# Coimbra

A city on the banks of the Mondego and Portugal's medieval capital. Its university, settled here for good in 1537 and a World Heritage Site since 2013, holds the Joanina Library; upstream, the river is paddled by kayak from Penacova.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/portugal/central-portugal/coimbra · Revisado: 2026-11-12

## 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.

## Dónde está
- Zonas: Historic bookshops and libraries of Europe
- Cerca: Tomar (a 67.0 km), Fátima and Batalha (a 67.2 km), Serra da Estrela (a 77.8 km), Nazaré (a 87.3 km)

## Qué hacer
- **University of Coimbra and the Joanina Library** (3 h · Everyone; take your time in the library · Desde 12.5 € per adult, without the Joanina Library): The university is not a museum: students cross the courtyard in black capes while you tour its halls. What you will see is the historic heart, the Paço das Escolas, and one of the most beautiful libraries in Europe.
What it is and why it is worth it
The University of Coimbra settled in 1537 in the former royal palace, on top of the Alta hill, and it is still there. The Paço das Escolas, the group of buildings around the great courtyard, brings together the essentials: the Sala dos Capelos, where formal ceremonies and doctorates are held; the Chapel of São Miguel, with its Baroque organ; and the 18th-century Joanina Library, three rooms of gilded and lacquered wood, lined with shelves to the ceiling full of old books. Next door, the Science Museum occupies the former chemistry laboratory and includes the academic museum, a cabinet of curiosities and a mineral gallery.
It is a place still in use. You will see students in their black capes, and on some days academic ceremonies close rooms or change the route.
Which ticket to choose
The full ticket, of about three hours, includes the Joanina Library, the royal palace, the chapel, the chemistry laboratory, the academic museum, the cabinet of curiosities and the mineral gallery: €16.50. Without the library, in about two and a half hours, €12.50. The guided tour of the Paço das Escolas lasts an hour and a half and costs €25; it leaves from the sales kiosk opposite the Faculty of Medicine. There are also guided tours of the Botanical Garden, at €10, and a ticket combining the Science Museum with the UC Exploratório science centre, at €16. None are refundable.
Who it is for
Anyone passing through Coimbra: it is the city's main visit. Teenagers like the Joanina and the cabinet of curiosities. With reduced mobility, take care: the royal palace is not wheelchair accessible and is not recommended if you have difficulty walking, and in the Joanina wheelchair access is limited to the main floor; tell the staff. Animals are not allowed except assistance dogs, and under-18s must be accompanied by an adult.
Getting there
The university is at the top of the city. From the Baixa, walk up Rua Quebra-Costas, which passes the Sé Velha: it is steep, but the prettiest route. The ticket office is on Rua Larga, beside the courtyard. You reach Coimbra by CP train or Rede Expressos bus from Lisbon and Porto.
Opening hours and when to go
The ticket office opens every day from 9:00 to 17:00. The Joanina, the chapel and the royal palace open from 9:00 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 17:00, with last entries around 12:40 and 16:40 for the library. It closes on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January, and also on some days of academic celebrations. The university tower is closed. Go on a weekday to see the university at work, and in high season buy your ticket as soon as you arrive: the Joanina is visited at a fixed time and slots sell out.
If it rains
It is a good plan for rain: almost the whole visit is indoors. Leave the Botanical Garden, which can be visited in any weather but is more enjoyable dry, for another time.
- **Kayaking the Mondego from Penacova to Coimbra** (4 h · 18 km · All ages with an adult; no experience needed · Desde 20 € per child up to 15; adults from €22): This is a gentle paddling river, not white water: you float downstream, with stops on sandy beaches to swim and eat. For anyone who has never picked up a paddle, it is the best way to see the valley.
What it is and why it is worth it
Upstream of Coimbra, the Mondego runs through a valley hemmed in by pine and eucalyptus hills, with villages on the slopes, old mills and sandy river beaches. The easiest way to take it in is to let the river carry you: the company takes you and the kayaks up to Penacova and from there you paddle down at your own pace, without being stuck to a group, to Torres do Mondego, 18 km away, or all the way to Coimbra itself, 25 km.
O Pioneiro do Mondego has been doing this since 1988. It was founded by two Belgian teachers, Dirk and Kristien, and is still a family business based in Penacova, with local guides who speak several languages. It has single and double kayaks, both the closed kind and sit-on-top ones, and open canoes.
Who it is for
All ages with an adult, no previous experience needed. It works for families, groups of friends and large groups: the company works with school groups, scouts and businesses. Small children can ride in the middle seat of a two-adult kayak. If you are on your own, you can take a single kayak for a supplement. And if you have a dog, it can come down with you too. It is sensible to be able to swim: although the river is calm, you will be spending hours on the water.
It is not for anyone after thrills: there are no real rapids, just the odd stretch with more current.
Getting there
O Pioneiro do Mondego's base is at Rua da Calçada 21, in Cheira, Penacova, with its own facilities and parking. Penacova is upstream of Coimbra, a short drive up the Mondego valley. When you book, confirm where you will leave your car and at what time: the company arranges transport to the starting point.
When to go
There are descents every day. It is most pleasant from late spring to early autumn, when you will want to swim at the river beaches. In high summer, the river is busier at weekends. In spring, the flow can be stronger and the water is cold: ask the company about river conditions.
What it costs in total
The price per person falls as the group gets bigger: €35 if you are on your own, €30 as a couple, €25 for 3 to 10 people, €24 for 10 to 30 and €22 for groups of more than 30. Children up to 15 pay €20, and those in the middle seat, €10. Students and scouts, €24. The long stretch to Coimbra costs €5 more per person, a single kayak has a €5 supplement and a dog is €10. It includes transport, equipment, insurance and VAT. Add a €5 refundable deposit for the waterproof barrel, and whatever food you bring.
If it rains
In light rain you go anyway and you will get wet regardless, but do not set out in a storm or when the river is in spate. If the day does not cooperate, in Coimbra you have the university and the Joanina Library, almost all of it indoors.
- **The Roman ruins of Conímbriga and their mosaics** (2 h · Everyone · General admission €10): What it is and why it matters
Conímbriga was one of the most important Roman cities in Lusitania. It lies about 16 km south of Coimbra, 2 km from Condeixa-a-Nova. The site had been inhabited since the Bronze Age; under Augustus, at the end of the 1st century BC, it became a city, and under Vespasian it gained the rank of municipium. The Suebi sacked it in 465 and came back in 467 and 468; most of its inhabitants then moved to what is now Coimbra, which took its name. It has been a National Monument since 1910, and the museum opened in 1962; since 2017 it has been the Museu Nacional de Conímbriga. Only part of the ancient city has been excavated and opened to the public.
What you see

