The Essential Things to Do in Coimbra, Portugal

Travellers looking to expand their trip to Portugal won’t want to miss the historical city of Coimbra. Not only is this city in central Portugal ideally located between Porto and Lisbon, it’s compact and full of character.

While some tourists come through to see the city’s grand old university and soak up its history, it’s fair to say that Coimbra is still underrated and overlooked. But once you hear about all the things to do in Coimbra, you’ll quickly see why visiting the city is such a smart choice. If you’re looking to get a better sense of Portugal and experience more of it than just the coastline, visiting Coimbra is the way to go.

Is Coimbra worth visiting?

To understand why Coimbra is worth visiting when travelling in Portugal, you need to know a little about its history.

Like many places in Portugal and Spain, Coimbra was occupied by the Romans and Moors, and for quite some time wasn’t particularly important. Coimbra’s importance rose, though, with the reconquest from the Moors and the creation of the Kingdom of Portugal in 1139.

King Afonso Henriques had close familial ties to Coimbra, so he made the city the new capital of the kingdom. Of course, the city rose in prominence as a result and remained the capital for over 100 years. He wasn’t the last king to have a soft spot for Coimbra, as I’ll explain later regarding the university.

The point of that little history lesson is to say that Coimbra has an interesting past worth exploring, as well as some grand architecture fit for a king. Both of these things make Coimbra well worth visiting, even if only for a day.

How to get to Coimbra

Coimbra is an easy place to reach when travelling in Portugal, because it’s a perfect stopping point for those travelling between Porto and Lisbon.

Frequent train connections provide access to Coimbra from both Porto and Lisbon. Trains from Porto take a little over 1 hour, while Lisbon is a little under 2 hours away.

Alternatively, many intercity buses operate to the city. You’ll likely find cheaper options going by bus, but they are slower. Buses are also more useful if you’re coming from somewhere other than the main cities.

Once you reach Coimbra, the easiest ways to get around are walking and local buses. However, the old town is quite dense, so you often might not have much choice but to walk.

Travellers seeking convenience and simplicity should consider a tour from Porto or a tour from Lisbon.

Where to stay in Coimbra

The best places to stay in Coimbra are close to the Old Town center. They let you easily walk around to do sightseeing, while also staying close to the train station and local cafes/restaurants.

Luckily, there’s a good range of places to stay near the Old Town, even across different budgets.

Save time by looking at these highly-rated hotels in Coimbra for your visit:

• Hotel Vitória
• Solar Antigo Luxury Coimbra
• Pharmacia GuestHouse
• CBR Boutique Hotel – Coimbra

Things to do in Coimbra

Rather than list out each and every Coimbra attraction, I’m going to share the things to do in Coimbra grouped by where they’re found. This way, you can easily plan an itinerary of where to go, and then decide which places to visit when you reach that part of the city.

With more than a day or two in Coimbra, you can find other places to visit, such as the mountain villages of Lousã. But these things to see in Coimbra are where you should start.

Explore the Old Town

Chances are that if you’re visiting Coimbra, you’re going to be spending some time in the Old Town.

Spreading from the bank of the Mondego River and up the hill to the university, the old town may not be huge, but it’s certainly interesting. The main pedestrian street, Rua Ferreira Borges, is lined with elegant, but worn buildings and leads up to Praça 8 de Maio square.

Nearby are many historical churches. These include the Igreja de Santa Cruz, which is not to be missed thanks to its remarkable tiled interior.

Behind the church, you’ll find the old Manga Cloister, a pale yellow monument set in a picturesque garden. It’s worth mentioning that while you can explore the old town on your own, it’s also possible to enjoy it as part of a local walking tour.

Moving away from the main pedestrian area, steep and narrow streets bring you up the city’s hillside. These tight winding streets reveal the quieter, more modest side of the city.

Along the way, you’ll pass the Old Cathedral, a historic Romanesque building dating from the 12th century.

The Church built the Old Cathedral during Coimbra’s days as the capital of the newly created Kingdom of Portugal. This means it actually hosted the crowning of the second king of Portugal, Sancho I. It’s hard to underestimate Coimbra’s importance once you learn facts like that.

The best view of the cathedral and its outer cloister is looking down from the tower of the university.

Visit Coimbra University

It’s quite fitting that Coimbra University is both physically and historically at the centre of the city.

Perched on top of the hill that Coimbra was built upon, you can’t explore the city or its history without visiting the university. Although it was founded in Lisbon, the university was moved by King Joao III to Coimbra in 1537. It took up residency in the former Coimbra Royal Palace and helped usher in the Renaissance to the city.

Although the modern university has several modern buildings on campus, it is the former palace that attracts most visitors. Upon passing through the Porta Férrea into the vast courtyard, the grand architecture of the palace is immediately apparent.

From the graceful arcade and stairs of the Via Latina to the terrace views out toward the city, even this outside area is bound to impress. Visit inside the palace to see grand halls and scholarly classrooms, which are bound to have you imagining what it must have been like as a student back then.

While the tower views are beautiful, the true wonder of the University is the Joanina University Library.

While you can sadly not take photos inside, take my word that it is one of the most exquisite libraries in existence and a true sight to behold. I’d go as far as to say that visiting the baroque library is worth a trip to Coimbra alone. To get the most from the experience, consider going with a guided tour of the university.

Stroll the Botanic Gardens

For those looking to escape the dense centre of the city, greener surrounds are just a short walk away.

Adjacent to the faculty buildings of the university lies the Botanical Gardens of the University of Coimbra. With a worldly collection of plant life, the botanic gardens are immaculately groomed and an oasis of calm. Surely, having a peaceful place like this must be popular with students, offering an alternative to the library.

Dating back to 1772, this vast garden spans over 13 hectares and played a pivotal role in the university’s establishment of a school of botanical studies. At the end of the day, it’s also just a beautiful place to walk.

Immediately outside the botanical gardens, you’ll find the intact remains of the San Sebastian Aqueduct. Built over the remains of a Roman aqueduct in the 16th century, the aqueduct once linked up the hilltop castle with a nearby monastery. Walking alongside it, you’ll be impressed with the state of the aqueduct, yet another preserved slice of the city’s history.

Discover the Mondego Riverfront

Besides its central hill, the other main feature of Coimbra’s landscape is the Mondego River.

For much of its length, the Mondego is quite a small stream, but by the time it reaches Coimbra, it makes a fair statement. Along the riverfront, you’ll find many parks and green areas, which create an open and inviting atmosphere.

Although much of the city sits on the eastern bank, there are a few sights to see across the Mondego River.

At the far end of the Santa Clara bridge, you’ll find the remains of the Mosteiro de Santa Clara-a-Velha, a medieval monastery abandoned due to repeated floods.

Up the hill and you’ll find its replacement, the Mosteiro de Santa Clara-a-Nova. This much larger monastery was built in the 17th century and is now considered a national monument.

To explore the river itself, take a cruise in a traditional boat or take a kayaking tour.

Have you come across Coimbra and its university before? Is it somewhere you’d include on your next Portugal itinerary? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

This article is now available as a mobile app. Go to GPSmyCity to download the app for GPS-assisted travel directions to the attractions featured in this article.