University of Coimbra and the Joanina Library
3 hEveryone; take your time in the libraryAll year
Visit · 3 h · World Heritage · From €12.50
From €12
See the activity
Stay1–2 nights
AccessTrain from Lisbon or Porto
Must-doJoanina Library, at a set time
Best timeApr – Jun · Sep – Oct
What to do
What to do in Coimbra
Each plan says how long it takes, who it's for and whether you can book.
Kayaking the Mondego from Penacova to Coimbra
4 h · 18 kmAll ages with an adult; no experience neededEvery day; best from spring to autumn
Kayak · 3–5 h · 18 or 25 km · From €20
From €20
See the activity
The Roman ruins of Conímbriga and their mosaics
2 hEveryoneAll year
Roman city 16 km from Coimbra with the House of the Fountains (Casa dos Repuxos), its mosaics and fountain garden, and a museum. Open daily; admission €10.
From €10
How to do it
Itineraries
Itineraries that pass through
Days and weekends already planned out, with how to get between each stop and who to book with.
Plan the trip
Coimbra, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Coimbra
Spring and early autumn, with the academic year under way and mild temperatures for the hills. In summer it is hot and the city empties of students, but it is a good time for kayaking on the Mondego.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
How you travel
Coimbra your way
Choose how you're travelling and we'll tell you where to stay, how to get around, where to eat and which services you'll need. We only show the ways of travelling that make sense here.
By train and on foot, from the Baixa to the Alta
Coimbra is on the Lisbon – Porto line and can be seen entirely on foot, although with slopes. A car is only needed for Conímbriga and the Penacova kayak, and for the latter the company provides transport from the city.
55–100 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to staySerenata Hostel, on Largo da…
- Getting aroundAlfa Pendular or Intercidades to…
- Where to eatFangas, petiscos with booking
- ServicesCoimbra-B and Coimbra A stations
Where to stay
- Serenata Hostel, on Largo da Sé Velha
- Sapientia Boutique Hotel, beside the university
Getting around
- Alfa Pendular or Intercidades to Coimbra-B and a connection to the centre
- On foot from the Baixa to the Alta by the Quebra-Costas
Where to eat
- Fangas, petiscos with booking
- Café Santa Cruz, with fado every day
Services
- Coimbra-B and Coimbra A stations
Driving to Coimbra and Conímbriga
From Salamanca it is about 300 km via Vilar Formoso and the A25; from Vigo, about 250 km along the Porto motorway. In the city the car is a nuisance in the Alta: park in the Baixa or on the south bank, and use it for Conímbriga and Penacova.
70–130 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to stayQuinta das Lágrimas, across the…
- Getting aroundConímbriga, south of the city…
- Where to eatWeekend brunch at Quinta das…
- ServicesElectronic tolls on some motorways…
Where to stay
- Quinta das Lágrimas, across the river
- Sapientia Boutique Hotel, in the Alta; ask about parking
Getting around
- Conímbriga, south of the city, with parking next to the ruins
- Penacova, the kayak put-in point, upriver
Where to eat
- Weekend brunch at Quinta das Lágrimas
- Fangas, on the climb up to the Alta
Services
- Electronic tolls on some motorways: register your number plate
Flying to Porto or Lisbon, then the train to Coimbra
Coimbra sits halfway between Portugal's two big airports, both with direct flights from Madrid, Barcelona and other Spanish cities. From either, the fast train gets you to Coimbra-B in about an hour from Porto or a little more from Lisbon.
- Getting therePorto (OPO), metro to the…
- Getting aroundOn foot around the city
- Where to staySapientia Boutique Hotel, next to…
- ServicesCoimbra-B and Coimbra A stations
Getting there
- Porto (OPO), metro to the centre and the Alfa Pendular from Campanhã
- Lisbon (LIS), metro to Oriente and a train north
Getting around
- On foot around the city
- Hire car at the airport if you want to add Conímbriga or the Serra da Estrela
Where to stay
- Sapientia Boutique Hotel, next to the university
- Serenata Hostel, in the Sé Velha
Services
- Coimbra-B and Coimbra A stations
How much does it cost?
People2
Nights3
Who you're with
Coimbra for whoever you're with
A trip with a toddler is not the same as one with a teenager. Pick yours to see what works and what to bear in mind.
Coimbra with the family, from the miniature country to the river
Coimbra combines a city day and a river day well. The little ones have their park of small houses beside the Mondego; the older ones, a kayak descent and some Roman ruins with mosaics.
