Coimbra, Portugal 🇵🇹
#816
40.211193, -8.429463
Nomad Score:
72%
Essentials
🏙️ City | Coimbra is an ancient city located in central Portugal, known for its historic university and rich cultural heritage. |
👥 Population | approximately 150,000 residents. |
💻 Internet Speed | average internet speed is around 100 Mbps. |
💸 Currency & Banking | Currency is Euro (EUR), approx. 1 EUR ≈ 1.06 USD. |
🚰 Tap Water | Drinkable; quality is generally high. |
🔌 Power | 230V, 50Hz, Type C/E sockets. |
📶 SIM Card | Mobile options include MEO, NOS, and Vodafone. |
💳 Banking for Expats | Revolut, Caixa Geral de Depósitos, and Millennium BCP are popular. |
🛌 Accommodation | Options include local rentals, Airbnb, and serviced apartments. |
💳 Cashless Friendly | Yes, cards accepted widely for both shopping and dining. |
🏠 Short Term Rentals | Airbnb and local rental agencies have numerous options. |
🛏️ Budget Accommodation | Hostels like Coimbra Aardvark and Residencial Alentejo offer affordable rates. |
Working and Networking
🏢 Best Coworking Space | Coimbra Cowork is well-rated for remote work. |
☕ Best Cafe for Work | Café Santa Cruz is a popular spot for digital nomads. |
💼 Networking Events | Tech and entrepreneur meetups occur regularly at universities and coworking spaces. |
🥂 Social Events for Expats | Join the 'Expats in Coimbra' Facebook group for community gatherings. |
Transportation
🚕 Best Taxi/Ride App | Bolt is the preferred ride-hailing app. |
🚲 Bike/Scooter Rental | Rental services like GIRA offer bikes in the city. |
🏖️ Best Beach Nearby | Figueira da Foz beach, about 40 minutes away by car. |
✈️ Top Regional Airline | TAP Air Portugal has services to major cities. |
✈️ Top International Airline | EasyJet and Ryanair operate from nearby airports. |
🛣️ Highway Access | A1 motorway connects Coimbra to Lisbon and Porto. |
🚉 Main Train/Transit Hub | Coimbra-A train station is the main transit hub. |
🚍 Public Transport Passes | Monthly passes are available for local buses, costing around €30. |
✈️ Regional Travel | Trains and buses provide good connections to Lisbon, Porto, and Aveiro. |
Health and Wellness
🏥 Best Hospital | Hospitals of Coimbra, particularly Hospital Universitário, offer good healthcare. |
🧘 Yoga & Wellness Centers | Yoga Studio Coimbra is well-reviewed. |
🏋️ Gyms & Fitness Centers | Fitness Hut is a popular gym chain present in the city. |
🧺 Laundry Services | Lavandaria Self-Service Coimbra offers convenient laundry solutions. |
Food and Drink
📱 Best Food Delivery App | Uber Eats and Glovo are commonly used for food delivery. |
🍽️ Best Local Dish to Try | Bacalhau à Brás is a must-try traditional dish. |
🍱 Vegan/Vegetarian Options | Restaurante A Casa dos Veados offers vegan-friendly dishes. |
🍫 Best Dessert Spots | Pastéis de Festas from the local patisseries are famous. |
🛒 Affordable Shopping Spots | Mercado Municipal de Coimbra provides various budget options. |
🛒 E-commerce/Online Store | Local options include Worten and Fnac for electronics and home goods. |
🛒 Grocery Delivery | Continente and Pingo Doce offer grocery delivery services. |
🍸 Bar/Nightlife Area | Rua Ferreira Borges is known for its nightlife. |
🍻 Local Brewery | Cerveja Mágica is a local craft beer brand worth trying. |
🍷 Wine Bars | The Wine Troop is popular for wine tastings. |
🍲 Street Food Stalls | Food trucks in Praça do Comércio provide local snacks. |
🍕 Popular International Cuisine | Restaurante Típico offer a mix of Portuguese and Mediterranean cuisines. |
Culture and Attractions
🎟️ Must-See Landmarks | University of Coimbra and Joanina Library are iconic attractions. |
🏛️ Museums & Art Venues | Museu Nacional de Machado de Castro showcases local art. |
🏰 Historical Sites | Santa Clara-a-Velha is a noteworthy historical site. |
🕍 Religious Sites | Old Cathedral of Coimbra (Sé Velha) is a beautiful landmark. |
🎉 Annual Events | Praxe, the student initiation ceremonies, occur every May. |
🎨 Cultural Districts | Almedina district offers a blend of culture and history. |
🎭 Theater Venues | Teatro Académico de Gil Vicente hosts various performances. |
🛍️ Local Markets | Feira das Almas on Saturdays is a vibrant market. |
🎼 Music Scene | Local bars often feature live fado performances. |
🎨 Street Art | Look for murals near the Praça 8 de Maio. |
🧑🍳 Cooking Classes | Take classes at Cozinha da Terra for local recipes. |
👩🎨 Art Galleries | Galeria Pinho D'ouro showcases contemporary art. |
🕰️ Historic Buildings | Mosteiro de Santa Cruz is an architectural gem. |
🏴 Local Heritage | Coimbra’s heritage is largely tied to its historic university and student traditions. |
Nature and Outdoor Activities
🌅 Nearby Nature Escapes | Mata Nacional de Vale de Canas is a nearby forest for hiking. |
🏞️ National Parks Nearby | Serra da Estrela Natural Park is about 90 minutes away. |
🚲 Cycling/Walking Paths | The river bank along the Mondego River provides scenic trails. |
🌄 Scenic Viewpoints | Santa Clara's viewpoint gives a great view over the city. |
🦉 Birdwatching Locations | Cabo da Roca offers opportunities to see diverse bird species. |
🔥 Bonfire-Friendly Spots | Parque da Canção has designated areas for gatherings. |
Other Services and Amenities
📦 Parcel Delivery Service | DHL and CTT provide reliable parcel delivery options. |
🛠️ Tech Repair Services | iRepair offers phone and laptop repair in the city. |
🏓 Table Tennis Spots | Sports venues like Quinta das Pedras have tables available. |
🧑🏫 Language Classes | Language schools offer Portuguese classes; Centro de Línguas is recommended. |
📚 Libraries & Study Spots | Biblioteca Joanina in the university is an excellent study area. |
🏘️ Community Centers | Centro Cultural de Belém hosts various community events. |
🕹️ Gaming Lounges | Game Over is a popular gaming lounge. |
🎰 Casino & Gaming Halls | Casino Estoril is among the nearest options but requires travel. |
Business
🏢 Studio Purchase Price (City Center) | Approx. €2,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €100,000). |
🏢 Studio Purchase Price (Outside City) | Approx. €2,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €80,000). |
🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) | Approx. €2,800 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €168,000). |
🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) | Approx. €2,300 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €138,000). |
🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) | Approx. €3,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €240,000). |
🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) | Approx. €2,700 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €216,000). |
💼 Corporate Tax | 21% standard corporate tax rate. |
💵 Dividend Withholding Tax | 28% is the standard withholding rate on dividends. |
🏦 Tax System | Residents are taxed on worldwide income. |
📈 Highest Income Tax Bracket | The maximum personal income tax rate is 48%. |
🧾 VAT | The standard VAT rate is 23%. |
🌐 Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules | Yes, Portugal has strict CFC regulations. |
🏠 Property Tax | Property tax is based on taxable value, around 0.3% to 0.8%. |
🏠 Property Transaction Tax | Property transfer tax rates are between 6% and 8%, depending on the property's value. |