10 must-see places to visit in Coimbra

This list of places to see in Coimbra will help you make the most of your time in one of Portugal's most beautiful cities.
Located south of Porto and crossed by the Mondego River, this prestigious university city full of good atmosphere at all hours, is perfect to spend a few days visiting its oldest buildings and churches, strolling through the steep streets of the historic centre, relaxing in its gardens and enjoying delicious local dishes such as cod with cream or octopus al lagareiro.

Among the best excursions from Porto and one of the most charming cities to visit in Portugal, we have compiled this list of the 10 must-see places to visit in Coimbra.

1. University of Coimbra

One of the best things to do in Coimbra is to enter the University, the oldest in Portugal, to see some of its gems such as the impressive Joanina Library.
Situated high above the city, overlooking the Mondego River, this prestigious university was founded in 1290 and declared a World Heritage Site in 2013.
One of the most beautiful parts of the architectural complex is the Paço das Escolas, which has several monuments set around a large courtyard with a tall tower overlooking the city.
One of its most important buildings is the Royal Palace, which has several rooms worth visiting, such as the Sala dos Capelos, the Sala do Examen Privado, the Sala das Armas and the Chapel of San Miguel with a magnificent organ. But nothing compares to the beauty of the 18th century rococo-style Joanina Library, which is enchanting with its wooden shelves full of antique books and its painted ceilings.
An interesting way to learn about the history of this building is to book this guided tour with an English-speaking guide.

Visiting hours: daily from 9am to 12.45pm and from 1.45pm to 4.30pm from November to February, the rest of the months from 9am to 7pm.

University of Coimbra

2. Old Cathedral

The Old Cathedral, or Sé Velha, is one of the most beautiful Romanesque monuments in the country and another of the places to see in Coimbra.
Completed in the mid-12th century, this church is the only surviving church from the Reconquest period and although its exterior resembles a small castle with battlements on top of its walls, inside it houses a beautiful Gothic cloister.
Other notable architectural elements are the Porta Especiosa, a magnificent Renaissance-style portico on the north façade, and the capitals decorated with Romanesque motifs.
A good way to get to know the history of the city and not miss anything important is to book this free tour of Coimbra with a guide in English or this private tour where you can choose the itinerary.

Visiting hours: Monday to Friday from 10h to 17:30h, Saturdays closed at 18:30 and Sundays from 11h to 17h.

Old Cathedral of Coimbra

3. Historical centre

The historic centre, which stretches around a hill and abounds in steep streets, is another place to visit in Coimbra.
Starting with the popular Praça do Comércio, flanked by the churches of Sao Bartolomeu and Sao Tiago, you can wander through its narrow streets surrounded by historic buildings and find the most charming corners that are not in any guidebook.
One of the most commercial streets is Rua Ferreira Borges, which connects the Mondego River with the 8 de Maio Square, one of the main squares in the city and where the fantastic Santa Cruz Monastery is located. Also, in this square you can't miss the Café Santa Cruz, with a beautiful entrance and an interior full of tiles.
Another of the squares to feel the great student atmosphere of the city is the Praça da República, full of terraces to have a drink at sunset.
In the evening, we recommend dining on traditional food while listening to a good fado in A Capella, an old chapel that has been converted into a restaurant. If you can't find a seat, you can book this other Fado show that takes place in the Fado Ao Centro hall.
Other good places to eat in Coimbra and try typical dishes are Sete Restaurante and No Tacho.

Streets to see in Coimbra

4. Botanical Garden, one of the places to see in Coimbra

The Botanical Garden, located next to the 16th century Aqueduct of San Sebastian, is another must-see in Coimbra.
Founded by the Marquis of Pombal in 1773, this tree-lined green space will take you away from the hustle and bustle of the city with pleasant strolls along its pretty paths and a view of some of its magnificent fountains. Among the plant species you will find are tropical plants, ornamental plants, succulents and several collections of daffodils and conifers, among many others.

Visiting hours: every day from 9am to 5pm from October to March, the rest of the months from 9am to 8pm.

Strolling through the Botanical Garden, one of the things to do in Coimbra.

5. Santa Cruz Monastery

Walking along Rua Ferreira Borges until you reach Praça 8 de Maio and seeing the impressive façade of the Santa Cruz Monastery is another of the best things to do in Coimbra.
Founded by the Order of Regular Canons of St. Augustine in 1131, this Romanesque temple has become a National Pantheon as D. Afonso Henriques and D. Sancho I, the first kings of Portugal, are buried here.
In addition to carefully observing all the architectural elements of the 11th-century façade, it is worth visiting the interior to see the Cloister of Silence, the Chapel of the Martyrs of Morocco and the Main Chapel, where the royal tombs are located.
On leaving the monastery don't forget to visit the Jardim da Manga, a magnificent Renaissance work with several fountains and small pools around it.

