Located in central Portugal, Coimbra is the perfect city to stop for a day, and slow down on your way from the south to the north (or vice versa). Coimbra is located about two hours north of Lisbon, and an hour and a half south of Porto. It’s a riverfront city, the former capital of Portugal, the fourth-largest city in Portugal, and it’s well known for its university, which attracts visitors from all over the world.
Coimbra can easily be seen in a day, and I think the stop is well worth it whether you’re planning a day trip to Coimbra from Lisbon or Porto, or want to break up the time driving from one end of the country to the other.
If you’re planning on renting a car in Portugal, don’t miss…
- Everything You Need to Know About Renting a Car in Portugal
- The Best 8 Day Northern Portugal Road Trip Itinerary
Spending the Morning in Coimbra
Once you arrive to Coimbra, see some of the main tourists attractions like the Monastery of Santa Cruz (Igreja de Santa Cruz), a church built in 1131 and where the first two kings of Portugal are buried. After visiting the church, make your way to the very impressive Coimbra Botanical Garden. The garden was founded in 1772 and is considered one the most beautiful gardens in all of Europe. You can find plants from all over the world and there are even interactive gardens you can tour.
If you’re on a time crunch and you’re looking to see the entire city in a short amount of time, I highly recommend taking the free walking tour with João as he’s very knowledgeable and will take you through the city in about three hours. There is one tour that starts at 10 am, just make sure to book ahead of time.
Alternatively, if you’re visiting Coimbra because you’re interested in the University of Coimbra, check out this walking tour.
Spending the Afternoon in Coimbra
Once the afternoon arrives, head to lunch at the delicious Fangas Maior located in the heart of the medieval part of town. (There’s also a Fangas Veg if you’re vegetarian). This restaurant is an incredible tapas restaurant with a few tables available outside. Once you’ve eaten, walk down the street to one of the main squares in town where you can grab an ice cream cone from Gelataria COSI, or a drink from one of the many bars, and listen to live music which often adorns the square. Nearby you’ll also notice a statue – Tricana de Coimbra, a bronze statue representing a woman who would have been serenaded by fado music.
RECOMMENDED FOOD TOUR: COIMBRA FOOD & WINE TASTING PRIVATE GUIDED WALK
Spending the Night in Coimbra
Before night falls, make your way up one of the tallest hills in the city to see the impressive University of Coimbra – founded in 1290 – and library. (It’s rumored that parts of Harry Potter were inspired by Coimbra’s university and library). If you’re lucky, you might see students walking around in traditional dress – black clothing and long black robes.
For dinner, head off the beaten path to Refeitro da Baixa, hands down one of the very best restaurants I dined at in my two weeks in Portugal. The restaurant not only has an impressive wine list, but the interior is impeccably designed, and the food is more than memorable serving modern Portuguese dishes. (If you eat meat, don’t miss the steak tartare).
Where to Stay in Coimbra
If you decide to spend the night in Coimbra, these are my top hotel recommendations…
BOOK YOUR STAY IN COIMBRA HERE!
Portugal Essentials – What You Need & Need to Know About Visiting Portugal
TRAVELING THROUGH PORTUGAL
- The easiest way to book train tickets in Portugal is through Omio
- To book a flight to Portugal, I recommend using this platform or Skyscanner to compare options (if you’re traveling from the US, sign up for Going to receive free flight alerts when prices drop)
- For car rentals in Portugal, I recommend Discover Cars
- If you want an English speaking private driver waiting to pick you up at the airport, use Welcome Pickups
- I highly recommend travel insurance when traveling through Portugal – I use and recommend SafetyWing (read why here and here)
- If you need a SIM card, aloSIM for an easy and affordable e-SIM – use code “KYLEE5” for a 5% discount
ACCOMODATION IN PORTUGAL
- To easiest way to book hotels in Portugal is through this platform
TOURS IN PORTUGAL
- For tours and activities in Portugal, I recommend using Get Your Guide or Viator
- For food tours in Portugal, I recommend Devour Tours
- For walking tours in Portugal, I recommend Take Walks
- For tickets to museums and attractions, I recommend Tiqets
WHAT TO BRING TO PORTUGAL
- Don’t forget a Portugal guide book to help plan your travels
- You’ll need a travel plug adapter (Portugal uses type C)
- My favorite luggage is Calpak
- My favorite travel backpack is Nordace
- I recommend bringing a reusable water bottle to cut down on plastic waste
Coimbra is the perfect Portuguese town to slow down and spend a day in on your way through the country. With memorable streets, history, and food, you don’t want to miss it.
If you’re planning a trip to Portugal, don’t miss…
For more information on things to see and do in Portugal, make sure to check out my Instagram page/highlight reel by searching “#ppinportugal” or under my highlights for “Portugal”; alternatively, head to my TikTok and search for the saved “Portugal” highlight
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Founded by Kylee, a NICU nurse with nine years of experience, including seven years as a travel nurse; Passports and Preemies was created in 2017 and is now the go-to travel and lifestyle channel for nurses who crave adventure beyond the bedside. Whether you’re a staff nurse looking for your next getaway or a travel nurse navigating life on the road, this space is designed to help you maximize your time off, explore the world, and prevent nurse burnout.
On Passports and Preemies, you’ll find everything from travel nursing insights – how to get started, land the best assignments, and thrive on the road – to expert travel tips, destination guides, and real-talk about balancing nursing with a life well-traveled. Passports and Preemies also includes Beyond the Bedside – group trips for nurses around the world; as well as the podcast, Passports and Preemies Talks.
We only had limited time in Coimbra, which was much larger and more spread out than I had imagined.. Had i known I would have spent the night instead of just dropping in. However your lunch recommendation was awesome. We are vegetarians so we went to Fangas Veg for lunch. They were busy and a bit understaffed and we didn’t have the option of a long lunch so they sent us 10 steps away to Fangas Maior where we had the best vegetarian tapas. So either restaurant works for vegetarians. l can’t thank you enough for the recommendation!
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Hi Lisa, thank you for the comment! I’m so glad that you enjoyed your time and loved Fangas; I loved it too!!!