🇵🇹 Coimbra, Portugal
NS Hostel & Suites
📍 3-4, Rua Lourenço de Almeida Azevedo, Coimbra, 3000-250
Your stay — NS Hostel & Suites
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Coimbra.
The Property — NS Hostel & Suites
NS Hostel & Suites mixes hostel dorms with private suites under one roof, a few minutes' walk from Coimbra's old university. The lobby is compact and bright, with a small reception desk and a communal area that feels geared to budget-conscious travellers and student groups. It's functional rather than charming, fine for a one-night stopover in the city.
Chronicles of Coimbra
Coimbra began as a Roman settlement called Aeminium, but its real rise came when the Moors fortified it. After the Christian reconquest, Portugal's first king, Afonso Henriques, made it the national capital, and the university was founded here in 1290 — one of Europe's oldest. The city later lost political power to Lisbon but kept its academic soul; today, its medieval layout and Baroque library draw visitors more than its industry. Coimbra remains a quiet, student-driven city where fado songs echo from narrow alleyways.
Best Time to Visit
Full Coimbra guide →Best months
May and September offer warm sunshine without July-August heat, and the student population drops noticeably in September. June is also good if you avoid the festival weeks.
Peak / festival surge
July is the absolute peak: hot (30+°C), crowded with tourists and the Queima das Fitas celebrations in May spill into early June, but July itself sees high hotel demand from summer visitors. Prices at NS Hostel can double from the shoulder season.
Budget shoulder season
October and April are the best budget months: mild temperatures (15-22°C), far fewer tourists, and room rates often 30-40% lower than peak summer.
Weather & packing
Coimbra's summers are dry and hot but can cool sharply after sunset, so carry a light jacket even in July. Pack sturdy walking shoes because the city is built on steep hills with cobbled streets.
Live City Briefing — Coimbra
- Coimbra's main train station (Coimbra-B) is undergoing platform upgrades through late 2026, so check for possible delays or alternate stops at Coimbra-A.
- A new pedestrian zone on Rua Ferreira Borges, near the university, opened in early 2026, improving access to cafés and shops.
- Several old town staircases are being repaired this summer; expect some detours around the Sé Velha area.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to NS Hostel & Suites, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floors 3 or 4, facing the courtyard at the back. The lift only goes to the 4th floor, so 3rd floor avoids the upper-floor noise but still offers a quiet outlook away from the street. Rooms on floor 4 have slightly better light. If the 2nd floor is your only option, choose a rear-facing one.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms (if any) due to street-level foot traffic and potential noise from the entrance. Also skip floor 1 if listed as mezzanine or above the lobby — can get noise from the reception area and early-morning check-outs. Street-facing rooms, especially on lower floors, pick up traffic along Rua Lourenço de Almeida Azevedo (a narrow but busy urban street).
Best views
Rear-facing rooms on floors 3-4 have a glimpse of Coimbra rooftops and a strip of sky — not a panorama, but better than the street’s parked cars and shopfronts. No river view from here; the view is urban and intimate.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 are the quietest at NS Hostel & Suites, as they’re above street-level hubbub and away from the main entry flow. The lift stops at 4, so floor 4 is a good choice if you’re okay with a short walk up from floor 3 (no lift beyond 4).
🔊 Noise notes
Rua Lourenço de Almeida Azevedo is a one-way street in central Coimbra, with buses, scooters and delivery vans from early morning (around 7am) until late evening. The hotel entrance is at street level so you’ll hear the door opening and closing. The lift is a small model — audible when it hums up and down. Also, the 3rd floor is where the laundry room is (if onsite), which can create daytime noise.
Insider tips
1. Parking: The hotel has no private parking, but use the nearby ‘Parque de Estacionamento do Choupinho’ a 5-min walk — prepaid if you book via the hotel’s partner. 2. Check-in: Reception is 24h but not staffed overnight — call ahead if arriving after midnight. Ask for a free room upgrade to a rear-facing room on floor 3 or 4; they often oblige if the hotel’s not full.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — NS Hostel & Suites
Free Wi-Fi for all guests; download speed ~30 Mbps; no login needed, just accept terms.
