Coimbra was founded in the 12th century and is home to Portugal’s oldest university and six kings from the First Dynasty. Its medieval architecture and spirit of enlightenment attract travelers from all over the world. Coimbra is halfway between Portugal’s two largest cities, Porto and Lisbon, so stopping here for a day is very convenient.
University of Coimbra (Universidade de Coimbra)
The University is the main symbol of the city. It was founded at the end of the 13th century in Lisbon, but later it was moved to Coimbra. Now it employs or educates up to a third of the city’s inhabitants.



Entrance to the campus is open and it’s free to walk around and see the ancient buildings, mosaics and students wearing the traditional black robes that inspired J. K. Rowling. At other universities, only musicians from student bands routinely wear the robes, but at the University of Coimbra, it’s a must for everyone.
The university offers paid excursions to the library, palace, chapel, museum and botanical garden. The tickets are combined, so you don’t have to buy them separately. I will tell you more about some of the university’s attractions.
- Opening hours: every day from 9:00 to 17:00, but may vary according to the season
- Full ticket price: 17,5 € — adult, 8,75 € — school, children under 6 years old — free of charge
- Website
Joanina Library.
For foreigners, the library is also called the Baroque Library. This nickname does not refer to the facade, but to the library itself, which is located on the third floor. It was completed in the late 17th century and houses 60,000 books, making it one of the richest libraries in Europe.
Photography is forbidden in the library itself, which is frustrating, but allows you to view all the details of the interior without interference. You will see three halls with high painted ceilings, connected by arched passages. The styles of the halls are slightly different, but they are connected by a huge number of carved shelves and verandahs decorated with gold paintings.


Royal Palace (Palácio Real)
The palace building was built at the end of the 10th century, during Islamic rule, and originally served as a fortress. From 1131, it became the residence of the first king of Portugal and remained a royal residence until King João III gave the building to the University in the mid-16th century.
The Royal Palace is still used for academic purposes. It is also the venue for ceremonies such as the opening of the academic year, the swearing-in of the rector or the awarding of doctoral degrees. Some parts of the palace are also open for tours: the armory, the large assembly hall, once the throne room, and the private examination hall, formerly the royal quarters.



St. Michael’s Chapel (Capela de São Miguel)
The chapel was built around the 12th century and was a private chapel attached to the royal palace. In the 16th century, the building was reconstructed and in the 18th century, much of the modern decor was added. The chapel, although small, has many features: painted ceilings, walls with traditional Portuguese tiles, a gilded altar and a Baroque organ.
The organ stands out strongly in the overall decoration of the chapel: the imposing wooden box with more than two thousand pipes looks disproportionate here. It is because it was originally intended for a much larger church.


Science Museum (Museu da Ciência)
The neoclassical building of a former chemical laboratory now houses a museum. It was even awarded the Luigi Micheletti Prize as an innovative museum in 2008.
The museum consists of several rooms. The Physics Cabinet has retained its original rooms and furniture — and has been recognized as a historic site. And in the Natural History Gallery, you will see things brought back by Portuguese travelers from Africa, Goa and Brazil.
The innovation of the museum is that many exhibits are interactive. You can, for example, perform experiments with light reflection, look through a microscope and spectroscope.



Santa Cruz Monastery (Mosteiro de Santa Cruz)
The Santa Cruz Monastery was founded in the XII century and is considered a national monument. Little remains of the original church: the church, cloister and chapels were rebuilt between the 16th and 17th centuries. It is now an example of Portuguese Renaissance manuelino architecture.
Inside you can see the Gothic-style tombs of Portugal’s first two kings, nerve vaults, an elaborate baroque organ with Japanese patterns and tiles depicting the country’s history.
To the side of the church entrance sits the Santa Cruz Café. Some sources claim that the building was originally built as a «church for the poor» so that they would not disturb the aristocrats and monks in the monastery. After the revolution of 1822, the building of the future cafe lost its religious significance, and the institution itself opened there a century later.
- Opening hours are Monday-Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Sunday and religious holidays from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Ticket price: €3, for groups of 10 people or more — €2
- Website

Jardim da Manga.
Just behind Santa Cruz you will find a small garden with a bright yellow building. This garden dates back to the 16th century and was designed as part of the monastery.
Only the central dome on eight columns, a fountain and four small chapels surrounded by rectangular pools remain of the ancient building. According to the idea of the nun who supervised the construction, the architect was supposed to depict the fountain of life in the middle of paradise.
Contrary to first impressions, the name has nothing to do with mangoes. According to legend, when King João III visited the monastery and saw the empty space, he hastily drew a sketch of the garden on the sleeve (manga) of his coat.

Parque de Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz Park)
This 18th century park was originally part of the Santa Cruz Monastery. It was intended for the rest and meditation of the local monks (crúzios), which explains the peaceful aura of the place. In 1834, the religious orders were abolished and the park had several private owners before being bought by the Coimbra City Council and turned into a public space.
The entrance to the park is decorated with a triumphal arch and two towers with Baroque ornaments. Just outside the entrance you will notice a picturesque fountain and a grand staircase. But the park is interesting not only for its architecture: intertwining trees cross small paths that end with a large round lake. It’s the perfect place to take a break from busy sightseeing.


Where to eat in Coimbra
Coimbra is a city of students and tourists, and there are plenty of options for snacking. In my experience, I recommend three places:
- Pastelaria Briosa is one of the oldest and most famous pastry shops in the city. They strictly preserve their recipes and traditions, and you may not taste such sweets anywhere else. It is the perfect place for breakfast, especially if you choose a table outside and quietly enjoy the morning sun, pastries and a cup of espresso.
- Seoul Chicken Korean Cafe is located on the main shopping street, Praça do Comércio. It’s a great place to stop in for lunch and fill up on fried chicken with one of their specialty sauces for the day. But if chicken isn’t your thing, they also offer vegetarian appetizers and soups.
- Café Santa Cruz is the former «church for the poor». Here you should try the traditional Portuguese sandwiches — bifana with pork in sauce and tosta mista with ham and cheese. It is best to come to Café Santa Cruz for dinner because there is live music every day from 18:00.
In Portugal, most local cafes and restaurants operate on a lunch-and-dinner basis, so it can be difficult to find a place before noon and between 2pm and 5pm. This is where chain restaurants (like McDonald’s or Telepizza) and bakeries can save you.
Where to stay
- Hotel Ibis Coimbra Centro — from 78 €/night is a simple and clean hotel. The main plus is that it is located close to the center, right on the river bank.
- Vila Gale Coimbra — from 142 €/night — offers cozy rooms with panoramic views of the city. It also has a swimming pool, spa center and gym.
- Sapientia Boutique Hotel — from 192 €/night — is located next to the university. The hotel offers designer interiors, 24-hour reception, restaurant and bar. Its rating is one of the highest in Coimbra.
Go to Coimbra in mid-May, when the city hosts the famous Burning of the Ribbons, or Queima das Fitas. This week-long student festival celebrates the end of the school year. It is celebrated with processions, parties and, in the case of graduates, the actual burning of ribbons. But if you prefer peace, quiet and solitude, Coimbra is almost empty at the end of December.