We know that the process of finding a suitable place to live while studying abroad can discourage you; it can be a bit of a hassle after all. But with Casita, you will never have to worry about that anymore because you will be able to secure your perfect student accommodation in Porto Alegre in a heartbeat. You can contact our multilingual accommodation experts to seek their help; they are friendly, helpful and available around the clock for your help. You can also visit our website and browse hundreds of rooms and check them yourself. There, you will find tens of hundreds of single, shared, ensuite and studio rooms all in one place, among many more options. You will also be able to use the different filters on the website to get certain results if you have a specific room type in your mind.
Why Book Student Accommodation in Porto Alegre?
Porto Alegre, the capital city of Rio Grande do Sul state, is the largest city in the south of Brazil and the land of the Gauchos and Churrasco. It is located on the eastern shore of Guaíba lake, the point where five rivers converge forming the Lagoa dos Patos, a huge lagoon navigable even for large boats. The city was founded in 1742 by Portuguese immigrants from the Azores region. Since the 19th century, Porto Alegre has been receiving immigrants, particularly from Europe (Germans, Poles and Italians), which were of decisive importance, influencing architecture and cuisine, among other cultural aspects. Located at the junction of five rivers, it has become an important alluvial port as well as one of the major industrial and commercial cities of Brazil. Products of the rich agriculture and livestock such as soybeans, leather, canned food, meats, and rice are exported to several countries.
When it comes to education, there are three important universities in Porto Alegre: the Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) and the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS); all of which ranked among the top universities in Brazil and Latin America. UFRGS is also one of the 3 main universities in the country for post-graduation work. The PUCRS technological park – TECNOPUC – is one of the largest scientific and technological parks in Latin America with the interaction of graduate courses, research and innovation. PUCRS is also one of the best universities for air transport and pilot formation in the world.
Universities in Porto Alegre
Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA)
Casita has accommodation options within walking distance of the university.
More than six bus stops surround the campus; Av. Independência, 69 is just a four-minute walk away.
Monument To Açorianos is just a 16-minute walk away from campus.
Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS)
Our accommodation options are all within walking distance of the university.
More than six bus stops surround the campus; Avenida Paulo Gama, 112 is just a two-minute walk away.
Farroupilha Park (Redenção) is just a seven-minute walk away from campus.
Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS)
Casita’s accommodation options are within walking distance of the university.
There are three bus stops close to the university; Ipiranga Paradão Puc Cb is just a two-minute walk away.
The Botanical Gardens of Porto Alegre is just a four-minute car ride away from campus.
Student Life
What is life like in Porto Alegre?
Porto Alegre is known for its green spaces. There are 1.5 million trees there, which is about one for each inhabitant. The city is also quite manageable; it is big enough to necessitate an Arts and Entertainment section in Zero Hora, and small enough to feel a sense of community. There is ample public transportation for rainy days and pleasant pedestrian streets, riverfront paths and park trails for sunny ones.
Porto Alegre feels Brazilian in some ways. The vibe is relaxed as people stroll casually in their Havaianas, the lunches are long and always include black beans and rice, and the samba and football are legendary. The regional culture is strongly tied to its European roots: the German, Italian, Spanish, and Polish ancestries are revealed in the faces, surnames, and cuisine alike.
What is student life like in Porto Alegre?
The Brazilian graduate and undergraduate courses are easy compared to their equivalents in Europe. Like all Brazilian people, local students are very open in general, and always available to help foreigners. The atmosphere is cool, and students get a lot of free time on the weekends.
Must-Visit Places in Porto Alegre
The Metropolitan Cathedral of Porto Alegre is arguably the city’s most iconic attraction. Situated in the middle of the city, this awesome architectural landmark can’t be missed. All around the cathedral, you will find mosaics depicting religious figures such as Mary, St. Peter and Pope Pius. Crystals embedded in the beautiful mosaics contain up to 10,000 shades, from bright turquoise to rich golds. Meanwhile, the altar features a breathtaking sculpture of the Virgin Mary cradling an infant Jesus. Even if the religious imagery is foreign to you, the sheer beauty of the architecture will surely enchant and amaze you.
The Museum of Art of Rio Grande do Sul, commonly referred to as “Margs” is an attraction not to be missed, especially for art lovers. The museum opens from 10 am to 7 pm and showcases a rotating gallery of work, from more traditional to contemporary to abstract pieces. If you’re lucky, you may even be able to catch musical performances at the museum. With no entrance fee to this museum, there are even more reasons to visit it.
The humongous Porto Alegre public market is a great place to spend an afternoon – and you’ll need that whole afternoon or more to cover it. Multiple renovations were conducted to expand and maintain the market, even adding a second floor. As the city’s oldest public market, you can find lots of traditional food and craft items. Also hidden within the public market is the famous Restaurant Gambrinus, which has been serving delicious seafood for more than 100 years.
Frequented by locals and tourists alike, Parque Farroupilha is a popular park to have a walk, play some sports, sunbathe or have a picnic. Within the huge grounds are a lake with pedal boat facilities, an amusement park, a little zoo, and plenty of jogging and bicycle paths. As you explore the park, keep an eye out for exotic plant species, including local flora such as Jacaranda, Chal-Chal and even Cocoa.
Transportation in Porto Alegre
There is a rapid metro system (operated by Trensurb), which runs from downtown Porto Alegre to some cities north of the metropolitan area. It has 22 stations, plus two stations of the aeromovel (people mover, linking the airport to Aeroporto metro station). The first six stations (plus the aeromovel stations) are in Porto Alegre, and the others are distributed throughout the other cities. The line passes through important places, such as the Mercado Público, The Rodoviária (bus station) of Porto Alegre, The Airport, Farrapos Avenue (at Farrapos station) and other sites of interest in the metropolitan area. Trains run at high frequency; three to five minutes at rush hours and ten minutes at other times of the day.
Porto Alegre also has a system of buses. They are, in most cases, clean, safe and fast, especially when the line uses the bus corridor, a reserved lane with special stops in main avenues, effectively avoiding traffic jams. In order to use the bus, you must be at a bus stop and signal or wave your hand to the arriving bus you want to ride; buses will not stop unless waved upon. The fare must be paid to the ticket collector before crossing the turnstile located inside the bus. Fares may be paid either in cash or using a smartcard system named TRI.
The city also has an alternative transportation system called the “Lotação”. It has fewer lines and is served by vans that take up to 20 people, where one can hop on and off at any point, even outside designated stops of the trip. These vans are easily recognized by their "red and blue" colour.
Porto Alegre also has plenty of taxis. Although they can be pricey if compared to other towns, they are also an easier, safer and more dependable option than buses in some cases. To ride a cab, you can walk to the nearest "taxi stop", which is usually in crowded areas or points of interest, wave for an empty passing cab or call a tele-táxi service. UBER and Cabify are also available in the city; they are cheaper and better than regular taxis.
Nearby Student Accommodation in Brazil
Casita offers student accommodation in other Brazilian cities besides having facilities for student accommodation in Porto Alegre. Some of these cities are:
Rio de Janeiro, Paraty, Sao Paulo, Ipojuca and Madalena Sao Paulo.