One lift serves all in-use floors (ground to 4th); no stairs-only sections.
No physical newspapers; no digital newsstand. Building is a converted mid-century townhouse with original azulejo tiles in the lobby.
Check-in from 14:00; early bag-drop available from 10:00 (free). Check-out by 12:00; late check-out until 16:00 costs €20, subject to availability.
Free storage for same-day arrival/departure; longer storage €5 per day.
Step-free access from street via ramp; lift to all floors; two accessible rooms on ground floor with wider doorways, but no roll-in shower (walk-in shower only).
No on-site parking. Nearest public car park: Estacionamento Parque Verde (Alameda Dr. Júlio Henriques), 5 min walk, €0.80/hour or €12 daily (24h). No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: €2.00 per person per night (guests 13+; payable at check-in)
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment via credit card 14 days before arrival; €50 incidental hold on card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Igreja de Nossa Senhora de Lurdes (336 m · ~4 min walk)
- Church: Sé Nova de Coimbra (560 m · ~7 min walk)
- Church: Igreja de São Salvador (657 m · ~8 min walk)
- Church: Igreja Evangélica Nova Jerusalém (671 m · ~8 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Galerias Avenida — 249 m · ~3 min walk
Jardim de Montes Claros — 219 m · ~3 min walk
Museu da Ciência — 463 m · ~6 min walk
Teatro Académico Gil Vicente — 534 m · ~7 min walk
Parque Infantil de Montes Claros — 237 m · ~3 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 376 m · ~5 min walk
Farmácia de Santa Isabel — 367 m · ~5 min walk
Snack Attack — 193 m · ~2 min walk
Passeios de Barco - O Basófias — 1.3 km · ~16 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Use ATMs for the best rates; avoid exchange bureaux at airports and tourist spots as they charge high fees.
Major credit and debit cards are widely accepted, but smaller cafes and markets may only take cash – keep some notes handy.
Tipping is not mandatory but appreciated – round up the bill in restaurants (5-10%), leave a few euros for taxis, and tip hotel staff €1-2 for service.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A simple espresso at a local pastelaria costs around €0.70-€1.
A lunch menu (prato do dia) at a tasca or cafe costs about €7-€10 including a drink and coffee.
A main course at a casual restaurant runs €8-12.
Look for the main pedestrian streets and the market area near Praça da República for affordable pastries, soups, and snacks from kiosks.
Pingo Doce and Continente are the common budget supermarkets in this area.
Rua Ferreira Borges and the Baixa area have affordable high-street stores like Zara, Mango, and local shops.
A single bus ticket is €1.30; the cheapest way around is walking as the area is compact. For airport transfer, the cheapest option is the city bus (Line 1 or 2, about €2.50) from the main bus station.
Eat at tascas for set lunch menus; buy fresh produce from the municipal market for picnics; use walking as your main transport.
Good to know — Coimbra
Type C/F · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ €0.88 · EUR
Emergency Contacts
Coimbra112 is the single European emergency number for police, ambulance, and fire. For non-urgent police matters, call the local PSP station on +351 239 857 600. English-speaking operators are usually available. Keep your accommodation address handy.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Coimbra, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at NS Hostel & Suites
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 376 m · ~5 min walk — pharmacy · Farmácia de Santa Isabel — 367 m · ~5 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Portagem (Lower City) → Alta (Residencial Botânico)
💡 Not a tram — it's an articulated electric bus that climbs the steep hill from the Mondego riverfront up to Rua Larga. Get off at 'Praça da República' stop. The hotel is 2 mins walk east. Buy a rechargeable 'Andante' card at any kiosk, avoids loose change.
Coimbra-B Station → Coimbra Parque (Estação Nova)
💡 Only use this for local transfers if you're light on bags — the link is a shuttle train (Linha da Lousã) that connects the main station to the lower city. Residencial Botânico is a 5-min walk north from Estação Nova.
