Coimbra is one of Portugal's oldest and most charming cities, with a rich history, culture and tradition. Located on the banks of the River Mondego in the centre of the country, Coimbra was the capital of Portugal during the Middle Ages and is today home to one of Europe's oldest and most prestigious universities, the University of Coimbra, founded in 1290.

Coimbra has a lot to offer its visitors, from historical monuments, museums, churches, gardens and parks to a lively nightlife with the famous Coimbra fado, sung by students in capes and cassocks.

Discover some of the main attractions to see and visit in Coimbra that will make your trip unforgettable.

University of Coimbra

The University of Coimbra is the city's calling card and one of Portugal's most emblematic sites. Considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the university occupies the former Paço Real, in the upper part of the city, and is made up of several historic and artistic buildings that are well worth a guided tour.

Among the university's attractions are the Porta Férrea, the main entrance, decorated with sculptures and coats of arms; the Paço das Escolas, the central courtyard, where there is a monument to King João III, the university's founder; the Joanina Library, one of the most beautiful in the world, with over 300,000 ancient books, baroque decoration and an academic prison; and the Chapel of São Miguel, with an 18th century pipe organ and a painted wooden ceiling.

Also worth mentioning are the Sala dos Capelos, the former royal hall where academic ceremonies are held; the University Tower, the symbol of the city, which offers a panoramic view over Coimbra; and the academic costumes, a symbol of tradition and prestige, which enchant visitors with their elegance and history.

Let yourself be captivated by the University of Coimbra on this excursion to Coimbra with lunch.

Sé Velha and Sé Nova of Coimbra

Coimbra's Old Cathedral is the best preserved Romanesque cathedral in Portugal, built between the 12th and 13th centuries by order of King Afonso Henriques. The cathedral has an austere façade with two square towers and a portal decorated with sculptures of animals and human figures. The interior has a single nave with side chapels, a transept with a cross and a semicircular apse. Coimbra's Old Cathedral has several interesting features, such as the Gothic cloister, the treasury, which houses pieces of goldsmithery, jewellery and vestments, the 18th century pipe organ, the Manueline pulpit, the baptistery, with a Romanesque baptismal font, and the choir stalls, with wooden sculptures.

Coimbra's Sé Nova is also one of the city's most important attractions, as it is the cathedral of the Diocese of Coimbra and has been a national monument since 1910. It was built in the 17th century as the church of the Colégio do Santíssimo Nome de Jesus, one of Coimbra's many university colleges, founded by the Society of Jesus. The church's façade is sober and austere, following Jesuit architectural canons, but the interior is rich and ornate, with gilded altarpieces, paintings, sculptures and tiles.

Both of Coimbra's Sés bear witness to the city's history, art and faith, and are well worth visiting and admiring.

Monastery and Church of Santa Cruz

The Monastery and Church of Santa Cruz is one of the most important religious monuments in Coimbra and Portugal, as it houses the tombs of the first Portuguese kings, D. Afonso Henriques and D. Sancho I. Founded in 1131, the monastery was one of the centres of Portuguese culture and art and was renovated in the 16th and 18th centuries.

The church has a Baroque façade with two bell towers and a Manueline portal, and a Gothic interior with a magnificent gilded altarpiece, a pipe organ and a high choir. The monastery has a Renaissance cloister, with tiles and sculptures, and a museum, which exhibits pieces of sacred art such as paintings, sculptures, vestments and reliquaries.

Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha

The Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha is one of Coimbra's most emblematic monuments, located on the left bank of the River Mondego. The monastery was founded in 1286 by Queen Santa Isabel, wife of King Dinis, who became a Clarissa nun after her husband's death. The monastery is an example of mendicant Gothic architecture, with a three-nave church, a quadrangular cloister and various monastic dependencies.

The monastery was abandoned in the 17th century due to the frequent flooding of the river and remained in ruins until the 20th century, when a process of restoration and valorisation began. Today, the monastery is a museum where you can learn about the history, art and lives of the nuns who lived there, as well as admire its treasures, such as the tomb of St Isabel, the reliquary of the Holy Queen, the low choir, the refectory and the kitchen.

Discover the Church of Santa Cruz and the Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha on a half-day private guided tour of Coimbra.

Mondego Green Park

Parque Verde do Mondego is one of Coimbra's most pleasant green spaces, located on the right bank of the River Mondego, between the Santa Clara bridge and the Pedro e Inês bridge. The park is an ideal place for walking, playing sports, picnicking or simply relaxing and enjoying the scenery. The park has various facilities and infrastructures, such as cycling and athletics tracks, playing fields, children's playgrounds, cafés, terraces, kiosks, among others.

