Queima das Fitas
Published 8 November 2026, 20:08
Queima das Fitas — "burning of the ribbons", a student festival
A week-long student festival held every year in university towns such as Coimbra, Porto and Lisbon: parades, concerts and a ritual in which graduating students burn ribbons in their faculty colours. In Porto it takes place in spring, and the money it raises goes to student organisations.
Where you come across it. Spring in a university town: closed streets, noise at night, expensive accommodation during the festival.
During festival week hotels and short-term lets in the city become much more expensive, and streets in the student areas are closed to traffic. If you are going to Porto or Coimbra at that time, plan ahead.