Coimbra.

ESN Coimbra is the main hub for international students, running over 150 events a year from parties and trips to cultural and volunteering activities, plus a Buddy Programme pairing you with a local student. Getting an ESNcard unlocks discounts with local bars, restaurants and other partners. Coimbra's student traditions run deep too, from academic gowns and fado to the Latada fresher's week that opens the first semester, giving the social calendar a distinctly local flavour alongside the international scene.

• Get your ESNcard from ESN Coimbra for discounts and access to 150-plus yearly events.
• Sign up for the ESN Buddy Programme to connect with a local student early on.
• Ask about Latada, the university's traditional fresher's week at the start of term.

Coimbra is one of Portugal's more affordable student cities, with rents notably lower than in Lisbon or Porto according to cost of living data. The city's SMTUC bus network runs on a General Network Pass costing 30 euros a month at the public sale price, while students under 24 can apply for a free monthly pass with proof of enrolment. Single bus tickets and multi trip cards are also available through SMTUC stores if you prefer to pay as you go.

• Apply for the free under-24 SMTUC pass at a store with an enrolment certificate.
• Budget about 30 euros monthly for the General Network bus pass otherwise.
• Compare grocery and eating out costs locally, since Coimbra runs well below Lisbon's prices.

The University of Coimbra's Social Services (SASUC) run 14 university residences with about 1,350 beds across the three campuses, with furnished rooms, weekly laundry and communal kitchens, and some residences reserved for international students admitted through the special exchange call. The Polytechnic of Coimbra (IPC) runs its own SASIPC residences with separate application notices and deadlines, giving priority to displaced grant students. Apply for university housing as early as possible once your exchange place is confirmed, since notices and deadlines are published in phases and beds are limited.

• Apply directly through SASUC or SASIPC online forms as soon as your place is confirmed.
• Check monthly prices include utilities, laundry and kitchen access before booking.
• Watch application notice deadlines closely, since places are allocated in phases.

Coimbra has no airport of its own: the nearest are Porto's Francisco Sá Carneiro, about 120 km away, and Lisbon's Humberto Delgado, about 200 km away. From either, take the metro or a taxi to the main train station (Porto's Campanhã or Lisbon's Oriente) and continue by Alfa Pendular or Intercidades train to Coimbra-B. Around town, the SMTUC bus network covers the whole city, and locals note it is compact enough to cross largely on foot despite the hills.

• Fly into Porto rather than Lisbon if you can, it is the closer airport at about 120 km.
• From the airport, connect by metro to the main station, then take a train to Coimbra-B.
• Use the SMTUC app to check bus timetables once you are settled in the city.

Most exchange students study at the University of Coimbra, whose International Relations Unit (DRIIC) handles incoming mobility, or at the Polytechnic of Coimbra (IPC). The UC academic year runs from 1 September to 31 August, split into a first semester from September to December and a second from February to June, with a Christmas break and an examination period in January and February. Most courses are taught in Portuguese, though some English taught options exist, so check your faculty's offer before you commit to modules.

• Contact DRIIC, the International Relations Unit, for incoming exchange assistance and paperwork.
• Note the first semester exam period falls in January, right after the Christmas break.
• Confirm early whether your chosen courses are taught in Portuguese or English.

Ça dépend de ta nationalité. Les étudiants UE, EEE et suisses n'ont besoin d'aucun visa et s'enregistrent simplement pour un certificat de résidence à la mairie locale s'ils restent plus de trois mois. Les étudiants hors UE restant plus de 90 jours ont besoin d'un visa étudiant national délivré par un consulat portugais avant l'arrivée, puis d'un titre de séjour via l'AIMA (l'agence d'immigration) une fois sur place.

Prévois large en temps : le traitement consulaire est lent et les rendez-vous AIMA ont pris énormément de retard. Tu auras généralement besoin de justificatifs d'inscription, de fonds suffisants, de logement et d'assurance santé. Obtiens aussi un NIF (numéro fiscal) tôt, tu en auras besoin pour louer, ouvrir un compte bancaire, ou signer à peu près n'importe quoi.

• UE/EEE/Suisse, aucun visa ; enregistrement local après 3 mois
• Hors UE au-delà de 90 jours, visa étudiant avant le départ
• Obtiens un NIF (numéro fiscal) tôt, indispensable pour tout
• Les rendez-vous AIMA sont en retard, réserve dès que possible

Coimbra's old town clusters along steep, narrow streets around the university on the hill above the Mondego River, mixing centuries of academic tradition with everyday student life. Alongside local shops, you will find the usual big chain supermarkets around the city for groceries. The university itself, with its Alta and Sofia quarters, is protected as UNESCO World Heritage, so expect some rules and etiquette around visiting historic buildings like the Joanina Library.

• Explore the Alta and Sofia UNESCO listed university quarter, the historic heart of the city.
• Shop at standard chain supermarkets for everyday groceries alongside smaller local stores.
• Respect visiting rules at historic university buildings, some areas limit access or photography.

Life for students orbits the university on its hill above the Mondego, with the Alta district holding the historic faculties and student residences close by on the three university campuses referenced by SASUC. The lower town, Baixa, along the riverside, is where much of the everyday shopping, cafés and going out happens, an easy walk downhill from the university area. Wherever you end up, expect a short, walkable commute since the whole city can be crossed on foot in about an hour.

• Look near the university's three campuses if you want SASUC residence style proximity to classes.
• Explore Baixa, the lower riverside town, for everyday cafés, shops and nightlife.
• Prioritise walkability over distance, since most of the city is crossable on foot.

Coimbra's central location makes it a natural base for weekend trips. Lisbon and Porto are both reachable by direct Alfa Pendular or Intercidades train, with Porto around 120 km away and Lisbon about 200 to 210 km away, so both can be done in a day. Regional trains and companies like Rede Expressos and FlixBus also connect Coimbra to nearby destinations, and the city's own bus station sits an easy 10 to 15 minute walk from the old town for onward trips.

• Take a direct train to Porto (about 120 km) or Lisbon (about 200 km) for a weekend trip.
• Check Rede Expressos and FlixBus schedules from the central bus station for other regional trips.
• Combine train and metro tickets when connecting through Porto's Campanhã or Lisbon's Oriente stations.

Contact DRIIC or your faculty's international office as soon as you arrive to sort registration and any outstanding paperwork, and apply for your SMTUC student pass early since the free under 24 pass requires an enrolment certificate from your university. Join ESN Coimbra's Buddy Programme before term starts to have a local contact from day one. A common rookie mistake is underestimating the hills, comfortable shoes matter for the daily walk up to the university.

• Visit DRIIC or your faculty office in your first days to confirm registration and paperwork.
• Apply for your free or reduced SMTUC pass as soon as you have an enrolment certificate.
• Wear comfortable shoes, the walk up to the university's hilltop campus is steep.