Lisbon Airport (LIS) → Coimbra Bus Terminal
💡 Buy tickets online at Rede Expressos for €12. The bus drops you at Terminal Rodoviário, then it's a 10-min walk uphill to the hotel — skip that if you have bags, take a short taxi (€5).
Porto Airport (OPO) → Residencial Botânico
💡 Fix the price before getting in at the rank — drivers at OPO often quote €120 if they see luggage. Pre-book via Taxi Coimbra for a solid €85 flat rate.
About Coimbra
Wikipedia ↗
Coimbra, officially the City of Coimbra, is a city and a municipality in Portugal. The population of the municipality at the 2021 census was 140,796, in an area of 319.40 square kilometres (123.3 sq mi). It is the fourth-largest metropolitan area in Portugal after Lisbon, Porto, and Braga, and is th...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at NS Hostel & Suites?
Request a room on floors 3 or 4, facing the courtyard at the back. The lift only goes to the 4th floor, so 3rd floor avoids the upper-floor noise but still offers a quiet outlook away from the street. Rooms on floor 4 have slightly better light. If the 2nd floor is your only option, choose a rear-facing one.
Which rooms should I avoid at NS Hostel & Suites?
Avoid ground-floor rooms (if any) due to street-level foot traffic and potential noise from the entrance. Also skip floor 1 if listed as mezzanine or above the lobby — can get noise from the reception area and early-morning check-outs. Street-facing rooms, especially on lower floors, pick up traffic along Rua Lourenço de Almeida Azevedo (a narrow but busy urban street).
Is NS Hostel & Suites noisy?
Rua Lourenço de Almeida Azevedo is a one-way street in central Coimbra, with buses, scooters and delivery vans from early morning (around 7am) until late evening. The hotel entrance is at street level so you’ll hear the door opening and closing. The lift is a small model — audible when it hums up and down. Also, the 3rd floor is where the laundry room is (if onsite), which can create daytime noise.
Which rooms have the best views at NS Hostel & Suites?
Rear-facing rooms on floors 3-4 have a glimpse of Coimbra rooftops and a strip of sky — not a panorama, but better than the street’s parked cars and shopfronts. No river view from here; the view is urban and intimate.
What are insider tips for staying at NS Hostel & Suites?
1. Parking: The hotel has no private parking, but use the nearby ‘Parque de Estacionamento do Choupinho’ a 5-min walk — prepaid if you book via the hotel’s partner. 2. Check-in: Reception is 24h but not staffed overnight — call ahead if arriving after midnight. Ask for a free room upgrade to a rear-facing room on floor 3 or 4; they often oblige if the hotel’s not full.
What time is check-in at NS Hostel & Suites?
Check-in at NS Hostel & Suites is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does NS Hostel & Suites have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi for all guests; download speed ~30 Mbps; no login needed, just accept terms.
Is there a city or tourist tax at NS Hostel & Suites?
€2.00 per person per night (guests 13+; payable at check-in)
Where can I eat cheaply near NS Hostel & Suites?
A lunch menu (prato do dia) at a tasca or cafe costs about €7-€10 including a drink and coffee.
What is the cheapest way to get around from NS Hostel & Suites?
A single bus ticket is €1.30; the cheapest way around is walking as the area is compact. For airport transfer, the cheapest option is the city bus (Line 1 or 2, about €2.50) from the main bus station.
When is the best time to visit Coimbra?
May and September offer warm sunshine without July-August heat, and the student population drops noticeably in September. June is also good if you avoid the festival weeks.
Top Attractions in Coimbra
💡 Skip the paid ticket for the Joanina Library if you're on a budget. The São Miguel Chapel often has short free entry slots during services.
💡 Stand at the side entrance to hear the choir practising during evening mass (weekdays around 17:30). Best for atmosphere without paying.
💡 Enter from the lower gate near Rua do Arco da Traição to avoid the steep main steps. The bamboo grove at the top is the coolest spot on hot days.
💡 Combine with a walk along the riverside from the Ponte de Santa Clara. Bring water – the uphill path is steep.
💡 Arrive just before 10am on Sunday to avoid the queue. The crypt with the Roman forum remains is the standout – spend time there first.