Coimbra, Portugal
Institution: Coimbra Health School
Coimbra City Information
- https://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions-/coimbra-p-coim-coim.htm
- https://www.thecrazytourist.com/15-best-things-coimbra-portugal/
- https://erasmusu.com/en/erasmus-coimbra/erasmus-experiences/experience-in-coimbra-portugal-by-andy-486636
- https://erasmusu.com/en/erasmus-coimbra/where-to-eat
- http://erasmus.cbu.edu.tr/db_images/file/Anlasmali-Uni- Sunumlari/PolytechnicInstituteofCombra.pdf
Travel information
- Lisbon – Coimbra
Lisbon Airport -> subway -> Train Station Gare do Oriente -> Train Station Coimbra-B -> Taxis or bus
- https://www.aeroportolisboa.pt/en/lis/home
- https://www.metrolisboa.pt/en/
- https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en/train-times/Stations/lisboa-oriente-station https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/pt/consultar-horarios/estacoes/coimbra-b
- Porto-Coimbra
Porto Airport -> subway -> Train Station Campanhã -> Train Station Coimbra-B -> Taxis or bus
- https://www.ana.pt/en/opo/home
- https://en.metrodoporto.pt
- https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en/train-times/Stations/porto-campanha-station
- https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/pt/consultar-horarios/estacoes/coimbra-b
Relevant happenings during the exchange
Queima das Fitas
In the first week of May, Coimbra celebrates the end of the academic year with the Queima das Fitas. This bacchanalian week-long party takes its name – literally the ‘Burning of the Ribbons’ – from the student custom of ritually torching the colour-coded ribbons they wear to represent their faculties.
Festivities kick off at midnight on the first Friday with the Serenata Monumental, a hauntingly beautiful fado performance on the steps of the Sé Velha. The program continues with sports events, black-tie balls, concerts at the so-called Queimodromo across the Ponte de Santa Clara, and a beer-soaked parade called the Cortejo dos Grelados from the university down to Largo da Portagem.
In their rush to sponsor the various festivities, Portuguese breweries provide ultra-cheap beer, which is distributed and drunk in liberal quantities.
FESMUC – Music Festival of Coimbra
This Festival promotes the music and musicians of Coimbra, including ADARTE Orchestra and the ADARTE Ensemble Vocal. It also brings to the city representative names of Portuguese classical music, presenting concerts in the noblest halls of the city as the Johannine library.
Accommodation
https://www.bquarto.pt/?a=&linga=uk
https://www.uniplaces.com
http://quartoscoimbra.pt/gb/
https://www.ipc.pt/en/ipc/servicos-de-acao-social/accommodation https://erasmusu.com/en/erasmus-student-housing
Money and Cost Of Living
The currency in Portugal is the Euro (€).
Portugal has one the cheapest living costs of Europe, by the European pattern.
As an example, here are some prices of common goods:
- Rent including expenses: €240 (€200 without expenses)
- Phone costs (get a Vodafone card at the ESN-office): €10 (for 300MB p/m if I recall correctly) €0.60 (for each bus trip)
Public Transport: €50
Beer/Shots: €1
Sangria: €1.50
Bottle of wine at the supermarket: €2 – €3
Cinema: €5.50 (for the movie of the day)
Taxi: €5.50 (gets you basically everywhere)
Weather
August is the hottest month in Coimbra with an average temperature of 23°C (73°F) and the coldest is January at 11°C (51°F) with the most daily sunshine hours at 9 in July. The wettest month is December with an average of 150mm of rain. The best month to swim in the sea is in January when the average sea temperature is -18°C (-0°F).