Coimbra & Aveiro Best-Of Private Tour – Customizable Experience
Description
Discover the rich history, culture, and landscapes of Coimbra & Aveiro on this private full-day tour. From the grand University of Coimbra to the canals of Aveiro, enjoy a unique blend of heritage, gastronomy, and local charm—at your pace with private guide and transport. Customize your day with add-ons: ️ Lunch – Choose a Regional Lunch (€35) in a traditional quarter or a Premium Lunch (€50) in a refined restaurant with DOC wines. ⛵ Boat Ride – Glide through Aveiro’s canals on a Moliceiro boat (45 min., shared), with ovos moles tasting (€15). ️ Cultural Package (€35) – Interior guided visits to the University & Joanina Library, Sé Velha Cathedral, and Santa Cruz Monastery. Family Package – Visit Portugal dos Pequenitos + hands-on workshop at an ovos moles factory (€35/adult, €17.50/child). Perfect for curious minds and culture lovers. Book now or contact us to tailor your perfect day!
Tour Options
Itinerary
We will discover, as the first stop of the day, the monumental building from the 16th century of the oldest University in Portugal (created in 1290 by King Dinis), one of the oldest in the world, still in operation, as well as the halls in its interior and the Chapel of São Miguel. In the "Páteo das Escolas" of the University of Coimbra, our guide will tell you the legends and stories that link the city to student tradition with more than 500 years of existence, while enjoying the beautiful views over the Mondego River.
Still inside the University building, we will visit its most famous pearl: the Joanina Library, one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. A masterpiece of Portuguese baroque dating from 1717, it owes its name to king João V. Inside, we will discover the three floors of walls covered with shelves, decorated with exotic motifs, where thousands of centuries-old publications rest, with emphasis on works of medicine, geography, history, humanistic studies, science, civil and canon law, philosophy and theology.
Still with the nostalgic feeling of the University, we go down towards the riverside, to cross the mythical old Moorish city . Here, we will have the opportunity to discover the mysteries hidden in the historic alleys of the Sé Velha (Old Cathedral) , the stairs of the "Rua Quebra-costas" where the "tricanas" carried fresh water to the city, the Torre da Almedina and, finally, the city's pedestrian shopping street , where you can relax with a moment of free time to enjoy all the traditional commerce and typical local pastries.
Discover the facade of the old Cathedral of Coimbra and its city center, part of the UNESCO Heritage.
Nothing better than digesting such a beautiful lunch aboard a typical "Moliceiro" boat - boats that were used to pick up "moliço", an algae frequently used in the fertilization of agricultural fields. We will pass by the tranquil and sweet waters of the Ria and its four main canals, enjoying the city's living history in the most peaceful and romantic way.
After disembarking from the boat trip, completely relaxed, we will walk through the center of the canals of the Ria de Aveiro, in what is called the "Venice of Portugal", through the alleys that will take us to the Fish Market, the Rossio Garden and the beautiful "Art-Noveau" buildings that decorate this city with romanticism.
To crown a day full of experiences and discovery, enjoy this moment of free time with your family and friends, to enjoy a refreshing harmonized cocktail, surrounded by the landscapes of the Ria de Aveiro.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Your guide will pick you up at your accommodation in Oporto, Braga or Guimarães. Porto Airport pickup available for tours in the same day of arrival (if time flight matches). Pick-up also available at Porto, Braga and Guimarães Main Train Stations (in Porto both S. Bento and Campanhã).
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Infant seats are available on request. Please advise in advance
- Specific nutritional or dietary food restrictions must be informed in advance
- The tours are subject to local traffic, visit schedules and other external factors
Reviews(12)
Joaquin was a superb guide. He drove us (safely, always) to numerous stops between Lisbon and the Douro valley, always informing us along the way. The vehicle was spotless, and Joaquin took care to make sure we knew where we were, what to expect, and made sure we had time to enjoy each stop along the way.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts about your time spent with us. :D We shared this with Joaquim, like we always do, and of course he was incredibly proud for it. On our part, we have tried to provide you the most authentic private experience in Portugal and these words mean a lot to our team. Until your return, best wishes for you and your family. Your Tours Portugal Team
Nuno Pires was our tour guide for the trip. He took care of us from the time we met at the lobby till the end of the day. He told us a lot of history of the town on the way and also on time and very professional. You can talk to him with any topics and we can feel he is putting his heart to show the best of his country to us as well as their culture and food… it was a pleasure to have Nuno to be our tour guide.
