# A Sunday in Coimbra from Lisbon: University, Brunch at Quinta das Lágrimas and Fado

Train or car to Coimbra, the university and the Joanina Library in the morning, brunch at Quinta das Lágrimas and the Sunday fado session at Café Santa Cruz.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/portugal/central-portugal/coimbra/itineraries/university-brunch-and-fado-from-lisbon · Revisado: 2026-11-12

## El día
- 07:30 · Salida: 2 h by car (A1 or train to Coimbra-B)
- 09:45 · From the Baixa to the Alta via Quebra-Costas and the Sé Velha (from the Baixa to the university via Quebra-Costas)
  - 6 min on foot
- 10:15 · University of Coimbra and the Joanina Library (with the Joanina, €16.50 · fixed time at the library)
  - 15 min on foot
- 13:00 · Quinta das Lágrimas restaurant and the Palace brunch (weekend brunch, from 12:00 to 15:00 · book) · Quinta das Lágrimas restaurant and the Palace brunch, €€€€
  - 8 min on foot
- 15:30 · Portugal dos Pequenitos, the country in miniature (on the other side of the river, if you are with children)
  - 15 min on foot
- 18:00 · Coimbra fado at Café Santa Cruz (on Sunday only at 18:00)
- 19:00 · Vuelta (you reach Lisbon around 21:15)

Coimbra is the long day trip from Lisbon: about 200 km along the A1, or the Alfa Pendular. It is worth the early start on a Sunday: the university at the top of the hill, with the Joanina Library, the weekend brunch at Quinta das Lágrimas, home of the legend of Pedro and Inês, and the Sunday-afternoon Coimbra fado session in a café that used to be a church.

## The day, hour by hour

7:30 · Departure. By car, the A1, a little over two hours. By train, the Alfa Pendular or Intercidades to Coimbra-B and the connection to Coimbra A, next to the Baixa.

9:45 · The Alta on foot. A one-kilometre climb through the Arco de Almedina, the Quebra-Costas stairway and the Romanesque Sé Velha.

10:15 · University and Joanina Library. The full ticket, with the Joanina, costs €16.50; without it, €12.50. The library, chapel and palace are open from 9:00 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 17:00, and the Joanina runs on fixed times: pick yours when you buy.

13:00 · Brunch at Quinta das Lágrimas. Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00 to 15:00, in the quinta's palace, on the other side of the Mondego. Book.

15:30 · Portugal dos Pequenitos. If you are with children, the 1940 park with Portugal on a child's scale is near the quinta; it is open daily from 10:00.

18:00 · Fado at Café Santa Cruz. On Sunday there is a single session, at 18:00, in the café inside a former church next to the Santa Cruz monastery.

19:00 · Heading back. You are in Lisbon around 21:15.

## Cómo llegar

### By car
A1, about 200 km, a little over two hours.

### Without a car
CP Alfa Pendular or Intercidades to Coimbra-B, and a connection to Coimbra A.

## Consejos

### Buy the Joanina with an early time
The library has a limited capacity and fixed times.

### Get to the fado early
The Sunday session is the only one of the day.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### Is Coimbra worth it in a day from Lisbon?
Yes, if you leave early: it is about two hours each way.

### How much does the university cost?
€16.50 with the Joanina Library; €12.50 without it.

### Is there fado on Sundays?
Yes, at Café Santa Cruz at 18:00.