Location: Coimbra
Top Things to do in Coimbra
Top 10 Things to do in Coimbra, Central Portugal
Coimbra (Portuguese pronunciation: [kuˈĩbɾɐ, ˈkwĩbɾɐ]; Proto-Celtic: *Corumbriga)) is a city and a municipality in Portugal. The population at the 2011 census was 143,397, in an area of 319.40 square kilometres (123.3 sq mi). The fourth-largest urban centre in Portugal (after Lisbon, Porto, Braga), it is the largest city of the district of Coimbra, the Centro region and the Baixo Mondego subregion. About 460,000 people live in the Região de Coimbra, comprising 19 municipalities and extending into an area 4,336 square kilometres (1,674 sq mi).
Restaurants in Coimbra
1. Igreja e Mosteiro da Santa Cruz
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 673 reviews
Reviewed By Margo7850p
The Church of Santa Cruz is located in the center of Coimbra, the historic center, in a very charming place. A very nice church. It was erected in the first half of the XII century. Lots to see, lots of history. The heart of the Romanesque church is an unusual altar without a statue, and two amazing tombs of Portugal's first rulers: Alphonsus I the Conqueror and Sancho I. The blue azulejos tiles are a characteristic feature of the church. The interior of the temple is decorated with a huge organ with fantastic Japanese works of art. A monastery is a real gem. A must visit if you are in Coimbra. Next to it is a square with a number of cafes.
2. University of Coimbra
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,454 reviews
The Tourism Circuit of the University of Coimbra unfolds in different centers: - The Palace of Schools where you can visit the Royal Palace that includes the Grand Hall of Acts, the Private Exam Room and the Armillary Room; The Royal Chapel of Saint Michael and the Joanine Library where you can visit the Noble Floor, the Middle Floor and the Academic Prison (with limited access for the preservation of the building). - The Science Museum where you can visit the 18 th and 19 th Century Physics Cabinets, the Natural History Galleries and the Chemistry Laboratory. - The Botanic Garden where you can travel around the world through botanic.
Reviewed By Wortleberry
I think we paid 12.5 Euros to visit a fascinating science museum in the old science faculty, the amazing gilded library, historic lecture theatres and other stunning university buildings. This is the cultural highlight of Coimbra.
3. Old Cathedral of Coimbra (Se Velha de Coimbra)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,092 reviews
Reviewed By Margo7850p
Old Cathedral of Coimbra was built in 1162 and is one of the most characteristic monuments of Romanesque architecture in Portugal. From the outside, it looks like a fortress. The cathedral has been preserved almost intact to this day. On the other hand, the beautiful renaissance gate added to the northern wall of the temple is rather heavily damaged. A gem of architecture. It's definitely worth seeing while in Coimbra.
4. Mosteiro de Santa Clara-a-Velha
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 656 reviews
Reviewed By john8tea - Fukuoka, Japan
We stumbled on the ruined Convent of Santa Clara-a-Velha late on our first afternoon in Coimbra, after walking along the Mondego river and visiting the gardens of the Quinta das Lágrimas. This 13th-century convent was strongly associated with Portugal's saintly queen, Santa Isabel, and was an important pilgrimage site during the medieval period and beyond, until it had to be abandoned in 1677 due to the river's constantly rising floodwaters. After painstaking archeological and restoration work, the ruins can now be visited. You first make your way through the small museum/information centre, with many interesting artifacts and a great deal of information (unfortunately, the explanatory notes are only in Portuguese at the moment, but if you persevere you can understand enough to get the gist). There is an absorbing documentary video shown in the auditorium and if you can catch one with English subtitles (ours was at 5.30pm) it is well worth watching, as it sets everything in a richer historical context. Then you make your way out into the ruins of the convent church and cloisters, where the explanatory notices, though few in number, are in both Portuguese and English. It is a quiet, contemplative and evocative sacred space.
