Figueira Da Foz are also under consideration, as is Setubal, although I wonder if that last one is too close to Lisbon to be sufficiently "immersive" or whether it would be too easy to fall back on my English as a crutch. So much more research to do. And that's not even with considering places in Brazil for the same type of experience.

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

We're glad that you found the video and hoped it was helpful. - Josh & Kalie

[@robinbailey55]

Very informative. Also, Josh is gonna need bigger shirts! 💪😉

[@TomBarman]

😂😂😂

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Thank you! Working on it! 💪 HAHA. Down from 215 (lbs) to 194 this week. 9 more to go to hit my target. 🎯 - Josh

[@carolines111]

Thanks very useful

[@MsHamza360]

Great info 😊

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Thanks for watching! - Josh & Kalie

[@scooter10421]

Great video!

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Thanks! - Josh & Kalie

[@sweetcanary3006]

what a lovely beautiful family you are !

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Aww, thank you very much. 😊 - Josh & Kalie

[@michelehernandez5992]

How far from Spain would you say it is? Do the trees change colors like fall colors?

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

40 minutes to the nearest town. 1 hour 15 min to Vigo. Yes, the trees turn to fall colors depending on the trees of course. - Josh & Kalie

[@davidleong6606]

Portugal Coast is an easy comparison to the West Coast of US/CAN. Viana Do Costelo = Vancouver/Seattle Porto = Portland/SF Silver Coast = Monterey Lisbon = San Francisco Algarve = San Diego

[@mmsvg]

You guys should visit Esposende, Ofir, Fao and Apulia.

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Thanks, Michael. It sounds like it'll take some time and $$ but we'll put it on the list. We're really trying to get around to Ponte da Lima, Viseu, Aveiro, Bragança, and Chaves. - Josh & Kalie

[@mmsvg]

@@ExpatsEverywhere understandable. :) all those towns i mentioned are all in the same area and I chose Apulia to live as it’s a coastal town, and central location. 15 mins to Viana, Braga or porto and 5-10 mins to Barcelos. Love it :)

[@ENCONTROMARCADOFBRANDAO]

Wonderful

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Thank you! - Josh & Kalie

[@ghassanjenainaty4212]

i am planning to move to Portugal as digital nomad after i manage apply for it. I think it will be a good idea to choose this town. I hear it is environmentally very friendly. Maybe the least place that have pollution in the region if i am not mistaken

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Thanks for sharing. - Josh & Kalie

[@PeeGeeThirteen]

Quick question: Braga or Viana do Castelo? 😉

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Josh - VdC Kalie - VdC

[@boriknj4409]

How good is a hospitals in Viana do CASTELO ? You did not mention it

[@lynetterosario5697]

I was looking for 'Santa Maria de Sardoura, Castelo de Paiva', I think this is a dif. town? I live 4 miles from the ARCH ' TN-VA a GOOD PLACE TO LIVE' in Tennessee and I am planning to retire to Portugal in 2026 and I need to find a town that is cheap and has amenities esp. public trans. cuz' I'm shedding my car and all expenses that come with owning a car. So far I am having good luck in the Castelo District but am also looking near Aveiro. Do you know of any other districts w/ public trans and cheap old houses? Thanx!

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Hi Lynette. I'm (Josh) from Bristol. There are plenty of highly affordable places in Portugal outside of the major cities, just be aware of the drawbacks to those kinds of places. You're searching in the right area. Alentejo is also a good place to search. - Josh & Kalie

[@anadossantos1429]

Nice 👍🙂

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Thanks 😊 - Josh & Kalie

[@davejohnson007]

Kalie: "A Canadian might scoff at that, right?" Josh: "Yeah, they definitely would. " Me: I definitely did. 😄. 🇨🇦❄️

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Thanks, Dave! Wayta have my back. - Josh

[@royking7298]

Lovely video. I do relate to your videos even though the someitmes focus more on the audience which are younger parents. I'm a reitred 66 y/o gay man who also hapens to have children with a female friend. Mine turn 22 and 19 tyis year. I would love to be pointed toward any Vloggers who covesr Portugal for the LGBQIA community. I'm not sure there is one. Surely not a male one.

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Thank you, Roy. We don't know of any vloggers making content specifically for the LGBQIA community, but that sounds like a niche that you could cover! If you need any KZbin hep, let me know. - Josh

[@officialrobertcenox]

Don’t bother going there unless you just wanna check the big church in the top of the hill. Everything looks old and damaged the city itself most people are elderly and even myself start to feel old, nothing modern there and there’s no so much thing to do .

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Viana do Castelo certainly isn't a young man's city. - Josh & Kalie

[@Pauln71]

Aren't you worried that you're inflating the prices for the local community. Countries are getting tired of Americans and gentrification

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Honestly, we're not worried about it. Just looking at the numbers of Americans that are in Portugal. We're the 24th most represented nationality according to the most recent data for 2021. The 7000+ Americans aren't affecting numbers and if anything, it's videos like this that might help spread the love around Portugal so that people don't concentrate in one, two, or three locations because that's all they know about. Also, who said that countries are getting tired of Americans? - Josh & Kalie

[@Kimllg88]

This issue is becoming extremely concerning (Coimbra area here) and its definitely ruining the market for both Portuguese citizens as well as foreigners. Openly discussed and causing market issues. It will all backfire soon. Stop pushing and hyping Pt. It is not needed

[@karadizon4299]

@@Kimllg88 I don’t think Kalie and Josh KZbin channel doesn’t have a negative impact in PT. A lot find this channel informative and there are many channels that introduces PT so please don’t attack these nice folks. You haven’t researched diligently as majority of the expats are NOT Americans but people from China which is around 49%. Someone provided a statistics of how many people from other countries other than the states that relocate to PT. PT is become diverse and foreigners who relocate to PT embraces cultures and it’s history. Thank you, Kalie and Josh, for a wonderful channel!

[@karadizon4299]

I don’t think Americans are majority of the population that are expats in PT as someone provided a statics that shown foreigners from other countries like Europe and China that are majority expats relocating to PT. People who are relocating are seeking quality of life and low cost of living so I don’t see what’s wrong with that as majority are middle class who aren’t wealthy. People are relocating to PT embraces its cultures and history. Please check your facts before saying such negative things and attack this channel. Keep comment nice or don’t say it at all of you have nothing nice or untrue to say. Thank you, Kalie and Josh, for such an informative channel! We are visiting next year with our two kids so they could learn it’s history and cultures.

[@Kimllg88]

@@karadizon4299 Its a buuble and everyone has contributed to it. Asian buyers usually for investment, then Americans +EUS for paying over the asking. Not a good thing in the long run. Or short run.

[@christinebergmark9221]

Don't believe all they say

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Correct, people should do their own research and just use these videos as one more resource in the research. - Josh & Kalie

[@75jmd]

Thanks!

[@ExpatsEverywhere]

Hey Jorge! Thank you so much for the channel support. We really appreciate it! 💪 - Josh & Kalie