The House of the Fountains (Casa dos Repuxos): the jewel of the visit. A large house with mosaic floors, traces of wall painting and a central garden with a pool full of fountains. It is covered to protect the mosaics and is visited along walkways.
Mosaics in situ in other houses, with figurative and geometric motifs.
The late Roman wall, which cuts the city in two: it was built late, when the city strengthened its defences, and runs over houses and other buildings.
The House of Cantaber, one of the largest residences on the site.
The forum and baths, from the time of Augustus, supplied by the aqueduct that brought water from Alcabideque.
The museum, beside the entrance, with what came out of the excavations: everyday objects and pieces from the forum, the houses, trade, religion and the Suebi-Visigothic period.

Opening hours, closures and price
Open every day from 10:00 to 18:00; the ticket office closes at 17:15. It is closed on 1 January, Easter Sunday, 1 May, 24 July and 24 and 25 December.
General admission costs €10 and includes the ruins and the museum. You buy it at the ticket office or through the online sales of Museus e Monumentos de Portugal. For discounts and free entry, check its website.
Storms in the winter of 2026 forced some areas to close at times: if you go in the rainy season, call or write to the museum first.
How long to allow
Allow two hours: a good hour for the site and half an hour for the museum. If you are interested in mosaics, a little longer.
Getting there and parking
By car, leave Coimbra heading south on the A1 or the IC2 towards Condeixa-a-Nova and follow the signs to Conímbriga; it takes about 20 minutes. There is parking beside the museum entrance. Without a car, the option is the bus from Coimbra to Condeixa-a-Nova, about 2 km from the ruins; check times beforehand, because services are limited.
Facilities and accessibility
By the entrance there is a shop, a restaurant and a library. On the ruins the ground is uneven, with stones and changes of level: with a wheelchair or pushchair, ask the museum beforehand which areas are passable.
With children
From about 7 or 8 years old they enjoy it: houses where you can see the layout of each room, the fountain pool and mosaics with animals. Almost the whole visit is outdoors with little shade: in summer, go first thing and take water and a hat.
- **Portugal dos Pequenitos, the country in miniature** (2 h · Children aged 3 to 10): What it is
Portugal dos Pequenitos is a park with the country in miniature, on the south bank of the Mondego, opposite the centre of Coimbra. It was the idea of the doctor Bissaya Barreto in 1938, designed by the architect Cassiano Branco, and opened on 8 June 1940. It is run by the Fundação Bissaya Barreto. It was conceived as a place of play and education for children, and it still is: the houses, palaces and churches are built at children's scale, with doors that little ones walk through standing up and adults have to stoop.
It is worth knowing that it was born during the Estado Novo and that part of the park reflects that era's vision of the country, especially in the area dedicated to the former colonies.
What you see
The park is divided into seven areas:

Casas Regionais: the first to be built. Typical houses from the different regions of Portugal.
Coimbra: replicas of the city's monuments.
Portugal Monumental: scaled-down versions of monuments from all over the country.
Countries with Portuguese as an Official Language: pavilions of Brazil and the African and Asian Portuguese-speaking countries.
Portugal Insular: the Azores and Madeira.
Casa da Criança and playground, for the youngest to play.

Inside there are also three small museums: the Costume, the Navy and the Furniture museums.
Opening hours and closures
Open every day from 10:00. From 1 March to 15 October it closes at 19:00; from 16 October to the last day of February, at 17:00. Last entry is half an hour before closing. It is closed only on 25 December.
Tickets
You buy them at the ticket office or through the online sales on its website, which also publishes the full price list, with fares by age and family options. Children under 16 may only enter accompanied by an adult. Animals are not allowed, except assistance dogs.
How long to allow
Allow about two hours with children; with small children who stop at every little house, a bit longer. If you go without children, an hour is enough to see it all.
Getting there
The park is at Largo do Rossio de Santa Clara. From the Baixa, walk across the Santa Clara bridge and carry straight on for a few minutes: a quarter of an hour on foot in all. If you drive, look for parking around the Rossio de Santa Clara. The ruins of the Santa Clara-a-Velha monastery are very close.
With children
It is the Coimbra visit designed for them, especially ages 3 to 10: going into the houses, climbing small staircases and recognising monuments they will later see for real. Take water and a hat in summer, because much of the visit is outdoors. The park has no left-luggage: travel light. For the rest of the day, the climb to the Alta is on the other side of the bridge, and in summer the kayak down the Mondego is another option for families with older children.
- **From the Baixa to the Alta via Quebra-Costas and the Sé Velha** (1 h · 1 km · Legs for a steep climb · Self-guided · free): What it is
Coimbra has two levels: the Baixa, beside the Mondego, with its shopping streets and cafés, and the Alta, on top of the hill, with the old cathedral and the university. This walk links the two by the traditional route: the medieval Almedina gate, the steep Rua de Quebra-Costas and the Sé Velha, as far as the Pátio das Escolas. It is roughly a kilometre, almost all uphill, and takes an hour with stops.
The route step by step

Rua Ferreira Borges and the Almedina Arch. Start on the Baixa's main pedestrian street. Halfway along, on the right, the Almedina Arch opens up, the main gate of the old city wall, beneath the tower of the same name. Its name comes from the Arabic al-madina, the city. As you pass through it, you begin to climb.
Escadas de Quebra-Costas. After the arch, the street turns into steps and ramps between narrow houses, with craft shops, bars and the odd fado venue. Its name means "back-breaker" and you will understand why within five minutes. Go slowly and look at the façades, the tiles and the views that open out towards the Baixa.
The Sé Velha. At the top of the slope the old cathedral appears, looking like a castle: high walls topped with battlements and few windows, typical of a church built in the middle of the Reconquista. It was begun after 1139 on the orders of Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal, and is one of the most important Romanesque buildings in the country. On its north side is the Porta Especiosa, a Renaissance doorway by João de Ruão from the 1530s. Inside are the Romanesque church and the 13th-century Gothic cloister. It has been a National Monument since 1910.
Towards the university. From the Sé square, the lanes keep climbing between student houses, the repúblicas, to the Sé Nova and the Machado de Castro National Museum. One last stretch brings you to the Paço das Escolas, the university courtyard, with the clock tower and the view over the river. This is where the visit to the university and the Joanina Library begins.

