Erasmus Experience in Coimbra, Portugal by Jamie

Why did you choose to go to Coimbra, Portugal?

I wanted to go somewhere different to anything that I had experienced before. I was looking to find a place with a new culture to me and to meet new people.

How long is the scholarship? How much money do you receive to help you with living costs?

I spent 6 months in Coimbra (1 month more than most people on single semester Erasmus) because I wanted to have some time to explore my new surroundings and adjust to their way of life. I received €370/month.

What is the student lifestyle like in Coimbra?

I really enjoyed my time in Coimbra. In terms of studying, there were more hours than I am used to for classes but there was far less homework than I am used to so it balanced itself out well. I found the hardest part of the student life to be climbing up to the university because it's on top of a hill. However, I became quite fit as a result.

Everyone I met was really friendly and the international student community there was very strong. We had lots of parties and made some really good friends. Because Coimbra is a small city it isn't very expensive to live there which usually makes students happy. The highlights of the year for me were the two festivals at each end of the year. Latada and Queima das Fitas are two week long festivals that occur at the beginning and end of the academic year respectively. Each one has lots of good music, good beer and plenty of people.

Would you recommend the city and the University of Coimbra to other students?

I would recommend Coimbra and its university to anybody who wants to immerse themselves in a new culture and make new friends. There is plenty to do there with parks, cinemas, shopping centres and historical sites. I had a great time there and would give anything to do it again.

What is the food like?

I found that the Portuguese like to eat sweet foods a lot and they make some very good sweet things. However, I didn't find a lot of the savoury food to be much good unless you were to pay a bit more money for it. You could find cheap food that was okay but it was difficult to find good food for a good price. You would need to find a local to tell you which places were good.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Coimbra?

No, I asked a previous attendee and she recommended somewhere to me which was good. If you don't know anyone then it is very easy to find somewhere online. I would advise staying near the university. Castelo has always been popular.

How much does it cost to live in Coimbra?

Not a lot. I was spending €250/month on rent which some of my friends thought was expensive. You can find places for €200 or less per month. In terms of eating and entertainment I would spend about €320/month but that was because I was going out a lot. It would be possible to spend under €200/month if you ate basic food and didn't go out too much.

Is the language easy to get to grips with? Are there language courses available in the University?

I had already studied some Portuguese so I found the language easier than most. The university offers intensive courses before the semester begins.

What's the easiest or most economical way to travel to Coimbra from your city?

I would fly to Porto and get the metro to campanha station and then get the train direct to Coimbra. In total the train and metro would cost no more than €20 and my flights weren't expensive.

Where would you recommend to go on a night out in Coimbra?

There are lots of places. I really liked Bar Tropical, NL, Rock Planet and NB. Pop Fresh was also quite good but my favourite place out of them all was a bar called Feito Conceito because it played good music, had brilliant cocktails and beers and had little rooms to drink in so that you could have a quiet chat or just start your night before the clubs or parties. Praca Se Velha is a must as well.

And for eating? Can you recommend some good restaurants in Coimbra?

I didn't find many but we had two nights when we spent a lot of money to eat good dinner. One was at the hotel Quinta das Lagrimas and the other, which was less expensive, was called A Portuguesa by the river in Mondego park.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

The gardens at the Quinta das Lagrimas, Portugal dos Pequenitos and the botanical gardens were my favourite places to visit. There are more but I didn't get around to seeing them.

Is there any other advice that you could give to future students who are going to Coimbra?

Be aware that it isn't like most cities. It was beautiful but the buildings have become a bit run down but it has its charms and if you throw yourself into the lifestyle there and make an effort to make friends then you will have an amazing time. You will get as much out of Coimbra as you put in so make an effort and try new things, you'll like it more than you could imagine.