Visiting hours: Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, Saturdays from 9am to 12pm and from 2pm to 5pm and Sundays from 4pm to 5.30pm.

Monastery of Santa Cruz

Our recommended hotel in Coimbra

Our recommended hotel for exploring the city is the Solar Antigo Luxury Coimbra, located in the historic centre, a 10-minute walk from the train station. In addition to its great location, the hotel offers spacious and comfortable rooms, a varied breakfast and friendly staff.
Other well located hotels with one of the best quality/price ratios in the city are the AQ 188 Guest House, the Moderna and the Casa dos Carvalhos.

6. Monastery of Santa Clara, one of the things to do in Coimbra.

Crossing the river over the Santa Clara Bridge or the Pedro e Inês Bridge, as well as having fantastic views of the city, you will reach the Monastery of Santa Clara Santa a Velha and then the New Monastery, two more on the list of must-sees in Coimbra.
The Monastery or Convent of Santa Clara-a-Velha, built in 1314, had the great problem of being located very close to the Mondego River, so it suffered frequent floods, which caused that in the 17th century the nuns moved to the new Convent of Santa Clara and it was abandoned. After a thorough restoration, the lower part of the church and the cloister were brought to light.
The Monastery of Santa Clara a Nova stands out for its large cloister and the Mannerist church, which houses the silver coffin containing the body of Queen Isabella.

Visiting hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 19:00 from April to October, the rest of the months it closes at 17h.

Monastery of Santa Clara

7. Quinta das Lágrimas

One of the most beautiful and romantic places to visit in Coimbra is the Quinta das Lágrimas, the scene of a love story that has marked the history of the country, between the Infante Pedro of Portugal and Inês de Castro, his wife's lady-in-waiting.
Under pressure from the court and the people, the king ordered the assassination of Inês at Quinta das Lágrimas, which provoked the anger of his son Pedro who led an army to devastate a large part of the country and kill her assassins.
Today, this park, which occupies more than 18 hectares of nature, has a luxury hotel surrounded by gardens, centenary trees from different corners of the world and the Fonte das Lágrimas, which, according to legend, was formed by the tears of Inês when she was assassinated.
A good option to visit the points furthest from the centre, such as these gardens, is to book this tourist bus with audio guide in English.

Visiting hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 7pm from March to October, the rest of the months it closes at 5pm.

Quinta das Lágrimas

8. Arch of Almedina

The Arco de Almedina, an ancient Moorish gate that formed part of the medieval wall that surrounded the city, is another of the oldest sights to see in Coimbra.
This 11th century gate, located under a tower, is the only one still standing of the three gates that were used to access the citadel and is nowadays the connection point between the Alta and Baixa, the two areas into which the historic centre is divided.
A good way to get to know the lesser-known side of the city is to book this free tour of mysteries and legends. Free!

Arch of Almedina

Recommended travel cards

Remember that to avoid paying commissions and to always have the current exchange rate we recommend you to use the Revolut card and the N26 card. They are the ones we use, they are free and they will save you a lot of money.
You can find more information in this article on the best cards for commission-free travel.

9. Coimbra New Cathedral

Entering the New Cathedral or Sé Nova, located in a former Jesuit College and built between 1598 and 1698, is another of the things to do in Coimbra.
The façade of the church is surprising for its harmonious blend of two different styles: mannerist in the lower part with 4 statues of Jesuit saints and baroque in the upper part. Inside, the magnificent gilded altarpieces, the choir stalls and the baptismal font, both brought from the Old Cathedral, stand out.

Visiting hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 8:30 am to 12 noon and from 2 pm to 6:30 pm; Sundays from 9 am to 12:30 pm and from 5 pm to 7 pm.

New Cathedral, another place to visit in Coimbra.

10. Excursions from Coimbra

The last suggestion on this list of things to see in Coimbra, if you have the time, is to take a day trip to some of the nearby wonders.
These tours will take you to coastal towns with relaxing beaches, important pilgrimage centres, Roman ruins and natural landscapes for good hiking trails.
Among the most recommended Coimbra excursions with English speaking guide are:

• Excursion to Aveiro and Costa Nova

• Excursion to Serra da Lousa and Aldeias de Sixto

• Excursion to Fátima and Aljustrel

• Excursion to the Roman ruins of Conímbriga

Aveiro

How to get to Coimbra

One of the most common ways to get from Porto to Coimbra is to take a train from Porto-Campanhã Station, which takes about an hour and a half. You can check timetables, prices and make a reservation on this page. Another option is to take one of the Rede Expressos buses that leave from Campo 24 de Agosto station.
However, if you only have one day and don't want to worry about public transport timetables, you can book this comfortable tour with an English-speaking guide, which includes hotel pick-up and a visit to the Sanctuary of Fátima.
For more information about the transfer you can read this post on how to get from Porto to Coimbra.
If you have more time you can do this route through Portugal by car in 7, 10 and 15 days.