- What works bestPortugal dos Pequenitos, child-sized houses
- Where to stayIn the Baixa, flat and…
- Where to eatPastry shops in the Baixa…
- Worth knowingThe Alta has slopes and…
What works best
- Portugal dos Pequenitos, child-sized houses
- Kayaking the Mondego, with a middle seat for the smallest
- The mosaics and baths of Conímbriga
- The university, with its courtyard and gilded library
Where to stay
- In the Baixa, flat and near the river and the station
Where to eat
- Pastry shops in the Baixa with pastéis de Santa Clara
- Picnic on the Mondego's river beaches
Worth knowing
- The Alta has slopes and steps: a baby carrier is better than a pushchair
- On the kayak, under-15s pay €20
- Bring swimwear for the river in summer
What to do as a family
Coimbra for teenagers, the students' city
It is a city made by and for students, with black capes in the street and life in the Alta. A teenager gets hooked on seeing what a real university is like and on paddling down a river.
- What works bestKayaking the Mondego, 18 km…
- Where to stayIn the Baixa, to get…
- Where to eatStudent taverns in the Alta
- Worth knowingFrom age 16 they pay…
What works best
- Kayaking the Mondego, 18 km with stops for swimming
- The university, with the Joanina Library and the cabinet of curiosities
- The Roman ruins of Conímbriga
Where to stay
- In the Baixa, to get around on foot
Where to eat
- Student taverns in the Alta
Worth knowing
- From age 16 they pay as adults on the kayak
What to do with teenagers
Where to stay
Where to stay without a carif you're drivingif you're flying
We show you what suits the way you travel.Change how you travel
Quinta das Lágrimas
Why we like it: A five-star hotel in the palace and gardens of Pedro and Inês, across the Mondego, with palace, garden and spa rooms, golf and a pool.
Serenata Hostel
Why we like it: A hostel with 22 rooms on Largo da Sé Velha, in the heart of the Alta, with dormitories, doubles and suites with private bathrooms, a terrace and 24-hour reception.
Sapientia Boutique Hotel
Why we like it: A boutique hotel with 22 rooms and apartments beside the university, in the Alta, with a rooftop over Coimbra and the Tasca das Tias Camellas.
Services for this trip
Where to eat
Where to eat in Coimbra
From set lunch menus to Michelin stars. We mark the price level and what to order at each place.
Fangas Mercearia Bar
What to order: several petiscos to share, such as the gratinéed mushrooms, and a wine from Bairrada or Dão.
Café Santa Cruz
What to order: a coffee with the crúzio, the house sweet, made to an old recipe of the monks.
Quinta das Lágrimas restaurant and the Palace brunch
What to order: the weekend brunch, in the palace and with a stroll through the gardens of Pedro and Inês.
Nearby
Near Coimbra
The closest places, whichever country they are in.
39.60° N · 8.42° W
Tomar
By carCar-freeBy plane
39.63° N · 8.67° W
Fátima and Batalha
By carBy plane
40.40° N · 7.53° W
Serra da Estrela
By carLuxuryOn footBy plane
39.60° N · 9.07° W
Nazaré
By carBy plane
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Library first thing
Buy your ticket as soon as you arrive and choose the first free slot at the Joanina.
- 2Sleep in the Baixa
It is flat, by the river and next to the city-centre station.
- 3Coimbra fado at night
Here it is sung by men, in student capes. Look for a session in the Alta.
A car in the Alta
The streets are narrow and steep, and parking is almost impossible. Go up on foot.
How do you get there from Spain?
By car, via Vilar Formoso and the A25 to Viseu and then south: about five and a half hours from Madrid and a little over three from Salamanca. By train, from Lisbon or Porto, the Alfa Pendular and Intercidades stop at Coimbra-B, and a short train takes you to the city-centre station.
How do you get around Coimbra?
On foot, but uphill: the Baixa is by the river and the university is up high. Go up by Quebra-Costas and come down another way. For Conímbriga, 15 km away, and for kayaking at Penacova you need a car, although the kayak company includes transport for the descent.
What should you book in advance?
The university ticket with the Joanina Library, which is visited at set times in small groups and sells out in summer and at weekends. The kayak on the Mondego, a day ahead. In May, during the students' Queima das Fitas, accommodation fills up.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to visit the university?
€16.50 with the Joanina Library and the Science Museum; €12.50 without the library.
How many days do I need?
One day for the university and the Alta; another for Conímbriga or kayaking on the Mondego.
Is it a good destination with children?
Yes: Portugal dos Pequenitos for the little ones, kayaking on the Mondego for everyone and the mosaics of Conímbriga for the curious.
Can you go by train from Lisbon?
Yes. Fast trains take about two hours to Coimbra-B.
What is the Queima das Fitas?
The students' end-of-year festival, in May, with parades and concerts. The city fills up.