Coimbra, Portugal: travel guide
A hilltop university city above the Mondego, with fado of its own
Historic university city on the Mondego — the UNESCO-listed University of Coimbra, Joanina Library and fado de Coimbra.
About Coimbra
Coimbra is a university city on the Mondego river, its old town stacked up a hill and crowned by the historic university buildings. Students in black capes still add a sense of tradition to the narrow streets below.
The Paço das Escolas and the gilded Joanina Library are the highlights, along with the Sé Velha, the Mosteiro de Santa Cruz and the botanical garden. Coimbra has its own style of fado, quieter and more scholarly than Lisbon's, often heard in small venues in the evening. Families can add Portugal dos Pequenitos, a miniature-village park.
Coimbra suits history lovers and anyone travelling between Lisbon and Porto who wants a proper stop. Spring and early autumn are good times to visit Coimbra.
- Country
- Portugal
- Currency
- EUR
- Time zone
- Europe/Lisbon
Last updated
Top places to visit in Coimbra
University of Coimbra (Paço das Escolas)
Heritage · about 2 h · entry €13 (≈ ₹1,390)
One of Europe's oldest universities (1290), a UNESCO site crowning the hill above the Mondego.
Joanina Library
Heritage · about 0.8 h · entry €13 (≈ ₹1,390)
Sumptuous 18th-century baroque library whose colony of bats protects the books from insects.
Sé Velha (Old Cathedral)
Church · about 0.7 h · entry €3 (≈ ₹320)
Well-preserved 12th-century Romanesque cathedral with a fortress-like façade and cloister.
Mosteiro de Santa Cruz
Monastery · about 0.7 h · entry €3 (≈ ₹320)
12th-century monastery holding the tombs of Portugal's first two kings; ornate Manueline detail.
Mosteiro de Santa Clara-a-Velha
Monastery · about 1 h · entry €5 (≈ ₹530)
Gothic monastery once flooded by the Mondego, excavated and restored on the river's south bank.
Jardim Botânico da Universidade
Nature · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Historic 18th-century botanical garden with tropical greenhouses and shaded terraces.
Portugal dos Pequenitos
Cultural · about 1.5 h · entry €12 (≈ ₹1,280)
Miniature park of Portuguese and former-colony monuments, a family favourite.
Things to do
- University of Coimbra Guided Tour Cultural · 1.5 h · from EUR 25 per person
- Fado de Coimbra Concert Cultural · 1 h · from EUR 20 per person
- Mondego River Kayak & SUP Water Sports · 2 h · from EUR 25 per person
Day trips and tours
- Coimbra University & Old Town 3 h · from EUR 25
Where to stay in Coimbra
- Baixa (Downtown) about EUR 75 per night
Riverside lower town, flat and central near shops and the station.
Hotels
- Quinta das Lágrimas 5-star · EUR 180 to EUR 420 per night
- Serenata Hostel Coimbra 2-star · EUR 22 to EUR 75 per night
- Hotel Oslo Coimbra 3-star · EUR 70 to EUR 130 per night
Where to eat
- Zé Manel dos Ossos Portuguese · about EUR 15 per person
- Solar do Bacalhau Portuguese, Seafood · about EUR 22 per person
- A Cozinha da Maria Portuguese · about EUR 20 per person
Getting to Coimbra
Nearest airport: Porto (OPO), about 117 km away in a straight line. The road or rail journey is longer.
Getting around
- Bus
- Walking
More in Portugal
Frequently asked questions about Coimbra
- What are the main places to visit in Coimbra?
- Places covered in our Coimbra guide include University of Coimbra (Paço das Escolas), Joanina Library, Sé Velha (Old Cathedral), Mosteiro de Santa Cruz, Mosteiro de Santa Clara-a-Velha.
- Where should I stay in Coimbra?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Coimbra: Baixa (Downtown).
- How do I get around Coimbra?
- Ways to get around Coimbra covered in our guide: City bus, Walking.