Distance, climb and difficulty
A little over a kilometre from the Baixa to the Paço das Escolas, climbing from the riverbank to the top of the hill. It is not hard, but the Quebra-Costas steps are uneven and slippery when it rains: wear shoes with a good sole. To come down, you can go back the same way or take other streets to the Baixa.
Price and hours
The walk is free. You go inside the Sé Velha with a ticket; hours and price vary according to the day and religious services, so check them at the cathedral itself. The university has its own ticket sales.
When to go
All year round. In summer, climb first thing or in the late afternoon: the slope in the sun is tiring. At night, Quebra-Costas has a bar atmosphere and sometimes fado. During the Queima das Fitas, the May student festival, the centre is packed.
With children, a pushchair or a dog
With children it is a good walk if they go on foot; with a pushchair, the steps make it very hard going, so a baby carrier is better. With a dog, no problem in the street, but not inside the monuments. If someone cannot manage the slope, there are lifts and city buses that go up to the Alta: ask at the tourist office.
To round off the day
On the other side of the river, across the Santa Clara bridge, is Portugal dos Pequenitos, if you are travelling with children. And if you stay longer, the Roman ruins of Conímbriga are 20 minutes away by car.
- **Coimbra fado at Café Santa Cruz** (1 h · Everyone; children cope well with the 18:00 session · Free entry): Coimbra fado is the students' fado: it is sung by men, in black capes, and listened to in silence. Café Santa Cruz, on Praça 8 de Maio, occupies a space in the former church of the Santa Cruz monastery, and schedules sessions every day at 18:00 and 22:00, except the 22:00 one on Sunday. Entry is free; order something at the bar and try the crúzio, the house sweet.

## Dónde comer
- **Fangas Mercearia Bar** (Restaurant, Coimbra, €€). Qué pedir: several petiscos to share, such as the gratinéed mushrooms, and a wine from Bairrada or Dão.
- **Café Santa Cruz** (Café, Coimbra, €). Qué pedir: a coffee with the crúzio, the house sweet, made to an old recipe of the monks.
- **Quinta das Lágrimas restaurant and the Palace brunch** (Restaurant, Coimbra, €€€€). Qué pedir: the weekend brunch, in the palace and with a stroll through the gardens of Pedro and Inês.

## Car-free: 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.
Presupuesto orientativo: 55–100 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir without a car
- **Serenata Hostel** (Hostel): Sleeping beside the Sé Velha
The Serenata Hostel is on Largo da Sé Velha, the square of the Romanesque cathedral, halfway between the Baixa and the university: the place where the students' serenade is sung at night. It has 22 rooms, with no lift.
The rooms
There is a bit of everything: dormitories of six, eight or ten bunks, mixed or female; bunks in a double room, with private or shared bathroom; doubles with shared or private bathroom, from 13 to 20 m²; suites with private bathroom and a bunk for three; and a room for four with single beds. All have air conditioning and heating; there is a terrace, laundry, safe, a breakfast option, free wifi and 24-hour reception.
Getting there
From Coimbra A station or the Baixa, walk up the Quebra-Costas to the Sé Velha: it is slope and steps, so a small suitcase is better. By car, leave the car in a car park in the Baixa: the Alta has narrow streets.
- **Sapientia Boutique Hotel** (Small hotel): Books and wine beside the university
The Sapientia is in the Alta, next to the university, on Rua José Falcão. It is a boutique hotel with a literary air, part of The Editory Collection Hotels, with 22 rooms and apartments of several types. Its rooftop looks towards the university tower and, at sunset, the Mondego.
Eating and drinking
It has its own tasca, the Tasca das Tias Camellas, with a wooden bar and wine shelves, and a buffet breakfast with pastries and local produce. The rooftop works as a bar with views.
Getting there
It is the place to stay to see the university and the Joanina Library first thing without climbing hills. From Coimbra A station or the Baixa it is a 15-minute walk uphill; by car, the Alta has narrow streets with restricted access, so ask when you book where to park.
### Servicios
- **Coimbra-B and Coimbra A stations**: Coimbra-B, on the Lisbon – Porto Alfa Pendular and Intercidades line; from there, a connection to Coimbra A, beside the Baixa.

## By car: 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.
Presupuesto orientativo: 70–130 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir if you're driving
- **Quinta das Lágrimas** (Hotel): Sleeping in the history of Pedro and Inês
The Quinta das Lágrimas is a palace with a collection of centuries-old gardens on the south bank of the Mondego, the setting of the love affair of Pedro and Inês de Castro. It is a five-star hotel with three types of room: the Palace ones, with historic, individually styled decoration; the Garden ones, renovated in contemporary style and looking onto the botanical garden; and the Spa ones, of modern design, with views of the estate's woods and Coimbra. All have wooden floors.
What it has
Spa, a pool for the summer, a golf course on the estate itself and the restaurant of chef Vítor Dias. In summer the terraces and garden are used for eating outdoors. At weekends, brunch in the palace.
Getting there and what is nearby
By car, crossing the Santa Clara bridge. From the estate you can walk to Portugal dos Pequenitos and the Santa Clara-a-Velha convent; for the Alta and the university, cross the river on foot or by taxi.
- **Sapientia Boutique Hotel** (Small hotel): Books and wine beside the university
The Sapientia is in the Alta, next to the university, on Rua José Falcão. It is a boutique hotel with a literary air, part of The Editory Collection Hotels, with 22 rooms and apartments of several types. Its rooftop looks towards the university tower and, at sunset, the Mondego.
Eating and drinking
It has its own tasca, the Tasca das Tias Camellas, with a wooden bar and wine shelves, and a buffet breakfast with pastries and local produce. The rooftop works as a bar with views.
Getting there
It is the place to stay to see the university and the Joanina Library first thing without climbing hills. From Coimbra A station or the Baixa it is a 15-minute walk uphill; by car, the Alta has narrow streets with restricted access, so ask when you book where to park.