5. Fado ao Centro
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,245 reviews
Fado ao Centro is a Cultural Association of Fado from Coimbra, opened from Monday to Sunday (10am to 7pm). Located in the historical center of Coimbra (Rua Quebra Costas),the entrance to the photo exhibition about Coimbras University tradition & informations are for free. Also have Fado shows everyday, with a recreation of a Live Serenade, that everyone can experience for a small amount of money! A magical space with a unique atmosphere were you can find the most genuine and traditional Fado from Coimbra everyday from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Only the best musicians of the city play in Fado ao Centro and they are selected according to the highest standards of this 160 year old tradition. Even if you can't witness the concert, don't miss the oportunity to visit our space and get to know a little bit more about Fado from Coimbra. There are always musicians playing and rehearsing so you can change experiences and learn more about the Portuguese Guitar and this unique musical tradition. Bewtween 4:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. we have the "Afternoon Rehearsals" with our regular musicians. You can always pass by, watch them play and anyone that want's to bring their own instrument is also welcome to join! At 6:00 p.m. we start our daily 50 minute long concert of Fado from Coimbra. If you are interested in attending our concert, we strongly advise you to make a reservation in order to ensure your seat. We don't serve any kind of food, so we are totally committed to the concert itself, enabling a genuine atmosphere and unique cultural and musical experience in Coimbra! Following the work that has been held by this Cultural Association, you'll find different exclusive editions of books, CDs and DVDs related to Fado from Coimbra. Fado ao Centro(R) is, undoubtedly, a place to visit in Coimbra!
Reviewed By TripRabbit - Virginia, United States
Our hotel recommended we see this show, and we are very happy they did. This is more than two instrumentalists and two singers; it is a lesson in the history, the heart and the soul of Coimbra Fado that is performed by some impressive musicians you expect to be hearing in considerably larger performance venues. At €12, this is a memorable experience and remarkable value all in one. Highly recommended.
6. Museu Nacional de Machado de Castro
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 654 reviews
Reviewed By DutchBrother - Boston, United States
This is such an amazing museum one wonders why it is not better known. It is a very odd mixture of art, architecture and history. The bottom two floors are an excavated, Roman forum from 2000 years ago. The museum is built on top on the Roman forum because it is housed in a palace that was built on the Roman ruins. I have no idea how they were able to excavate the Roman ruins with a building on top of it, but it is amazing. The forum has two levels of similar sized rooms, at least 20 or 30 rooms plus long halls. It is like a maze. The main museum is three floors above the Roman ruins. It has an excellent collection of sculptures over many centuries, with excellent collections from the 15th and 16th centuries. There is a sublime collection of medieval and more recent metal work. There are some very fine religious paintings and some decorative arts including tapestries. Much of the art was not familiar to me. We were entranced. There is also a nice cafe with seating on the outdoor terrace. It mainly has drinks and snacks. It has great views over the city. We spent two hours here and felt like we could have spent more. It's that good.
7. Biblioteca Joanina
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,972 reviews
Reviewed By ivocarneiro - Macau, China
This magnificent University Library was built in the first decades of the 18th century when the early arrivals of gold from Brazil turned John the V in one of the richest kings in the world. It is, therefore, gold baroque that dominates the Library large bookshelves, ceilings, and arches with the royal symbols. The tour is relatively fast since visitors can only have a panoramic glance of the bibliographic richness of the Library. We see olf books, some with beautiful covers, but then we don't know much about these books even when you ask about it to the tour guide. The visit would be more impressive and educative if the Library becomes displaying to the visitors a set of its main bibliographic treasures.
8. Torre da Universidade de Coimbra
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 247 reviews
Reviewed By LuizDutraNeto - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
After crossing "Porta Férrea" and reaching the stunning "Paço das Escolas" of the "Universidade de Coimbra", you will be almost in front of this awesome clock and bell tower! Built between 1728 and 1733, by Italian architect António Cannevari, it is mostly known, among the University students, as "Torre da Cabra", as one of its four bells is nicknamed as "Sino da Cabra" (literally, the "Goat Bell" in English). The tower has always had an important role in the University life, due to the frequent sign sounds from its four bronze bells. You can even climb to its top! Climbing up may be quite "challenging", but fantastic views of the University campus and of "Rio Mondego" await you! Enjoy!
9. Portugal dos Pequenitos
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1,996 reviews
Reviewed By marinalion2015 - Moscow, Russia
It's a place tourists should visit in Coimbra.There are three zones in it.The first zone shows typical houses which were built in towns and village in Portugal.In the second zone the main Portugese histirical monuments are shown.The third zone tells about the former colonies of Portugal.There are a few museums in this park. We enjoyed the museum of national costume,the museum of Navy Fleet, the furniture museum.
10. Jardim Botanico
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 860 reviews
Reviewed By sparkler552015 - Bristol, United Kingdom
Make time to explore the botanic gardens, especially if it very hot. Take a picnic and find a shady spot with a view. See the amazing bamboo forests and sit by the lovely fountain. Some parts of the forest are currently closed due to last year’s storm damage.
