Located in the inner central part of Portugal, Castelo Branco is capital of the district and one of the best cities to live in Portugal, due to its excellent quality of life, reasonable prices and high levels of safety. 

The city is served by many public services and means of transportation, namely train, bus or highway. It is easy to travel anywhere within the country and also to Spain (Madrid is 4 hours away). 

The growth of the city in the last years has supported its continuous modernization and increasing job opportunities. You will also discover many options to relax or practise sports, or simply hang out with your friends.

Castelo Branco has a rich cultural and artisanal heritage, with emphasis on the regional ex-libris, the embroidery of Castelo Branco. Festivals, museums, routes and exhibitions are a constant you should enjoy. Also, the architectural heritage is worth visiting, with several monuments and gardens where you can enjoy your time. In gastronomy, local products such as honey, cheese, olive oil, wines and sausages and hams can be highlighted.

Idanha-a-Nova is a village located 30 km away from Castelo Branco, with excellent quality of life and support services for the students.

The agriculture, forestry and tourism are some of its main economic activities, with a strong investment in sustainable farming. Culture and youth also play an important role, with the municipality of Idanha-a-Nova hosting the internationally renowned Boom Festival since 2002 and also being home to a centre of the Nacional Scouts Corps. 

At December 11, 2015 Idanha-a-Nova was designated the first UNESCO City of Music in Portugal, as part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.

Once in Portugal, you can get to Castelo Branco by train, bus or road. There are regular routes, so you just need to choose the option that best fits your travelling schedule. 

From Lisbon Airport: 

By train: Go to "Gare do Oriente" by subway (red line) or by bus and take the “Intercidades” train (faster option) or the regional train (with more stops along the way). Prices and timetables are available in https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en/train-times.

By bus:  You can catch 2 different buses directly to Castelo Branco:

• Flixbus: from the airport, go to "Gare do Oriente" by subway (red line) or by bus. Prices and timetables are available in https://www.flixbus.pt.
• Rede Expressos: take the subway (red line + blue line) to “Jardim Zoológico” and go to “Sete Rios" Bus Station. Prices and timetables are available in https://www.rede-expressos.pt/en.

Taxis or Uber are also largely available at the airport and can be a good option to take you to the train or bus stations. 

From Porto Airport:

By train: go to “Gare da Campanhã” by subway or bus and then to Castelo Branco. Prices and timetables are available in https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en/train-times. 

By bus: You can catch 2 different buses directly to Castelo Branco:

• FlixBus: Go to “Gare da Campanhã” by subway or bus, and then to Castelo Branco. Prices and timetables are available inhttps://www.flixbus.pt
• Rede Expresso: From the airport, take the subway or bus to the “Campo 24 de Agosto” station. Prices and timetables are available in https://www.rede-expressos.pt/en.

Taxis or Uber are also largely available at the airport and can be a good option to take you to the train or bus stations. 

Students have two housing options: IPCB Student Residencies or private housing. 

IPCB has 4 student residencies, 3 in Castelo Branco and one in Idanha-a-Nova. The residences are organised in double bedrooms, equipped with closets, desks, chairs, beds, and central heating. The students with social support from the Portuguese state have priority in booking a room, so it is sometimes difficult to find vacancy.

The private housing market has many apartments available, where you can live alone or with other fellow students. The most common option is renting a room in a shared apartment. Rents range from 175€ to 250 € per month, for a room in a shared apartment.

The International Office will help you in finding accommodation in Castelo Branco. Just send us an email to incoming@ipcb.pt.

Students at IPCB can have their meals at affordable prices in the canteens and snack-bars, available in all schools and in the student residencies.

Meal tickets can be purchased during lunch or dinner service, and in the canteens between 3:00 pm and 4:00 pm. They cost €3.00 when purchased the day before, and €3.30 when purchased the same day.

All canteens and snack-bars are open during work days and serve lunch and light meals. Dinner is served at the canteens located in the student residencies in Castelo Branco and Idanha-a-Nova.