Experience in Coimbra, Portugal by Vanessa

What is it like to live in Coimbra? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

For an Erasmus experience I'd totally recommend the city of Coimbra, even more if you love parties. Every Tuesday and specially on Thursdays there are lots of pubs and discos open and you can really enjoy the evening. Some Wednesdays there are Erasmus parties. Twice a year there are academic weeks, you can look on the Internet for "Latada" and "Queima das Fitas", you will love it. During the last one we don't have classes which is even better.

We students of Coimbra, are known for our academic spirit. On special occasions we use a traditional costume and there are some traditions that the older ones uphold on the freshmen, you can look for "praxes de Coimbra". These traditions help a lot to the freshmen's integration once they are far away from their families.

The weather is nice, there are 3 or 4 months that are colder but most of the days are sunny. Usually you don't need really warm coats.

About the architecture and landscape, Coimbra is crossed by a river, Mondego, and near to it we have a green park which is quite beautiful. We are also known for having one of the oldest Universities and we have one of the most rich libraries on Europe, "Biblioteca Joanina".

Source

What is the student lifestyle like in Coimbra?

Lot of students leave classes behind because they go to the parties at night but if you know how to manage your time you can do all of it, the classes and exams are not too much complicated.

How much does it cost to live in Coimbra?

Compared to cities like Lisbon, Amsterdam or Paris, Coimbra is much cheaper, you can rent a nice room for 160-200€ with bills included.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Coimbra? Is there any advice you can give?

There are a lot of offers. You can rent a shared house or stay at the residences but some of them are not so good. From my experience, if you want to rent a room at a shared house, you should share it with 5-6 people to not feel alone.

What places would you recommend visiting in Coimbra?

I recommend you to visit Quinta das Lágrimas, Alta de Coimbra and Ruinas de Coimbra.

Is it good to eat out in Coimbra? Can you tell us your favorite spots?

You have to go to Brunns, it's not the cheapest place but it's really good and it's decorated like an American pub.

Source