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The façade of Café Santa Cruz, the former church of São João beside the Santa Cruz monastery, with its terrace on the squareNunoSalgueiro96 · CC BY-SA 4.0

What to do · Coimbra

Coimbra fado at Café Santa Cruz

Coimbra fado sessions every day in a café inside a former church, beside the Santa Cruz monastery. Free entry. 1 h

InformationFree entry
Price
Free entry
Duration
1 h
Season
All year; at 18:00 and 22:00, on Sunday only at 18:00
Who it's for
Everyone; children cope well with the 18:00 session

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.

As a familyWith teenagers

Directions See all of Coimbra

Opening hours and prices can change: check them before you go.

Round off the plan

Where to eat, where to stay and what else to do

To eat nearby

The neo-Manueline façade of the café at dusk, with the stained glass lit and the terrace full© Café Santa Cruz

Café Santa Cruz

Café · Coimbra · €€€€

What to order: a coffee with the crúzio, the house sweet, made to an old recipe of the monks.

The Fangas dining room, with checked tables, wood and pictures on the walls© Fangas

Fangas Mercearia Bar

Restaurant · Coimbra · €€€€

What to order: several petiscos to share, such as the gratinéed mushrooms, and a wine from Bairrada or Dão.

To stay nearby

A double room at the hostel© Serenata HostelHostel

Serenata Hostel

Largo da Sé Velha · 22 rooms · Dormitories and doubles · Terrace · 24-hour reception

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.

View details
The hotel's wooden rooftop with tables and the buildings of the Alta© Sapientia Boutique HotelSmall hotel

Sapientia Boutique Hotel

Alta, beside the university · 22 rooms and apartments · Rooftop with views · Own tasca

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.

View details
The white façade of the Quinta das Lágrimas palace with its staircase© Quinta das LágrimasHotel

Quinta das Lágrimas

South bank of the Mondego · Palace and botanical garden · Spa · Golf · Pool

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.

View details

Useful services

More to do nearby

Itineraries

Features in these plans

University of Coimbra tower above the Alta
Day itinerary Coimbra: Joanina, brunch and fado Coimbra · 5 stops

Geocaliahttps://www.geocalia.com/en/portugal/central-portugal/coimbra/things-to-do/santa-cruz-fado