Benfica is a residential neighbourhood of Lisbon, ideal for students who really enjoy outoor sports or are looking for a friendly area to live. It’s not the closest neighbourhood to the city centre, but you’ll generally find newer and cheaper apartments here.
Close to Universities
For those studying in Lisbon, Benfica can be a great neighbourhood to live in. The Escola Superior de Educação (college for Education) and the Marketing/Journalism school ESCS (Escola Superior de Comunicação Social) are both placed in Benfica. While the first is inserted in a beautiful palace, the later is more recent and modern.
Many other universities are easy to get too as well. The main campus of Universidade de Lisboa is within walking distance (usually 20 minutes away). You can take the blue line metro to Universidade Nova’s two main campuses, both close to the São Sebastião stop.
Benfica is perfect for outdoors lovers
Also, Monsanto Park lives door to door with several neighbourhoods, Benfica included. Ideal place to run, bike and picnic, or just take a nap by the sun.
Getting Around
Benfica neighbourhood is actually quite easy to move around. There are a lot of buses available mostly everywhere, metro stations at Colégio Militar – Colombo and Alto dos Moinhos or even the train. From the train station in Benfica, it takes 9 minutes to get to Rossio (Lisboa city centre) and half an hour to Sintra village.
Living in Benfica: Fact sheet
One place to study: Passar Página in Rua Maestro Frederico de Freitas is a tiny little café with books to borrow, books to buy and secure wifi.
One place to see: Head up to Monsanto, a mountain covered in woods, on the other side of the train tracks. They call it the lungs of the city. (Note: although it’s a safe place, girls are warned not to visit Monsant by t
hemselves).
One thing to do: The football club Benfica takes its name from this neighbourhood. If you are studying in Lisbon – especially if you are living in Benfica, make sure you go watch a game at Estádio da Luz.
One place to eat: Califa restaurant is very close to Benfica – it’s cheap and very good. You can’t leave without trying Lisbon’s best “Croquetes” – ask for mustard if you want to do it like a local!
Photo credits: Flickr users: kkmarais, Mario Pires and FilipeSoares77.
And remember! If you need to find student accommodation in Benfica, you’ll find the student home you’re looking for on Uniplaces.com.
