Change The World Hostels - Coimbra - Almedina
The cheap, central one — sat directly on the Quebra Costas staircase, two doors from the old town arch.
Change The World Almedina is the Coimbra outpost of the Portuguese hostel chain, and it's pinned to the most-walked address in the old town: Rua Fernandes Thomas at the foot of the Quebra Costas staircase, with the Almedina arch a 30-second walk uphill. The price is the lowest of the quality hostels in town, and reviews skew young, social, and ride-or-die loyal.
The building threads two adjoining townhouses on the Quebra Costas vein — meaning some rooms face the staircase (the most atmospheric, occasionally the noisiest) and others face the inner courtyard (quieter, less light). Bedrooms are simple — bunks with curtains, in-bed reading lights, individual sockets, lockers under the bed — and the lounge spans both buildings on the lower floor.
The shared kitchen is well-stocked (kettle, induction hobs, fridge with shelf labels, basics like olive oil and salt left out) and gets actively used by long-stayers. Live music nights happen irregularly in the lounge — usually a guitar-and-voice setup from one of the staff or a passing fado student from the university. There's no on-site bar, but the chain bartends a self-service honesty fridge in the lounge — Sagres, Super Bock, basic vinho verde at retail prices.
Location is the unbeatable part. You are inside the old town wall: the University of Coimbra is a 5-minute uphill walk through Almedina, the Praça do Comércio is 4 minutes downhill, and Largo da Portagem (Coimbra-A train station's pedestrian gateway) is 6 minutes flat. The Quebra Costas staircase outside the door is the spine of the old town — a classic Coimbra atmosphere, with Fado de Coimbra performances happening on the cathedral steps a 2-minute walk uphill many evenings.
Known trade-off: the staircase is loud Friday and Saturday until about 02:00 — bar crowds funneling between the upper-town student bars and the Praça do Comércio. Front-facing dorms feel it. The chain owns several hostels city-by-city across Portugal, so booking patterns reward the loyal — same-account discount on a second city stay if you go Almedina-then-Lisbon.
- 01Cheapest serious hostel in town and it doesn't show in the cleanliness — beds are spotless, bathrooms are pressure-washed daily
- 02Live music nights in the lounge when a guitar shows up — usually fado, sometimes Brazilian, free for guests
- 03Right on Quebra Costas — best spine of the old town for first-time Coimbra wandering
- 04Chain-wide loyalty rewards mean you save money continuing on to Lisbon, Porto or Aveiro
- 05Reception runs a meet-the-city evening welcome chat the first night you check in — surprisingly useful
- Dorm beds from 15-18 EUR — the cheapest quality option in Coimbra
- On Quebra Costas, the famous old town staircase
- Active shared kitchen with hobs, fridge, basics left out
- Walking tours, fado partnerships, and a chain-wide loyalty discount
“The location was just the best. Staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, beds were comfortable and the water pressure was just fab.”
“Absolutely the best choice if you can't or aren't willing to spend much in accommodation without giving up on comfort. I chose the double bedroom with private bathroom and, believe me, it leaves nothing to be desired.”
“Great location to see the sites. Very clean. Nice common areas to meet people.”
- Quebra Costas staircase (the door is on it)0 m
- Almedina arch + old town gate40 m
- Sé Velha cathedral + fado steps180 m
- Praça do Comércio + bar cluster260 m
- University of Coimbra + Joanina Library450 m
- Coimbra-A train station500 m