The park is also the venue for various cultural and recreational events, such as fairs, exhibitions, concerts, shows and more.

Quinta das Lágrimas

Quinta das Lágrimas is one of the most romantic places in Coimbra, as it was the setting for the tragic love story between Prince Pedro and Inês de Castro, immortalised by Camões in Lusíadas. The estate is a historical and botanical park that belongs to a luxury hotel but can be visited by the public.

The estate has several points of interest, such as the Fountain of Loves, where Pedro and Inês met in hiding, and the Fountain of Tears, where Inês was murdered by order of King Afonso IV, Pedro's father. In addition, the Medieval Garden, with plants and flowers from the period, the Colina de Camões Amphitheatre, where cultural shows are held, and the Museum of the Loves of Pedro and Inês, which tells the story of the couple through objects, documents and works of art, are also worth highlighting.

Portugal dos Pequenitos

Portugal dos Pequenitos is a theme and educational park that reproduces in miniature the main monuments and buildings of Portugal and the Portuguese-speaking countries. The park was inaugurated in 1940, on the initiative of Professor Bissaya Barreto, with the aim of educating and entertaining children, but also of valorising Portugal's geographical, cultural and historical heritage.

The park is divided into various areas, such as Monumental Portugal, Regional Portugal, Portuguese-speaking Countries, Adjacent Islands, Traditional Houses, Regional Costumes, among others. The park is a magical and enchanting place where visitors can enter houses, churches, castles and palaces and feel part of Portuguese history and culture.

Come and discover Quinta das Lágrimas and Portugal dos Pequenitos with a Tuk-Tuk ride in Coimbra.

Botanical Garden

The Botanical Garden of the University of Coimbra was founded in 1772 and is one of the oldest and most renowned in the world. In this garden, you can travel to the four corners of the Earth, thanks to the diversity of plants it has, from tropical to alpine species, as well as medicinal and ornamental ones.

The Botanical Garden is also a centre for research, conservation, education and scientific dissemination, with a special focus on raising awareness of the importance of biodiversity, climate change and the sustainable use of resources.

Penedo da Saudade

Penedo da Saudade, on the other hand, is a park and viewpoint built in 1849, from where you can see the eastern part of the city, the Mondego river and the Roxo and Lousã mountains. This park is linked to Coimbra's culture, academia and students. As well as being a romantic site full of poems engraved in stone by former students and famous writers such as João de Deus, Eça de Queirós and António Nobre.

Penedo da Saudade is a place of memory, homage and poetic expression, where you can breathe in saudade, a feeling so characteristic of the Portuguese soul.

Coimbra city centre

Coimbra's Baixa is the city's centre, where commerce, services, culture and leisure are concentrated. The Baixa is also the place where you can appreciate Coimbra's historical and architectural transformation, as it preserves buildings and monuments that bear witness to the city's medieval, Renaissance and Baroque past, as well as its modern present. Its streets, mostly narrow and winding, produce surprises of colour and places for those who walk through them.

One of the attractions to see and visit in Coimbra's Baixa is Rua Ferreira Borges, the main shopping area of the Baixa, which connects Praça 8 de Maio to Praça do Comércio. On this street, you can find a wide variety of shops, from the most traditional to the most modern, as well as cafés, pastry shops and restaurants. The street is also known for its architecture, which mixes styles from the 18th to the 20th century.

Come and discover the city's famous streets with an evening visit to Coimbra with Fado and dinner.

Almedina Arch

The Almedina Arch is also one of Coimbra's most emblematic attractions, as it represents the main entrance to the medieval city. The arch, which dates back to the 11th century, was built on the foundations of an ancient Islamic gate and was part of the wall that surrounded the city. At the top of the Almedina Arch is a tower that served as a council house and prison and today houses the Núcleo da Cidade Muralhada, a museum that tells the story of Coimbra's urban evolution. The arch is also a symbol of the identity and collective memory of the people of Coimbra, who celebrate it in festivals and popular traditions.

Quebra-Costas is one of Coimbra's most emblematic streets, linking the Arco da Almedina to the Sé Velha and the University. It takes its name from its steep incline, which means you have to climb or descend many steps.

These are some of the best attractions to see and visit in Coimbra. A city that breathes history, culture and tradition, but which also knows how to renew itself, provoking a feeling of nostalgia in those who visit it. "Coimbra is a city that has more charm when it's time to say goodbye", as Fernando Machado Soares sings.

Are you curious to discover Portugal's "city of students"? Take a full-day private tour of Coimbra and discover its most precious secrets.

If you want to see other attractions or have other experiences when you visit Coimbra, explore the tours and activities selected for you.

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