Top 15 Attractions in Coimbra, Portugal for Visitors

Located on the high banks of the Mondego River, Coimbra is home to the oldest university in Portugal.

The significance of this institution becomes evident as soon as one steps into the Paço das Escolas courtyard.

This exceptional complex features one of the most remarkable libraries one could ever encounter.

Its establishment precisely coincides with the site where Portugal’s first monarchs resided centuries ago, with the city’s monasteries housing their tombs.

Culturally, visitors can delve into the poignant love story between the medieval Prince Pedro I and the noblewoman Inês, while Coimbra also boasts its unique genre of fado music, stemming from the university.

Let us explore the noteworthy attractions in Coimbra:

1. University of Coimbra

The oldest university in Portugal is recognized as a World Heritage Site, perched on a hill at the heart of the city.

This institution is a prominent tourist attraction, showcasing centuries of history.

Visitors have the option to ascend the 180 steps of the 16th-century tower, situated at the university’s highest point, providing an impressive view of the city.

The Sala dos Capelos, a ceremonial hall from the 17th century, is also worth a visit, as well as the impressive architectural ensemble found in the Paço das Escolas courtyard.

Previously unruly students were incarcerated in the students’ prison, and the journey begins by crossing the Iron Gate, which once served as the entrance to Coimbra’s medieval fortress.

2. Biblioteca Joanina

This distinguished Baroque library is situated in the Paço das Escolas, the historical residence of Portugal’s earliest monarchs.

Dating back to the 1720s, its grandeur is truly breathtaking.

The library encompasses three expansive salons, divided by grand doorways.

Each salon is adorned with tall lacquered and gilded shelves along with large study tables crafted from dark hardwood imported from Brazil.

Housing more than 250,000 volumes ranging from the 1500s to the 1700s, topics include history, geography, medicine, law, and science.

Interestingly, the library maintains a colony of bats which feed on insects that could harm the books.

3. Chapel of São Miguel

The chapel of the university, dating from the early 16th century, is rich in history and intricate furnishings.

The main portal exhibits Neoclassical style from the 18th century, but one can find remarkable Manueline carvings at the side entrance.

The choir’s walls and ceiling are embellished with vibrant 17th-century azulejos, characterized by clear Dutch influences but produced in Lisbon.

The altarpiece is acknowledged as a Mannerist masterpiece, featuring 16th-century paintings depicting the life of Christ.

Additionally, the chapel houses a functioning organ, beautifully cased in Baroque style and dated to 1733.

4. Machado de Castro National Museum

Housed within Coimbra’s episcopal palace, this remarkable museum pays homage to the 18th and 19th-century sculptor Joaquim Machado de Castro.

The building itself was constructed over several phases beginning in medieval times and is situated at the same location as Coimbra’s Roman forum.

The lower levels contain the preserved cryptoporticus (covered passageway), a remnant of its ancient history.

The museum’s collection has been meticulously curated from regional churches and other defunct religious establishments.

This venue displays the largest compilation of sculpture found within any Portuguese National Museum, alongside tapestries, ceramic altarpieces, and an array of paintings from the 15th to the 19th centuries.

5. Monastery of Santa Cruz

Dating back to the foundational years of the Portuguese monarchy, this monastery originates from the 12th century.

The architecture itself, however, reflects later styles, prominently featuring 16th-century Manueline design, which is exemplified by the ornate decoration found on the main portal, ceiling, and surrounding cloisters.

During the same century, the addition of a pulpit and gilded wooden stalls introduced a splendid Renaissance influence.

A significant feature of the monastery includes the tombs of Portugal’s first two kings, Afonso Henriques and Sancho I, who reigned in the 12th century. Their remains were transferred to an exquisite Manueline ensemble sculpted by Nicolau Chanterene in the 1500s.

6. Old Cathedral of Coimbra

Established during a time when Coimbra served as a frontier between Christianity and Islam, King Afonso Henriques commissioned this Romanesque cathedral.

It was constructed shortly after his triumph over the Moors at the Battle of Ourique in 1139, and unlike many of its contemporaries, it has retained much of its Romanesque character.

The austere facade, featuring crenellations and slim openings, evokes the sensation of being at a crossroad between two worlds.

Internally, the original barrel vault reflects the cathedral’s great age, while the column capitals showcase exquisite foliate, geometric, and animal motifs.

For enthusiasts of medieval art, there are 380 of these masterful capitals to contemplate!

7. Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha

This Gothic monastery, steeped in medieval Portuguese history, is unique for having once been submerged by the river.

Constructed in the 1300s, it became abandoned in the 1600s following a series of floods that led the convent’s nuns to relocate and establish the Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Nova.

The site has since been developed as a visitor attraction in the early 2000s, featuring an interpretive route and visitor center.

