Coimbra Top Attractions Walking Tour
Description
On this walking tour you’ll discover all of Coimbra’s main attractions. It’s the perfect way to discover the city if you only have a few hours. If you have more time, this is also the best way to get na introduction. Then you can take advantage of the tips given on the tour to explore some aspects in more detail in the following days. Don’t just limit yourself to a few historical anecdotes about the city. Take a tour led by a guide registered with the national tourist office, but in a more informal and relaxed atmosphere. Get the knowledge, context and experience from a local. With this tour you will get: - Na overview of the city’s history - Passage through all of Coimbra’s main attractions - Knowledge of the most important academic traditions - Tips on restaurants and best places for photos and panoramic views - A quick reference guide to the city in paper or pdf format
Tour Options
Itinerary
This is one of the main squares in the city center. Here you'll learn about the city's occupation over time and what you can visit on the other side of the river.
This square is dominated by two churches from the twelve century. You’ll learn more about it here at this spot
The Church of St. James was originally founded in the 12th century and has undergone many changes throughout its history
The Church of Santa Cruz was part of the monastery founded in the 12th century under the sponsorship of the first king of Portugal. His tomb is inside the church.
The Almedina arch and tower were part of the city’s main defense wall, giving access to the interior of the walled city. Here you can also admire the beautiful sculpture dedicated to Fado of Coimbra.
The Old Cathedral has a fortress-like appearance and was built in the 12th century. It also has a very strong relationship with the university’s academic traditions.
The history of the Machado de Castro museum goes all the way back to the Roman Empire. Often overlooked by tourists, this is one of the best views in the city.
The New Cathedral combines Baroque and Mannerist styles in a single building. This space was a Jesuit college before being converted into a cathedral.
This is the oldest university in the country and one of the oldest in Europe. You can learn more about the academic traditions and the evolution of this space since the occupation by the Muslims. With the help of some photos, you’ll find out what you can find inside and tips on visiting.
Our tour will end at this botanical garden created in the 18th century. Here you will learn about the tragic love story of Pedro and Inês with its dramatic episodes that took place in Coimbra.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(129)
José was a brilliant guide. Full of great insights with a lovely balance between history and contemporary information coupled with a good sense of humour and passion for his city. A great experience…
We followed the student festival of Coimbra (Queima das Fitas) that has been taking place for decades at the end of May, and it is phenomenal: over 100 flower-decorated floats by students from each academy; it is a celebration throughout Coimbra, with young people dressed in their traditional black costumes (black cape, black pants, and black skirts).
Our guide Jose was outstanding. His knowledge of Coimbra helped give my wife and I an appreciation for why Coimbra is special.
Guia José was extremely attentive, showing each different point of the city and a guide on Burning the tapes. Amazing.
Absulutely excellent - informative, fun and took us to parts of the city not usually on the tourist route that were really great to see. We have done quote a frew walking tours and this was one of the best - would thoroughly recomment.
Jose was a very engaging and knowledgeable guide. Radio coms was exceptional. Thoroughly enjoyed and recommend.
Jose had a true grasp of his City. He gave us insights that no tour usually goes to. His stories were entertaining and very informative. If you have a chance, look with Jose. He was amazing. I highly recommend him for your tour guide
Jose was very detailed, organized, and humorous! He was well prepared, made the meeting point easy to find, and ensured everyone could easily follow along throughout the tour. The amount of history and stories shared in such a short time was perfect.
Excellent tour with José, who delighted us with stories about Portugal and Coimbra, as well as explanations about the university life in the city. This visit was essential for our short stay, and it was actually through this tour that we started before moving on to the university visit. A friendly visit that I recommend to anyone who wants to get to know the city quickly.
Fabulous tour with Jose who tries to pack in great information about the history of Portugal, Coimbra and its university life. We started our visit of Coimbra with him and we were not disappointed s we felt we knew the town well after the visit. If you only have a few days to see the town, make it worthwhile and book this tour!
