Is Coimbra Worth Visiting?

Coimbra is a riverfront city based in the Southern European country of Portugal.

On the banks of the Mondego river, this charming city is known for being home to one of the oldest universities in Europe and was once the former capital of Portugal.

Coimbra is uniquely positioned within driving distance of Porto (1.5 hours), Lisbon (2 hours), and Faro (4 hours), in the municipality of the same name.

It is known as the student city of Portugal and has a great mix of vibrant nightlife in the modern part of the city, and incredible history in the old districts of the city.

However, if you are planning your next Portugual trip, you might ask, is Coimbra worth visiting?

This small little city packs quite the tourism punch. It is easily accessible on foot and is known for its well-preserved medieval old town, culture, art, and history.

Coimbra is also surrounded by nature, perfect for anyone eager to explore forested hiking trails, go kayaking, or even go swimming at the river beaches.

If you are considering visiting Coimbra, you are probably wondering what are some things to know before going and also wondering if Coimbra is worth visiting.

Here are a few things to know before visiting this beautiful Portuguese city.

Are you heading to Portugal soon? Read our guide to learn how to buy a SIM card in Portugal.

Reasons To Visit Coimbra: The Pros

Coimbra is known for its rich history and old university that was established almost 800 years ago. It was the capital of Portugal from 1139 until 1260 when it was replaced by Lisbon.

A city filled with unique music, a rich historical past, delicious cuisine, and an undeniable charm.

Fado Music

One of the main reasons I think Coimbra is worth visiting is the unique Coimbra Fado music. Fado is a Portuguese genre of music that originated in Lisbon. Coimbra has its own branch of fado music which originated in this city many years ago and still lives on today.

This music is an integral part of the history and culture of Coimbra. ‘Coimbra Fado’ is also known as ‘Student Fado’ because it was adopted by students at the University of Coimbra.

This is considered the music of Coimbra so you will need to hear this while in Coimbra to get the full experience of the city.

This music is performed with the Guitarra de Coimbra, which is a traditional type of guitar in Portugal that originated in Coimbra.

We recommend joining this tour to experience Coimbra Fado to the fullest. You will go to Fado ao Centro where you will be treated to a Coimbra Fado show. All musicians in this concert are either past or present students of the university of Coimbra.

At the end of the concert, you can take part in a port wine tasting with the musicians and other guests.

Art & Architecture

Coimbra is a city that has a little bit of everything—a clash of old and new all mashed up into one small space.

There are incredible buildings to visit and enjoy the well-preserved medieval architecture of this charming city.

Make sure to visit the University of Coimbra during your time here to learn about the history and traditions of the university. It is based high on a hill in the middle of the city.

Here you can see examples of medieval architecture, courtyards, and halls.

Make sure to take the time to visit the highest point of the university which is 180 steps to the top tower, where you can see a breathtaking view of the whole city.

Close to the university, you will find a hilltop garden to find a spot for some photographs or just sit on a bench and take in the incredible views.

While in Coimbra, make sure you also visit the Machado de Castro National Museum. The construction of this building began in medieval times and is founded on the grounds of what was once the Coimbra’s Roman forum.

Proximity To Other Major Destinations In Portugal

A really big plus of visiting Coimbra is its proximity to several top tourist destinations in Portugal.

Because of this, it means you can visit Coimbra for 1 or 2 days during a road trip around Portugal, or you can use Coimbra as your base to explore Portugal.

Coimbra is a cheap area, so it could be a great option to base yourself here, rent a car and travel around to different places.

Very close to Coimbra is the city of Aveiro. Here you can enjoy a traditional Moliceiro Boat Tour along the canals of the small but picturesque city.

You can also travel from Coimbra to the capital city of Lisbon and see the colorful buildings and ride the iconic Lisbon tram through the funky downtown streets.

If you’re looking for some beach time, head to Porto where you can experience some buzzing nightlife and a crazy night out.

If you have lots of time, you can even drive to the Algarve within 4 hours to enter full vacation mode! Here you will find lots of resorts, beaches, and fishing towns to enjoy.

Range Of Outdoor Activities Available

There are plenty of outdoor activities to do in Coimbra pretty much all year round, which makes it a very attractive destination.

The botanic gardens are definitely worth a visit here. The gardens cover 13 hectares and have a massive variety of plant species and wildlife. There is also a unique bamboo plantation on the lower levels of the gardens.

Another great outdoor activity here is kayaking down the Mondego River Valley. This is the most popular kayaking spot in the entire country.

Here, you can enjoy the small beaches dotted along the river and the incredible nature in every direction. You can swim in the river while surrounded by dense forests on either side.

It Is Very Affordable

Compared to many other Portuguese cities, Coimbra can be pretty affordable. It is a great alternative to Porto, which is just an hour away.

So, if you’re wondering if Coimbra is cheap… it is!

As a result, one of the reasons to visit Coimbra is because you can get more bang for your buck.

Some of the main attractions of the city are free or at least very reasonably priced.

Then there are the restaurants, accommodations, and alcoholic beverages, which are very cheap for a European city.

You will also pay less for accommodation here than in many other cities in Portugal, for example, most accommodations will cost you less than EUR 100 per night in the city.

Safety

Last but certainly not least, is Coimbra safe? This is a common question when people decide to book any type of vacation.

The good news is that Coimbra is a safe city to travel to, with a low violent crime rate.

As with any European city, there is still some petty crime, so look after your belongings.

Reasons To Visit Coimbra: The Cons

Although the pros may seem to outweigh the cons, there are a couple of things to know when traveling to Coimbra, as these particular cons may influence your Portugal travel plans.

There Are No Beaches Around

When you think of Portugal, you will more than likely picture sunny days spent at the beach. This is not the case in Coimbra, unfortunately.

The closest beach to Coimbra is almost an hour away by car. This can be a massive con for a lot of people planning their trip to Portugal.

If you don’t mind renting a car and driving to the beach, or if you will be traveling around the country or region anyway, then don’t let this deter you.

Very Student Focused

This is amazing for students as there is an incredible community of other university goers here. However, if you are not one of those, this city may not appeal to you.

There are lots of students’ nights out and deals in the bars and restaurants. So if this is something you want to avoid, steer clear of this university city.

The Final Verdict: So Is Coimbra Worth Visiting?

So is Coimbra nice, and is Coimbra worth visiting? Absolutely!

Coimbra is not on many travelers’ radars. However, it definitely should be. It is a city filled with art, architecture, and history and surrounded by natural beauty.

Imagine waking up and taking a stroll through the town towards the medieval university and staring out across the whole city and river from the hilltop gardens.

Doesn’t that sound just perfect?

Coimbra is a popular day trip for anyone visiting Porto or Lisbon.

Still, we would recommend sticking around for an extra day or two to experience everything that this city has to offer.

Yes, it is a small city, and many people may argue that there isn’t anything to see, but we would disagree.

So is Coimbra worth visiting? Yes indeed.

Although, if your time in Portugal is limited, skip it and keep it for your next visit to Portugal. There are other areas that are more worth a visit than Coimbra.

Visiting Portugal soon? Read one of the following blog posts:

• Best places to live in Portugal
• Portugal 10 day itinerary
• Best airbnbs in Coimbra