Student
You came for the Polytechnic or the Catholic University. You need an address, transport and to know where to eat cheaply.
Coming to live here
Moving to Viseu
What to sort out in the first few weeks, and where to find the rest of the city.
Where to start
Every arrival is different
Each situation deals with different things in that first week.
Family
A move with a home and routines. The priority is the health centre, the school and the nearest supermarket.
Coming from another country
Before everything else: tax number, health service number, Social Security and the residence process.
Working remotely
You came for the city, not the job. You want to know where there is life, a gym and a table with a good connection.
Week one
What to sort out first
In the order you usually need it.
1. Address and parish council
A fixed address unlocks almost everything else: health centre, school, proof of residence. Your parish council is the first desk to visit.
2. Health centre and health service number
You register at the health centre for your area. Viseu has three, with addresses and contacts already gathered in this guide.
3. Water, electricity and contracts
The city's water is run by SMAS (Águas de Viseu); electricity is contracted with the supplier you choose, and the grid belongs to E-Redes.
4. Moving in and the first shop
On day one what matters is knowing where the nearest supermarket, pharmacy and cash machine are. It is all on the guide's map.
Paperwork
Paperwork and desks
Where each thing gets sorted, without going door to door.
Citizen's Shop
ID card, passport, civil and vehicle registry, Social Security and Tax Office at the same desk, on Rua Eça de Queirós.
Tax number and the Tax Office
The tax number is requested at the Tax Office or the Citizen's Shop. Without it you cannot sign a lease or an employment contract.
Residence and citizenship
Residence, family reunification and citizenship processes are handled by AIMA, by appointment. The rules change often — always check the official source.
Work and Social Security
The IEFP employment centre and the district Social Security office are both in the city, with direct contacts in this guide.
Higher education
Studying in Viseu
Viseu is a student city: in September the pace of the city changes.
Viseu Polytechnic
It brings together four schools in the city: Technology and Management (ESTGV), Education (ESEV), Health (ESSV) and Agriculture (ESAV). The campus is in Repeses.
Catholic University
The Portuguese Catholic University has a campus in Viseu, with its own degree and master's programmes.
Eating without spending much
Beyond the canteens, the guide covers the city's bakeries, cafés and daily specials, with opening hours from Google Maps.
Routine
The city day to day
The pages you use once the move is done.
Mobility
Getting around without a car
Viseu has no passenger rail: you rely on buses, the road and your feet.
City buses
The city network is MUV. Timetables and fares are on the official site, which changes often — so we do not copy them.
Leaving Viseu
Long-distance connections from the bus station and the nearest rail link are already explained on the arrivals page.
On foot, almost always
The old town is compact and walkable. The climb to the cathedral is the only stretch your legs will notice.
Common questions
Questions from newcomers
The questions newcomers keep asking.
Is there cultural life in the city?
There is theatre, cinema, museums and concerts all year round. The calendar with real dates has a page of its own.
Where do I buy second-hand?
We do not yet have a verified list of second-hand and swap shops in the city. It is one of the most requested additions — if you know one, tell us.
Does the city shut down in August?
Quite the opposite: August and September are the month of the São Mateus Fair, the country's largest popular fair, at Campo de Viriato.
Is the football worth it?
Académico de Viseu play at the Fontelo Stadium. The fixtures and the table are in this guide, updated every day.
Is something missing that you needed when you arrived? Write to us — this guide grows with the people who live here. Contact