Where Are The Best Places For Expats To Retire In Southern Europe? part 1 – Why Retiring?

Where Are The Best Places For Expats To Retire In Southern Europe? part 1 – that will be the topic of today’s article.

Before introducing this article, if you are interested in our core services which are expat financial, insurance and mortgages, you can contact me here. 

The best time to consider your financial situation is when you are moving to a new country.

Introduction

Moving to a new country for retirement or relaxing can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be expensive. Many people are nervous about the financial implications of moving abroad, worried that their savings will dwindle too quickly.

While this is certainly a real concern, there are ways around it—and retiring in Southern Europe could provide a solution. With lower living costs, Europeans can stretch their savings and retire earlier. Many moves to countries like Spain, Portugal, France, or Greece where the cost of living is much less than in more expensive Western European countries like Germany and Switzerland is worth it.

The costs of renting an apartment, eating out, and even drinking a glass of wine are much lower than in northern Europe. With prices almost half what they would be in Germany, even people with only modest retirement savings can live the good life for longer. The climate is also an important factor.

Southern European countries offer much better weather; they are warmer and sunnier throughout the year, making them more pleasant places to enjoy an early retirement. Southern Europeans are also known for enjoying their lives—and this too contributes to the allure of retiring there.

People in these countries have a better grasp of what makes life worth living, and they know how to live well without spending too much money. However, we’ve got you covered today! We have come up with the best places for expats to retire in Southern Europe. There are lots more to what we have. Continue reading to get a glimpse of what it entails.

Why Retiring in Southern Europe

When it comes to retirement, the market for options outside of one’s home country expands every day. With more people looking for opportunities to travel and enjoy their retirement years, countries all over the world are reaping benefits. Several factors make retiring in Southern Europe a viable option.

Studies have also shown that Europeans strongly prefer to retire somewhere warm, with the Mediterranean climate being an enticing option. It is easy to see why this would be attractive to people who live in cold climates within Europe, where summer days can easily reach over 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

Have you ever considered living in Southern Europe? Maybe it’s due to an increased interest in the region, or perhaps it’s because you love spending time by the pool and eating Snickers bars for breakfast. Whatever your reason, here are the reasons why you should live in Southern Europe.

The Sun

This is a very obvious start; who doesn’t enjoy a good tan? The sun in Southern Europe is perfect for living the dream by the pool or at the beach. In fact, because of this, many people spend their time in the south of Europe during the spring and summer months.

You can join them or stick to your normal plan, which involves spending one week each year sunbathing half-naked on a beach, pretending you’re the only person there. Either way works for us.

The Food

Southern European food is rich and delicious. It’s not exactly the healthiest option, but we’re sure that if you exercise enough during your time here, then you can eat as much as you want. Some key ingredients of Southern European food are olives, fish, tomatoes, and aubergines. If this is music to your taste buds- fear not, many countries have variations on these ingredients.

For example, Italy has olive oil instead of the Spanish’s olive paste (known as ‘alioli’); Greece serves up tzatziki rather than the Italian bruschetta, and France offers up beurre blanc sauce or pistou in place of alioli. So, however, you travel to Southern Europe, you can sample different dishes that taste amazing.

The Nature

If the sight of lush green hills, deep blue seas, and beautiful beaches is not enough to convince you, then perhaps you’ll consider this: nature in Southern Europe has unrivaled beauty.

From snowy mountains in Austria to big cities like Barcelona and Madrid, from the glamorous Côte D’Azur to the sunny Greek isles, Southern Europe has a little bit of everything. So if you haven’t been convinced so far, then perhaps experiencing nature in its rawest form might be what does it for you.

The Nightlife

What’s better than being surrounded by friends or family while drinking a glass of red wine, or maybe even some Prosecco? Maybe you prefer gin & tonics on the beach with friends during sunset. If this sounds like your idea of heaven, then perhaps Southern Europe is where you need to be.

The People

The people are what truly make Southern Europe worth living in. They will make you feel like one of their own when you visit; they will smile and wave at you in the street if they know who you are, or they’ll simply ask your name and introduce themselves. You’ll never find such kind people anywhere else (except perhaps Asia, but Southern Europe wins hands down).

The Weather

This seems like a cop-out, but it’s not. Southern Europe has perfect weather all year round; there are no extremes of temperature or horrible conditions to put you off living here. You’ll experience extremely hot summers and warm winters, so if the decision is between this and one of the four seasons in North America or the UK, then we know which one we’d choose.

The History

Southern Europe is a melting pot of cultures and ethnicities, a perfect example being the beautiful city of Istanbul which was once the ancient capital of Byzantium and Constantinople.

Throughout history, many civilizations have ruled these lands, which means there’s a wealth of ancient architecture to visit in Southern Europe. This includes Roman ruins in Portugal, historical cities in Spain such as Toledo, and impressive buildings in France like Lourdes.

The Shopping

If you’re a shopaholic, then this is the perfect place for you. Whether you love to go on high street shopping sessions, designer clothing hunts, or bargain hunts in local markets and second-hand shops: whether it’s clothes or shoes or antiques, Southern Europe has it all. So if window shopping doesn’t cut it for you, then perhaps actually buying something will.

The Outdoors

Especially if you’re an outdoor person, but even if not, the great outdoors in Southern Europe are bound to make you feel alive. From mountain hikes in ski resorts to rock climbing adventures or kayaking down quiet rivers, trekking through wild jungles, or cycling along the endless beaches, Southern Europe has it all.

The Good Life

Above all else, this is what really matters to us: the good life. Whether people are living an idyllic life in Porto’s rural hinterland or laughing by the Mediterranean Sea in Spain, you might want to live vicariously through those who are living their dreams.

If this sounds like you, then Southern Europe is where you need to be. People worldwide hang on every word of those that live in these countries as they truly embody what it means to live life: and there’s no better place than Southern Europe for this kind of lifestyle.