Marvila Real Estate Investment: Lisbon’s €3 Billion Urban Revival

In the next ten years, nearly €3 billion of public and private investment is set to transform Lisbon’s riverfront district of Marvila in the eastern part of Lisbon. This is one of Lisbon’s most ambitious urban revival projects to date.

Marvila: Now Firmly on the Map

Often compared with New York’s meatpacking district due to its creative energy and industrial backdrop, Marvila has fast become one of Lisbon’s most fashionable and creative neighborhoods. Home to exceptional art galleries, including Underdogs Gallery, craft beer breweries, and top eateries that are pushing the boundaries when it comes to innovation in food, Marvila real estate investment is a smart move for both lifestyle buyers and as an investment opportunity.

Once a relatively unknown industrial district, tucked between the Tagus River and Lisbon’s eastern rail corridor, the transformation of Marvila can already be seen, should you visit the district, becoming one of Lisbon’s most exciting regeneration efforts. What is planned for the future, however, is set to put Marvila in a league of its own as one of the most sought-after districts in Lisbon.

What's in store for Marvila in the next decade?

Over the past ten years, artist studios, boutique developments, exciting restaurants, and microbreweries have created a distinct energy in Marvila, full of creativity. The next ten years are set to scale efforts, creating long-term value and greater connectivity to the rest of the city.

This includes a new €160 million tramline extension that will connect Marvila to central Lisbon and a billion-euro waterfront redevelopment, new parks, schools, housing, and infrastructure.

The full scale of the plan is massive, led by public and private investments that will reimagine the district while creating the fundamental essence of what makes Marvila such a special neighborhood.

To the south of the established Parque das Nações neighborhood and with greater connectivity to the city center, Marvila will be a highly desirable location for the future. When it comes to Lisbon real estate investment, Marvila is set to take center stage in future property investments.

Lisbon Investing in Its Future

Lisbon’s move to invest €3 in Marvila’s urban development is placing the Portuguese capital at the table of Europe’s most ambitious regeneration projects.

Lisbon will stand shoulder to shoulder with London’s Battersea Power Station (€9 billion) and Olympia (€1.3 billion), and Paris’s Seine-Saint-Denis redevelopment for the 2024 Olympics (€7 billion), which have been making headlines in recent years.

The commitment to Marvila highlights confidence in this part of Lisbon and is remarkable in both scale and speed for a city of Lisbon’s size.

The redevelopment shows:

• Growing confidence in Lisbon as a global capital, which preserves its past while actively investing in its future.
• Interest from international and Portuguese property buyers, many of whom are buying with a longer-term 10–15-year view for the investment.
• Infrastructure and long-term urban planning to transform this part of the city.
• Excellent value for money compared to more mature European real estate markets, such as London, Paris, and Berlin.
• Marvila, Lisbon, real estate is set to attract a wide range of buyers, from families to young professionals, with improved transport links adding to the neighborhood’s appeal. Those starting their property search in Lisbon will find Marvila ticks a lot of boxes.
• The average asking price per square meter reached €7,189 in the first quarter of 2025. This is an 8 percent increase year on year, reflecting growing interest while still offering solid value for money and varying price points to enter the Marvila property market. This data is from the Portuguese real estate databank, Confidencial Imobiliário.
• A property purchase is more than just the house. Marvila’s planned development shows the neighborhood to become one of the focal points of the city in the coming years with modern properties, key amenities, and gastronomic delights.

Portuguese urban rehabilitation projects and development look set to put Marvila on track as the new hot ticket in Lisbon, while keeping its status as a place for creatives and unique spots that you won’t find elsewhere in the city.

Greater Connectivity in Lisbon

One of the potential challenges to living or investing in Marvila in the past has been the neighborhood’s location. Compared with other parts of Lisbon, Marvila was not so connected, with no metro close by or good transport links.

Lisbon’s €160 million 16E tram line looks to change that. Set to be completed in 2028, this initiative will greatly improve connectivity to and from Marvila. The line will connect Praça do Comércio to Parque das Nações. Residents will be conveniently located to get to Central Lisbon with ease.

The new line is projected to carry between 7.6 and 8.1 million passengers each year, with the €160m cost covering both construction and acquiring additional trams.

For Marvila, this new tram line is likely to boost the property prices in the area once complete, meaning that there is strong potential for capital appreciation for investors.

Marvila's Unique Appeal: The Creative Hub of Lisbon

Each neighborhood of Lisbon will have its own distinct energy, and Marvila is no different. Former warehouses are now co-working spaces, microbreweries, or art galleries. Institutions like Hub Criativo do Beato, a startup incubator, are helping innovative companies get a foothold on the market, while new restaurants and concept stores are pushing the boundaries. There are also many activities on offer, such as the Vertigo Climbing Wall, a rock climbing gym.

Marvila is a space where you can enjoy the unexpected. Entrepreneurs and creatives looking for a relaxed place in the city should certainly have Marvila on their radar.

The New Frontier Shaping Lisbon’s Tomorrow

Portugal real estate investments can yield significant returns for investors. The reason for Marvila’s current rise is that investors are clearly seeing Marvila as an evolving hub in the city, blending strong infrastructural developments with vibrancy and creativity. The district presents an alluring opportunity for investors seeking to capitalize on one of the future focal points for Lisbon’s urban evolution with high returns likely.

While Marvila property prices are rising – property values here were amongst the highest increases in Lisbon in 2024- they remain lower than the city’s average. With a vibrant mix of locals and internationals, and blending traditional charm with innovation, there is strong potential for investors seeking long-term value in Marvila. The real estate market here is set to thrive in the coming years.

The fact that the neighborhood allows for stunning river views is another added bonus that is sure to add to its appeal, alongside it being conveniently located to nearby schools and green spaces that could potentially make this district a firm favorite with young couples and families. Marvila has a lot going for it. Watch this space.