An Expat’s Guide to Living in Coimbra

Famous for being home to one of the oldest universities in the world, Coimbra is a destination that’s growing in popularity. Although small, the Portuguese city is packed with history and culture, particularly around Coimbra University. It’s also one of fado epicentres of Portugal and here you’ll hear the genre sung exclusively by men.

As mentioned, Coimbra is a small city. If you’re in search of the big (or even medium) city life, you may find Coimbra too small. However, if you’re looking for somewhere that’s somewhere between a large town and a small city, Coimbra could be right for you. 

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Pros & Cons

Everywhere has its pros and its cons, including Coimbra.

Pros

• Lower property costs than Lisbon and Porto
• Packed with history and culture
• Easy transport links to both Porto and Lisbon
• According to Portuguese language tutor, Leonardo Coelho, Coimbra has the most neutral accent and therefore it’ll be much easier to understand people
• Very easy to walk around (although watch out for the hills)

Cons

• Not on the coast: the nearest beach is almost an hour away by car
• The city can get very hot during the summer months, particularly if you’re somewhere without aircon
• Coimbra is very student and tourism-focused, which is fun if you’re a part of it but less so if you’re not a part of it
• It’s not the hilliest city in Portugal, but even still, Coimbra may not be ideal for those with mobility issues
• Parking can be a challenge

Cost of Living

Coimbra has an average cost of living. 

Rental Costs

According to Idealista.pt, the price per metre squared was €8.9 per metre squared in April 2023. According to Numbeo, renting a 1-bedroom apartment costs around €600 per month. 

Purchase Costs

According to Idealista.pt, the price per metre squared in Coimbra was €1,757  per m2 in April 2023. This is significantly cheaper than Lisbon, where the price per metre squared was €5,193.

Weather

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Transportation

Coimbra is on the trainline between Lisbon and Porto, and so there are normally 20+ services from either Lisbon or Porto each day. Train tickets can be booked on CP.pt. Note: Coimbra has two train stations: Coimbra and Coimbra-B. Trains from Lisbon and Porto often only stop at Coimbra-B and from there you’ll need to take the train from Coimbra-B to Coimbra-A (in the city centre). This train is essentially a shuttle service and it’s incredibly regular: there are normally services every 10-15 minutes and the journey itself only takes 4 minutes. As well as trains, there are also regular bus services to and from Coimbra.

Although there is a small regional airport in Coimbra (Aeródromo Municipal Bissaya Barreto – LPCO Coimbra), the nearest airport for most people will be Porto Airport (138 km away) or Lisbon Airport (198 km away).

Schools

There are lots of schools near Coimbra, both public and private schools. There are no international schools in Coimbra. 

Similar Locations

As well as Coimbra, there are a few other small-sized cities that are worth considering, like:

• Braga
• Aveiro
• Setúbal
• Leiria
• Faro