Day trips from Lisbon: How to spend one day in Coimbra
Coimbra is usually forgotten on most suggestions of day trips from Lisbon. Granted, hopping on the train for less than an hour to visit Sintra or Cascais is easier, but why not go on a little adventure and spend one day in Coimbra?
Some interesting facts about Coimbra
Coimbra is famous for its University (there’s a reason why they call it the “city of students”) and its Fado (even more mournful and painful than the Fado you’ll hear in Lisbon and, traditionally, sung only by male students).
Until the late 1200s, this city by the Mondego river was Portugal’s capital city and where the then king, D. Dinis, lived. This king founded the University of Coimbra, the first public University in Portugal and one of the oldest in the world.
With a little over 123 square miles and 143,000+ people, the city might come across as small but, historically and architecturally, it has plenty to keep you busy during one whole day.
How to reach Coimbra
By car, you can take highway A1, and it’s about a 2-hour-drive from Lisbon (130 miles) and a 1-hour-drive from Porto (75 miles).
By train, it depends on your budget. If you choose the Alfa Pendular (the most expensive but the most comfortable), it’s about a 1h45 trip each way, and tickets for a return trip start at €30 ($35) per passenger.
The InterCidades is still quite comfortable and a bit more affordable, at around €20 ($23) per passenger for one return trip. However, it does raise your travel time to about two hours each way (so, keep in mind it’s a 4-hour period you’ll be traveling by train).
I would choose the train over driving in a heartbeat, but, unfortunately, my list of things to do and see in Coimbra isn’t within a short walking distance from the train station. I leave that decision up to you and your preferences.
Top things to see and do in Coimbra
Unless you fall madly in love at first sight with Coimbra and want to stay longer, one day in Coimbra is enough to visit the top landmarks, roam around the old streets and alleys of the city, and gaze at the river Mondego.
These are the absolute must-see landmarks in Coimbra that you don’t want to miss:
Church of Santa Cruz
The construction of this church began in 1131. You can see all the additions made in the decor: it beautifully mixes Romanesque elements, and “Manueline,” Renaissance, and baroque. It’s where the first king of Portugal, Afonso Henriques, and his son, the second king of Portugal, Sancho the first, are buried.
Address: Praça 8 de Maio
Opening hours: NA
Sé Velha (old cathedral)
Coimbra’s old cathedral was built in the second half of the 12th century. Although the building’s bones are Romanesque, it has a mix of several art periods too, when it comes to the decor.
Concerts often happen on this medieval church’s steps where the former students of the University of Coimbra, dressed in their black suits and long black cloaks (their typical College uniform), sing Fado and serenade the city. They call it the former students’ serenade (Serenata dos Antigos Estudantes).
Address: Largo Sé Velha
Opening hours: NA
Universidade de Coimbra
The University is a big part of the city’s life and History. It’s also where you’ll likely spend most of your time, not only for the History but also for the city’s breathtaking views.
Climbing the legendary 125 steps of the Monumental Stairs leads you to a campus full of the energy of the students’ fighting spirit, mostly famous for the 1969 “academic crisis” when they manifested against conservative dictatorship and in favor of more rights, democracy, and better education.
To visit the historical buildings around campus costs between €12 and €15 (if you want the audio-guided tour) or between US $14 and $17 per person, and I highly recommend it.
At every location, they had a laminated sheet of paper that summed up what we were visiting. It included visiting the Biblioteca Joanina (a Baroque monument, beautifully decorated in gilded chinoiserie), the Academic Prison (a prison for the convicted students and scholars), the St. Michael’s Chapel (with a beautiful 1733 Baroque organ), and the University Tower.
You won’t be allowed to take pictures inside these sites, but the city’s views from the campus will make up for it. I asked the employees to access the small terrace just at the end of the long corridor opposite Sala das Armas (Weapons Room) for a better and clearer view of Coimbra, Mondego, and the surrounding mountains. Slightly windy (me and my fear of heights…) but very worth it.
Address: Largo da Porta Férrea
Opening hours: 9am-7.30pm, Summers; 9am-1pm & 2-5pm, School season (Oct-Mar)
Where to eat in Coimbra
Last but not least, the most important item on all cultural travel itineraries. No? Eating is part of a culture, so I’m gonna go with a resounding yes.
Being the city of students comes in handy if you want to eat hearty meals at affordable prices. Not surprisingly, the restaurant we chose to eat in Coimbra was the recommendation of an old friend, a former University student who lived in the city and knew his way around.
The restaurant has a peculiar name, Zé Manel dos Ossos (in English, it’s something like Bones Joe; I told you, peculiar), but everyone who lives or has lived in Coimbra recommends the place. It’s so famous that even Culture Trip listed it as one of the top 10 restaurants in Coimbra.
There’s nothing fancy about the food, on the contrary. Still, it’s typical Portuguese cuisine, well-cooked, well-seasoned, and budget-friendly.
As usual in these places, portions are beyond generous, you have to like meat (this tavern-like restaurant is known for its goat and wild boar dishes), and everything tastes better if you wash it down with a glass of the Bairrada region’s red wine.
Address: Beco do Forno, 12
Opening hours: noon-3pm & 7.30-10pm Mon-Sat
Average price per meal per person: €12.50 / US $14.77
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The university looks beautiful, what a lovely building! Coimbra sounds like a great place to visit, thanks for sharing.
The university looks beautiful, what a lovely building! Coimbra sounds like a great place to visit, thanks for sharing.
Coimbra is usually an underrated city but I like the feeling of it.