Quote:
Originally Posted by Vlajos
I've been to Lisboa and Coimbra. Absolutely love them!
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I would say, overall, Lisboa offers a lot of everything, from history to contemporary business, while Coimbra is sort of stuck in time, at least on the surface, featuring its medieval architecture, perhaps comparable to the historical center in a Spanish city like Salamanca, at least in my experience.
Coimbra seems to be ideal for the university student, perhaps do a semester or a year there if you can, if you want a relatively quiet environment to focus on studies (perhaps with a little partying with schoolmates), but Lisboa if you want hustle and bustle and to be close to the beach.
Cuisine is great all over Portugal. People are generally good. Worst, of course, is the government's (mis)management of the country or perhaps lack of sincere interest and/or skill in its contemporary development.
Worth considering a move if a student or retiree and/or independently wealthy. If looking for employment or to set up a business, then Lisboa or Porto, but the environment right now must be very harsh. As a retiree, I would prefer the south, perhaps eastern Algarve.
Good Luck!