Coimbra is the fourth largest city in Portugal and was actually its capital during parts of the 12th and 13th centuries. It is a city with great history, with some structures still remaining from the Roman era. The University of Coimbra has existed there since 1290 and contains buildings classed as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO, so it attracts tourists to view these sights as well as the large numbers of local and international students that come to study there each year.
The city of Coimbra offers a high quality of life, with lots of quality healthcare facilities available as well as a vibrant nightlife for inhabitants to enjoy and a wide range of shopping facilities, bars, restaurants, parks, museums, and monuments. You’ll never be short of something to do in Coimbra, whether you’re there for a temporary stay or are relocating more permanently to work or study.
The city boasts a wide range of accommodation, whether you need a hotel or serviced apartment to stay in for a short visit, or if you’re looking at houses and apartments for rent when moving to Coimbra. Apartments in Coimbra are available for individuals, with studio and one-bedroom apartments, or with families and groups looking for apartments with lots of rooms. Larger apartments are often rented out to individuals and couples as separate rooms for rent in Coimbra, providing a more social and lower cost option for renting in the city.
Types of Accommodations in Coimbra
Apartments in Coimbra by area
You’ve got lots of different neighbourhoods, or Bairros, to choose from when moving to Coimbra, each with its own atmosphere and personality. Located in and around the centre are Conchada, Celas, and Quinta de São João, with lots more districts further out of the city such as Tovim, Arregaca, and Noguieras.
Apartments for rent in Coimbra, Portugal can be found all over the city in its many neighbourhoods, although prices and housing styles may vary from one district to the next. There is a wide range of accommodation available in the city centre, but you can find lower prices if you look further out of the city towards the suburbs. Rooms in Coimbra can be found for cheaper than whole apartments or houses if you are looking for somewhere to live on a budget.
Best areas for Apartments in Coimbra
Apartments in Conchada
On the east side of the Mondego River and to the north of the University of Coimbra is an area called Conchada. This is quite a trendy residential area with lots of amenities along Av. Fernão de Magalhães, including restaurants, banks, and a central bus station. Conchada is also not far from the city’s main train station, making it a good location for getting around the city and out to nearby locations. As well as this access to public transportation, the Av. Fernão de Magalhães is a major route for getting around by car, so Conchada is a great place to live for people who need to commute, whether they’re driving or taking public transport.
Conchada is home to a nice park as well as a church with a large cemetery. Schools are nearby, making it a good place for expat families, and so is the University of Coimbra campus in Alta. You can walk from Conchada to the university in around 20 minutes, so it is a popular place for students to live.
Because of this, there is a good range of affordable student housing in the area of Conchada as well as apartments, houses, and rooms to rent that suit professional expats and families relocating to the region. It is a nice area that is close to the city centre for easy access to everything it has to offer.
Apartments in Quinta da Boavista
Further south down the Mondega River is another popular place to live called Quinta da Boavista. Bound by Av. Boavista to the west of this neighbourhood, it is a largely residential area with lots of accommodation on offer suiting a wide range of budgets. From studio apartments and rooms to rent to large multi-bedroom apartments and houses for expatriate families, accommodation here is of a good quality and reasonably priced.
Quinta da Boavista is a good place to move to if you want some peace and quiet away from the city centre and student life, but still with easy access to these aspects of Coimbra if you choose, either by foot or using the city’s public transport services. It is also located nearby the Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Coimbra, an engineering college. So, students attending this institution may base themselves in Quinta da Boavista for easy access to this campus. The Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the University of Coimbra can also be found close to the south of this neighbourhood.
Quinta da Boavista also has some nice cafés and shops of its own, so you have plenty of things nearby if you don’t fancy the trip into the city centre. The neighbourhood offers a nice balance of city and suburban living for both expats and students looking in this area.
Apartments Quinta da Romeira Coimbra
Further out to the east of the city centre is a neighbourhood called Quinta da Romeira. This is another nice residential area that takes you slightly further out of the city. It is a great place for families looking to relocate to Coimbra, or young couples with plans to start a family. It features a hospital and family-friendly parks such as Praça Bartolomeu de Gusmão.
Local shops and cafés are scattered around this neighbourhood to meet your everyday needs. Quinta da Romeira is also located close to main roads, Av. Fernando Namora and Av. Mendes Silva, providing good transport links into the city centre and around the rest of Coimbra. So, it is easy to commute to work or take a trip into the city from this neighbourhood.
Quinta da Romeira has a wide range of housing on offer, with some areas of the neighbourhood representing the higher end of the market, attracting wealthier individuals and families. However, there is also more modest accommodation in other parts of the neighbourhood that can suit other budgets, so take a look on Nestpick to see what is available in Quinta da Romeira right now.
Apartments in Bairro dos Banhos Secos
Bairro dos Banhos Secos is located on the other side of the Mondega River compared to the centre of Coimbra. It is a highly affordable part of the city and attracts a lot of students attending the University of Coimbra and other higher education institutes. Thanks to this it is a lively area despite providing a respite from the city centre hustle and bustle. There are plenty of local bars, cafés, and restaurants to provide you with everything you need on a day-to-day basis.
The centre of Coimbra is located not far from the Banhos Secos neighbourhood on the other side of the river, so it is easy to get to and from all the other attractions in Coimbra, as well as to the various university campuses around the city. There is a lot of affordable student accommodation as well as more traditional apartments to rent in Bairro dos Banhos Secos. Rooms to rent within larger houses or apartments are popular in this neighbourhood, providing a low-cost option for moving to Coimbra, Portugal.
Student apartment Coimbra
The University of Coimbra is the oldest university in Portugal as well as one of the largest, so the city has quite a large student population made up of people from across Europe and other countries. More than 20,000 students attend this university each year, and other, smaller institutions can be found about the city with thousands of their own students, too. So, student accommodation and affordable housing are in high demand across Coimbra.
The main campus of the University of Coimbra is located quite centrally in the district of Alta, so a lot of student accommodation is centred around this area and its neighbouring districts. Other popular student areas include Banhos Secos, Conchada, and Quinta de São João, so these are home to student accommodation and plenty of affordable bars and restaurants with student deals. The main campus is also close to Coimbra’s main railway station, making it convenient for students looking to visit home or see the rest of Portugal.
Coimbra public transport
Coimbra boasts an extensive bus network that makes it easy to get around the city, as well as the only trolleybus system in Portugal. Travelling around the city via public transport is reasonably priced, with a single journey costing €1.60 and monthly travel passes available from €27 to €35. Students are often afforded discounts on Coimbra’s public transport. Public transport is widely used across Coimbra and is generally reliable and effective.
Coimbra’s railway station is at the centre of the line between Lisbon and Porto, providing direct train routes to both of these cities. Regional buses also go out of Coimbra to the rest of Portugal and further afield.