Hi Ladyyo Of course these words of yours are trully meaningfull to us and also to Nuno, our tour-guide. We have shared them with Nuno and we has moved. Above all, we are as happy as a tour operator can be, to see the expectations of our clients being met and beyond. We really hope to see you again in our lovely country. Thank you for your attention Your Tours Portugal team
Surprising journey. The guide explained the history of each city very well, and was extremely attentive. The agency staff was also very attentive in answering all my questions. I definitely recommend this tour for those who want to know Coimbra and Aveiro. It's worth it!
Muito obrigado por ter tirado o tempo para escrever tão belas palavras. Partilhamos com a equipa e ficaram emocionados e entusiasmados, para continuarmos a fazer mais e melhor. Esperamos revê-los um dia novamente Até, desejamos-lhe tudo de bom. Equipa da Your Tours Portugal
André, the guide, made our visit a memorable day. Great professional, polite and very friendly. 100% recommended activity
¡Hola Vicky! Muchas gracias por tus palabras, es genial para nosotros saber que pudimos darte un día maravilloso y lleno de nuevas experiencias. Nuestro guía André se alegra mucho de que le haya gustado su trabajo y espera que quiera repetir más visitas. Muchas gracias por su preferencia. El equipo de Your Tours Portugal
It has been our first private tour and it has been great!!!Andre is a fantastic guide that has made us enjoy very much these charming cities!
¡Hola M.angeles! Muchas gracias por tus palabras, significan mucho para nosotros y también para André. ¡Saber que has disfrutado tanto de este día y que has tenido una buena experiencia nos hace muy felices! Esperamos volver a encontrarnos con usted. Gracias por su preferencia. El equipo de Your Tours Portugal
Excellent! The tour, lunch and our guide André, very professional and prepared. Advice without a doubt.. Muito obrigado!
Hola Marisa, gracias por sus palabras, en español y en portugués! Nos alegra mucho saber que le gustó esta experiencia privada con nuestro guía André. Esperamos volver a encontrarnos futuramente, para descubrir más de Portugal en conjunto. Gracias por su preferencia y recomendación. Saludos cordiales, El equipo de Your Tours Portugal
Andrê Botelho did a fantastic job of taking us to the two cities. We truly enjoyed his company and benefited from his vast historical knowledge. In Aveiro we took a ride on a gondola (called “molisero”) and viewed Art Deco houses. In Coimbrã we toured the campus of Portugal’s oldest university. He guided us well through the twisty streets and alley-ways of this town. Muito obrigado, André!
Thank you so much for your review. André has said the best things about you both in his tour's quality report, so we know that we will be very happy when we share this review with him. Whenever you feel like coming back or whenever your family and friends come to Portugal, we'll be here to host you the same intimate private way. Thank you for having chosen us as traveler companions in this private experience to Coimbra & Aveiro. Hope to see you soon! 😉🙏
A very complete tour with a guide, André, very professional and very friendly. It gives you all kinds of facilities, as well as telling you all about the history and curiosities of the 2 cities. Food is included in a restaurant not typical for tourists, but for people from the city. I was looking at many options, but this is certainly the best way to get to know these 2 cities in northern Portugal.
Hola Sr. Jaime, Muchas gracias por su comentario tan positivo. Estamos muy contentos de saber que hemos cumplido con sus expectativas y que ha pasado un buen día en compañía del guía André. Le agradecemos su confianza y preferencia y esperamos poder mostrarle más de nuestro país. Your Tours Portugal
This was our second day trip to the Douro. We had, once again, an excellent day. The cultural richness of Coimbra, the charm of Aveiro and above all the extreme professionalism and kindness of Raquel that accompanied us...
Bonjour, Eric, Nous sommes heureux de savoir que vous avez apprécier les destinations de Coimbra & Aveiro ! Merci à vous pour votre visite et nous espérons, à bientôt au Portugal pour vous faire connaître d'autres régions ! Bonne journée, Your Tours Portugal
Excellent day with our guide Raquel who introduced us to Coimbra, library, chapel and musical group of Fado. While giving us a lot of relevant information about this beautiful university. Then typical meal and visit of Aveiro very interesting with a gondola tour.
Bonjour, M. DURAND, Nous sommes très contents d'apprendre que la guide Raquel ait su vous faire apprécier les villes de Coimbra et de Aveiro, en vous apportant son savoir. Raquel a été heureuse de réaliser cette visite avec un groupe aussi sympathique que le vôtre. Merci pour votre visite et nous espérons, à bientôt au Portugal pour vous faire connaître d'autres régions ! Bonne journée, Your Tours Portugal
