Living in Viseu

The city

With its green parks and age-old trees, Viseu is a garden city located in the heart of Portugal. It also boasts a privileged location, in the Dão Wine Region, where award-winning wines are produced. The city has a population of 100,000 inhabitants and was elected Portugal’s healthiest, safest and best quality of life city by Portuguese consumers in 2018.

Viseu is known for its traditions and arts and crafts, but also for its strong technological and entrepreneurial culture. It is a welcoming and romantic city of myths and heroes, with a rich historical heritage. The Grão Vasco Museum, the Tesouro da Misericórdia and the Tesouro da Sé de Viseu Museum, which has been witness to 900 years of history, all provide pleasant cultural outings.

Viseu is a city with a wealth of culinary offerings, delighting visitors with dishes as varied as Lafões Veal, ‘Chanfana’, roast lamb, codfish on cornbread and the ‘Bôla’, a brioche-style bread filled with different cured meats.

The Fontelo sports park allows for the practice of varied sports. The region also offers exceptional conditions for river and mountain sports such as BMX, trail running, mountain climbing, orienteering, canyoning, canoeing, and geocaching.

Viseu has a dynamic nightlife, with offerings for all tastes and ages.

Cost of living

The average cost of living is around €500 per month.

Accommodation

Room in flatshare: €200/month on average

Transportation

Bus ticket: €1 (approx. value)

There are plans for new routes serviced by electrical buses from January 2019, including a bus stop near the University, with buses stopping every ten minutes.

Food

Supermarket expenditure: approx. €150/month

Lunch in the cafeteria: €4,80

Lunch in a restaurant: €5.50(approximate value)

Bread: €0.12

Espresso coffee: €0,60

Local events

‘Janeiras’ carolling (January)

Tons de Primavera (‘Shades of Spring’ - March)

Festival de Teatro Jovem (Youth Theatre Festival - May)

Cavalhadas de Teivas e Vildemoinhos Procession - Feast of São João (June)

Jardins Efémeros (‘Ephemeral Gardens’ - July)

For one week in July, the city of Viseu turns into a giant garden, filled with national and international artists, concerts, conferences, installations, exhibitions, debates and bookstores. Further information at jardinsefemeros.pt

Jazz Festival (at Aquilino Ribeiro Park) (August)

Feira de São Mateus (August and September)

The Feira de São Mateus is a fair which has taken place every year in Viseu for the past 626 years. Further information available at feirasaomateus.pt

Festa das Vindimas (Grape Harvest Feast - September)

Outono Quente - Arts, music and theatre festival (October)

Feira dos Santos (Saints’ Feast - 11 November)