Coimbra, the largest city in Portugal’s Center Region and the district capital, with about 150,000 residents.
The Serra da Lous, a protected region in Europe noted for its schist towns, is 40 minutes away from the city, and the Serra da Estrela, the highest mountain in continental Portugal, is 2 hours and thirty minutes away. Both the mountains and the sea are close to the city. Only 50 minutes separate you from Figueira da Foz and Aveiro’s stunning seaports and beaches.
You can reach the airports in Lisbon and Porto, from which daily low-cost flights to various capital cities in Europe depart, in two hours and one hour, respectively, thanks to the good road and rail infrastructures and the transit system. By automobile, it takes three hours to get to Salamanca and two hours to get to Vigo. International trains to Madrid and Paris depart from Coimbra train station B.
The city is situated on the Mondego River’s banks, where you may play outdoor sports or simply unwind on the grass. There are several trees, parks, gardens, and public spaces, particularly in the downtown area. Additionally, Coimbra features a botanical garden and the “Mata do Choupal” forest reserve.
There are still traces of Coimbra’s 2,000-year history. Roman Empire structures coexist with well-known modern structures around the world. Coimbra, the former capital of the Portuguese Kingdom and a crossroads of many cultures, mixes a rich architectural and historical history with contemporary areas for the arts, sports, and open-air greenery.
A few examples of annual events that are well worth attending include the City Festivities, the Arts Festival, the jazz festival “Jazz ao Centro,” and the Cultural Week of the University of Coimbra.
Fans of fado, rock, and pop can have a good time at a number of coffee shops and bars, including Diligência Bar, Capella, Bar Quebra, The Rocket Planet, Aqui Base Tango, AAC Bar, etc. There are also a number of well-liked events, including the student celebrations “Latada” (new students’ parade) and “Queima das Fitas” (graduate students’ parade), book and craft fairs, flower and aromatic herb markets, magic shows, and the renowned Medieval Fair, which recreates the atmosphere of the time period, down to the clothing and food to the entertainment and the sale of typical products.
The European University Sports Association chose Coimbra to host the 2018 European University Games due to the excellence of its sporting infrastructure (including the Multi-sports Pavilion, Coimbra City Stadium, University Stadium, Horse Riding Centre, AAC Nautical Sports Section, Olympic Swimming Pools’ Complex, and Mondego Swimming Pools) and the student athletes from the University of Coimbra. 4500 athletes and 2000 competitors from over 400 universities in Europe are anticipated to attend the competition.
The city of Coimbra is welcoming to young people. With over 30,000 students, it provides several student discounts at restaurants, bars, shops, hair salons, beauty salons, public transportation, gyms, swimming pools, book stores, theatres, and cinema, among other places.