At this center, attendees can view a short film detailing the monastery’s foundation by the 14th-century Queen Elizabeth.

She is interred at the monastery in an impressive Gothic tomb.

8. Pedro e Inês Bridge

Essential to any walking tour in Coimbra, the Pedro e Inês Bridge is a pedestrian footbridge that was inaugurated in 2007. The bridge not only offers a picturesque view of the university from the right bank but also features an innovative and clever design.

Unlike a typical bridge, it does not converge in the center; instead, two cantilevered walkways extend, meeting at the midpoint to form an expansive viewing platform.

The balustrade showcases an artistic flair, composed of sheets of colored glass in hues of yellow, pink, blue, and green, arranged in a irregular geometric pattern.

9. Quinta das Lágrimas

This footbridge draws its name from the tragic story of 14th-century figures, Pedro I, the future king, and Inês de Castro, who served as lady-in-waiting to his wife.

Their enduring romance saw Inês bear four children before her assassination in Coimbra, orchestrated by Pedro’s father in 1355. It is said that the park at Quinta das Lágrimas (Estate of Tears) marks the location of her demise.

According to legend, she was murdered at a fountain, her blood purportedly staining the stone.

The estate’s palace now serves as a pousada (heritage hotel), while the park remains accessible to visitors.

10. Penedo da Saudade

Positioned east of the university, a hillside garden offers sweeping views of Coimbra and the Mondego River, accompanied by the Lousã and Roxo mountains in the distance.

This place is said to be where Pedro would retreat to mourn for Inês, and it has since become a popular gathering spot for Coimbra’s student community since the 19th century.

It serves as a romantic rendezvous point, with rocky walls showcasing over a century’s worth of plaques inscribed with poems, some expressing love and others lamenting homesickness or commemorating significant university events.

11. New Cathedral

The designation of “New Cathedral” (Sé Nova) may be misleading, as this magnificent church is nearly 500 years old.

Originally envisioned as a Jesuit temple, its exterior features a combination of Mannerist and Baroque design.

The lower portion, more austere, consists of pediments and niches, while the upper section showcases more elaborate sculptures, including pinnacles, scrolls, and a coat of arms.

Following the expulsion of the Jesuits from Portugal in 1759, this church was selected to serve as the new cathedral due to its spaciousness.

A few decorative elements were transferred from the Old Cathedral, including 17th-century choir stalls, gilded reredos, and a remarkable baptismal font, intricately carved from stone in the Manueline style at the beginning of the 1500s.

12. Botanic Garden

Founded in 1772, the University’s Botanic Garden was established for the medical and natural history faculties.

The influential botanist Avelar Brotero utilized the gardens during the early 19th century, contributing to several publications based on his studies and founding the university’s botanical school.

The garden spans 13 hectares, featuring several trees that were planted during Brotero’s time, such as the Japanese sugi pine and the coral tree, notably in the Quadrado Central at the hill’s summit.

In the valley below, a bamboo grove and a forest showcase 51 eucalyptus species.

Visitors might also spot brown squirrels populating the area, having been introduced to the park starting with six couples in 1994.

13. Portugal dos Pequenitos

Not all attractions, such as monasteries, libraries, and churches, cater to younger audiences.

For child-friendly engagement in Coimbra, consider visiting this park situated near the Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Nova.

Initially established in 1938, the park expanded over the subsequent two decades.

Across eight zones, it features child-sized model replicas of Coimbra and Portugal’s most iconic monuments, as well as landmarks from the country’s former colonies in Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia.

Visitors can also enjoy a miniature train and small museums dedicated to costumes, furniture, and the Portuguese Navy.

14. Queima das Fitas

At a university with a legacy as storied as Coimbra’s, one would expect a variety of eccentric traditions.

One notable event is the Queima das Fitas (Burning of the Ribbons), held in May and adopted by other institutions across Portugal; however, in Coimbra, it has evolved into a notable tourist attraction.

This celebration features parades, dances, and musical performances: during one memorable occasion, students adorned in their faculty colors gather in front of the Old Cathedral for a traditional Coimbra Fado serenade.

The actual ceremonial burning occurs at Largo da Feira, where faculty ribbons are set alight in a longstanding tradition marking the culmination of their university years.

15. Conímbriga

Possibly the largest yet undeniably the most well-preserved Roman ruins in Portugal, Conímbriga is located just minutes from Coimbra in Condeixa-a-Nova.

This site was once a fortified city, featuring defensive structures extending for 1,500 meters.

Upon arrival, visitors can explore a visitor center housing various finds from the site, approximately 10% of which has been excavated thus far.

The domus, known as Casa dos Repuxos (House of the Fountain), is a stunning aristocratic residence sheltered under a modern glass canopy.

This structure dates back to the 1st and 2nd centuries and is noted for its elaborate fountain, intricate mosaics, and remnants of a painted mural.