## By plane: 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.
### Dónde dormir if you're flying
- **Quinta das Lágrimas** (Hotel): Sleeping in the history of Pedro and Inês
The Quinta das Lágrimas is a palace with a collection of centuries-old gardens on the south bank of the Mondego, the setting of the love affair of Pedro and Inês de Castro. It is a five-star hotel with three types of room: the Palace ones, with historic, individually styled decoration; the Garden ones, renovated in contemporary style and looking onto the botanical garden; and the Spa ones, of modern design, with views of the estate's woods and Coimbra. All have wooden floors.
What it has
Spa, a pool for the summer, a golf course on the estate itself and the restaurant of chef Vítor Dias. In summer the terraces and garden are used for eating outdoors. At weekends, brunch in the palace.
Getting there and what is nearby
By car, crossing the Santa Clara bridge. From the estate you can walk to Portugal dos Pequenitos and the Santa Clara-a-Velha convent; for the Alta and the university, cross the river on foot or by taxi.
- **Serenata Hostel** (Hostel): Sleeping beside the Sé Velha
The Serenata Hostel is on Largo da Sé Velha, the square of the Romanesque cathedral, halfway between the Baixa and the university: the place where the students' serenade is sung at night. It has 22 rooms, with no lift.
The rooms
There is a bit of everything: dormitories of six, eight or ten bunks, mixed or female; bunks in a double room, with private or shared bathroom; doubles with shared or private bathroom, from 13 to 20 m²; suites with private bathroom and a bunk for three; and a room for four with single beds. All have air conditioning and heating; there is a terrace, laundry, safe, a breakfast option, free wifi and 24-hour reception.
Getting there
From Coimbra A station or the Baixa, walk up the Quebra-Costas to the Sé Velha: it is slope and steps, so a small suitcase is better. By car, leave the car in a car park in the Baixa: the Alta has narrow streets.
- **Sapientia Boutique Hotel** (Small hotel): Books and wine beside the university
The Sapientia is in the Alta, next to the university, on Rua José Falcão. It is a boutique hotel with a literary air, part of The Editory Collection Hotels, with 22 rooms and apartments of several types. Its rooftop looks towards the university tower and, at sunset, the Mondego.
Eating and drinking
It has its own tasca, the Tasca das Tias Camellas, with a wooden bar and wine shelves, and a buffet breakfast with pastries and local produce. The rooftop works as a bar with views.
Getting there
It is the place to stay to see the university and the Joanina Library first thing without climbing hills. From Coimbra A station or the Baixa it is a 15-minute walk uphill; by car, the Alta has narrow streets with restricted access, so ask when you book where to park.
### Servicios
- **Coimbra-B and Coimbra A stations**: Coimbra-B, on the Lisbon – Porto Alfa Pendular and Intercidades line; from there, a connection to Coimbra A, beside the Baixa.

## As a family: 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 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

### Qué hacer as a family
- University of Coimbra and the Joanina Library
- Kayaking the Mondego from Penacova to Coimbra
- The Roman ruins of Conímbriga and their mosaics
- Portugal dos Pequenitos, the country in miniature
- Coimbra fado at Café Santa Cruz

## With teenagers: 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 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

### Qué hacer with teenagers
- University of Coimbra and the Joanina Library
- Kayaking the Mondego from Penacova to Coimbra
- The Roman ruins of Conímbriga and their mosaics
- Coimbra fado at Café Santa Cruz

## Consejos

### Library first thing
Buy your ticket as soon as you arrive and choose the first free slot at the Joanina.

### Sleep in the Baixa
It is flat, by the river and next to the city-centre station.

### Coimbra fado at night
Here it is sung by men, in student capes. Look for a session in the Alta.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### 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.